Ozarks Tech officially named its new state-of-the-art plumbing education facility today in honor of a new industry partner.
The Gold Mechanical Plumbing Lab was named in recognition of Gold Mechanical, a longtime Springfield-based mechanical contractor that provided a generous gift to support Ozarks Tech’s new plumbing education program, which launched last fall.
The Gold Mechanical Plumbing Lab is located in the Industry and Transportation Technology Center (ITTC) on the college’s Springfield campus. Built last summer, the lab is outfitted with the industry’s most modern equipment and provides ideal staging spaces for plumbing training.
“We are proud to partner with our local community college to support the next generation of future professionals,” said Ron Bogart, CEO of Gold Mechanical. “This collaboration provides hands-on training, real-world experience, and industry connections that prepare students for successful careers. By investing in top-tier facilities for training and instruction, we’re not just strengthening our local economy – we’re building a stronger, more skilled workforce for years to come.”
The Gold Mechanical Plumbing Lab features five staging areas where students can train on kitchen sinks and appliances, commercial and residential bathroom settings, water heaters and much more. These sites allow students to immerse themselves in learning environments that mimic real-world job sites. Graduates of the nine-month program are well-prepared for entry-level industrial/commercial, residential, and service work.
Ozarks Tech’s first cohort of plumbing program graduates will finish their program this May.
Gold Mechanical’s contribution to the program will benefit future students in multiple ways. The program will continue to have the most current tools and technology, and students experiencing other common barriers to academic success like transportation and childcare will also receive needed support.
“This investment from Gold Mechanical represents more than just a financial contribution” said Amy Bacon, executive director of the Ozarks Tech Foundation. “It’s a commitment to the college’s mission of building a stronger, more skilled workforce – one student at a time.”
Registration for this fall’s plumbing cohort is now open. For more information on the Ozarks Tech Plumbing program, visit https://programs.otc.edu/plumbing-technology/.
