Backend Category: Career Development Initiative

Congratulations to Jeff Woodard, Recipient of the DEWALT Patriot Scholarship

The DEWALT Patriot Scholarship, now in its third year, was created to recognize two veterans, or those who are currently serving in the United States Military, who have valiantly served their country and have chosen to enter a career in the construction industry. Thank you to DEWALT for honoring our military and to our scholarship recipients for their service to our country. These two special scholarships were presented at the MCAA Awards of Excellence Breakfast in Orlando on March 20^th by Jon Howland (U.S. Navy Veteran) and Greg Polk.

Jeff Woodard served in the U.S. Navy for five years as a Hospital Corpsman, attaining the rank of Hospital Corpsman Third Class (E4). His entire military career was spent as a field medical service technician with USMC infantry and special operations units and consisted of multiple deployments. While deployed, his job centered around combat medicine, humanitarian aid, and casualty evacuation.

Jeff is studying Construction Management and anticipates graduating in May 2026 from the University of Nebraska’s Omaha campus. This summer, he is interning with MCAA Member, Mainelli Mechanical Contractors.

“When thinking of company values that are appealing to me, the first that comes to mind is one I learned in the military – servant leadership. I don’t mean that I expect a leader to be subservient, but that their leadership style comes from a place of mutual respect and a shared vision. Leaders who keep their employees accountable and encourage them to be the best version of themselves on whatever project they’re working on are conducive to getting the best results and maintaining job satisfaction.

Then a second value that I find important is work-life balance. I’m married and have two sons. I like work and look forward to getting into an industry that will change and push me, but in order to get the best work out of people, they also need time to decompress and play catch with their kids.

As a new construction management student, many of the meetings, classes, and webinars that I’ve been invited to with my student chapter have already presented me with more knowledge about specific industry practices and procedures than many of my classes. Topics ranging from How to Read Drawings to more broad subjects like Project Engineering Fundamentals for people new to the industry have both confirmed my decision to pursue mechanical contracting and given me a head start on the material that I will be expected to learn along the way. I hope one day to be able to put back into the organization to help future students because of how beneficial the MCA has already been for me.”

MCAA and the John R. Gentille Foundation congratulate Jeff on this prestigious scholarship and thank DEWALT for their commitment to supporting students interested in pursuing a career in the mechanical contracting industry.

Summer’s Here – Make a Splash with an Internship Grant

Summer internships are already at their midpoint. Did you remember to submit your Internship Grant applications for the lucky students spending their summer learning about mechanical contracting at your office? What could your company do with $1,000 to enhance your internship program that would create a splash around the office?

Ideas for 1-2 Interns

Offset their salary
Offer a housing subsidy, if they are from out of your area
Reward performance with a bonus
Develop individual scholarships

Ideas for Larger Groups of Interns

Order company swag
Provide technology upgrades
Participate in gift card raffles
Schedule a Lunch and Learn
Pair up with mentors for social outings
Team up with an MCAA company for an intern dodgeball / baseball match (with treats)
Gather for an end of summer celebration

Keep in mind, the first step to using Internship Grant funds successfully is to submit the form!

Internship Grant (Part 1):

Submit an application for each intern.
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
Companies with one intern are eligible for a $1,000 grant OR companies with two or more interns may receive a $2,000 grant.

Part 1: Internship Grant Application

Internship Grant (Part 2):

Then, once your intern is hired full-time post-graduation, come back and submit a Part 2 form for a $500 gift card to present to the new hire. Keep in mind, new hire conversions are unlimited, but the name must have previously been included on a Part 1 list. Part 2 applications may not be submitted until after the new hire’s full-time start date.

Part 2: Internship Grant Application

MCAA thanks the John R. Gentille Foundation for its support in underwriting many of the activities of the MCAA Career Development Initiative. Chief among these is an internship program that allows mechanical contractors to identify and evaluate potential full-time hires for their companies.

Congratulations to Carter Bennett, 2024 Alan P. O’Shea Memorial Scholarship Recipient

Congratulations to Carter Bennett, one of the two recipients of the Alan P. O’Shea Memorial Scholarship. The Mechanical Contractors Association of New Jersey established these scholarships to honor the memory of Alan P. O’Shea, it’s former Executive Director, and to memorialize his many contributions to the mechanical contracting industry. These scholarships were presented by Richard Tomaiko (MCA of New Jersey President) and Phillip Petillo (MCA of New Jersey Executive Director) at the MCAA24 Awards of Excellence Breakfast in Orlando on March 20th.

