Written by Viega | Jul 18, 2024 2:24:26 PM
Alison Flury of Atlas Mechanicals never planned on being a plumber, even though she’d worked in her family’s plumbing business since high school. She went to college to study architecture and mechanical engineering until the 2008 economic crisis prompted Flury to take a sabbatical and go back to work with her family. She was taught everything from estimating to managing projects and negotiating with reps for material, even learning the accounting side of the business and how to handle payroll and taxes. This knowledge paved the way for Flury’s own business, which she launched seven years ago. After expanding and buying out her partners in 2023, Atlas Mechanicals was born.
Flury didn’t waste any time taking on big projects. She’s worked in her home state of Illinois, Montana, Indiana, Iowa, and Wisconsin. “I want to do a job in every state,” she said. “I really like learning how the codes vary from state to state.” She’s also gotten her WBE certification with the US Federal Contracting, which makes Atlas Mechanicals a certified Women-Owned Business by the WBENC (Women’s Business Enterprise National Council), and she is working on her WBE certification in Illinois and other states.
Always on the go, when we spoke with Flury, she was at the airport waiting for a flight and told us about a few of the projects she’s been working on. One is Glenwood Station in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, which features an 86-unit complex with luxury amenities and mixed-use commercial space. She used Viega’s copper ProPress®, MegaPress® gas, and PureFlow® fittings, along with some radiant. Her company also recently completed an ECHO Suites by Wyndham extended-stay hotel in Indianapolis along with Holliday Construction Group.
Flury first learned about Viega products about ten years ago, but it’s only been in the last couple of years that she’s started using Viega. “I’ve had so much success with Viega products,” she explained. “I have reps contact me all the time, and I just tell them, ‘Nope, I’m a Viega girl.’ I’ve actually made it a goal this year to use Viega in as many projects as possible.” She’s also used Viega’s engineering and design services and attended training at Viega’s seminar center. “The support from Viega has been tremendous, and the customer service is outstanding,” she said.
Flury is also a staunch advocate for more women joining the skilled trades. “Being a woman in the trades has always been looked upon negatively,” she said. “It’s been hard for women to break in. But one piece of advice I would give anyone, no matter the industry, is to be true to yourself. There are lots of opportunities for women in this industry that can be filled. You can’t look at it as ‘only guys can do this.’”
She continues, “You don’t lose anything about being a woman by being in the trades.” Flury recently participated in Viega’s Career Week for GIRLs as a panelist, encouraging female middle and high school students to join the trades. “You can’t be afraid to fail. Sometimes, the only way to find success is to fall on your face once in a while. You need to get the big picture.”
Despite the industry's challenges, Flury remains optimistic but says it’s important to embrace change. “To someone on the fence about using Viega products, I would tell them that everyone is a little bit afraid of change. But really, the product speaks for itself. I can use the same tools with different jaws and press ProPress, MegaPress, and PureFlow. It’s been easier to train my staff, and using Viega has reduced the risk of improper connections.”