Western Rooter CEO John Bottala to host Housecall Pro’s San Diego Trades Thursday hub

John Bottala, CEO of Western Rooter & Plumbing, will host Housecall Pro’s San Diego Regional Hub for Trades Thursday on October 1, 2026. The event spotlights the growing use of peer-to-peer learning and local networking in the home-services industry as contractors face rising customer expectations and more complex operations.

Why it matters: - The San Diego hub gives Southern California contractors a local place to compare notes on business operations, technology and customer service. - Western Rooter’s selection underscores how larger independent trades companies are becoming industry voices, not just service providers. - Housecall Pro is using regional events to build community across plumbing, HVAC, electrical and other skilled trades.

What happened: - Housecall Pro selected Western Rooter & Plumbing CEO John Bottala to host its San Diego Regional Hub for Trades Thursday 2026. - The regional event is scheduled for October 1, 2026. - Housecall Pro says Trades Thursday will connect home-service professionals in more than 15 cities nationwide on the same day. - Bottala will host contractors, business owners, operators and other industry professionals in San Diego.

The details: - Regional hub events are expected to include educational sessions, networking, professional headshots, Milwaukee Tool giveaways, food and drinks. - Attendance is free and open to home-service professionals. - Bottala was also named earlier this year to Housecall Pro’s inaugural Trades 40 Under 40 Class of 2026. - Housecall Pro said the first Trades 40 Under 40 class was chosen from more than 1,300 nominations across 44 states. - The class includes professionals in plumbing, HVAC, electrical, roofing, landscaping and other home and commercial service industries. - Western Rooter serves customers across Los Angeles, Orange and San Bernardino counties. - The company remains independently owned and family operated. - Western Rooter has grown into a $25 million-plus business while expanding its workforce, infrastructure, technology and service capabilities. - More than 50 Western Rooter employees use Housecall Pro across dispatch, customer service, field operations, estimating, management and other functions. - The company has used the platform for more than six years. - Bottala said running a profitable trades company in Southern California requires great people and great systems. - Bottala said he is looking forward to meeting other owners and Pros and learning from them at the San Diego gathering. - Western Rooter has served Southern California communities for more than four decades. - The company offers plumbing, drain and sewer services, water heater service, hydro jetting, pipe repair and 24/7 emergency plumbing. - Housecall Pro says its platform is used by more than 200,000 home-service professionals and includes tools for scheduling, dispatching, invoicing, customer communication and automation. - Housecall Pro’s industry programs include Champion the Trades, Trades 40 Under 40, scholarships and other workforce-development efforts.

Between the lines: - The event reflects a broader push in the trades to combine technical skill with stronger business systems. - Bottala’s role suggests Housecall Pro wants operators with real-world scale experience in front of peers, not just speakers with generic advice. - The timing lines up with a home-services market where homeowners expect faster response times, more transparency and more reliable service. - Housecall Pro’s 2026 State of Home Service Spending research found nearly all surveyed homeowners planned to spend on home projects this year. - The same survey found 79% expected to repair or replace at least one home system and 72% would pay more for emergency service within 24 hours. - For contractors, that demand creates opportunity, but it also raises the bar on execution behind the scenes.

What’s next: - Trades Thursday 2026 will take place on October 1, 2026, with the San Diego Regional Hub hosted by Bottala. - Contractors attending the event will have a chance to discuss operational challenges, growth and technology adoption with peers in the region. - Western Rooter is likely to continue leaning on systems and technology as it operates in one of the country’s most competitive home-service markets.

The bottom line: - Bottala’s selection puts a growing Southern California trades company in the center of Housecall Pro’s push to turn peer learning into a national industry network.