Carter anticipates graduating from Ferris State University in May 2025 with a degree in HVAC/R. He is currently active in his student chapter and has held the position of Treasurer. This summer Carter will be interning with MCAA Member, Limbach Company LLC.

“The amount of time and effort that MCAA puts into finding careers for their students seems to be the most out of the organizations. At Ferris, we have several companies that will come in and tell us about their company. For students that go into the HVAC/R trade blindly, it can be hard to imagine how work really is since it likely won’t be just like the labs that we have in school. When companies actually come in and talk about what they do, students can receive a much clearer picture into what they are walking into.

After I graduate, I would like to share my experiences with students to help them find a career for themselves. Being a student makes me realize how daunting it can be to find a career after college. Something that would make me want to work for a company would be knowing that they invest in someone as a person and not just to get the job done. When a company spends time teaching new employees and realizing that they have potential for more, it’s very appealing. The second thing would be the company’s atmosphere. Realizing that it is more like a family can make it a much more enjoyable place to work. These values are very important to me because I am someone who doesn’t look at a job opportunity as short-term, but more as an investment for myself.”

MCAA and the John R. Gentille Foundation congratulate Carter on this prestigious scholarship and thank the MCA of New Jersey for their commitment to supporting students interested in pursuing a career in the mechanical contracting industry.

Congratulations to Griffin Souder, Recipient of the Viega Scholarship

The Viega scholarship, now in its second year, was awarded to Griffin Souder. Scholarship requirements specify this award be presented to a student who is an active participant of an MCAA student chapter, who is a junior or senior, majoring in a construction program, with a 3.5 GPA or higher, who participated in MCAA’s Student Chapter Competition, and most importantly, who is committed to a career in mechanical contracting, demonstrated through a current or upcoming summer internship. Griffin checked all the boxes and was awarded a $5,000 check at MCAA24 in Orlando during the Awards of Excellence Breakfast.

Griffin is a Construction Engineering major at Pittsburg State University with an anticipated graduation of May 2025. He served as student chapter secretary and is currently interning at P1 Construction, LLC.

“The experience I have gained the most from being part of my MCAA student chapter is just creating all the relationships and meeting people in the mechanical industry. I really do enjoy creating relationships because someday, you might be working with them on a project and you already have an established relationship to build off. When our student chapter went to Milwaukee for the MCAA GreatFutures Forum, I had a blast meeting all of the other schools in MCAA, as well as all of the companies that took time to come to GreatFutures. It felt nice to feel part of an organization and feel involved, not just going to classes and going home every day.

After becoming part of Pittsburg State’s MCAA student chapter, I have really grown interested in the mechanical industry. With some help from our advisor and some additional help from MCAKC [the MCA of Kansas City], I was able to have interview with P1 Construction. I hope my summer internship with P1 goes well because I really want to pursue a career in mechanical construction. This summer will be my first internship with a mechanical contractor and I’m really looking forward to this summer to get in there and start learning everything I can.”

MCAA and the John R. Gentille Foundation congratulate Griffin on this prestigious scholarship and thank Viega for their commitment to supporting students interested in pursuing a career in the mechanical contracting industry.

Congratulations to Kyla Magee, Recipient of the Ferguson Women in the Mechanical Industry Scholarship

Kyla Magee is one of two recipients of the Ferguson – Women in the Mechanical Industry (WiMI) Scholarship. Annually, the two scholarship recipients are invited to attend the WiMI Conference with complimentary registration. This year, the conference was held June 10-12 in Cleveland, OH.

Kyla anticipates graduating from the University of Nebraska in December 2025 with a degree in Construction Engineering. She is currently serving her chapter as the Student Chapter President and has previously held the roles of Community Service Chair and Vice President. She previously interned with Ray Martin Company and is interning this summer with MMC Contractors. Both companies are MCAA members.

