Mark Shimp

The story of how I got started in business….. well I would have to give all the credit to my parents! We are a very deep rooted blue collar family. My Grandfathers were both WW2 veterans, later in life becoming a dairy farmer and a welder. My Dad and Uncles all entered the trades as well. 

From as far back as I can remember, a work ethic was instilled in us. At twelve years old, I was cutting eight of my neighbors' lawns every week. By the time I was sixteen years old, I acquired fifty two accounts that my friend and I cut every week.  After I got my driver’s license, I started to work at my Uncle John’s construction/plumbing company Shanahan and Luff in Newtown, PA. I started sweeping the floors and washing trucks. As time went on, I would go on jobs to cut and carry pipe. I loved being a part of the crew! 

Eventually, I participated in the Co-Op student work program for Pennsbury High School. I was in class until 11:00 AM, and by 12:00 PM I was in the shop, hard at work. I started to realize the value of working hard and getting a paycheck every week more than I had in years prior. It was a great feeling as a senior in high school to always have money in my pocket.

As high school was ending I wanted to follow in my family’s tradition of military service, so I joined the United States Marine Corps. I enlisted on the QEP (Quality Enlistment Program) where I could pick my field of work (not your specific job). My field of choice was Utilities. I wound up getting orders to the Marine Corps Engineer School at Court House Bay on Camp LeJeune NC, and became an 1161 Basic Refrigeration Mechanic.

 I received orders to: 

Engineer Platoon

Service Company

8th Communication Battalion 

2nd Surveillance Reconnaissance Intelligence Group (SRIG)

2nd Marine Division Camp LeJeune, NC

 I spent the next two and a half years there before recieving orders to Iwakuni Japan. After my contract in the Marine Corps ended, I moved back home and immediately starting working for my Uncle John at Shanahan and Luff again. I enrolled in the Plumbing Apprenticeship Program to kickstart my civillian career. After 3 years working for S&L, I transferred to K.E Seifert Plumbing in Langhorne, PA were I became a Utility Forman. I finished my Apprenticeship and passed my Journeyman test in 2001, then in 2004 I applied and passed my Masters test.  

In 2005 after my oldest daughter was born, and much conversation with my wife, we decided it was time to give my dream of being a business owner a shot! Well…. that was over 20 years ago and we are still honored guests in clients homes everyday!

Mark J. Shimp

Owner

M.J. Shimp Mechanical