Mel Plummer

Unwavering in his devotion to society, Melvin D. Plummer has harnessed his entrepreneurial spirit to make an indelible mark over five transformative decades. His eclectic resume blends business ownership, academic achievement in Science at TRW, Engineering prowess at UCLA as Laboratory Manager, construction expertise as a B1 General Contractor, and decades of public service as the Chief Inspector for Los Angeles County & City, culminating in his current role as Founder/CTO of Hydrant Guard. 

Seizing the opportunity to effect change following the Rodney King incident, Mel orchestrated the construction of numerous 'fast-track' Taco Bell restaurants throughout South-Central Los Angeles as a Project Manager for the Pepsi Corporation. Leveraging this experience, he played an instrumental role in the development of the Systematic Code Enforcement Program (SCEP) for Los Angeles' Housing Department. This initiative catapulted to #1 for Government Efficiency in the nation, as ranked by Harvard's Kennedy School of Business, with Mel serving as the National Training Officer. 

Mel's dedication extends to academia as an Adjunct Assistant Professor at Pasadena City College. For over two decades, he has cultivated a new generation of Contractors and Building Inspectors, securing job placements across LA and earning the prestigious Aspen Award for his program's record-breaking starting salaries. 

Driven by a profound commitment to his South-Central Los Angeles community, Mel has collaborated with various community-based and non-profit organizations to develop construction training programs. His over 6,000 hours of community service were recognized with the Presidential Lifetime Achievement award in August 2022. 

As an accomplished entrepreneur, Mel's ventures include the design and construction of the Marcus Garvey School in Los Angeles, achieved in just 13 months with a community-based construction crew. His extensive patent portfolio features utility patents, copyrights, and trademarks, while his latest venture, Hydrant Guard, showcases a water-conserving breakaway check valve that's making waves nationwide. 

Mel and his wife, Sandra, celebrate a half-century of a thriving marriage, blessed with two sons and two granddaughters. A lifelong 'tinkerer,' Mel relishes turning 'thoughts into things.' His ultimate goal? To continue his mission to make positive societal contributions, believing in the power of leading by example and teaching others to do the same.