Allstar Plumbing

Steve Schafer: A Helping Heart

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

When Steve Schafer first got into plumbing, he was merely looking for a steady paycheck, but in the end, his career turned out to be more rewarding than he’d ever expected. “After being in construction for several years, I suddenly found myself out of work,” he remembers. “I heard that plumbers made pretty good money, so I applied for a job. After I got started, I found that I really enjoyed it. I especially liked the fact that I got to help people every day. I also enjoyed the problem-solving aspect. It wasn’t all leaky faucets—I really had to use my brain!”

Not long after starting in the industry, Steve got hired at Allstar Plumbing, where he continues to work 20 years later as a manager. After more than two decades as a plumbing professional, Steve says his favorite part of his job is still the opportunity to help people. “I enjoy being able to come out and ‘save the day’ for our customers. It’s always rewarding to bail someone out of a tough situation, and that’s what we get to do every day.”

A resident of Willow Glen, Steve expresses his appreciation for the positive attributes of his locale. “The weather is beautiful here and it’s a really diverse area. Being a suburb of San Jose, it’s not quite the city and not quite the country, so it’s a nice mixture. Plus, there’s a lot of old plumbing to fix, so there’s job security.”

Outside of work, Steve engages in a variety of hobbies and pastimes. “I like watching movies, playing guitar and hanging out with my dog, Zoey,” he says. “I also enjoy fishing and getting out and exploring the Bay Area—there’s certainly a lot to see.” Additionally, Steve likes to stay in touch with his daughter, Tyler, who resides in Washington.

In his life and career, Steve says his passion for helping others goes beyond being on the clock. “Besides helping people in our work, some of the other Allstar employees and I are involved with charitable causes like Sacred Heart’s Pack a Back program and Operation ELF. We also hold fundraising events for various charity organizations—things like barbecues, car washes and poker tournaments. That way, we’re able to both help people with their plumbing problems and make a difference in the lives of those less fortunate in our community.”

Ask Me Anything!

Q: What’s your favorite local restaurant?
A: Henry’s World Famous Hi-Life in San Jose.

Q: Music or talk radio?
A: I like them both—it just depends on what mood I’m in.

Q: Do you collect anything?
A: Movies.

Q: What’s your favorite movie?
A: “Tombstone.”

Q: What do you like on your pizza?
A: Pepperoni and extra cheese.