Barr Rickman spent much of childhood in the sewer.

With his grandfather, Raymond, his father, Reed, and his two uncles operating Bronx-based Crescent Contracting Corporation, Barr tagged along with them from project to project – learning the basics of plumbing and mechanical contracting while recognizing how his family built a successful business that continues to serve New Yorkers today.

“It was always going to be a part of my plan,” said Mr. Rickman, now President of Crescent Contracting, a third-generation family owned and operated Plumbing, HVAC, Mechanical and Fire Suppression business. “Day in and day out, I saw their work ethic and how they were both well respected in the industry, and it inspired me to follow their path.”

For nearly 60 years, Crescent Contracting Corporation has served the public and private sectors, working on some of the largest new construction and renovation projects in the New York region – from wastewater treatment plants to major hospital systems. The Rickman family also operates two other companies, Apex Mechanical Corporation, which focuses on service and maintenance of existing work, and Jerome Environmental Services, which specializes in lead and mold testing and abatement.

“It’s a source of pride to play a role in these important projects that improve the quality of life for so many New Yorkers,” said Mr. Rickman, a married father of two who lives in Suffolk County. “As a young child, I vividly remember driving around the City with my grandfather, and he would point out the various projects that he worked on, and that feeling of pride stuck with me forever.”

Upon graduating from Baldwin High School, Barr attended Rutgers University in New Brunswick, NJ, where he played lacrosse and earned a degree in Bioresource Engineering. He then worked as an engineer for Killam Associates/Hatch Mott McDonald serving various municipalities throughout the Garden State. In 2003, he joined the family business and helped it continue to grow in the years since.

Today, the company has more than 50 employees leading multi-million-dollar projects for numerous city and state agencies. “I feel privileged to carry on the business that my family started decades ago, and I hope I can pass it on to my children one day,” said Mr. Rickman, who is a licensed engineer, a licensed plumber and a licensed fire suppression contractor.

Barr’s 18-year-old son, Noah, is an engineering student at Villanova University, and his 21-year-old daughter, Maya, just graduated from Rutgers University where she met her fiancée, who is an aerospace engineer.

As a member of the Plumbing Foundation’s Board of Directors, Barr takes pride in plumbing industry that fuels the region’s economic engines and protects the health and safety of millions of people. “Plumbers save more lives than doctors,” he said.

Barr believes the Foundation’s greatest asset is the ability to provide education to its members, sharing the latest updates on new regulations and code changes.

“The Plumbing Foundation keep our fingers on the pulse of any significant changes, and as a result, we can come together as a community and determine what is best for our industry,” he said. “With so many areas of expertise, we can solve any challenges together.”