Los Angeles County business leader Ignacio Duron introduces a hands-on pledge to strengthen trade careers and community learning.
LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESS Newswire / April 23, 2026 / Ignacio Duron, CEO of Most Valuable Plumber, has announced a personal pledge focused on supporting skilled trades, mentorship, and practical career awareness. The pledge is rooted in his own experience building a business from the ground up and reflects the values he applies daily in both work and community life.
Duron says the pledge came from seeing the gap between how important trade work is and how little attention it receives.
"People don't think about plumbing until something goes wrong," Duron said. "But these systems are always working in the background."
He also points to the importance of learning through real experience.
"When you start in the field, you see what really matters," he said. "You learn quickly that shortcuts come back to you later."
Duron believes leadership starts with understanding the work and passing that knowledge forward.
"You make better decisions when you understand what the crew is dealing with," he said.
"Most progress comes from doing the basics well every day," he added.
Why This Issue Matters Now
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects over 40,000 new plumbing jobs in the next decade.
Industry estimates show more than 40% of skilled trade workers are over age 45, signalling major retirements ahead.
The U.S. construction sector faces a shortage of over 500,000 workers, according to industry groups.
Aging infrastructure continues to increase demand for maintenance and repair across cities.
Duron believes these trends require action at the individual level.
"If we don't pass on skills and knowledge, we lose more than jobs. We lose the ability to maintain the systems we depend on," he said.
Ignacio Duron's 7 Personal Commitments
Duron's pledge includes seven specific actions he will continue to follow:
Mentor at least one young person each month interested in skilled trades.
Spend time on job sites weekly to stay connected to real work conditions.
Hire based on values first, then train skills.
Explain work clearly to every customer, including the problem and solution.
Support youth sports coaching to build discipline and teamwork in the next generation.
Encourage hands-on learning opportunities within his team and community.
Share practical knowledge openly, without gatekeeping trade skills.
Do It Yourself Toolkit: 10 Simple Actions
Duron encourages anyone to take part in strengthening the trades through simple actions:
Talk to a student about trade careers.
Introduce someone to a local tradesperson.
Volunteer to coach or mentor youth.
Watch how a repair is done instead of ignoring it.
Ask questions when service professionals are working.
Share job experiences with younger family members.
Encourage hands-on learning at home.
Support local trade schools or programmes.
Promote respect for skilled work in conversations.
Offer guidance to someone starting in a trade.
"You don't need a business to make an impact," Duron said. "You just need to be willing to share what you know."
30-Day Progress Tracker
Week 1:
Have one conversation about trade careers
Observe or learn one practical skill
Week 2:
Connect someone with a tradesperson
Share a personal work experience
Week 3:
Volunteer time (coaching, mentoring, or helping)
Learn one new hands-on task
Week 4:
Reflect on what you learned
Commit to one long-term action
Call to Action
Duron is inviting individuals, families, and community members to take the pledge and share the toolkit. He believes small actions can create long-term impact.
"Every skilled worker started by learning from someone else," he said. "If more people pass that on, the whole system gets stronger."
Readers are encouraged to adopt the pledge in their own way and share it within their communities.
To read the full interview, visit the website here.
About Ignacio Duron
Ignacio Duron is the CEO of Most Valuable Plumber, a family-run plumbing company serving Los Angeles County. Raised in North Hollywood, he built his career through hands-on trade experience and now leads operations across multiple communities. He is also a youth sports coach and is currently pursuing a degree in Business Law at Arizona State University.
Contact:
SOURCE: Ignacio Duron
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