He has that smile. It’s a catchy smile, too. If he’s in a photograph, and he’s smiling, you notice the man’s smile.
Meet Bob Heldreth, a gentleman with a lot to smile about. He’s a husband, a father, a 16-year firefighter who moonlights as a marketing vice president for one of Wheeling’s most successful companies in the history of the municipality, and he also often posts solid food porn because yeah, the dude can cook, too.
A real “Renaissance Man,” right?
Well, yes, that is right, actually, and it’s on purpose. Performance has earned promotion to this point and now the plan only calls for more hard work to produce more opportunity. That way, Heldreth figures, he can continue cherishing that amazing, singular moment when he became the luckiest man in the world.
Come to think of it, Heldreth should be smiling all the time.
What clinched your decision to become a Wheeling firefighter?
I never thought I wanted to be a firefighter. But when a friend joined the Clearview Volunteer Fire Department, I thought I’d give it a try.
There was a fire at Wheeling Station – it was actually the same apartment we lived in after my parents got divorced, but that’s another story. It was a daytime fire, limiting the response from the volunteers, so Wheeling was called. Chief Mike Zambito responded with a few Wheeling units. After the fire, Chief approached me. He said I did a good job and asked me about taking the Wheeling Fire test.
I was recently graduated from West Liberty State College and a career in civil service wasn’t on my radar. But here I am, 16 years later.
How do you explain to people how it feels to walk into a burning structure?
Going into a fire is strange. It’s pitch black and extremely hot. You have to rely on senses you don’t usually need when entering someone’s home. There are sounds – cracks, pops, electricity arcing. Based on this information, you have to determine where the fire is going – in a wall, a ceiling … you just can’t let it get behind you.
Has anyone you didn’t know ever asked you for one of your recipes? If so, which one? And what’s the recipe? If not, explain what they are missing!
Every day my partner asks me what we’re having for lunch, and every day I say I don’t know. That’s because if you have a preconceived notion of lunch at the firehouse, it’s going to cost you $30 each.
Firefighters pay for their own food, and it’s usually lunch and dinner split between those on duty. I usually start my shopping with what’s reduced for quick sale, then what’s on sale. Sometimes recipes get items omitted or interesting items added.
Imagine the TV show “Chopped,” but they only spend $20.
What makes Panhandle Cleaning & Restoration such a successful company?
Panhandle Cleaning & Restoration is about two things: innovation and letting employees succeed. My story isn’t much different than the owner, Bob Sr.’s. I started out managing construction crews, usually overnight, and marketing our services to those impacted by disasters. In the past 10 years, I have moved up in the company to run the marketing department.
Not too bad for a part-time job.
Have you ever wondered how you got so lucky?
I’ve only been lucky once in my life, and that was getting my wife to go out with me. I definitely outkicked my coverage.
Everything else I have accomplished has come from hard work and perseverance. Luck doesn’t keep you up at night; ambition does. I’ve had two jobs my entire life. When I was in high school, I worked at Elby’s Big Boy (no, I didn’t hold the hamburger out front) until 10 p.m., then I would go to the Capitol Music Hall and clean up after the shows, sometimes until well after midnight.
I worked these jobs to pay for my car insurance. My work ethic has never stopped. If you want nice things, you have to work hard for them.
Am I lucky? Probably not, but I am thankful for the opportunities I have been given in my life.