“At first glance, my favorite thing about mechanical construction is the construction part itself. I think plumbing, hydronic piping, and HVAC are so interesting and so complex in how they are designed and manufactured. There is still so much about mechanical construction that I don’t know and I am so eager to learn. I think the most appealing part of mechanical is the community aspect. I think because it is a specialty that the people in this industry have much more of a community with each other, even across the country. Through my experience with MCA-Omaha and at MCAA events, people have been so welcoming and so open to teaching me new things. I think compared to a GC, mechanical has so much more of a personal feeling. I remember at my first GreatFutures Forum, it was explained that a building is just a shell without mechanical construction and that mechanical is the heart of a building. I thought that was so cool and so true (and still do)!

When I first joined my student chapter, I didn’t realize how much it would matter to me. I needed to join a club at the time for my scholarship and figured it would turn into one of those things where you meet once a month and never really talk to anyone. I couldn’t have been more wrong once I realized how much of a community there is inside of MCAA, MCA-Omaha, and especially within our student chapter in Nebraska. I’ve built so many friendships and relationships with industry professionals that I recognize and feel comfortable talking to. Besides that, I’ve been able to hold multiple leadership positions in which I’ve been able to help influence my fellow students to pursue mechanical as a career. I’ve learned so much locally and every time I get to attend a national conference, I feel grateful to learn about everyone else’s experiences as well. After graduation, I plan to stay involved with my local student chapter by becoming a mentor and of course, working for an MCAA contractor.”

MCAA and the John R. Gentille Foundation congratulate Kyla on this prestigious scholarship and thank Ferguson for their commitment to supporting students interested in pursuing a career in the mechanical contracting industry.

GreatFutures Forum Registration Now Open

Registration for the 2024 MCAA GreatFutures Forum is now open. Join us for this three-day annual conference designed to connect MCAA members with students interested in internship and full-time opportunities in mechanical contracting. MCAA Student Chapter Members, Faculty Advisors, Members, Local Association Executives and Forum Sponsors all enjoy complimentary registration, so register today!

2024 MCAA GreatFutures Forum
September 26 – 28 | The Westin Seattle

GreatFutures Forum Registration

Registration Deadline: Friday, August 30^th

Congratulations to Gina Carnovale, Recipient of the Ferguson Women in the Mechanical Industry Scholarship

This is the seventh year for the Ferguson Women in the Mechanical Industry (WiMI) Scholarship, which was presented at the Awards of Excellence Breakfast during the MCAA Convention to two high-achieving female students working toward a degree relative to the mechanical industry. Both recipients were invited to attend the 2024 WiMI Conference in Cleveland, OH, as honored attendees with complimentary registration.

Gina is a Construction Management major at Kent State University with an anticipated graduation of May 2025. She is an active member of her student chapter and has served as the competition chair lead and secretary. Last summer she interned with MCAA Member, Southland Industries.

“Before becoming involved with Kent State’s MCAA student chapter, I had limited knowledge of what a career in construction entailed, let alone mechanical contracting. Joining the organization marked a pivotal moment in my academic journey as it has provided me with countless opportunities. The Student Chapter Competition was the baseline of my knowledge and I used the knowledge I gained from this experience and the Job Fair at the 2022 GreatFutures Forum to land my first internship (Southland Industries). This has since launched my passion for the industry and has inspired me to create bigger career goals for myself.

My favorite aspect of MCAA as a future professional is its ability to transform the construction industry into a closely-knit community, encouraging collaboration among companies nationwide. Through MCAA, I have made professional connections that I believe will be valuable throughout my entire career. Moreover, my involvement in MCAA has allowed me to assume leadership roles within our student chapter, enhancing not only my technical skills, but also my soft skills, such as communication and teamwork.

Looking forward, I hope to further enhance my leadership abilities through continued involvement with MCAA after graduation by working for a company deeply involved in the national organization. It would be incredibly rewarding to give back to an organization that has offered me so much. Since my first MCAA conference, I have considered what it may be like to potentially be a panel member someday, sharing my own story. My goal is to share my experiences through MCAA, inspiring other college students to consider the mechanical industry and explore the opportunities it holds.”

MCAA and the John R. Gentille Foundation congratulate Gina on this prestigious scholarship and thank Ferguson for their commitment to supporting students interested in pursuing a career in the mechanical contracting industry.

