“Dusty Bergquist is an optimistic leader. He assures his crews that together they can get the job done,” said Richard Hammer, McElroy’s commercial project engineer. “Huge tasks or challenging obstacles don’t overwhelm Dusty. He breaks large-scale issues into manageable tasks and coaches his people how to do things right – one step at a time. He makes sure his teammates have what they need when they need it, with support, understanding and tough love when necessary.” August 25, 2024, marks Dusty Bergquist’s 25^th anniversary with McElroy’s. We’re glad to honor Dusty for his proven craftsmanship and can-do attitude that make him a key leader on our commercial construction plumbing/pipefitting team.

Plumbing Tradition

Dusty’s father, Ronald, grew up in Topeka, but when Dusty was born, Ronald was in the U.S. Navy, serving at Camp David in Mayland. The family returned to Topeka and Dusty attended the same schools his father had, graduating from Highland Park. “My mother, Debrah, was a stay-at-home mom, and dad went into plumbing,” Dusty said. “His last 29 years before retirement, he worked in maintenance for Stormont Vail Hospital. I followed in his tradesman footsteps when I went to work for McElroy’s, two days after graduation in 1996.” After about 5 months, work slowed down and Dusty moved to a different plumbing job. In August of 1999, McElroy’s reached out to Dusty to come back to the team. “I jumped right in – didn’t even have to interview,” Dusty said.

Satisfying Work

When he first returned to McElroy’s, Dusty worked as a helper. “I did general labor – digging holes, sweeping, moving materials and such,” Dusty said. “To qualify for a Local 441 Plumbers & Pipefitters apprenticeship I needed better math skills, so I took some algebra at Washburn University. When I entered the apprentice program in 2001, I got to start using the real tools and doing the satisfying work!” During his apprenticeship, Dusty especially enjoyed working on challenging plumbing installations and troubleshooting. “I learned from some great journeymen. They taught me how to lay out piping based on prints. It took lots of measuring and math. Today’s technology makes it much easier to be accurate!”

Caring Mentor

In 2009 Dusty started leading projects as a foreman. Since then, he has transferred his skills and philosophy to many apprentices who are now journeymen, such as Levi Strathman. “Dusty’s problem-solving skills and craftsmanship are top-notch, but his strongest suit is his positive attitude. He’s always smiling,” said Levi. “He tells everyone to take things one day at a time – work patiently through stress and don’t let it ruin your day. No matter what’s going on, Dusty has the ability to listen. He takes time to hear people’s concerns. You always feel better when Dusty’s around to lean on.”

Step By Step

Dusty has led plumbing teams on a host of demanding projects. Medical piping is especially critical, and Dusty has managed work for hospitals across northeast Kansas, from Holton and Hiawatha to the many facilities in Topeka. Likewise, industrial piping for major food production companies is an area of expertise for Dusty. “A full set of plans for a large-scale project – page upon page of intricate, overlapping details – can be overwhelming,” Dusty said. “I break it down into pieces with my teams. We focus on one area and work out from there, step by step. I work to stay ahead of the game, and shift my focus on the fly, to set my crews up to succeed.”

Good Vibe

The impact of Dusty’s positive approach to challenges reaches beyond his plumbing techs to other crews on the job site. “I like teaming with Dusty. He looks out for everybody on the project and makes life easier and less stressful,” said Chuck Mercado, a McElroy’s sheet metal foreman. “It’s never ‘us or them’ with Dusty. No matter who is having a tough day, he’ll crack a joke and make folks laugh. Then he’ll say to calm down and take a breath – we’re all here to get it done.” Dusty’s good vibe also stretches outside the workplace. “I appreciate Dusty man-to-man,” Chuck said. “He’s helped me and others through difficult times. His friendship goes above and beyond.”

Family

Family is very important to Dusty and Annette, who have been married nearly 14 years. Their daughter, Alyssa, attends Seaman Middle School and enjoys dance. Annette’s grown daughter, Alexis Engroff, lives in Topeka and works to assist low-income families with kids. Dusty and Annette have a travel trailer and enjoy camping, sometimes including Dusty’s brother and his wife. “Annette has three sisters, two of whom live nearby,” Dusty said. “There are 10 grandkids on her side of the family, plus lots of nieces and nephews. My dad’s twin, Uncle Donald, retired from Goodyear, and I have a lot of family back in Pennsylvania where my mom grew up. She was one of 10 kids.”

Friendships

“The best thing about McElroy’s is the people,” Dusty said. “The leaders take care of their employees and are good folks to work for. The techs I work with are all trustworthy guys who know what they’re doing and make the jobs fun. I’ve enjoyed watching people come up over the years, and I’ve made many lasting friendships through McElroy’s.” Dusty makes friendships easily because he's such a trustworthy and likeable guy – and a leader of the best kind. His skills and craftsmanship are worthy of high respect, and his positivity is inspirational. We greatly appreciate Dusty’s first 25 years with McElroy’s, and we look forward to many more years of his chipper can-do attitude cheering up our job sites!