Category: Career Development

Enginuity LLC Leverages MCAA Internship Grants to Attract Top Talent

Enginuity, LLC presented Matthew Lawrence and Andrew Clancy with MCAA student internship grants at the start of their internships. The grants, which are funded by the John R. Gentille Foundation, will help subsidize the interns’ expenses while they gain valuable work experience this summer.

Meet the Interns

Andrew Clancy with his MCAA internship grant.

Matthew Lawrence is a sophomore at ACE Tech School, where he is studying Marketing. This is his second year as an Enginuity, LLC intern. He is working as a service department sales assistant, writing proposals and coordinating service for clients as well as coordinating with vendors and subcontractors. He also visits job sites to collect information for estimating, processing submittals and approving invoices.

Andrew Clancy is a freshman at Messiah College studying Mechanical Engineering. He will be working as a project assistant, focusing on submittal processing, coordinating with subcontractors and vendors, productivity tracking and material take-off.

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 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!

Beyond the Classroom Video Series: Shaping a Career

In this month’s Beyond the Classroom, you will meet Andrew Palcan, a Project Engineer at Mechanical Inc. Palcan is a past MCAA Student Chapter member and an Architectural Engineering graduate from Milwaukee School of Engineering. Palcan talks about the career opportunities that arose from his involvement with MCAA GreatFutures. He discusses some of his experiences from past MCAA events and the MCAA Student Chapter Competition.

Palcan is currently a member of the MCAA Career Development Committee, which is made up of member contractors, whose aim is to provide education and resources to student chapter members. The committee’s goal is to connect students with members by creating networking and employment opportunities while ultimately cultivating the next generation of industry leaders in mechanical contracting.

Jonathan Dang Receives Foster McCarl, Jr. Memorial Scholarship

Jonathan Dang, a senior at Indiana State University, has been awarded the Foster McCarl, Jr. Memorial Scholarship. The national scholarship honors Foster McCarl, Jr.’s many contributions to advancing the mechanical contracting industry, including his efforts toward establishing what is now known as the John R. Gentille Foundation (JRGF).

Academic Experience

Jonathan is the President of the MCA of Indiana-sponsored student chapter at Indiana State University, where he is pursuing a degree in Safety Management with a Construction Management minor.

Asked about his interest in the industry, he explained, “Unlike other fields, there is always a high demand in the mechanical contracting industry. One of the biggest appeals is the fact that the mechanical industry is not afraid to invest in students and our futures.”

During his three years as a student chapter member, Jonathan has attended the MCAA Annual Convention and both the 2018 and 2019 Great Futures Forum. He also learned how to estimate and build a schedule and picked up valuable life skills, such as team-building, how to communicate with teammates and being bold to get things done.

Work Experience

In 2017, Jonathan worked for MCAA member company Sycamore Engineering as a safety intern and a member of the preventative maintenance team. He has since accepted a full-time position with Freitag-Weinhardt, Inc., in Terre Haute, Indiana. He will join the company after he graduates in December 2020.

Jonathan says, “I look forward to learning about new technologies and how to incorporate them into the industry in order to make the work place a safer environment and maximize profit.”

MCAA and the John R. Gentille Foundation congratulate Jonathan on this distinguished scholarship and on finding his great future in the mechanical contracting industry.

Kimberly Sikkema Receives Alan O’Shea Memorial Scholarship

Congratulations to Kimberly Sikkema, one of the two recipients of the Alan O’Shea Memorial Scholarship. The Mechanical Contractors Association of New Jersey established the scholarships to honor the memory of Alan O’Shea, its former Executive Director, and memorialize his many contributions to the mechanical contracting industry.

Kimberly is a sophomore from Ferris State University earning her degree in HVAC/R. Kimberly explains why she was drawn towards a career in the mechanical contracting industry: “I see the growth and demand that is needed in the industry, both now and in the future. I am also looking forward to every day being a different learning experience that will expand my knowledge within the industry.”

