Stack Plumbing in Kirkland, WA, is owned and operated by Jim Stack, who served as president of the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors National Association 2005 - 2006 and remains active in PHCC both at the national and local levels. 
   Currently Stack is on the policy committee and chairs the mermbership committee for the PHCC National group while serving as vice president of the local PHCC. 
   "PHCC has made my business," Stack said. "Being able to talk with my peers from around the country and transfer ideas between contractors has been so beneficial. You can't put a dollar value on it." In spite of the recessionary economy, Stack Plumbing achieved the same gross in 2011 as the previous year, he said. "We are doing okay." 
   The contractor specializes in the service/repair and remodel business, primarily focusing on plumbing but also with some limited hydronic work. Stack said 95% of his business is residential and the remaining five percent is commercial. 
   A dozen testimonials from satisfied customers are posted on the company's website, but Stack pointed out that there are 135 positive testimonials for his company on Angie's List. Stack Plumbing has been honored with the Super Service award from Angie's List for the past five years (2007 through 2011), he noted. 
   Because of the economy, business varies week to week, with busy and slow periods. The biggest challenge faced by the contractor currently involves the unlicensed, uninsured and not-bonded local "handymen" who are willing to tackle plumbing repair jobs at a lower rate because they don't have to pay insurance or taxes, Stack said. 
   In addition to Jim Stack, president, there are four other employees at the company: his wife, Sandra L. Stack, office manager; and three journeyman plumbers including his son, Michael Stack, who serves as lead journeyman. 
   Stack founded the business in September 1983 after spending 10 years in the plumbing service/repair business of another company. "I had a clear idea of how I wanted to run a business and it was quite different from the vision of my employer at the time," he said. Stack Plumbing serves customers north of Seattle and covers all of the eastern portion of the city. 
   "What sets us apart is that we say what we do, and do what we say," Stack asserted.