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U.S. Engineering Intern Gains Valuable Experience Virtually

The ever evolving COVID-19 restrictions have forced MCAA member companies to adapt to new normals. MCAA member, U.S. Engineering (USE), is among them. The company has transitioned their summer internship program to a virtual platform and has been quick to adapt to online engagement in order to assure the internship experience is valuable for this summer’s 24 interns.

Among those interns is Kenny Griffin, Iowa State University MCAA Student Chapter member.

About Kenny

Kenny Griffin is an incoming Senior at Iowa State University and a member of the university’s MCAA Student Chapter. He is studying Construction Engineering with a mechanical emphasis.

In June Kenny began his internship with U.S. Engineering’s Rocky Mountain division and has been assigned to a Project Manager team comprised of two PMs and two Senior PMs. He has had the opportunity to perform different tasks, ranging from projections, O&M’s, updating equipment logs and reviewing RFI’s and submittals.

Kenny says, “We are currently tasked with the construction of the mechanical systems of a high technology facility for a confidential client. This is an expansion of an existing facility, housing its own central utility plans as well as various specialty testing labs and clean rooms.”

MCAA Student Chapter Experience

Kenny found his internship opportunity at the 2019 MCAA Great Futures Forum networking event in Washington, DC, where he was introduced to Sarabeth Gandara, U.S. Engineering Project Engineer.

“I later caught up with Sarabeth and Desiree Sharp (from the Kansas City office) at the Friday morning job fair where I was able to learn about USE, their office locations and the types of work USE performs. After the GreatFutures Forum concluded, I was contacted by Sarabeth for an interview and the rest is history.”

Kenny currently serves as his MCAA Student Chapter’s Vice President and says, “I have endless great things to say about the experiences you gain from being part of MCAA. It has opened countless doors of opportunity to meet peers from other programs across the country, as well as gain exposure to companies that do not frequent job fairs near Iowa State University.”

Start Your Search for Top Talent Today

Find student chapter members like Kenny by visiting MCAAGreatFutures.org, where members have access to student profiles and resumes. The profiles are searchable by university, desired location, and even a specific skill set, like BIM or AutoCAD. A keyword filter allows users to zero in on students who fit the bill.

Beyond the Classroom: Let’s Get Down to Business

In this month’s Beyond the Classroom, meet University of Nebraska senior, Ali Brown. She is an MCAA Student Chapter member and current intern for The Waldinger Corporation. Ali is the 2020 Women in the Mechanical Industry – Ferguson Scholarship recipient. You can read Ali’s profile HERE.

Ali is earning her degree in Business Administration & Human Resources. In this video, Ali shares her perspective on entering the mechanical contracting industry and emphasizes the importance of business and human resources.

Upcoming Beyond the Classroom videos will showcase how MCAA student chapter members and MCAA members alike are benefiting from the program. They will also share the opportunities available to students who choose careers in the mechanical industry.

Marelich Mechanical Company, Inc. Offers Career Opportunities for Chico State Student Chapter Members

Marelich Mechanical Company, Inc. employs summer interns and new-hire project engineers from Northern California MCA student chapter programs. Chad Johnston, VP of Operations said, “Even with the circumstances we were still able to bring aboard seven summer intern and new-hire project engineers. We provide them a job opportunity, and most importantly give them experience in the plumbing and mechanical sector of the construction industry.”

Chad Johnston shares an overview of Marelich Mechanical’s onboarding process for interns and full-time hires:

New hires get the chance to spend a day in the main office meeting different department staff: Human Resources, IT, Safety, Purchasing, Estimating, Detailing, Design and Operations. The following days are typically spent riding around with the plumbing, piping, and sheet metal superintendents walking through various projects and fabrication shops to experience all aspects of Marelich operations beyond their specific project assignment.

This summer, due to the impacts of COVID-19, the onboarding process was drastically modified. All new hires were brought into a mostly vacant office, meeting only a few essential individuals allowed in the office, with face masks used and social distancing maintained. No welcome aboard handshakes, no superintendent ride-along, no touring of multiple jobsites, and no group Marelich camping and rafting trip that have been done in past years.

Chad says, “Yes, things are different this year. For any new hire to any company right now, the empty offices, teams working remotely, and the mandated social distancing makes our organizations feel different than they did just a few months ago. Fortunately, we were able to continue our process of giving students of our Nor Cal MCA Student Chapters schools the opportunity for a career and experience in the industry.”

