Doug Marian
DISTRICT COUNCIL 16, ASSISTANT BUSINESS MANAGER (RETIRED)

Doug Marian retired in July, bringing to a close an impactful 46-year career in the trades in which his relationships and influence prioritized people and professionalism in every endeavor. Marian began his plumbing career as an apprentice with Local 78 in Los Angeles in 1979 and ultimately worked as a journeyman, detailer, foreman, general foreman and superintendent. In 1998, he began instructing apprenticeship classes in the evening at the A&J Training Center in Compton, where he found his calling as a mentor for younger people working their way up through the trades. He taught at A&J for 18 years.

In 2001, he was recruited by Local 78 as an organizer and two years later was elected as a Business Representative. During his four terms as Business Representative, he served as Local 78’s apprenticeship coordinator. He was elected Business Manager of Local 78 in 2016 and reelected in 2019. In the summer of 2019, he joined the Southern California Pipe Trades District Council 16 as the Assistant Business Manager, further cementing his reputation as a respected leader within the trades, working closely with both local members and broader industry stakeholders to advance the goals of labor representation and public safety in the plumbing and mechanical trades.

Over the years, Marian has served on numerous industry committees for IAPMO, ASSE, P.I.P.E. and NITC. In 2010, he was elected to the ASSE Board of Directors, eventually ascending to the office of President. In 2017 and 2018, he served on the IAPMO Board of Directors.

His commitment to IAPMO’s mission extends beyond elected office. Under his leadership, District Council 16 became a Gold-Level Global Partner of the IWSH Foundation, enabling significant joint efforts, including plumbing challenges and sanitation projects on the Navajo Nation delivering public health and sanitation access across underserved communities.

Combining organizational acumen with a strong advocacy for safety and standards, our recipient’s roles in partnership-building, event coordination, and code-development outreach illustrate a career rooted in service — not just to union members, but to communities and public health — making him a standout figure in the plumbing and mechanical industry’s efforts to uphold safe, equitable standards, and richly deserving of this honor.

“One of the things I got from IAPMO is my wife; that’s probably the best thing,” Marian said. “I do want to thank everybody, especially the volunteers. Public safety, betterment of the industry — it all falls on the volunteers, so those of you, especially in the UA, your apprentices and such, please educate the young members coming up, get them involved. We need to keep this rolling. Thank you very much.”