Meet Matt McGuire of YS Greene Plumbing- Heart of the Business
An interview with Matt McGuire, Owner
Cover photo by Karl Yost Photography.
Pictured: Matt McGuire, Ryan Barba, Christian Zacarias
How did your story Begin? What inspired you to take the leap into entrepreneurship?
I’ve been an entrepreneur for over 32 years, working for myself and with partners on plumbing, landscaping, and construction businesses in Colorado, Washington state, and Ohio. I realized early on that I wanted the freedom to make my own decisions.
When I moved to Yellow Springs, I noticed that people needed reliable plumbing and home repair, done by actual tradespeople. Not just anyone dabbling in plumbing, but trained, experienced plumbers who take the craft seriously. I wanted to offer hyperlocal service, which is why I named it YS Greene — rooted right here in the village.
My career in the trades actually started because my dad wanted to teach me a lesson. After my sophomore year of college, he got me a “hard job” outside so I’d appreciate an office someday. It backfired spectacularly. I fell in love with working with my hands. I started in irrigation and landscape construction, which I still think was the best job I’ve ever had.
An auto accident in 1998 forced me to pause that path and move back to Ohio. In 2000, I started learning plumbing from a third-generation plumber, then took that skill back out to Colorado and built a business. By late 2008, I moved back to Ohio to start a family. Yellow Springs seemed like the right place to put down roots. Ohio is where I got a great education growing up, and once my kid was ready for school, we knew Yellow Springs was the right place.
I officially opened YS Greene when I saw this community needed someone local who truly cared about doing the job right. I wanted to build a business based on real craftsmanship, responsiveness, and respect – things that should be standard in the trades, but too often aren’t.
How long have you been in business?
YS Greene has been in business for almost seven years. We’ll hit that mark in January. Personally, I’ve been a business owner for about 32 years in various plumbing and construction ventures across the country.
What do you love most about owning and running a business near Yellow Springs?
Hands down, the people. My customers and the folks I get to talk with every day are what make this job fun. Yellow Springs is full of interesting, kind, and thoughtful people, and getting to help my neighbors while building real relationships is the best part of what I do.
What products/services do people love most – and what makes them special to you?
People really love our water softeners and tankless water heaters. They’re efficient, meet high energy standards, and, most importantly, they make everyday life a little better with softer water, endless hot showers, and fewer headaches with appliances.
But what really makes our work stand out isn’t just the equipment; it’s how we do the job. We treat every home as if it were our own. We clean up after ourselves, respect people’s space, and leave things better than we found them.
I focus on hiring people who genuinely care, people who show up on time, do what they say they’re going to do, and take the time to do it right, even if it takes a little longer. That mix of good products and good people is what keeps our customers happy.
What is the biggest challenge your business is facing right now, and how are you working through it?
The biggest challenge right now is the unpredictability of the workload. One week, the phone won’t stop ringing, and next it’s quiet for days. A lot of that has to do with the larger economic climate — we’re all feeling it in one way or another.
On top of that, tariffs and rising material costs have made it tough to keep pricing steady. I’ve had to adjust prices several times over the past couple of years just to keep up. It’s not something I enjoy, but it’s necessary to stay fair to both our customers and our team. Even with that, we still aim to offer the best value around — high-quality work done the right way, for a reasonable price.
What helps us stand out is the way we do the work. We show up when we say we will, we do it right the first time, and we save people money in the long run by preventing repeat problems. Unfortunately, we see many jobs done by well-meaning handymen or undertrained contractors, and we end up having to redo them. That reinforces the importance of having skilled, licensed professionals on the job.
To navigate the ups and downs, I’ve been getting creative, expanding into things like remodels and drainage-related landscaping to supplement regular service calls. It keeps my team working, helps more homeowners, and lets us keep doing what we’re here to do: serve this community with integrity.
“We work hard to keep our prices fair while still doing things the right way.“
When you’re not at your business, where is your favorite place to shop, eat, or unwind in Yellow Springs?
Tom’s Market and Current Cuisine are my go-tos. I’m a big believer in shopping local, and after driving all day for work, the last thing I want to do is get back in the truck and head out of town. I’m grateful I can get almost everything I need right here in the village. It’s one of the best parts of living and working in Yellow Springs.
