SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Ozarks Tech dedicated the new Paul Mueller Company Welding Lab to honor a major investment from Paul Mueller Company in support of technical education and workforce development.
The Paul Mueller Company Welding Lab, located inside the Industry Transportation and Technology Center on the Springfield campus, will serve as a central space for hands-on training in the Welding Technology program. The updated lab will give students more opportunities to practice real-world skills that translate directly to in-demand jobs.
The gift will upgrade welding equipment and expand training opportunities to align with the needs of local employers. Paul Mueller Company, a stainless steel manufacturer with a long history in Springfield, employs nearly 600 workers locally and relies on Ozarks Tech as a key pipeline of new welding talent.
“We’ve partnered with Ozarks Tech for years, from teaching students to helping guide the manufacturing advisory committee, so we’re proud to invest in the new Paul Mueller Company Welding Lab,” said David Moore, President and CEO of Paul Mueller Company. “We employ many Ozarks Tech graduates, and this lab is another way we’re building our future workforce by helping students sharpen their skills.”
“The lab is a direct investment in our students and in the companies that rely on their skills,” said Ozarks Tech Chancellor Hal Higdon. “Thanks to Paul Mueller Company, our welding students will graduate better prepared for the job, and our region’s employers will benefit from a stronger, more skilled workforce.”
A portion of the gift supports Ozarks Tech’s Student Support Fund, which helps students stay enrolled and achieve their dreams by providing transportation, childcare, and grocery assistance for those balancing work, family, and higher education.
Paul Mueller Company is a longtime valued partner of Ozarks Tech. The company has supported the Ozarks Tech Foundation Golf Tournament since 2007 and contributed to the Robert W. Plaster Manufacturing Center on the Springfield campus, underscoring its commitment to building a strong, skilled workforce in southwest Missouri.
Photos courtesy Staff Photographer Kristina Bridges