GreatFutures Forum Registration Will Open on June 14

Registration for the MCAA 2024 GreatFutures Forum will open on Friday, June 14^th, with a registration deadline of Friday, August 30^th. Registration is complimentary for MCAA Student Chapter members, Faculty Advisors, Members, Local Association Executives and Forum Sponsors.

Program Highlights

Presidential Welcome from Rick Gopffarth
Moving the Needle Panel
Mastering the Swing of Social Etiquette
Topgolf Offsite Activity and Dinner
Job Fair Breakfast
Innovation – An Intertwined Future Keynote with Tanmay Bakshi
Competition Skills: Takeoff Basics
’24-’25 Competition Introduction
MacDonald-Miller Facility Solutions Tour
Seattle Aquarium Offsite Activity and Dinner
The Mechanical Puzzle

GreatFutures Forum Information

Make the Most of Your Internship Grant Funds this Summer

If your company employs one or two interns, then ways to utilize a JRGF Part 1 Internship Grant ( $1,000 for 1 intern / $2,000 for 2+ interns) are fairly obvious, such as offsetting the interns’ salary, offering a housing subsidy if they’re from out of the area, or even rewarding the interns with a bonus upon completion of a successful summer. However, distributing the funds over multiple interns can be more of a logistical challenge. The following are a few ideas to help make the most of the internship grant and to elevate the overall internship experience at your company.

Intern Orientation Day – Gather all interns and host a training day where company policies and values are reviewed. Tour your office, make introductions and then use the funds for a lunch to make the new interns feel welcome and part of the team.

Company Swag – Nothing says welcome to the team like branded apparel! Set your interns up in style with a collection of shirts, hats, tech cases/gadgets and personalized drinkware.

Technology Upgrades – Don’t get stuck troubleshooting out-of-date, hand me down, or broken devices from the previous decade. Upgrade your intern’s tech prior to their starting date so they can start fresh and be ready to roll on day one.

Gift Card Raffles – Keep the fun going all summer with friendly office competitions or raffles throughout their internship by offering multiple prizes in smaller increments.

Lunch and Learns – Consider adding intern/new hire lunch and learn topics over the summer to supplement their classroom and hands-on education. Each educational gathering doubles as an opportunity to further show your company’s investment in their future with your company.

Intern/Mentor Activities – Pair your intern with a company mentor and encourage them to get to know each other in a relaxed setting by blowing off some steam during bowling, pickleball, mini golf, or even an escape room outing. Gather the mentor/intern pairs afterwards for a special sweet treat such as snow cones or ice cream.

End of Summer Celebration – Celebrate their successful summer with a pizza party or food from your local caterer of choice. Everyone loves food, especially college students! Compile photos of the interns’ experience and run the slides on a loop throughout the event to remind them how truly incredible their summer was with your company.

Keep in mind, the first step to utilizing Internship Grant funds successfully is to submit the form!

Internship Grant (Part 1)

Submit an application for each intern.
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
Companies with one intern are eligible for a $1,000 grant. Companies with two or more interns may receive a $2,000 grant.

Part 1: Internship Grant Application

Internship Grant (Part 2)

Once your intern is hired full-time post-graduation, come back and submit a Part 2 form for a $500 gift card to present to the new hire. Keep in mind, new hire conversions are unlimited, but the name must have previously been included on a Part 1 list from an MCAA company. Part 2 applications may not be submitted until after the new hire’s full-time start date.

Part 2: Internship Grant Application

Congratulations to Adam Kuschewski, Recipient of the ATP Inspiring Future Leaders Scholarship

Adam Kuschewski is the recipient of the ATP Inspiring Future Leaders Scholarship. This scholarship was established in 2023 to recognize, support and inspire students in the mechanical industry.

Adam is studying Mechanical Engineering at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and is anticipating to graduate in May 2027. This past year was his first in the student chapter and he is planning on interning this summer with MCAA Member, CT Mechanical.

“I have not been a part of the SIUE MCAA Chapter for that long, granted it has only been a chapter for 2 years now (Chartered at MCAA23), but I have learned a lot this past year. Such as how the bidding process goes about, how to work as a team, what the field is like, and the vast opportunities that await me in the mechanical construction industry. I hope to have a lasting relationship with my school’s MCAA student chapter after I graduate by assisting new members with the bidding process and showing them what MCAA is all about.

