MEET THE TEAM

ART FAVINGER, PRESIDENT/CERTIFIED BACKFLOW ASSEMBLY TESTER

Art has been plumbing since 1978. He attended the Associated Builders & Contractors Plumbing Apprenticeship Program in Denver, completing courses in plumbing as well as heating, ventilation and air conditioning.

First certified as a journeyman, then master plumber in Colorado, he relocated to Bellingham in 1989 and started Favinger Plumbing. He also holds certifications for medical gas piping and backflow assembly testing. He has done consulting work at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow, helped write legislation to regulate the licensing and education of plumbers in Washington State, and has been involved in numerous commercial and residential plumbing projects throughout western Washington.

A recognized industry leader, Art was elected president of the Washington Association of Plumbing Heating Cooling Contractors in 1994. Four years later Governor Gary Locke appointed Art to the Washington State Advisory Board of Plumbers. In 2000 the board elected Art chairman, a position he held through 2003.

Art has been an active supporter of several local non-profit organizations and was a recipient of the Ken Gass Founder’s Award for work on behalf of children and youth in Whatcom County.

POLLY FAVINGER, SECRETARY

I love hot showers, flushing toilets and running water. I am grateful for the conveniences of modern plumbing! Having filtered water at my kitchen sink is a luxury!

For the past 25 years, I’ve done the payroll and quarterly reports for Favinger Plumbing in the evenings and weekends. After working as the apparel manager at Fairhaven Runners for 5-1/2 years, I came to work full time at Favinger Plumbing in May 2008. Now I get to work with this wonderful and dedicated staff on a daily basis and am continually amazed and grateful for the hard work and expertise of our employees. Some of the situations our plumbers have to deal with are rather “messy” to say the least, yet they approach each job with integrity and professionalism.

I was born in Mineola, New York on Long Island where I spent my first few years then moved to Edison, New Jersey until 1978. I headed to Denver, Colorado in 1978 to attend the University of Denver where I graduated in 1980. Art and I got married in 1982 and have two kids, Woody and Gharrett.

We came to Bellingham in 1989 and it is a great place to live. I love to trail run and there is no shortage here! Galbraith, the Chuckanuts, and Lake Padden have miles and miles of beautiful running trails to explore.

Great movies, great books! Inglorious Bastards, League of their Own… Secret Life of Bees, Golden Compass, Hunger Games. Food glorious food…Thai, Mexican, yum! Cucumbers, peppers, cheese, crackers, olives and wine! I could practically live on that…well, almost.

KATHERINE GOLLEN, GENERAL MANAGER

I grew up in Southern California (I’m sorry, I can’t change that). I moved here with my parents in 1989. After getting over the culture shock of moving here, I have decided that this is the best place on earth (other than Disneyland).

I began working at Favinger Plumbing in 2000 as office manager. Since then, I have taken charge of the warehouse as well. Over the years, I have learned a lot about plumbing. In 2006, my husband and I completed building an addition onto our house. With my new plumbing knowledge, I was able to do all the plumbing myself. After seeing my handy work, I think Art is very glad I only work in the office. It wasn’t pretty, but it works.

I have two beautiful daughters, so my hobbies are playing with Barbies, reading Dr. Seuss, singing & dancing, and coloring. My favorite movies are My Neighbor Totoro, Cars, Kiki’s Delivery Service, and Tinkerbell.

I love listening to music and am fortunate that my kids actually like the same music (for now anyway). I enjoy listening to the Beatles, Stevie Wonder, Bill Withers, and anything else with a groovy beat.

I feel very fortunate to have found a wonderful place like Favinger Plumbing to work for the past 10 years. I look forward to being here for the next decade as well.

OUR CREW

Our team includes experienced and knowledgeable licensed plumbers and state certified trainees. Our trucks carry state of the art plumbing tools, drain cleaning equipment, cameras, and underground locating equipment. These “mobile warehouses” also carry a selection of water heaters, faucets, toilets, and enough material to complete most plumbing repair jobs. For any size plumbing job, Favinger Plumbing is the company to call. Serving Whatcom County since 1989.

JORDAN FORBES, PLUMBER

I am homegrown here in Bellingham! I was lucky to fall into plumbing as a helper. I have a wife, Michelle, a daughter, Gabby, and a son, Carter. I enjoy eating stuffed peppers. My favorite movie is Heat. I enjoy visiting Hawaii.

MIKE YATCHMENEFF, PLUMBER

I was born and raised in Anchorage, Alaska.  I have been plumbing and heating for 8 years.  I moved to Bellingham in September 2011 to attend Bellingham Technical College and to be with my girlfriend, Tasha. I am studying HVAC/Refrigeration at  BTC.

In my spare time I like to hang out and socialize with my new Washington friends by having dinner & movie night.  I love watching football (Go Seahawks!) and I am a season ticket holder!  I recently got into war canoe pulling.  I enjoy talking to my son, Tristin, in Alaska as much as possible.

Plumbing advice:  “The bitterness of poor quality lingers long after the sweetness of a cheap price is forgotten.”               – unknown author

BRETT COLBURN, PLUMBER

Bio is coming soon…

KENNY LEPPALA, PLUMBER

Bio is coming soon…

TRAVIS JOHNSON, PLUMBER TRAINEE

Bio is coming soon…

OMAR DEWITT, PLUMBER TRAINEE

I moved to Bellingham from Okanogan in 2010.

I have been plumbing since 2009.  I started out pipe fitting then switched over to plumbing.

When not at work, I enjoy snowboarding, good food, the movie The Departed, and music.

My advice: Please, don’t flush t-shirts down the toilet!

GHARRETT FAVINGER, PLUMBER TRAINEE/CERTIFIED BACKFLOW ASSEMBLY TESTER

Like Favinger Plumbing, I was born in Bellingham in 1989. Since then the two of us have never strayed far from each other. I can still remember the first office in our basement, the move to a larger space on Queen Street, followed by a few year stint in Haskell Business Park, only to end up at 1700 Kentucky Street where I now go to work everyday that I can. The first work I ever did for Favinger was when my dad would dupe my brother and I into sorting scrap metal; I’m pretty sure we were paid with candy and donuts. I first came to work officially when I was in high school, receiving my first trainee card shortly after my 16th Birthday.

Working during the summers in high school I was lucky to develop basic plumbing skills at an early age. This good fortune provided me employment when I decided to move to California for college. I attended California Polytechnic State University for one year – studying as a civil engineering major. When school ended for summer I moved to Bakersfield, California where I worked at PIECon Plumbing. The experience was unprecedented. While Favinger Plumbing is an excellent company, the experience of working for a larger outfit (30 trucks, with even more employees), was invaluable.

In fall 2009 it became clear that Washington was still my true home and I moved back. I began attending Western Washington University that Winter where I remain a student.

Beyond the worlds of plumbing and academia I enjoy just about anything outside, recovering from Rugby injuries, and spending time with my dog Baker.

BAKER, SHOP DOG

We are sad to have lost our faithful, favorite furry friend Baker.  He left us on July 4, 2011 to romp and run wild in the wild blue yonder.  But we still have doggie treats in our office and love having other pups visit and say hello!