History

In 1965, Manuel Fuentes Sr., who recently arrived from Cuba via Spain, asked his landlord “What is the best paying profession in this country?” His landlord replied; “The plumber is the best paying profession for you in this country.” Being in the scrap metal business in his native land, Manuel Fuentes Sr. did not have any experience in the plumbing trade but decided to take a shot at it and see if it would work out for him and his family. After applying at a plumbing company, he was hired to do plumbing work with no experience in the field. His supervisor at the end of his first day said to him; “You are not a plumber, but you are a hard worker. You are hired.”

So he started in the plumbing profession where later in 1969, he meets future partner Louis Kelley Jr… Working together in the trade, they formed a bond and both of them studied and earned their journeyman licenses together while working in the same shop. A few years later, Manuel Fuentes Sr. had passed the master plumbing exam and he got his master’s plumbing license in Miami Dade County. In 1975, there was a downturn of work in the construction industry in South Florida and Manuel Fuentes Sr. was laid off. Louis Kelley Jr. stayed in the company and was later sent to Guantanamo Bay Cuba on 2 tours to do work for the government in the island. Manuel Fuentes Sr., having his master’s license, decided to open up his own business and started to hustle new work. He had his wife and 4 children to take care so he had no choice but to get it done. Little by little, he built a nice small plumbing contracting business that was successful and profitable.

Jump to 1983, Louis Kelley Jr. comes back from Guantanamo Bay Cuba and was looking for work. He reunites with Manuel Fuentes Sr. and they decided to start a plumbing contracting business together. So from that day forward, Manny & Lou Joint Venture was born. They made it a joint venture at the beginning just to test the waters and see if their collaborative efforts would succeed. They were an instant success and in 1985, they change the name of the company to Manny & Lou Plbg. Inc. Also in that same year, Manuel Fuentes J. joined the company and started his career in the plumbing contractor business following his father’s footsteps.

Being together until 2000, Manuel Fuentes Sr. and Louis Kelley Jr., were very successful in landing contracts in the medical, government, commercial, residential, and institutional projects and built a strong name in the plumbing contracting field. After 2000, both Manuel Fuentes Sr. and Louis Kelley Jr. stepped down and Manuel Fuentes J. took over the company and expanded the business in the water and sewer and storm drainage business. Today, the company is thriving and it has had much success in all markets.