Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony Held at O’Connor Plumbing
[PRESS RELEASE]
O’Connor Plumbing | April 29, 2025
On Friday, April 25, O’Connor Plumbing proudly held a ribbon-cutting ceremony and name dedication to officially open the Tom O’Connor Training Center at its Frederick location, 9121 Baltimore Road, Frederick, MD. The event marked a significant milestone in the company’s commitment to fostering excellence in plumbing services through comprehensive, hands-on training.
The ceremony featured remarks from co-owners Tommy and Kevin O’Connor, who honored their father, Tom O’Connor, for whom the training center is named, celebrating his legacy of over 70 years of quality and integrity in the plumbing industry. Frederick County Executive Jessica Fitzwater, Patty McDonald from Frederick County Workforce Services, and State Delegates Kris Fair and Ken Kerr of District 3 also spoke, highlighting the center’s role in workforce development. O’Connor team members, including Manager of Career Development Derek Brewster and technicians Kyle Malko and Ariel Flores, shared insights on the training program’s impact.
Guests enjoyed a logo reveal for the new facility, followed by a tour showcasing live training demonstrations that underscored the center’s innovative approach to skill-building. The Tom O’Connor Training Center is designed to provide year-round training, ensuring that the next generation of technicians upholds “The O’Connor Way”—a commitment to quality, integrity, and exceptional service.
The establishment of the Tom O’Connor Training Center comes at a critical time for the plumbing industry, which faces a growing shortage of skilled tradespeople. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the industry is projected to need 43,300 new plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters annually through 2033, largely to replace retiring workers, yet interest among younger generations is declining. Data from Handshake indicates a 49% drop in applications for technical trade roles, including plumbing, from 2020 to 2022. With over 20% of the current plumbing workforce aged 55 or older, and only two new tradespeople entering for every seven retiring, facilities like the Tom O’Connor Training Center are vital to addressing this gap. By offering hands-on training and fostering a passion for the trade, O’Connor Plumbing is helping to build a sustainable future for the industry.
Founded over 70 years ago, O’Connor Plumbing is a family-owned business dedicated to delivering top-tier plumbing services with a focus on quality, integrity, and customer satisfaction. Based in Frederick, MD, the company continues to lead the industry through innovation and training.
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