NIBCO INC. has donated two custom-built boiler and water heater training boards to advance skilled trades education at two leading institutions: Chicago Pipefitters Training Center, Local 597, in Mokena, Illinois and ABC Construction Prep Academy in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
The systems, designed to promote collaboration across the plumbing and HVAC industry, were originally built as part of the “Community Over Competition” project showcased at AHR Expo 2025. Led by Impetus Media with NIBCO as title sponsor, the initiative highlighted the importance of collective investment in workforce development.
At Local 597, NIBCO commercial sales manager Aaron Kilburg presented the training system to apprentice coordinator Erik Bergman. In Fort Wayne, NIBCO director of product management Aaron Edds presented the donation to instructors Jason Sartain and Justin Fidler at ABC Construction Prep Academy.
“The donation of the boiler and water heater system training board is a game-changer for our training academy,” Fidler says. “It provides our students with invaluable hands-on experience, allowing them to build real-world skills in a safe, controlled environment.”
Bergman says donations like this make a real impact in the classroom. “By giving our students valuable hands-on experience before they enter the field, we’ll be able to use it across multiple classes, including hydronics and boiler systems.”
For NIBCO, the effort reflects a long-term commitment to workforce readiness. “By supporting programs like these, we’re helping ensure the next generation of professionals enters the workforce with the knowledge, confidence and hands-on experience they need to succeed,” says Joe Choflet, VP of Sales and Marketing at NIBCO.
Through contributions like these, NIBCO reinforces its mission to strengthen the plumbing and HVAC trades by investing in education, training and the next generation of skilled professionals.
Photos courtesy of ABC Construction Prep Academy
View the original article and our Inspiration here
Leave a Reply