Below are just a few of the tasks interns and new-hires will be performing this summer:

Reading and understanding project plans and specifications
Writing, submitting, tracking, and resolving RFI’s
Shop drawing submittals and tracking
Processing equipment and material submittals and structural anchorage packages
Managing equipment and material procurement and their releases to meet the project schedule
Attending, documenting, and follow up for on-site meetings
Developing labor loaded schedules; Tracking installed quantities and labor tracking
Estimating, tracking and managing change orders
Coordinating design changes with subcontractors & vendors
QA/QC process follow-up

Chico State Interns

Marelich currently has three MCAA Student Chapter members of California State University, Chico interning this summer including, mechanical engineering major, Jimmie Whitton and construction management majors, Erich Anderson and Wyatt Hattich.

Wyatt Hattich is the retuning MCAA Student Chapter Vice President at Chico State. This summer, Wyatt is working on the HVAC in a luxury 19-story apartment building, Trinity Phase IV, in San Francisco. The largest Whole Foods in San Francisco is being built in the basement below the lobby of the apartments. Below the Whole Foods are five-floors of parking that will connect to the Trinity Phase III building next door.

Wyatt reflects on his experience so far as an intern, “What I really like about Marelich is that they all have made me feel very welcome in their company. They are all so open to help me succeed and learn new things about the mechanical industry. I am very grateful that Marelich allowed me to intern this summer and have given me such a positive experience.”

Full-time Chico State Hire

Ryan Smith graduated Chico State May 2020 with a Construction Management degree and just started full-time as a Project Manager with Marelich.

He is helping to manage the pipe fitters and sheet metal unions, focusing on HVAC work. During his experiences so far, Ryan has learned, “what truly make a great project manager is how you fix your mistakes when they arise.”

His current project is a San Francisco high end hotel and residential condo project. There are over 500 units between the hotel and condos, each has a fan coil unit which is connected to a VRF, and over five miles of refrigerant line.

“Since it is San Francisco we get to use cool tools like zoom lock which is like pro press. I process the submittals, RFI’s, IOM’s, and fix problems on the daily basis. San Francisco is a high stress environment but has some of the smartest individuals I have ever worked with. I thank MCAA for giving me such a great opportunity and for connecting me with such a great employer, Marelich Mechanical. Thank you for all you have done and for pointing me in the right direction.”

Start Your Search for Top Talent Today

Find student chapter members like Wyatt and Ryan by visiting MCAAGreatFutures.org, where members have access to student profiles and resumes. The profiles are searchable by university, desired location, and even a specific skill set, like BIM or AutoCAD. A keyword filter allows users to zero in on students who fit the bill.

Intern Builds Skills & Relationships at The Waldinger Corporation

Masen Dinklage, a member of the MCAA Student Chapter at the University of Nebraska, is spending his third consecutive summer as a Project Management intern with The Waldinger Corporation. Through a variety of activities, he is gaining industry knowledge and building relationships that will help him succeed in his great future.

During his internship, Masen is learning about the process of submittals, RFIs, purchasing, commissioning and scheduling. “I have learned a lot about what goes on behind the scenes over the course of a construction project,” he said.

“I have learned during my internship that it is important to develop relationships with co-workers, vendors and contractors,” he said, adding “These relationships can help build technical knowledge, create a more open means of communication and provide an overall better environment for work.”

MCAA Student Chapter Experience

Masen, a Mechanical Engineering major, plans to graduate in December 2021. He has been a member of his MCAA Student Chapter, which is sponsored by the MCA of Omaha, Inc., since January 2018.

“The MCA-Omaha student chapter has provided excellent resources to help me grow and cultivate my leadership, communication and organization skills. The chapter has helped me develop valuable relationships with industry professionals, some of such relationships helping me earn my internship.”

Masen is building on those relationships by serving as this year’s fundraising chair for the MCA of Omaha, Inc. Wine Tasting Event, which is scheduled for November. His role involves collaborating with the MCA of Omaha, Inc. team to coordinate the event.

“I look forward to building a career in this industry and am excited to build relationships and also my technical knowledge in mechanical systems,” he said.

Start Your Search for Top Talent Today

Find student chapter members like Masen by visiting MCAAGreatFutures.org, where members have access to student profiles and resumes. The profiles are searchable by university, desired location, and even a specific skill set, like BIM or AutoCAD. A keyword filter allows users to zero in on students who fit the bill.

Arden Engineering Constructors, LLC Internships Pave the Way to Full-time Careers

Arden Engineering Constructors, LLC, internships prepare students for careers in the construction industry. That guidance has paid off for both the company and three recent graduates who accepted full-time positions within the Arden Building Companies family of businesses. Congratulations to Natalie Mansson, Andrew Basile and Alex Appolonia on finding their great futures with Arden.

