For Louis J. Buttermark, plumbing is a family affair.

His father, Louis L., was a Master Plumber who started his own company in 1961, and his mother, Mary, the daughter and granddaughter of plumbing contractors, worked with her husband in the family’s Staten Island office. His two brothers, Paul and David, are Master Plumbers as well, and today, they serve as Vice Presidents at the firm, which has been operating successfully for more than 63 years.

Lou currently serves as Vice Chair of the Board of Directors of the Plumbing Foundation, City of New York. “Plumbing has been a way of life for my family for four generations, and I am proud to support the industry and my fellow contractors in any way I can,” he said.

As President of his family’s firm, Lou oversees business operations, project management, accounting and contracts while developing new relationships with clients across New York City. The firm has played a major role in the renovation of some of New York’s most iconic structures, including St. Patrick’s Cathedral and Lincoln Center, as well as NYU, Northwell, Mount Sinai and New York Presbyterian medical facilities and many private, city and state agency projects.

“The plumbing Industry is complicated, and there are many facets that most people do not know about,” he said. “As an industry leader, I am honored to help move construction projects forward that generate new buildings, facilities and homes, as well as a significant amount of economic activity and jobs for New Yorkers.”

For more than 40 years, Lou has forged strong bonds with industry members and government agency leaders, serving in various leadership capacities, including President of the Richmond County Plumbing Contractors Association, as well as a Trustee with Local 1 and the Association of Contracting Plumbers of the City of New York. Lou also served on the New York City Plumbing Code Committee and the Licensing Board.

“Plumbing is an essential part of the construction process, and our voice needs to be heard to ensure new regulations and new policies make sense for our members and all of New Yorkers,” he said. “That’s why the Plumbing Foundation is so important because it brings our members together so we can share new ideas and innovative strategies that better protect the health and safety of New York City.”

Plumbing may be in Lou’s blood, but his heart belongs on the golf course.

Lou played golf in high school, then moved on to the University of Miami where he played for the Hurricanes in the 1970s and worked at La Tourette Golf Course on Staten Island during the summers. Lou later served as President of the Richmond County Country Club, as well as various positions on its Board of Directors, including Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer.

“Golf has always been a passion of mine,” he said, “and as a husband, a father and a businessman, it’s a great way to connect with your clients and your community.”