For Wayne Abendschein, supporting the remodeling industry has never meant simply belonging to an organization. It means showing up.

Over the years, Wayne has served NARI Milwaukee in countless ways, from the Board of Directors and Marketing Committee to serving as Show Chairman. Today, as part of the team at Water Doctors, some of his most meaningful involvement happens through the NARI Milwaukee Foundation, where he is helping introduce students to the opportunities that first drew him into the trades.

Experience That Travels With You

Wayne's typical day at Water Doctors starts with a testing kit, marketing materials, and a schedule of homes to visit. At each appointment, he conducts a State-certified water test in front of the homeowner, providing a scientific breakdown of factors including hardness, iron, chlorine, pH, and nitrates. If a home already has water treatment equipment, he'll test that too, making sure it's actually doing its job.

From there, he walks the homeowner through the results and recommends equipment specifically suited to address their water concerns. But Wayne brings something else to every appointment: years of experience throughout the construction and remodeling industry.

"My previous experience in the trades allows me to work efficiently with remodelers," he says.

Understanding how different pieces of a project come together gives him a valuable perspective when collaborating with NARI members and other industry professionals.

Keeping People at the Center

That industry experience has also shaped what Wayne values in a company.

For him, one of the things that makes Water Doctors stand apart is something increasingly important: it's still family-owned. "Water Doctors is unique because it is still a family-owned business that genuinely cares about helping its customers," Wayne says.

It's an approach that aligns closely with his own belief in honesty, customer service, and relationships.

"I couldn't be happier with my association with Water Doctors," he says. "Not only do we have a shared view of how to treat our customers, but they also encourage my continued support of NARI."

That support extends beyond Wayne's volunteer time. Water Doctors also supports the NARI Milwaukee Foundation through sponsorships and contributions to NARI raffles, allowing Wayne's professional work and passion for the industry to reinforce one another.

Relationships That Keep You Coming Back

After years in the trades, Wayne says it's ultimately the people who have kept him passionate about the industry. "The relationships and friendships I've developed over the years have kept me passionate about the trades and especially NARI's involvement." Those relationships have grown alongside Wayne's involvement.

He's served on the NARI Milwaukee Board of Directors, contributed to the Marketing Committee, and taken on leadership as Show Chairman. When it came time to find another way to contribute, the NARI Milwaukee Foundation felt like a natural next step. "The Foundation was the next way I could help get the younger generation into the trades."

Meeting the Next Generation Where They Are

For Wayne, supporting workforce development isn't an abstract idea. It's personal.

One Foundation experience that particularly stuck with him was participating in an awards presentation at Wauwatosa East High School. "I got to actually meet some of the parents and give them encouragement and advice," he says.

Those conversations matter because Wayne believes one of the industry's greatest opportunities is reaching students before they've already decided what their future is supposed to look like. "The involvement at the high school level is extremely important," he says. "Students need to see the career potential available before they make a decision on whether to attend a four-year college."

Introducing students to the trades early gives them the opportunity to see construction and remodeling as viable, rewarding career paths, not simply alternatives to another plan. And Wayne believes industry professionals themselves have an important role to play in making that happen.

More Than Writing a Check

For members who support the Foundation's mission but haven't personally gotten involved, Wayne's advice is decidedly hands-on: "Get out there and visit the schools, instructors, and students."

It's an opportunity to share years of knowledge with young people who are only beginning to consider their careers. But the impact can go both ways. "It can lead to finding some great apprenticeship prospects," he adds. That's part of what makes the Foundation's workforce development work so valuable: supporting students and strengthening the industry's talent pipeline aren't separate goals. They reinforce each other.

Having Fun While Supporting the Mission

That same sense of connection carries into Foundation fundraisers like the Tee Up for the Trades Golf Outing and Shoot Clays for the Trades.

For Wayne, these events create an opportunity to reconnect with the people who make the industry what it is. "It allows me an opportunity to meet with friends and business associates outside of the business world." But behind the camaraderie is an important purpose. The support generated through Foundation events helps make scholarships, student outreach, workforce development, and other initiatives possible.

It's a combination Wayne values: strengthening relationships within today's industry while helping create opportunities for the people who will become its future.

Being "One of the Good Guys"

After serving NARI Milwaukee in so many different capacities, Wayne's advice to newer members comes back to something fundamental: reputation. "If you value your reputation for honesty and customer service, NARI membership provides you with the ability to say you are 'one of the good guys.'"

It's a simple phrase, but one that captures much of Wayne's own involvement.

Throughout his career, companies and roles have changed. What hasn't changed is his belief in relationships, professionalism, helping others, and supporting an industry that has given him so much in return. Today, that means making sure the next generation knows there's a place for them here, too.

Want to help build the future of the skilled trades? Learn more about the NARI Milwaukee Foundation and ways to get involved.

To learn more about Wayne and Water Doctors, click here.