About Natalie

Natalie Mansson was hired in May 2020 as Arden Engineering Constructors, LLC’s newest Project Engineer. She interned for the company last winter.

She has had an interest in construction from an early age. “I knew construction would be a great career path for me when my family bought an old Cape house that needed a major renovation,” she said. “I would always ask the contractor, plumber, and electrician questions about their work and the different systems used.”

A recent graduate of Roger Williams University, Natalie studied Construction Management (CM). She grew to love the construction industry more during her time in school, so she decided to take another year to receive her master’s degree in CM.

“My experience at Arden so far has been incredible. I have been working in the estimating department, learning the different software the estimators use and completing various takeoffs. I have also worked with project managers, attended an on-site meeting, and did a site walk-through to see the incredible work Arden is doing.”

About Andrew

Andrew Basile was hired this May as a Controls Engineer with Earthwise Energy Technologies. Andrew is a graduate of Western New England University where he studied Mechanical Engineering.

“I chose mechanical engineering as my field of study because of my love to learn about the inner workings of everyday objects and systems and to be able to use that information, along with some creativity, to create a useful end product,” he said. “For my future in this field, I hope to find a specific application that I am passionate about so I can be invested in my projects and produce results I am proud of.”

Andrew, who interned for Arden during the past two summers recalls his internship experience fondly:

“My experience at Arden has been very informative, with the possibilities for work with a mechanical engineering degree, and the amount of information I can still learn. Working with Paul Carter, General Manager of Earthwise Energy Technologies has shown me the more technical, controls side of HVAC, while working with Tim Elliott, Director of Design & Engineering at Arden Engineering Constructors gave me a more physical understanding of the systems. With the combination of both experiences, I have obtained a more complete understanding of HVAC systems and every step taken to create a functioning system.”

About Alex

Alex Appolonia was recently hired as a Project Engineer on the Unique Metal Works, LLC team.

A University of Rhode Island (URI) graduate, Alex was a Civil Engineering major when he interned with Arden last winter. He worked under Arden Engineering Constructors, LLC Project Manager Rob Cote, and enjoyed on-site visits to the new URI College of Engineering building.

Alex Appolonia determines what size fan cover is needed for an exhaust fan at the Infinity Meat Solutions project.

He says, “I have been able to experience the precise detail and coordination it takes to complete a project of substantial caliber. My time here at Arden has given me hands-on experience in the field and shown me that to be a successful project manager or engineer one must be punctual, concise and transparent when coordinating with all the other trades from start to finish of every project.”

Alex is currently working on the Infinity Meat Solutions project, a new $100M, 200,000 sq. ft. meat-packaging facility in North Kingstown, RI. This is a joint project for Unique Metal Works, LLC, Arden Engineering Constructors, LLC, and Earthwise Energy Technologies.

MCAA Mourns the Passing of Past President Robert T. Armistead, P.E.

MCAA is saddened by the loss of Robert T. Armistead, P.E., who served as our President in 2010. He died peacefully at his home on June 16, 2020, surrounded by his loving family. Our thoughts are with Susan, Robert, Kane, Bryan and the extended Armistead family during this difficult time. “Bob truly loved the MCAA and his time with everyone involved in the organization. He will be greatly missed,” said Timothy J. Brink, MCAA’s Chief Executive Officer.

In an announcement to MCA of New Jersey, Inc. members, Executive Director Marty Drobny said, “We will miss our friend much. His positive impact within the industry will live on forever.”

Bob was President of Armistead Mechanical, Inc., a fourth-generation mechanical contracting and engineering firm that predominantly serves the New Jersey and New York Hudson Valley areas. The company specializes in commercial and industrial plumbing, heating, air conditioning and process piping. Raised in the family business, Bob worked there over summers and school breaks, learned the trade in the field and later worked with the estimators and project managers in the office.

After college and Navy service, Bob returned to the family business, where under his leadership, Armistead Mechanical developed an impressive project portfolio and a staff that is known for excellent customer service.

When Bob brought his energetic style and understanding of the details of the industry to MCAA, his strong belief in educating students led to an invitation to serve on the MCAA Career Development Committee, where he tirelessly volunteered his time to aid in the development of programs and services for our industry’s future leaders. In fact, Bob was one of the committee’s longest serving members, acting as a judge during the final round of the annual Student Chapter Competition at many of our annual conventions, and helping to set the standard for the dynamic program it has become today.