I love solving problems and helping others. I seem to have talent in math, logic and reasoning, so I figured mechanical construction would be a great way to apply those skills in a meaningful way to better the world. After college, I can see myself working hard within a mechanical contracting company.”

MCAA and the John R. Gentille Foundation congratulate Adam on this prestigious scholarship and thank ATP for their commitment to supporting students interested in pursuing a career in the mechanical contracting industry.

Congratulations to Madison Deck, Recipient of the Thomas J. Wanner Scholarship

Congratulations to Madison Deck, the recipient of the Thomas J. Wanner Scholarship. This scholarship, which was established in 2022, honors the retired MCA of Cleveland Executive Director, Thomas J. Wanner. Tom became the Executive Director of the Mechanical and Plumbing Contractors Association in the Greater Cleveland area in 1986. As the association executive, he focused tirelessly on labor relations, collective bargaining, education and training, legislation, codes and business operations for over 3 decades. He served as a trustee, a chair, and a member of numerous local industry, business, and civic organizations.

Madison is studying Mechanical Engineering at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and is anticipated to graduate in May 2027. This past year was her first year in the student chapter and she took on the role of Vice President.

“My involvement with the MCAA student chapter has allowed me to develop a greater understanding of potential careers I have outside of school. In the future, I would like to help student chapter members with their projects and help to introduce students to the mechanical contracting industry.

When people hear the word “engineering,” they usually think of machines. However, the mechanical contracting industry plays a pivotal role in our everyday lives. The temperature of a building drastically affects people’s comfort, health and productivity.

With the knowledge that I’ve gained from majoring in mechanical engineering, I would like to become a design engineer and project manager for a mechanical contractor and oversee projects to see how designs translate to the real world. Even if the economy worsens, there will always be a demand for heating and cooling in buildings. As concerns for the environment grow due to climate change, I would like to discover new ways of lessening the environmental impact of the industry on the planet.”

MCAA and the John R. Gentille Foundation congratulate Madison on this prestigious scholarship and thank the MCA/MSCA of Cleveland, Inc. for their commitment to supporting students interested in pursuing a career in the mechanical contracting industry.

You Have an Intern – Now What?

The start of summer is almost here and a fresh batch of interns will soon be flowing through the doors of mechanical contracting companies across the country. You have hired your interns, but now what do you do with them? MCAA’s Internship Hot Sauce Guide answers this question with a visual display of intern-level tasks, classified by level of industry experience.

Not all sophomores are on the same level, and a freshman with extensive industry knowledge could potentially take on more challenging projects than a senior who has never stepped foot in a jobsite trailer. The Hot Sauce Guide encourages you to meet the intern where they are and work up from Mild to Spicy tasks and at their individual pace.

Check Out the Internship Guide

Congratulations to Shelby Gustafson, First Recipient of the Donald V. Brown, Sr. Memorial Scholarship

D.V. Brown & Associates, Inc., a charter member of MCAA, has established a new scholarship to commemorate the memory of its founder, Donald V. Brown, Senior. Congratulations to the first recipient – Shelby Gustafson!

Shelby is a Construction Management major at California State University, Chico with an anticipated graduation of May 2027. She is an active member of her student chapter and served as Vice President. Last summer she interned with MCAA Member, ACCO Engineered Systems and plans on returning to ACCO for the summer of 2024 to continue her internship experience.

“While working at ACCO, I have noticed that everyone there gives 100% commitment and effort constantly. This is important to me when thinking about a future career because I always give 100% to all of my projects and commitments as well. Being on a team with a mirrored mindset is super important to me because it allows me to reach my full potential. Seeing that everyone is a tight knit family is also notable because with the stress and competitive market of the industry it is nice to know that there is a supportive group backing me no matter what. Being able to reach out for help, especially in the beginning years, is especially valuable because it is vital to have people to rely on.

Through my student chapter, I have gained not only knowledge in the industry, but also a solid group of friends. The competition allowed me to expand my public speaking skills as well as get a better understanding of high-level mechanical scheduling and estimating. Without my chapter, I wouldn’t have been offered as many internship experiences and I will be forever grateful for it. I’ll be sure to keep a lookout on student outreach programs in my future company and of course I would make the drive to Chico to help support the program in the future.”

