Plumbing Level 3

James Ficken is a Master Plumber with over 40 years’ experience. He has a BS in business, was a Vermont Tech-Ed teacher, is a partner in Plumbtech – a plumbing education business, and he is a US Army veteran. He has 30 years’ experience teaching plumbing apprenticeship; one-half interactive instruction. 

His instruction incorporates the plumbing code with direct work experience and industry best practices. His classes facilitate lecture with “visual learning” and “context training” in plumbing code applications. He takes ownership of his students’ performance and strives to make his students “professionals.” 

Ray Doner is an experienced plumbing professional with more than 40 years of service in the plumbing industry and the military. Throughout his career, he has worked as both a plumber and a supervisor, developing extensive hands-on knowledge and leadership experience in the skilled trades. 

As a Plumbing Level 3 instructor, Ray is committed to helping apprentices build a strong foundation of technical skills and industry knowledge. He believes that apprenticeship programs provide a structured pathway for learning by combining classroom instruction with practical field experience. Ray is passionate about preparing apprentices to meet industry standards and equipping them with the skills, confidence, and professionalism needed to succeed in their trade. 

Drawing from decades of real-world experience, Ray brings practical insight and mentorship to the classroom, helping students connect course concepts to the challenges and opportunities they will encounter in the field.

He is a licensed Master Plumber with a 42-year career in the field. His work experience has included residential, commercial and industrial plumbing. He believes in the importance of following code compliance and job safety. He has been a Plumbing 1 and Plumbing 3 instructor at VSC for approximately 15 years. Bryan enjoys teaching and being able to share his knowledge and real work experiences with his apprentices. He is passionate about ensuring that the plumbing field thrives.