A natural off-shoot of his service on the Career Development Committee, Bob’s passion for perpetuating the flow of talent into the industry also extended to his position on the National Board of the ACE Mentor Program that educates and mentors high school students about careers in the architecture, construction—including the building trades, and engineering. He also served the Mechanical Contracting Education & Research Foundation, now the John R. Gentille Foundation, which funds many of MCAA’s student chapter activities. He also served on the foundation’s Board of Trustees as well as on the MCAA Technology Committee.

On a personal note, Bob was blessed with a beautiful wife of over 50 years, Susan, and three sons, Robert, Kane, and Bryan, who work in the family business. In his spare time, Bob served on the Orange County Industrial Development Agency and was active with the Boy Scouts, winning the Orange County Boy Scouts’ Distinguished Citizen Award in October of 2009.

Due to the current national health crisis and continuing restrictions, funeral services and interment will take place privately, and a memorial event celebrating Robert’s life will be planned for a later date.

Friends are encouraged to share stories, photos, and memories of him with the family by sending letters to: The Armisteads at 6 Hilltop Drive in Goshen, NY 10924.

In lieu of sending flowers, the family asks that you consider a donation to the following organizations:

Obituary

William E. Walter Summer Intern Receives MCAA Internship Grant

William E. Walter Inc. Mechanical Contractors (William E. Walter) presented Alex Vernon-Venzuela Peter with an MCAA Internship Grant at the start of his internship. The grant, which is funded by the John R. Gentille Foundation, will help subsidize his expenses while he gains valuable work experience this summer.

Alex is a junior at Ferris State University, where he studies HVAC/R Engineering Technology and Energy Management.

William E. Walter chose to honor their commitment to Alex’s 4-month, 40 hours a week internship in spite of COVID-19. “Even in these challenging times it is important that we continue to support the growth and knowledge of future employees entering into the industry,” said Bruce Wenzlick, the company’s Director of Construction Services.

This is Alex’s first year as an intern with William E. Walter. His duties are focused on estimating and project management. He is assisting with things like quoting new jobs and submittals, change orders, schedules and material tracking.

About the MCAA Internship Grants

Having MCAA interns working at member companies is a win-win for the mechanical contracting industry. Employers get top talent and build a pipeline of future employees. Students gain experience, create connections, develop skills and further their interest in mechanical contracting. In paying the student instead of the employer, MCAA’s goal is to increase the overall number of interns and drive the overall number of talented employees accepting full-time positions with MCAA members after graduation.

How the Grant Application Process Works

The MCAA member company will first ensure a prospective intern is in good standing at an accredited two- or four-year college, university or technical school. While MCAA encourages its members to give priority to students from the MCAA Student Chapter Program, this is not a requirement to receive a grant.

Each MCAA member company can submit up to two internship grant applications per year. Once an application is reviewed and accepted, MCAA will send a $500 gift card to the member company so it can present the Gift Card to the student at the start of their internship.

MCAA will follow-up with each company and intern to ensure the process and overall internship was successful.

Start Your Search for Top Talent Today

MCAAGreatFutures.org gives members access to student profiles and resumes. The profiles are searchable by university, desired location, and even a specific skill set, like BIM or AutoCAD. A keyword filter allows users to zero in on students who fit the bill.

Not finding a match? Try reaching out to our 60 MCAA Student Chapters. The chapter advisors are a great resource to help find the right person. And, MCAA members have exclusive access to post job openings on our job board.

Help build our industry’s GreatFuture – apply for a grant!

Murphy Company Interns Get Project Experience on Their College Campus

Murphy Company interns Jacob Reed and Morgan Hanley have been onsite project engineering interns for the University of Missouri-Columbia’s NextGen Precision Health Institute. The opportunity has given them a first-hand look at what it takes to build a job on their college campus.

About the Project

The company continues its work on the facility which supports a systemwide precision health initiative aimed at harnessing and supporting the research activities of its four universities and health system. The building will include lab space for current and new faculty, graduate students, clinicians and have collaborative spaces for work with industry partners.

The facility is the largest single project that the University of Missouri has ever undertaken. The project consists of a new 265,000 sq. ft. six story facility.

The Murphy Company team, in collaboration with their general contractor and trade partners, was hired on in a design-assist capacity completed the following extensive BIM and fabrication on this past year:

Identified and corrected 1,134 BIM clashes prior to installation
Fabricated 121,000 lbs. of ductwork and 65,000 lbs. of mechanical piping and racks
Installed the following:
- 7,600 Linear Feet (LF) of underground piping
- 22,500 MEP Trimble points based on BIM
- 41,700 LF of above ground plumbing and piping
- 3,4000 of LF of reverse osmosis (RO) piping
- 21,640 LF of copper process piping

Construction on the institute is expected to be completed in October 2021.

