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Building the Future: Joe Costanzo’s Impact on Trades and Talent in the PVF Market
Joe Costanzo, Director of Strategic Accounts for Weldbend Corporation, reflects on his 12 years on the PVF Roundtable Board of Directors, serving the last six years as Vice President. “I’ve truly enjoyed working with the board and serving on the scholarship committee. We've now helped thousands of young people enter the trades within our industry. I receive thank-you letters from many of our scholarship recipients, and it’s inspiring to hear how much they value our support in launching meaningful careers. The pipe, valve, and fitting industry urgently needs new talent, and it’s rewarding to help bridge that gap.” Costanzo has maxed out his term as an executive officer but will remain on the board to continue his success with the schools, including the newest addition of Del Mar College.
With nearly 50 years of experience in the PVF market, Costanzo spent 45 years with Ferguson and Wolseley Industrial Group. His career includes 25 years in sales and branch management across Georgia, Florida, Alabama, and Mississippi, followed by 20 years leading national account efforts. In the last five years, he has focused on distributors and end users at Weldbend, a premier North American manufacturer of carbon steel weld fittings and flanges.
When asked about his favorite memories thus far as VP of the PVF Roundtable, Costanzo shared, “One of the highlights was bringing Terry Bradshaw to speak at two Roundtable events. Both were among our largest gatherings and provided incredible experiences for our members and board. I had the privilege of driving Terry to and from the airport, which gave me a chance to get to know him. It was a blast. Beyond being a football legend, Terry was also a champion javelin thrower in high school and college—and even worked as a pipeline welder’s helper one summer. His stories were endless and unforgettable.”
During his tenure as Vice President, the Roundtable surpassed $2 million in donations, which enabled Costanzo to visit colleges and trade schools across South Texas and Louisiana to share the impact of these contributions. “These donations have not only transformed the lives of young adults entering the industry but also provided much-needed relief to companies struggling to find skilled workers. Everywhere I go, manufacturers and distributors are desperate for qualified new hires. Projects are being delayed or postponed due to labor shortages, which drives up costs across the board. Thanks to the PVF Roundtable’s efforts, scholarship recipients are now starting fulfilling careers in the pipe, valve, and fitting trades—ensuring the future growth and prosperity of our industry.”
While the Roundtable will miss Costanzo’s leadership, the board is happy to keep his volunteer services upfront and on to the next challenge. His commitment to closing the skilled trades gap in the industrial sector has left a lasting impact, and there’s still much more to do. For example, the PVF RT is currently working towards hitting the $3 Million in donations goal for 2025, and hard at work placing graduates with donor member companies who can browse applications on the Careers Page of the PVF website (pvf.org). Costanzo will remain a school champion and keep assisting with their needs, planning for scholarship donations in 2025. His plan is to connect donor recipient graduates with PVF Member companies after graduation, getting them into the PVF market where there are desperate needs to fulfill trades positions. 2025 will be a big year for the Roundtable - Costanzo has a lot of work ahead, with no slowing down in sight.