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Roman Scanagatta: Plumbing Opportunity

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

PETALUMA — As soon as he reached adulthood, Roman Scanagatta took advantage of a professional opportunity that would set him up for long-term success. “After high school, my fiancée and I wanted to get married, so I knew I needed to find a career that would pay the bills,” he explains. “I had a friend who was apprenticing at a local plumbing company, so I asked if he could get me an apprenticeship as well. Basically, I figured learning a trade would give me skills I could take anywhere, so when I saw the opportunity to do so, I went for it.” After working for the same company for 15 years, Roman founded his own plumbing business in 2010.

Today, as owner of Roman’s Plumbing, Inc., Roman says his favorite part of his job is its dynamic character. “I love being out and about, working at a different location every day and encountering new problems to solve. I also enjoy the opportunity to meet new people—in fact, a lot of my former clients have become good friends of mine.”

A resident of Petaluma (where he lives with his wife, Eleni, and their two daughters), Roman expresses his appreciation for its quaint yet cultured character. “Petaluma is a great town. It has grown a lot over the years but still managed to maintain its small-town feel. It’s also located at the edge of Marin and Sonoma Counties, which enables our company to service a sizeable area.”

When he’s not working, Roman can usually be found with his family. “As a business owner, I don’t have a lot of down time, so when I get it, I like to spend it with my girls,” he affirms. “One of my favorite activities is making food with my daughters. I’ve always enjoyed cooking and actually considered becoming a chef before I became a plumber. I taught my daughters how to cook and bake, and now they’re better at it than me.” Roman also enjoys attending his daughters’ sporting events (“My younger daughter plays basketball and my older daughter plays volleyball.”) and going on dates with his wife.

In regard to his professional career, Roman says he’s a big proponent of customer education. “We make it a point to give our customers options and help them make informed decisions. Plumbers often get the reputation of being rip-off artists who take advantage of unknowing people, so we’re always working hard to change that perception. Basically, it all comes down to educating customers and taking care of them the same way we take care of our own families.”

When asked the first thing he’d do if he were to retire tomorrow, Roman says he’d take an international vacation. “My wife has family in Greece, so if I were to retire, I’d probably book a trip there with my family. I’d also bring along a few books. I love to read but I never have time for it, so I’d take the opportunity to catch up on my reading.”

Ask Me Anything!

Q: What’s your favorite book?

A: “The Sicilian” by Mario Puzo.

Q: What’s your favorite sports team?

A: The San Francisco Giants.

Q: What’s your favorite local restaurant?

A: Mi Pueblo in Petaluma.

Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?

A: Italy—I’m of Italian heritage and I still haven’t been there.

Q: What’s your favorite thing to eat for dessert?

A: New York cheesecake.