Plumbers & Pipefitters 562 tradesman-turned-contractor opens Johnson Mechanical

By SHERI GASSAWAY
Missouri Correspondent

Matt Johnson, a Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 562 journeyman, has turned his dream of owning his own business into a reality.

Johnson, a service fitter, recently opened Johnson Mechanical, a Local 562 signatory contractor near Fort Leonard Wood. The company offers service fitting to commercial and industrial businesses.

GREAT PAY, OUTSTANDNG BENEFITS
“Local 562 offers great pay, outstanding benefits and state-of-the-art, ongoing training and that’s what I want for my employees,” said Johnson, who joined Local 562 in 2014. “My philosophy is if you take care of your employees, they’ll take care of you.”

Johnson started his career in the HVAC industry while attending Linn State Technical College. Shortly afterward, Keith Stumpf, a friend of Johnson’s and a Local 562 member convinced him to join the union.

MENTOR/FRIEND
“Keith has been my mentor, and he’s the one responsible for getting me involved with Local 562,” said Johnson. “I wouldn’t be where I am today without his help.”

Stumpf, who’s now retired, is providing Johnson with some consulting on the business. He also attended the official signing ceremony at Local 562’s Fulton office along with Johnson, Local 562 Business Manager John O’Mara and Local 562 Business Representative Roy Kleba.

‘A NEW LEVEL’
“It’s always exciting to see our talented members take their careers to a new level,” O’Mara said. “Matt is a great example of a member that strived every day to make himself more valuable to Local 562, our contractors and the owners we work for. We are proud of Matt, and we wish him tons of success in a growing industry. He will hit the ground running, and we look forward to watching him succeed.”

Local 562 represents about 4,500 members who serve the plumbing and mechanical industry in 67 counties in Eastern Missouri. Its members offer a wide array of plumbing and mechanical skills that are valued throughout the construction industry to provide consumers and the public with the safest, most highly trained, productive workforce in the region. For more information, visit local562.org.