Plaster Manufacturing Center

The Ozarks Technical Community College Foundation received a six-figure donation for the Robert W. Plaster Center for Advanced Manufacturing from The Durham Company and its affiliates, L&W Industries and GEC Durham Industries.

Durham’s contribution will fund the Durham Company Student Lounge inside the Plaster Manufacturing Center. Jenny Carr, the President of L&W Industries, is a member of the Plaster Manufacturing Center’s Advisory Board.

“Durham founder George E. Carr is passionate about education,” Jenny Carr said. “We recognize the importance of educating and training the workforce of the future, and we’re proud to make this investment in the Plaster Manufacturing Center.”

With five facilities in southwest Missouri, Durham is owned by the George E. Carr and Doug Russell families from Lebanon and Springfield. Durham’s more than 700 team members manufacture metering and distribution products for the electrical utility marketplace. Located in Springfield, L&W Industries manufactures and distributes signaling and communication equipment for the rail industry..

The Durham Company Student Lounge will bear the logos of The Durham Company, L&W Industries and GEC Durham Industries.

Other significant contributors to the Plaster Manufacturing Center include:

  • The Robert W. Plaster Foundation
  • Emerson
  • Chip and Sylvia Sheppard
  • Larry and Donna Snyder

The 120,000 square foot Plaster Manufacturing Center is scheduled to open in August of 2022 and will provide training in emerging and high-growth areas of the manufacturing sector