“Shawn O’Malley has been with McElroy’s forever. He’s seen everything and knows everyone,” said Luke Dumler, McElroy’s plumbing service manager. “As a plumber, Shawn was the guy you wanted doing your work. Now, as safety manager for both McElroy’s and McElroy Electric, he’s the guy the teams respect and listen to. Shawn truly cares about his job and the people he works with. When you need him, you know he’ll be there.” Shawn O’Malley celebrates his 25^th work anniversary with us on November 16, 2025. We celebrate Shawn for his wealth of knowledge, willingness to help others, and the strong relationships he builds.

O’Malley’s Plumbing

Born in Manhattan, Kansas, Shawn moved to Topeka in sixth grade. He went back to Manhattan every summer to learn the plumbing trade in his father, John’s, business – O’Malley’s Plumbing. “My grandfather did the books,” Shawn said. “I helped by digging ditches, getting parts, sweeping up, whatever was needed, at a buck-25 an hour.” Shawn learned he enjoyed the variety that a plumbing career offered. “One day we’d be down in a ditch repairing a broken main, and the next day we’re in the kitchen of some mansion. It was always something different.”

Team Spirit

Shawn worked a few years as a plumber in Topeka before he had the opportunity to join McElroy’s. “I found McElroy’s to be a very family-oriented company,” Shawn said. “What really impressed me was the team spirit.” Shawn said teamwork is a major advantage at McElroy’s. “A customer will call who has already tried other plumbing companies, and nobody can solve their problem. At McElroy’s we collaborate on a challenge. If one person can’t fix it, somebody else can. We collaborate, so there’s nothing our team can’t handle.”

The McElroy’s Way

“My first day at McElroy’s, nearly 20 years ago, I worked with Shawn. He was a great guy to learn from,” said Junior Barajas, McElroy’s service plumber. “He has always taken pride in helping the newer guys learn to do things right, emphasizing great craftsmanship – the McElroy’s way. Shawn keeps busy as our safety manager now, but we still talk plumbing practically every week. He has tremendous knowledge and will help at any time. Shawn always followed safe practices in the field, and he’ll excel in his safety role, just like he did as a plumber.”

Safety Manager

In 2023, Shawn had some shoulder problems that kept him out of work for a bit. Then early this year, he experienced knee issues that took the month of March to recover from. Meanwhile, the safety manager position for McElroy’s and McElroy Electric had opened up. Luke Dumler asked leadership if they’d like to see Shawn apply for that role. The answer was that Shawn might be a good fit, so he was asked to apply. “Physically, it was getting harder to do a good job as a plumber. I was interested in a new role that could keep me on board with both companies – and maybe go home with a clean shirt,” Shawn said. “I applied and went through the process. It was a great day when I was selected!”

He's Been There

“Shawn was a go-to guy on the plumbing service side. He’s been with us a long time, and has tremendous field experience, so I was thrilled when Shawn was named safety manager,” said Scott Schneider, McElroy’s commercial construction project supervisor. “It’s hard to preach safety to the field techs if you don’t understand their world. The techs respect Shawn because they know he’s been there, doing what they do. He’s not easy on the techs. He makes his point clearly, but he does it without ruffling feathers. Shawn comes across as a pro who wants to make certain everyone goes home in one piece. Handing out Gatorade on hot days, like he does, helps!”

Excellent Support

The office computer part of safety management made Shawn nervous. “I was comfortable using my iPhone and iPad on service plumbing calls. Now I have a desktop computer with two big monitors for building spreadsheets, creating documents and company-wide communications. I enjoy learning new things, but I needed help,” Shawn said. "Steve in IT, and the HR team of Eric, Amanda and Cat, have been great teachers. I’ve also enjoyed excellent support throughout McElroy Electric and McElroy’s. Everyone wants to help you succeed here.”

Family

Shawn’s wife Michele earned a Secondary Education degree from Kansas State University and went on to graduate from the Washburn University School of Law. Michele is a business litigation attorney for Sandberg Phoenix in Kansas City. Michele and Shawn’s 16-year-old son, Gus, recently earned his Eagle Scout rank. He plans to study mechanical engineering at Kansas State University, and compete in the Formula Society of Automotive Engineers student competition – to design, build and race Formula One cars. Their 17-year-old daughter, Clare, has been ranked as the top female string bassist in Kansas. She plays first-chair string bass for the Kansas City Youth Symphony and the Ad Astra Youth Orchestra of Kansas City. She has set her sights on attending Northwestern University to participate in their elite symphony program.

Valuable Leader

Working with a company for 25 years builds a lot of experience. That experience is especially valuable when used to help others. Plumbing service customers knew Shawn would find a way to fix their issues. McElroy’s plumbers, both new and experienced, still turn to Shawn for expert guidance. Now, the McElroy’s and McElroy Electric teams know Shawn understands their working needs, and cares about keeping them safe throughout their days. All those things are true because Shawn has “been there and done that.” Our companies appreciate Shawn O’Malley’s dedication to being a valuable, reliable leader on our team. We look forward to many more years of him … being here.