When we brought Robert on as an advisor to Anne the Plumber, we were looking for someone who had built something real, learned the hard way, and wanted to pass that hard-won knowledge directly to a new owner.

Robert is the founder and CEO of Shoner Plumbing and Mechanical, a company he built from the ground up in Southeast Michigan. In five years, he grew the business from two people, himself and his father, to 75 employees and counting. He did it while taking financial classes after 60-hour workweeks and learning how to run a company without any formal business training.

It is this journey that makes him the perfect mentor to have in Wilson’s corner.

Today, Robert serves as the advisor and shares a board seat alongside Wilson at Anne the Plumber, a residential service plumbing company in Rhode Island. Our advisors are not there simply to observe. He joins weekly calls, flies out on short notice, and gets on Zoom late at night to walk through software training.

His goal reflects what we are building across American Operator: give local owner-operators the experience, support, and accountability they need to succeed and build enduring businesses.

Meet Robert Shoner

Robert is a fourth-generation plumber. His grandfather, great-uncle, and father all came up through the local plumbing union in Michigan. When Robert started his career, the path was clear. He would join the union, learn the trade, and work his way up.

For nearly two decades, that is exactly what he did. He became a Master Plumber and Master Pipefitter, then advanced to superintendent, leading crews and overseeing operations for other companies in the area.

Robert was great at the work, but he kept noticing that the businesses around him were not operating as effectively as they could. The more he saw, the more convinced he became that he could build something better himself.

Then, unexpectedly, the pandemic created an opportunity. When work slowed at the University of Michigan, where Robert had been employed, he decided it was time to go out on his own.

Robert and his father struck out on their own to start Shoner Plumbing and Mechanical, with a focus on residential service. Starting from scratch, they built the business entirely through reputation and referrals. 

The transition from working in the field one day to running a company the next made one thing clear: there was no established roadmap to follow.

“I was very hands-on in the field and not very good with the books. Financials were definitely eye-opening. There’s a lot more to it than what you think when you first start a business.”

Robert Shoner

Robert took classes at night after long days at work and never hesitated to call people who knew more than he did. He invested the time to understand tax codes, financial statements, and the systems required to run a company legally and sustainably.

What the Hard Way Teaches You

Robert is the first to admit that his company’s growth was not always strategic. He moves quickly, bets on momentum, and often figures out the details along the way.

That approach often worked, but it also taught him lessons he can now help other owners avoid learning the hard way.

One of the clearest examples came when Shoner Plumbing first launched. Robert chose not to invest in drain-cleaning services because they seemed to require a separate skill set, additional equipment, and a level of complexity the company did not yet need.

He now considers that decision a mistake.

“My mistake from not starting drain cleaning when I first started, we definitely missed out on a lot of opportunities there.”

Robert Shoner

That experience became directly relevant when Robert began advising Wilson. Shortly after the acquisition closed, Wilson proposed expanding Anne the Plumber into drain cleaning as a new avenue for growth.

Wilson was passionate about the opportunity, confident in his abilities, and ready to make the case. Robert reviewed the numbers, understood the cost of waiting, and supported Wilson’s recommendation because he had already experienced what can happen when a plumbing company delays adding the service.

During a site visit to Rhode Island, Robert joined Wilson on a drain-cleaning call and came away even more confident in the decision. Wilson worked quickly, accurately, and clearly knew what he was doing.

Robert told the board that the equipment would pay for itself. It was the right investment.

That is the kind of guidance only someone who has already learned the lesson firsthand can provide.

Becoming an Advisor with American Operator

Robert first learned about American Operator through a conversation with Chloe Hancocke about the advisor opportunity at Anne the Plumber. Our model immediately stood out to him, not only because of its structure, but because of what it represents.

Throughout his career, Robert had watched talented tradespeople remain employees because they lacked the capital, systems, or support needed to step into ownership.He had made that leap himself with limited resources and without anyone handing him a roadmap. 

The idea that we were building a pathway for people like Wilson, combining capital, infrastructure, and ongoing guidance, was something Robert wished had existed when he was starting out.

“What you guys offered, to give an opportunity to somebody else, is phenomenal. Not a lot of people can get that, especially with how you guys do the system.”

Robert Shoner

When Robert evaluated Anne the Plumber, he saw a strong foundation. The business had solid service volume, healthy financials, and a clear opportunity for growth. When he met Wilson, the fit became even stronger.

Wilson had the drive, work ethic, and values Robert looks for in an owner. He was willing to do whatever it took and was motivated by the same family-first foundation Robert recognizes in his own journey.

Working With Wilson 

Robert’s advising style is less formal than the title might suggest. He and Wilson talk the way operators talk: directly, practically, and with a focus on the work in front of them.

Their conversations cover everything from water heaters and inventory systems to software, recruiting, and finding strong technicians in a labor market where qualified plumbers are increasingly difficult to find. Those conversations are ongoing, and they are already making a meaningful difference for Wilson and the Anne the Plumber team.

Robert also shows up when it counts.

A few months into the engagement, we asked him to travel to Rhode Island on short notice to spend three days on-site with Wilson and the team. Robert had a full schedule, family commitments, and a growing business of his own, but he still got on a plane that same week.

What he found when he arrived impressed him.

The Anne the Plumber team was skilled, professional, and customer-focused. They completed service calls cleanly, worked to code, and treated customers well. Wilson led the operation with the confidence that comes from knowing the trade and genuinely caring about the work.

During the visit, Robert and Wilson went out on an emergency drain-cleaning call together. Robert came away having learned something himself.

“I actually learned some things from Wilson. He showed me how to drain clean a little bit better than what I know how to do. It was a really good day all around.”

Robert Shoner

Our advisor relationships are not built around simply telling operators what to do. As Robert and Wilson demonstrate, they are partnerships between experienced operators who respect each other’s knowledge, challenge one another, and work toward the same goal.

Getting There Faster

Robert's vision for Anne the Plumber is straightforward: grow steadily, add technicians when the workload demands it, get the systems right, and build something Wilson can be proud of. He talks about booking three to four weeks out as the signal to start hiring. He also advises on the importance of always taking a good plumber when you find one, because good plumbers are increasingly hard to find.

Robert’s excitement on the advisor role and future of the business is clear and the partnership has provided him an opportunity to share his knowledge and experience with Wilson and get him closer to his American Dream.

"To be a part of something like this — to try to help build somebody else into a better position and a better future for his family — it's just an opportunity I never would have even dreamed of."

Robert Shoner

For anyone still on the fence about whether the challenges and risks of pursuing ownership are worth it, Robert's answer is the same one that pushed him out the door years ago… What's the worst that can happen? You can rebuild. You can start over. But you only get one shot to find out what you're actually capable of.

"You get one chance in this world to try to make the best out of this. I take every risk. Yeah, sometimes it doesn't always work — but that's how you get to where you're at."

Robert Shoner

Robert Shoner's partnership with American Operator and Anne the Plumber reflects our commitment to building the infrastructure that local ownership requires — not just the capital to acquire a business, but the experience, accountability, and ongoing support to help it grow. For Wilson, having Robert in his corner means not going at it alone.

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