Kimberly is the President of her student chapter, which she joined in 2018. She had the opportunity to attend the 2019 GreatFutures Forum.

She says, “MCAA has given me the opportunity to go on trips and be able to network with mechanical contractors within the industry, as well as receive a better understanding of the opportunities that are available working for a mechanical contractor.”

For example, Kimberly was able to gain experience in the Johnson Controls PCT software, as well as connecting PCG controllers to HVAC units and commissioning them as part of an internship.

“Once I graduate, I look forward to pursuing my career that I worked so hard for in college. I look forward to seeing the wide variety of opportunities that are out there in the world for me as a woman in the HVAC/R industry. Most of all, I look forward to expanding my knowledge by facing new obstacles every day, receiving more hands-on learning out in the field, as well as learning more from experienced, skilled individuals.”

MCAA and the John R. Gentille Foundation congratulate Kimberly on this distinguished scholarship and thank the MCA of New Jersey for funding this scholarship to support younger students and keep them invested in the mechanical contracting industry.

Missouri State Student’s Internship Leads to Full-Time Job at MILWAUKEE TOOL

Rachel Nehring, a senior at Missouri State University, will join Milwaukee Tool when she graduates thanks to an internship with the company last summer. Rachel shares her background, the insights gained from her internship and her excitement about beginning her full-time position.

“I grew up with family in the HVAC industry. Because my dad was on the service side of his company, my sophomore year of college allowed us to attend the annual Mechanical Service Contractors of America (MSCA) Conference in October 2018. At the conference, Women in the Mechanical Industry (WiMi) held a luncheon and discussion.

“I felt empowered that I was in a room full of women who had overcome those same fears I had when I was just a sophomore in college. I was then asked to share my thoughts with the group, after explaining that I was still in college.”

Jon Finch, the VP of Recruiting for Milwaukee Tool and the Chair of MCAA’s Career Development Committee, asked to speak with Rachel after the discussion. A month after he received her resume, Rachel secured an internship on the company’s Product Marketing team that started May 2019.

Internship Experience

“My internship experience is something I could have never dreamed of,” Rachel said. “The first day everyone was so friendly and willing to help. Within my third week I was already presenting tools in front of an audience! I couldn’t believe I was trusted with such a big responsibility so fast, but that’s their culture. I had many projects over the summer regarding marketing such as commercialization plans, research and creating new ways to sell products. I fell in love with the industry and how Milwaukee Tool cares about their customers and employees.”

Rachel’s daily responsibilities included:

Marketing research
Assembling marketing plans
Setting up displays
Presenting new products
Talking to customers
Visiting job sites

“I learned so much in just 3 months, and this is just the beginning,” Rachel said, adding “I am so excited to accept a full-time position through MILWAUKEE TOOL’S parent company TTi, starting in August of 2020.” She will be working as a Milwaukee Tool, Rigid, and Ryobi product representative at Home Depot. Rachel explained, “I will have the opportunity to meet and talk with end users, while educating them on new products, along with running demos and setting up marketing campaigns. I am so grateful for everyone who has helped me get to where I am today.”

Bryce Danielson Receives Alan O’Shea Memorial Scholarship

Congratulations to Bryce Danielson, one of the two recipients of the Alan O’Shea Memorial Scholarship. The Mechanical Contractors Association of New Jersey established the scholarships to honor the memory of Alan O’Shea, its former Executive Director, and memorialize his many contributions to the mechanical contracting industry.

Bryce is a sophomore from the University of Nebraska studying Construction Management. He joined the student chapter in his freshman year and has attended both the MCAA Annual Convention and the GreatFutures Forum.

“The amount of support that the mechanical contracting industry has for students like me is what has drawn me towards a future career in this industry,” Bryce said. “Whether it is through the local contractors, my local student chapter, or the national association, I feel as if there is always someone to help and support my future career.”

His local contractor mentor showed him a job site and explained how the process works, answering his questions along the way. The student chapter has provided internship and networking opportunities, along with the chance to learn new things through its monthly meetings. MCAA events have also provided networking opportunities, along with real-world experience through the Student Chapter Competition, and a chance to learn from world-class speakers and industry professionals.

