Congratulations to Brian Lebo, Benjamin Franklin Plumbing, on being named the 2014 GIPHCC Contractor of the Year.  The award was given at the GIPHCC Annual Meeting.

Brian was born in Chicago and is a diehard Cubs fan.  Brian was at Wrigley Field when Ernie Banks hit his 500th home run on May 12th….on Brian’s 12th birthday!
(A few years back, Brian tried the new Cubs diet where you don’t eat until the Cubs win. He got so weak, he had to give it up!)

Brian joined the Navy when he was 17, his mom had to sign since he was so young. He served aboard the USS Dupont, a destroyer that was part of the Atlantic Fleet sent to the Indian Ocean and a deployment to the Mid East.
After the Navy, Brian met his wife, Barb, at college in 1982 and they were married in 1984. They will be celebrating their 30th wedding anniversary in June of this year. They have 2 children (David & Dana) and an adorable red headed grandson named Alex that just turned 1 yr. old in March.

Brian stays busy working on his old house in Lebanon that was built in 1900. His wife loves that she never has to call a repairman, because he can fix anything!  (Except the car) He is a deacon at his church, collects pocket knives,  and loves vacationing in the mountains.

Bill Fite started his plumbing career at the age of 17 at Paul E. Smith Plumbing. He was encouraged to apply for a helper position by his Uncle Tim, and began to pursue his career as a licensed journeyman plumber soon after.  His grandfather Edward Fite had established a plumbing company years before but the company did not survive after his grandfather passed away.  Years later, the name “Fite Plumbing” was inspired by the original company his grandfather had established.
Bill and Lisa have three children (Erika, Zach and Logan). Their family is growing with the addition of a son in law, a daughter in law and two grandchildren (Cora-8 months, and Landon-1 month).  Bill’s strengths include his faith in God, his devotion to family, his strong work ethic and his self-discipline and determination.

Bill has always maintained that plumbing was more than a job but career and an art.  Bill has mentored and taught many young helpers to become great plumbers over the years.  Bill would agree that one of the best comments he received came from a young plumber Bill had employed for many years.  This young man told him “you not only taught me how to be a plumber, you taught me how to have a good work ethic and to take pride in the work I do”. His devotion and dedication to plumbing is why Fite LLC Plumbing is still growing and expanding.