Groundbreaking Ceremony Celebrates New Plumbing Apprenticeship School in Beech Grove, Indiana

The International Code Council (ICC) proudly recognizes the recent groundbreaking of the new Mechanical Skills, Inc. Plumbing Apprenticeship School in Beech Grove, Indiana. This development marks a major investment in the future of plumbing education and skilled trades workforce development across the region.  

Training Plumbing Professionals 

Founded in 1973, Mechanical Skills, Inc. is a non-profit organization committed to training plumbing professionals through a rigorous apprenticeship program approved by the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Apprenticeship Training and the Indiana Plumbing Commission. The program emphasizes technical proficiency, code compliance and a deep understanding of the laws and regulations governing the plumbing trade – values that closely align with ICC’s mission to support safe, resilient and sustainable communities. 

The new facility will expand Mechanical Skills’ capacity to deliver a well-rounded curriculum focused on independent judgment, hands-on experience and code-aligned instruction. This approach prepares students to meet the evolving demands of modern building systems, an essential goal shared by plumbing engineers, mechanical professionals and building inspectors alike. 

Industry Support 

The groundbreaking ceremony drew strong support from local leaders and industry stakeholders, including Mechanical Skills staff, Indiana PHCC Executive Director Chuck Gillespie, Beech Grove Mayor James Coffman, city council members, the Beech Grove Chamber of Commerce and Beech Grove City Schools Superintendent, Dr. Laura Hammack. The school district plans to collaborate with Mechanical Skills to introduce plumbing education pathways for high school students, an exciting opportunity to engage youth in the skilled trades early in their academic journey. 

ICC staff joined many friends and colleagues from the plumbing, mechanical and code enforcement communities to celebrate this milestone. The event underscored a shared commitment to strengthening the skilled trades pipeline and preparing future professionals to meet the challenges of tomorrow’s built environment.  

Greg Brenneman, Chairman of the Mechanical Skills Board of Directors and President of Brenneco Plumbing, and Bill Ciriello, Program Manager at Mechanical Skills, addressed attendees and emphasized the growing demand for qualified plumbing professionals and the importance of investing in education and training. 

ICC congratulates Mechanical Skills, Inc. on this important step and looks forward to continued collaboration in support of high-quality plumbing education and code-aligned training. The ribbon-cutting ceremony is expected in 2026. 

To learn more about Mechanical Skills, Inc. and their apprenticeship program, click here.

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