Both Jacob Reed and Morgan Hanley began their internships in Murphy Company’s St. Louis office this past spring semester.

About Jacob

Jacob is entering his senior year at the University of Missouri-Columbia, studying Mechanical Engineering. In the spring working 20-hour week, Jacob was able to see the project manager role in action by attending coordination meetings, daily site walks and reviewing construction drawings making him more familiar with the project layout. Since the spring Jacob has transition to a full-time intern this summer.

“Since I have transitioned to full-time for the summer, I feel that I am gaining valuable real-world experience without too much of an internship feel. My responsibilities now include reviewing submittals, tracking productivity, and the commissioning process of equipment. I have been able to soak in as much information as possible, ask plenty of questions about topics I did not fully understand, and have real responsibilities that add value to the work being completed here. I believe it is the perfect balance that is allowing me to apply my skills and develop new ones.”

Jacob looks forward to the rest of his summer internship and continue to learn from Murphy employees the importance of coordination, communication, and critical problem solving.

“I have now seen multiple times how project managers are able to take a problem in stride, communicate with co-workers to create a solution, and implement that solution in a timely manner. I am also looking forward to watching further completion of the NextGen Precision Health Institute. I find it very exciting that I get to see firsthand the construction of a multi-million-dollar research institute at my college.”

About Morgan

Morgan Hanley is a Junior at the University of Missouri-Columbia studying chemical engineering. In the spring Morgan was on-site at the NextGen facility and this summer is currently working in Murphy Company’s engineering department.

“I’ve really enjoyed my time so far with Murphy as it has allowed me to apply what I have learned in my coursework to practical, real-world scenarios. I have enjoyed being able to see two pieces of a bigger puzzle at work. Being on site of NextGen and then coming to the Engineering department has been really interesting because it has closed the loop between the drawings and plans I worked with at Mizzou to how those intricate details, sizings, and selections are determined during the design phase. It has been fascinating to observe the complementary aspects of both locations, and I am excited to learn even more during the rest of the summer.”

Start Your Search for Top Talent Today

Find student chapter members like Derrick by visiting MCAAGreatFutures.org, where members have access to student profiles and resumes. The profiles are searchable by university, desired location, and even a specific skill set, like BIM or AutoCAD. A keyword filter allows users to zero in on students who fit the bill.

Help MCAA Tailor Career Programming to Support Your Hiring Needs

MCAA connects students with MCAA members through networking and employment opportunities that help to cultivate the next generation of industry leaders.

The MCAA Career Development Committee is exploring new ways to make these connections with virtual networking and resources in light of the cancellation of the MCAA GreatFutures Forum due to COVID-19.

Please help to ensure that this programming supports your company’s needs by letting us know your company’s hiring plans for the coming year.

Take the Survey

Please contact Megan Walsh if you have questions about the GreatFutures program or our student activities and resources.

SIEMENS Honors Commitment to Summer Interns, Adapts to COVID-19

*Photo taken Summer of 2019

SIEMENS is moving forward with their 2020 Summer Intern Program. The 64 interns are working in 24 Siemens Smart Infrastructure (SI) branch offices from Alaska to Florida, as well as at SIEMENS Headquarters in Buffalo Grove, Illinois and their Enlighted business.

The areas of focus for the interns include Mechanical Engineering, Construction and Project Management, and Marketing and Sales.

The program is designed to give the interns a quality hands-on experience. Through exposure to all facets of the business, interns gain an understanding of everything Smart Infrastructure does. The internship experience may also help them decide what type of career they would like to pursue if they are hired upon graduation.

Adapting to COVID-19 Restrictions

COVID-19 restrictions forced Siemens to push back the start of its internship program, which began last week. In addition, some interns began their experience remotely due to state restrictions. To make that remote time productive, Siemens shipped company laptops to the interns’ residences along with other items necessary for them to use company systems.

Program Manager Kristin Junia said, “Ultimately it was important for us to stand by our commitment to the interns we made offers to prior to the pandemic, so we’re working to make the summer successful in every way possible.”

In an effort to make the interns feel a part of something bigger than their local branch or team, SIEMENS has developed a program of virtual lunch and learns and town hall style meetings where they can hear from and ask questions of company executives.

Students have been assigned web-based training through the company’s corporate training platforms, and are working with their field managers on projects and tasks until they are able to come in to the office.

Kylie Nedelka, an MCAA Student Chapter member from the University of Missouri-Columbia, is one of the returning interns. You can read her story HERE.