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WATER WORKS WORDs Liesel Schmidt images courtesy Michelle Cernak and FotoDuets/Shutterstock
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Leaky faucets, running toilets, burst pipes…such is a
diner. “He liked the business structure at Westark and
day in the life of a plumber. And while they may be in
their employees’ work ethic,” Michelle says.
an industry of professionals whose primary purpose is solving problems, the team at Westark Plumbing gives
Being the business mind he is, Bryan jumped at the
their clients a level of service that goes above and
chance to buy Westark Plumbing when it went up for
beyond, making even the biggest plumbing nightmare
sale in 2007. “We saw the growth potential—after all,
one that is as painless as possible.
everyone has a toilet!” Michelle says with a laugh.
Initially opened in 1993, Westark Plumbing is under
The fit couldn’t have been more perfect. “Bryan was
the ownership of husband-and-wife team Bryan and
ready to get out of the restaurant business and had
Michelle Cernak, who bring their expert skills and
worked construction in the past,” Michelle explains.
passion to the table. A master plumber in Oklahoma
“He is really a jack-of-all-trades and worked the field
and Arkansas, Bryan is also a contractor in Oklahoma
before, so he relates well with his crew. Bryan is also
and a serial entrepreneur. During his time as owner
a great teacher and is very patient. He cross-trains
of Ed Walker’s Drive-In, Bryan was first introduced to
our crew to keep building our success in the field and
Westark Plumbing, utilizing the company as his go-to for
genuinely wants the plumbing industry to succeed.
clogged drains, leaky sinks, broken water heaters, and
What better way to do that than to create plumbers
any other plumbing issues that arose at the landmark
from the beginning and train them like apprentices?”
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