MCAA and the John R. Gentille Foundation congratulate Shelby on this prestigious scholarship and thank D.V. Brown & Associates, Inc. for their commitment to supporting students interested in pursuing a career in the mechanical contracting industry.

Congratulations to Kavan Limbasiya, 2024 Robert J. Durr, Sr. – UA/NCPWB Partnering Scholarship Recipient

Congratulations to Kavan Limbasiya, the recipient of the Robert J. Durr, Sr. – UA/NCPWB Partnering Scholarship, which is in honor of Robert J. Durr, Sr., former chairman of the National Certified Pipe Welding Bureau Board of Trustees, for his effort and dedication in creating a partnership between the UA and the NCPWB, which resulted in the formation of the Joint Welder Testing Program.

Kavan is studying Construction Management at Pittsburg State University and anticipates graduating in May 2025. He is an active member of his student chapter and will intern with MCAA Member, The Waldinger Corporation this summer.

“I have gained a lot through MCAA not only academically, but also personally. Academically I’ve learned a lot of things about what goes into a fully functional mechanical system. The MCAA Student Chapter Competition project exposed me to the responsibilities of a mechanical company. Personally, MCAA gave me the opportunity to socialize and make connections that have helped me to grow to be a more outgoing person.

Mechanical construction captivates me due to its dynamic nature and the opportunity it provides for innovation. The mix of creativity and precision required in designing and building mechanical systems intrigues me, and I am drawn to what I can contribute to advancements in this field. The hands-on aspect of mechanical construction aligns perfectly with my desire for practical, real-world applications of engineering principles. Moreover, the continuous evolution of technology in mechanical systems excites me and I’m eager to immerse myself in a field that demands adaptability and problem-solving skills. I see mechanical construction as not just a career path, but as a platform to make a meaningful impact by shaping the future.”

MCAA and the John R. Gentille Foundation congratulate Kavan on this prestigious scholarship and thank the NCPWB for their commitment to supporting students interested in pursuing a career in the mechanical contracting industry.

Congratulations to Jaden Doebelin, 2024 DEWALT Patriot Scholarship Recipient

Congratulations to Jaden Doebelin, one of two recipients of the DEWALT Patriot Scholarship, now in its third year. The scholarship was created to recognize veterans, or those who are currently serving in the United States military, and have chosen to enter a career in the trades. MCAA thanks DEWALT Industrial Tool Company for honoring our military and our scholarship recipients for serving our country. Jon Howland (U.S. Navy Veteran) and Greg Polk of DEWALT presented the scholarships at the MCAA Awards of Excellence Breakfast in Orlando on March 20^th.

Jaden Doebelin has been serving in the United States Army Iowa National Guard for over 4 ½ years and is currently a Sergeant E-5 Military Occupational Special, Indirect Infantryman 11C. As an 11C, he is in charge of a mortar gunnery squad that includes four additional soldiers.

Jaden, who is studying Construction Engineering, anticipates graduating from Iowa State University in May 2025. This summer, he will intern with MCAA Member, Baker Group, as a Service Intern.

“The most appealing part of mechanical construction is the desire for efficiency and innovation. I enjoy taking an item and improving it to the best of my capabilities for better performance. I’ve learned that mechanical construction also takes up around 30% of the total budget, which makes the aspect of comforting the owner with a finished product a high responsibility.

Immediately following graduation, I will start pre-deployment training. Following my return to the construction industry, I would like to grow my overall knowledge and understanding in a service division. Ultimately, I would like to move to the project management side, however I believe it will be imperative to know the intricacies of mechanical construction before leading a crew of people to install new equipment.

Through my involvement with my MCAA student chapter, I have gained overall knowledge from being exposed to local mechanical contractors in Iowa. I’ve also been able to work with other students in pursuit of HVAC from different majors. I’ve connected with leaders in this industry and have learned the niches of mechanical construction through networking events. I truly enjoy the aspect of leadership that mechanical construction provides. I’ve also enjoyed learning about different techniques to mentor others in favor of accomplishing the same mission.”