I also enjoy going to Glen Garden Gifts & Flowers and the other gift shops in town for flowers for my partner, birthdays, and holiday presents.
Where do you call home, and how does that community influence the way you do business?
Yellow Springs has been home for 12 years now. One of the things I appreciate most about this community is how thoughtful and engaged people are. My customers are curious, informed, and they ask good questions, which I love. It keeps me sharp.
I really enjoy talking with people, especially retirees. Hearing about the careers they’ve had and the lives they’ve lived is like getting a free education every day. I’m a sponge for that kind of thing. I like learning, and I think that curiosity shows up in my work. It pushes me to keep improving and to treat every job like a chance to do something a little better than the day before.
Living in a community like this makes me want to meet the same standard of thoughtfulness and integrity in how I run my business.
What are the top three things you love most about being a small business owner?
- Freedom.
I get to control my schedule, which means I don’t have to miss out on family time. About 95% of the time, I can be there when it matters, and that’s one of the biggest perks of working for myself. - Independence.
I don’t have a board of directors or corporate boss to answer to. The only people I’m accountable to are my customers. If they’re happy, I’m doing my job right. - Teaching.
I love that I get to train the next generation of tradespeople. I actually have a degree in organizational leadership from Wright State — basically, how to be a corporate trainer — so it’s nice to put that to use. Passing on skills, building a strong team, and watching people grow in their craft are some of the most rewarding parts of this job.
What’s something else that people might not know about you or your business that you wish they did?
A lot of people are surprised to learn that, compared to other plumbing companies, we’re actually very affordable, especially for the level of craftsmanship and service we deliver. We work hard to keep our prices fair while still doing things the right way.
On a personal note, most people don’t know how much I enjoy mentoring and coaching. Teaching the next generation of plumbers and helping people grow their skills are among my favorite parts of this job. It’s not just about fixing pipes — it’s about building people, too.
In addition to running this small business, what other hats do you wear?
I wear a few hats outside of plumbing. First and most importantly, I’m a dad to an amazing 16-year-old who goes to the high school here in town.
I’m also the co-owner of Elysium Massage with my partner, Alissa Paolella.
In the past, I’ve served on the Yellow Springs Chamber Board and as the education coordinator for my B2B networking group. I like being involved, sharing what I know, and helping connect people whenever I can.
Can you share a favorite memory or moment with a customer or client that has stayed with you?
One experience that’s really stayed with me involved a family who was struggling with water quality in their home. Their kids were having frequent health issues, and no one could quite figure out why. They mentioned their water had a strange smell, so we decided to take a closer look.
How many people does your business employ?
Most people don’t realize how much training it takes to become a plumber. Our apprentices spend about four years learning and logging hours before they’re eligible to take the journeyman exam. After about five years of experience, they can go on to become master plumbers, depending on local requirements.
I’m a state-licensed master plumber, which is rare in this industry. It took a lot of work to get there. I had to track down multiple study books from different sources, take a two-hour business exam and a four-hour plumbing exam, and now complete eight hours of continuing education every year. But it means I can register and pull commercial or residential permits in any county or municipality in Ohio, and even in some other states that recognize our license. Without that license, you can’t pull commercial permits anywhere.
Having that licensure allows us to offer a higher level of service, take on more complex projects, and train our apprentices the right way from the start.
For nearly seven years, Matt McGuire has led YS Greene Plumbing with a focus on skilled, reliable, hyperlocal craftsmanship. Rooted in Yellow Springs, his small team delivers high-quality service, from tankless water heaters to remodels, always treating each home with care, respect, and attention to detail. As a state-licensed master plumber, Matt is committed not only to doing the job right, but also to teaching the next generation of tradespeople.
Through economic ups and downs, what keeps him going is simple: serving his community with integrity and seeing the real difference good work makes for his neighbors.
Visit yesgreene.com.
Heart of the Business cover photo by Karl Yost Photography.
Heart of the Business is presented by the Yellow Springs Chamber of Commerce, celebrating the vibrant stories and unique contributions of local member businesses throughout the village.
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