December 7, 2021
Story and photo by Joe Vinduska
For 34 years Jeff Meyer has made a career in the plumbing industry and is now set to take the reins of Barton’s new Plumbing Certificate Program. His father was in the business as well and it’s safe to say that his passion for the work he does is in his blood.
“I was fortunate to have an opportunity to get into the field right out of high school,” he said. “It is a fun job; you meet new people, go to different places and you are appreciated. Every day is a great big puzzle and with a little knowledge and skill you can put it all together. Plumbing has been two-thirds of my life. Every day, I know that I make a difference in people’s lives, and I am thankful that I was able to do something that I love for so long.”
As a decades-long member of the workforce, Meyer has seen the steady decline of technicians over the past several years due to retirement, and he believes that is one of the main reasons a plumbing program is such a good idea for Barton. He also stressed that job placement and security is very solid for those who complete the program.
“The demand for plumbers is very high,” he said. “There is only one other plumbing-only program in the state of Kansas, so training facilities are scarce. With proper training, the students will have job placement immediately and the need isn’t going anywhere.”
The Barton program is designed for people that want to start a career in plumbing. It is an introductory program that covers commercial and residential plumbing in new construction, including installation and repair of drains, waste and vent, water systems and gas. Plumbing code is also covered, as well as safety, blueprint reading, and construction math.”
Meyers taught the trade in correctional settings for Barton for the past three years and is now transitioning to the Barton County campus, as the program is set to open in January of 2022. Although he has only taught officially for three years, he has been training and educating technicians in the field since 1991.
“I just love to pass on what I know and help others use these skills I’ve learned and then taught to them so they can provide for themselves and their families,” he said. “My goal is to always give examples of real-life situations and how to resolve them. I believe that a combination of knowledge from books and hands-on learning will make the perfect plumber. A positive attitude is another element I stress when I teach. A positive attitude spreads and is better for everyone involved.”
More information is available at plumbing.bartonccc.edu.