Meet Kenneth Worrell, Supervisor Plumber

Kenneth Worrell is a seasoned professional plumber and one of only two Supervisor Plumbers overseeing the resolution of all plumbing-related issues at NYCHA developments across Queens and Staten Island. “They go above and beyond in providing services to our residents,” said Cesar Gonzalez, NYCHA’s Vice President for Public Housing Operations in Queens and Staten Island. “Whatever the job may entail, they get the work done.” Read on to learn about the services Mr. Worrell and his teams provide to NYCHA residents. 

Please tell us about the work you do. 

Plumbing is one of the biggest challenges the Authority faces. Because, if you think about it, leaks don’t just affect the particular apartment where a leak is found. It could affect eight other apartments. And when you have a gas leak, that could affect a whole building. Or if you have no heat, it’s usually not just one apartment, it can be a whole development.  

The scope of work we oversee is…all the plumbing systems throughout this agency. Gas, domestic water, the roof tanks that supply the buildings, the sprinkler lines – and because there are no steam fitters [at NYCHA], we do heating work as well.  

There’s a quote that the plumbers union likes to use which states that “plumbers protect the health of the nation.” And it’s the truth. That’s what we do. 

And you’re responsible for all of that for the entire borough of Queens? 

And Staten Island too! Yes, me and my partner, Mike Catalano, we split Queens into two sections, four neighborhoods. I take Neighborhoods 1 and 2, Mike takes Neighborhoods 3 and 4. We cover all of Staten Island as well as Queens as a whole. We’ve been working together about 18 months, and I would say we’re doing pretty well. 

Please tell us about your path to becoming a NYCHA Supervisor Plumber. 

I started at this agency as a Plumber’s Helper 13 years ago. I worked five years as a Plumber’s Helper, and then I took the test to become a Plumber. I did that for five more years. I’m now in my third year as a Supervisor Plumber.  

How did you learn to lead the team as you do?  

The plumber’s apprenticeship program that I was in helped a lot. As an apprentice, you have to be about 10 steps ahead of the plumber you’re working with. You can’t keep that plumber waiting around. So I always had that in me, to always be ahead, to think ahead to the next step, and just keep everything running smooth.  

How many plumbers are on your team? 

There are six Plumbers and six Plumber’s Helpers that take care of every work order that’s created within Queens and Staten Island. Everybody’s got a cell phone, and we’re always in contact. I send text messages out with job details, send them on different tasks, whatever is needed at any moment. 

What does your typical workday look like?  

It’s nonstop. I stay on the move, and I do the administrative work as I go. Because while all the emails are coming in from every development within my cluster about emergencies, appointments to set up, or urgent requests to handle this or that, I also need to be checking on staff, getting materials, putting in orders at different plumbing companies in the field, so that my team has the material they need to do their work – because sometimes NYCHA doesn’t have enough of what we need in the shop. I put in the orders for materials, check on the status of other orders, make sure my team is well supplied, make sure management has all the information they need to manage those orders correctly, get purchases approved, and make sure the jobs themselves are getting done right. There’s a lot to handle.  

Do you usually work just regular business hours?  

Rarely. There’s always something to do, there’s always something going on, something to assist with so we can provide needed services to our residents. And if it’s a leak, like I said, it can damage other things if it’s not fixed quickly. You can’t just say, “We’ll fix that tomorrow when the other plumbers come in.” No, it needs to be fixed right now. It can’t wait.  

I love this work, and I love helping this community. That’s the heart of what I do – I provide service to the NYCHA community.