MCAA and the John R. Gentille Foundation congratulate Jaden on this prestigious scholarship and thank DEWALT for their commitment to supporting students interested in pursuing a career in the mechanical contracting industry.

Congratulations Spring Graduates! Have New Hires? It’s Time to Submit Part 2 Internship Grants

Graduation season is quickly approaching and interns are ready to step into full-time roles. Don’t forget to submit a Part 2 Internship Grant for any intern that converts to a full-time new hire at your company and was previously on a Part 1 list.

Part 2 Internship Grant recipients will receive a $500 gift card, mailed to the company, to present as a hiring bonus to their new employee.

Snap a picture of your new hire on the jobsite, wearing company swag, or with your logo. The photos will be highlighted on our Wall of Interns at MCAA25 next March.

Please note that Part 2 forms may not be submitted until after the new hire’s full-time start date.

Internship Grant – Part 2 Form

Congratulations to Daniel Kellen, 2024 Robert T. Armistead Memorial Scholarship Recipient

Congratulations to Daniel Kellen, one of two recipients of the first ever Robert T. Armistead Memorial Scholarship. This $5,000 scholarship was established by Armistead Mechanical, Inc. and the family of Robert “Bob” Armistead to symbolize his leadership, dedication, and impact on the mechanical contracting industry. In honor of Bob’s service as MCAA President, the selected winners are required to have served as their local student chapter president.

Daniel is a Construction Engineering student at Iowa State University and is anticipated to graduate in May 2025. He’s an active member of his student chapter, served as president, and previously interned at MCAA Member, the Baker Group. For the summer of 2024, he will be interning at MCAA Member, Harris Company as a Construction Project Manager Intern.

“At my previous internship, I liked that many employees were graduates from the same program I’m studying. It made working with everyone very relatable. I also enjoyed that each new day I had something related to an actual job that I was working on. Every task I was given was important in some way to a real job. The fact that I was actively making a difference and gaining real experience in dealing with day-to-day problems in the construction world was extremely gratifying.

Mechanical construction is a niche area of work. I like the fact that the mechanical systems are like the nervous system of the building. Without them, you have a structure, but not much else.

In the future, I see myself working as an assistant project manager immediately after graduation, hopefully with a company I have worked with already. Five years later, I hope to be running projects of my own and helping more people. I believe the experience and responsibilities entrusted to me by the companies I have worked with in the past make me more than prepared to start working on more detail-oriented projects. If I didn’t have previous experience, I would have to learn the basics of working on a jobsite instead of progressing further along.”

MCAA and the John R. Gentille Foundation congratulate Daniel on this prestigious scholarship and thank Armistead Mechanical, Inc. and the family of Robert T. Armistead for their commitment to supporting students interested in pursuing a career in the mechanical contracting industry.

Save the Date for MCAA’s 2024 GreatFutures Forum

Although summer ’24 isn’t quite here yet, it’s already time to start the process for securing your summer ’25 interns! Save the date for the 2024 MCAA GreatFutures Forum (September 26-28, 2024) in Seattle, WA. Conference registration, including the 9/27 Job Fair, is complimentary for MCAA Members, Local Association Executives and Forum Sponsors. Registration will open on June 14^th.

Congratulations to Drew Figura, 2024 Bolton Family Scholarship Recipient

Congratulations to Drew Figura, the recipient of the new Bolton Family Scholarship. This $5,000 scholarship was established to pay tribute to the significant contributions that the Boltons have provided to the construction industry and the dedicated service they have provided to the employees of Arden Building Companies.

The scholarship honors the family’s dedicated volunteer work within the communities they service in Rhode Island, notably their efforts in aiding children from Spanish and Portuguese-speaking backgrounds in mastering the English language within the school system and their improvements with the Ronald McDonald House. The scholarship embodies the values of service, community engagement and support for those in need that have been integral to the Bolton family’s legacy.

Drew is studying Construction Management at the University of Nebraska and is expecting to graduate in the winter of 2025. He is an active member of his student chapter and has interned with MCAA Member, the Helm Group.

“What I have gained as part of MCAA is lots of connections in the construction industry, which has helped me in school, but will also help me in the future during my career. This past summer I worked for a general contractor, but my student chapter mentor through the MCA-Omaha Leadership Academy was the project manager on the job. Having him there was beneficial and he taught me a lot about the systems being installed for the project. After my summer internship, my mentor offered me an internship at Helm Group. Before being part of MCAA, I didn’t even know what mechanical construction was.

