We sit down with Jason Judah of CMS Plumbing in Aztec, New Mexico, to talk about what it really takes to build a trade business through quality work, fast service, and a strong local reputation. We get honest about the hard parts, from bids and bookkeeping to hiring help, and why steady growth beats rushing.
• Jason’s path from Phoenix plumbing to starting CMS Plumbing in the Four Corners
• The real shock of the business side: invoices, proposals, accounting, office systems
• What a typical day looks like in the field: lining up crews, bidding jobs, stocking parts
• Marketing that works locally: Google ads, Facebook, and relationship-driven word of mouth
• Why plumbing has so many specialties: residential, commercial, gas work, septic systems
• Rural realities: propane, high water tables, permits, leach fields, above-ground berm systems
• Competing with big chains by being faster, more flexible, and more accountable
• Growth plans: pushing deeper into septic work and expanding statewide with larger contracts
• Building a brand people remember: visibility, vehicle wraps, showing up consistently
• Hiring challenges in the trades: apprenticeships, licensing hours, keeping good workers
• Why trades offer a real path without a college degree
A lot of people think running a plumbing company is all wrenches and water lines, but the real test starts when the job is done and the paperwork begins. We’re joined by Jason Judah, owner of Creative Mechanical Solutions Plumbing (CMS Plumbing) in Aztec, New Mexico, to talk about building a trusted trade business in the Four Corners and what it takes to compete when bigger names have bigger budgets.
Jason shares how he got his start in plumbing in Phoenix, why he came back home, and what surprised him most once he became the owner. We dig into the unglamorous reality of estimates, commercial bids, scheduling crews, and setting up systems so the office side doesn’t drown the field work. He also breaks down how a plumber has to think mechanically and plan ahead, from stocking the right materials to handling code-heavy commercial projects.
Because this is a rural market, we also talk septic system installation, leach fields, high water tables, environmental permits, and when above-ground berm systems come into play. Jason explains what marketing works in a small town, why word of mouth is everything, and how a smaller local contractor can beat big chain plumbing companies by being faster, more flexible, and more personal. We close with hard-earned lessons on pacing growth, branding, hiring and training, and why the skilled trades still offer one of the clearest paths to a strong living without a college degree.
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