Plumber Melanie Aldrich is the First Female Member and President of the Rhode Island Master Plumber and Mechanical Association

When Brooklyn-born Melanie Aldrich moved to Scranton, PA, at first she wanted to become a carpenter like her father. But, when her husband took a job as an electrician, she volunteered as a plumber’s apprentice at his work site, eventually joining the Pipefitters and Plumbers Local 524.

In 2000, she launched her very own plumbing business in the Keystone State. After five prosperous years, she made the strategic decision to move her operations to Rhode Island, where her business now boasts a team of three dedicated employees.

Reflecting on her journey, Aldrich shared “I grew up as a girly girl. But I went from just having my nails done, to now working with nails.” She continues to get her nails regularly done as a working plumber.

A Passion for Improving America’s Plumbing Infrastructure

Aldrich currently works on some residential projects but is primarily focused on new construction or renovations for commercial and industrial projects, including schools and hospitals like the Elmhurst Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center.

The Biden Administration’s “Investing in America” initiative recently announced an additional $3 billion allocation for nationwide lead pipe replacement, with a requirement to exclusively use materials manufactured in the U.S. Taking advantage of this program, Aldrich’s clients have seized the opportunity to finance the replacement of lead pips with copper alternatives. To date, she has overseen the successful transition in over 3,000 residences, including apartments, condos and houses within her region.

“What is happening in Flint, Michigan, should not happen to anyone,” said Aldrich, a breast cancer survivor. “People should not be drinking lead.”

Under this national infrastructure bill, Aldrich has worked with Providence and Bristol city water department contractors over the last few years. The contractors excavate the streets to install new pipes, and then Aldrich and her team hook up water inside the building’s walls. For now, she’s mostly stopped bidding on other jobs because she’s passionate about this remediation work.

During COVID, she remembers helping the Rogers Williams Park Zoo in Providence create a new building for sick animal quarantine, along with work on the city’s West End Community Center. She’s also helped restore two 1920s theaters, Woonsocket’s Stadium Theatre and East Greenwich’s Odeum.

Aldrich Became Rhode Island’s First Female Plumbing Inspector and State Board Representative

When Aldrich first moved to Rhode Island, “it was rough because the codes were mostly made up and that was stressful,” she recalled. But through her dedication and hard work, she became the Ocean State’s first female plumbing inspector, and the first woman appointed to the state’s Board of Examiners of Plumbers.

She was the only woman at her first meeting of the Rhode Island Master Plumber and Mechanical Association, and ten years later she still is, although she’s now also the president. She regularly advocates for her colleagues to attend meetings and stay up-to-date on the latest codes.

She facilitates monthly Continuing Education Units (CEUs) for area plumbers, held on the third Thursday of every month at Davenports Restaurant, and has taught at the New England Institute of Technology. After initial resistance to a female plumber in the ranks, Aldrich noted that “the respect slowly came.”

Supporting Women in the Plumbing Industry

As a mother of five children ranging in age from nine to 35, Aldrich supports other plumber moms. Noting a lack of female plumbing mentors, Aldrich attends networking events whenever time allows.

She attended the Tradeswomen Build Nations conference two years ago in Las Vegas. Seeing 3,000 women in the building industry, including 600 from her union and hundreds of apprentices, brought her to tears as they all offered their Rosie the Riveter arm flex.

Childrearing didn’t get in the way of Aldrich’s own plumbing work. She was on the job until the eighth or ninth month of each pregnancy and remembers pumping breast milk in porta-potties. In addition to her two youngest children still at home, she cares for her older brother who had a stroke.

Aldrich says that women supporting women in a consistent and sustained way is critical in the industry. “Women have to continuously prove themselves so they need regular networking and support.” In her own experience, she remembers that “I was a novelty. Some people were on my side, but some weren’t. And if you’re alone, you can be a target. Packs of wolves can come after you when you’re the only one.”

Supporting Women Through Trade DEI Programs and High School Shop Class Expansion

Now a grandmother, Aldrich continues to express disappointment at the recent trend of companies backtracking on diversity, equity and inclusion programs. She’s not happy that some DEI programs are being scrapped, because “that will destroy many small minority- and women-owned businesses,” she said. “That’s my biggest fear.”

She also encourages high schools to bring back shop classes to prepare and train kids, who aren’t interested in four-year colleges, for well-paid trade careers. Aldrich allows her nine- and 11-year-old daughters to dig and play in the dirt to encourage them to possibly consider jobs in the construction industry. “I love what I do,” Aldrich said. “Every young girl should try the trades. And, if you’re not sure, just try it. If this is what you want to do for a career, don’t let anybody talk you out of it.”

“Starting my own plumbing business was not easy,” she said. “But I’ve already proven myself to me, my kids and the next generation. After all, it’s my name on the side of my truck!” 

To learn more about the varying career opportunities within the building safety industry, visit the International Code Council’s Safety 2.0 website for more information.