In the past year and a half, I’ve learned that mechanical construction plays a large role in almost all construction projects. I can see myself in mechanical once I graduate in two years. I enjoy the team I’m working with and can see myself working there once I graduate.”

MCAA and the John R. Gentille Foundation congratulate Drew on this prestigious scholarship and thank the Bolton Family and Arden Engineering Companies for their commitment to supporting students interested in pursuing a career in the mechanical contracting industry.

2023-2024 Student Chapter Competition

At the MCAA24 Awards of Excellence Breakfast on March 20^th, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo was awarded the top prize of $10,000 and a trophy for their outstanding work on the 2023-2024 Student Chapter Competition.

CalPoly San Luis Obispo Sponsoring Local Affiliate: Northern California MCA
• Alex Hall – Executive Vice President
• Mike Stirling – Director of Member Relations

Faculty Advisors
• Paul Redden
• Joseph Cleary

The University of Wisconsin-Stout was the runner-up, placing second and received a trophy and a check for $5,000.

Ball State University and McMaster University rounded out the final four. Both Honorable Mention finalists received trophies and $2,500 checks.

Six teams (out of the 24 submissions) were recognized with Merit Trophies and checks for $1,000. They are, in alphabetical order:

California State University, Chico
Kansas State University
Kent State University
Missouri State University
Pittsburg State University
University of Maryland, College Park

The project involved submitting a proposal as the prime mechanical contractor for the Kansas City Zoo Aquarium. This included all piping, HVAC, controls and additional work required from the bid documents.

Thank you to the following companies for their special contributions to the project:

MMC Contractors National, Inc. (supplying the project)
- Jeremy Millard (Introduction & What Really Happened)
Procore (use of Project Management software)
Trimble (use of Trimble Estimation MEP software)
Ferguson (providing pricing for pipe values and fittings)

MCAA Career Development Committee – Judges

Justin Blackledge, The Waldinger Corporation – Omaha
Anne Finerfrock, W.E. Bowers
Sarabeth Gandara, U.S. Engineering Construction
Scott Hinton, Enerfab Power and Industrial, Inc.
Michael Russo, Fresh Meadow Mechanical Corporation
Kurt Voss, Integrated Facility Services
John Ziemann, Mollenberg-Betz, Inc.

Thank you as well to the Chair of the Career Development Committee, Andrew Palcan of Helm Group, for serving as the emcee for the competition in Orlando!

The MCAA Career Development Committee is currently hard at work planning for the 2024-2025 project. The next project will be announced this fall, and a Q&A session is on the schedule for the GreatFutures Forum in Seattle (September 26–28). Registration for the full conference is complimentary for MCAA contractor members and includes the GreatFutures Job Fair on Friday morning. Watch mcaa.org and MCAA’s National Update e-newsletter for information as the date gets closer.

Most Valuable Presenter

The Career Development Committee recognized a student who did the best job presenting their proposal, whether or not their team won. The audience members voted live between schools and ultimately Hans Stelpflug of the University of Wisconsin-Stout was awarded a trophy, a $500 gift card, a complimentary seat in MCAA’s Preparatory Institute for Project Management, and the title of 2023-2024 Most Valuable Presenter.

Hans is majoring in construction management and will graduate this spring.

University of Wisconsin-Stout Sponsoring Local Affiliate:
Minnesota Mechanical Contractors Association

Faculty Advisor:
• Dean Wirtanen

Trimble Future Estimator Scholarship

The Trimble Future Estimator Scholarship was developed to recognize a student not only interested in mechanical contracting, but specifically to a student with an interest in being a mechanical estimator upon graduation. This $5,000 scholarship is available to a student who participated in the Final Four round of the MCAA Student Chapter Competition.

Pictured: Brian Helm (JRGF President), Daniel DeSoto (CalPoly), Rocco Bognet (Trimble), Ron King (Trimble), and Robert Beck (MCAA President)

Trimble Future Estimator Scholarship Winner:
Daniel DeSoto – California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo

Congratulations to all the 2023-2024 participating teams!