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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.

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 30th

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 14th, with a registration deadline of Friday, August 30th.  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

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 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.