Plumbing Level 4

John is a licensed Vermont Master Plumber who currently serves as the Chief Plumbing/Heating Inspector for Vermont’s Division of Fire Safety under the Department of Public Safety. John also chairs the Vermont Plumber’s Examining Board. In addition to a Master Plumber’s license, John holds oil and gas certifications and is a Pro Board Level 1 & 2 Fire Inspector. 

John began his plumbing career in January 1984 as a plumbing apprentice working in Patchogue, NY. He worked for Erhardt Plumbing & Heating for five years at which time he was eligible to take the master plumber’s exam. Shortly after receiving a Suffolk County, NY Master Plumbers license in June of 1989, he moved to Vermont where he tested for his VT Master Plumber’s license. His plumbing journey continued through June of 1994 while working in VT for Northern Comfort Plumbing & Heating. In June of 1994, John decided to open his own plumbing and heating business that he successfully ran until June of 2012. John then applied for and was chosen for a State Plumbing Inspector’s position with the VT Division of Fire Safety. 

John worked full time with the Division as a plumbing inspector until December 2023, when he was promoted to Chief Plumbing Inspector. John enjoys working as a plumbing inspector; his favorite part of the job is interacting with plumbers, helping them understand the plumbing code and providing suggestions to assist plumbers on the job site. 

In addition to his day job, John teaches fourth-year plumbing apprenticeship classes for Vermont State College and conducts plumbers’ continuing education seminars through the Vermont Licensed Plumbers Association. John likes to incorporate his work experience and life lessons into class time instruction to apply a real-world perspective to some of the subjects he teaches. 

In his spare time, John enjoys fishing, hiking, cycling, camping, and working around the house and property. 

Ann M. Ross is a Vermont Master Plumber with over 48 years of residential, commercial, and industrial experience and more than four decades as a plumbing instructor. In addition to her Master Plumber license (PM-1794), she holds certifications as a Gas Technician (GB-1017), Oil Technician (OS-00018), and numerous other credentials, including ASSE Backflow, NORA Oil Technician, and EPA 608 Refrigerant Handling.  

For 14 years, Ann served as Director of Apprenticeship and Journeyman Training for Local 693 Plumbers & Pipefitters, where she developed specialized programs in oil burner technology, propane and natural gas installation, medical gas systems, backflow testing, and refrigeration handling. She continues to teach Vermont IPC Plumbing Code courses, preparing apprentices and journeymen for state licensing exams, and has trained hundreds of students through the Vermont State Apprenticeship Program and Vermont State University.  

With extensive field and teaching experience, Ann blends technical expertise with real-world insight – mentoring the next generation of Vermont’s skilled plumbing professionals.  

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.”