Ray Martin Company Internship Experience

Bryce has been interning for Ray Martin Company, an MCAA member, since May 2019. “I have been challenged with many tasks which include estimating and preparing bids, writing purchase orders and subcontracts, and helping with project management duties. They gave me opportunities that no other company would give a first-year intern.”

“I look forward to putting everything I have learned in college to work,” Bryce said, adding that “It’s one thing to learn about managing a large-scale project and another to actually do it. This is what I enjoy the most about mechanical contracting because almost every day is different. There is always a new problem that needs to be solved or a new project that is different than the last. I enjoy these because you always have to be quick on your feet and think of innovative ways to solve these problems to ensure the overall success of your project.

“Without my MCAA student chapter and the MCA of Omaha, I would have never been able to make the connection with Ray Martin Co. and obtain an internship that I am still doing today. Finally, MCA-Omaha has also supported me financially through different scholarships. This is a big deal to me because it allows me to stay focused on school and reassures me that the local mechanical contractors support me and all the members of our chapter.”

MCAA and the John R. Gentille Foundation congratulate Bryce on this distinguished scholarship and thank the MCA of Omaha, Inc. for its commitment to supporting younger students keeping them invested in the mechanical contracting industry.

Logan Stone Receives William A. Bianco, Jr. Memorial Scholarship

Congratulations to Logan Stone, this year’s recipient of the William Bianco, Jr. Memorial Scholarship. MCAA member Kinetics established the annual scholarship to honor Mr. Bianco and his many contributions to the industry’s continuing advancement.

Logan plans to graduate from the Milwaukee School of Engineering in May 2021 with a master’s in Architectural Engineering with an emphasis in MEP System Design. He has been a member of MSOE’s MCAA Student Chapter since fall 2017. Logan was part of the 2019 Student Chapter Competition winning team. As the Student Competition Leader this year, he helped lead his team to becoming one of the Final Four of this year’s Student Chapter Competition.

“The MCAA Student Chapter at MSOE is not only an experience, but a lifestyle,” Logan said. “Once a part of the student chapter, it is as if you are in a tight-knit community of young professionals. Our chapter is committed to having a lasting impact on the community.”

Logan sees the benefits of mechanical contracting and details his interest in the industry. “Mechanical contracting intrigued me from the beginning since it is an industry based on practicality, professionalism, and top performance standards. I have personally always been fascinated by design and engineering because of its allowance for creativity with respect to concrete physical properties. However, consulting engineering almost always involves hypothetical scenarios. Mechanical contracting allows room for design, but it understands the practical limitations of aspects such as installation, cost and overall functionality of the system.”

J.M. Brennan Internship Experience

Logan has been interning for MCAA member, J.M. Brennan, Inc. since June 2018. “I have worked closely with project managers to estimate plumbing and HVAC contracting bids. I have also worked on BIM coordinating with other firms because of my experience with Revit.”

His professional experience has made Logan more invested in the mechanical contracting industry. “This industry is based around quality client relationships and reputable reputations. Therefore, it is important to be professional in every situation, meaning that honesty, integrity, and willingness to go above and beyond to help are all important traits that a mechanical contractor should have. This drew me into the industry because I believe professionalism is always important. I was attracted to the industry due to its commitment to top performance. This is crucial in any industry, but especially this industry because of the mechanical systems’ direct impact on the environment and people.”

Student Chapter Experience

Logan reflects on his student chapter experience and the advantages MCAA has brought him.

“There is no better way of bringing people together than having a common goal, and MCAA provides that goal for my peers and I. In the chapter, as in the industry, people come from different ways of life. Being able to learn from them, while also striving for personal growth, opens doors to countless opportunities for advancement.”

MCAA and the John R. Gentille Foundation congratulate Logan on this prestigious scholarship and thank Kinetics for its commitment to supporting younger students to keep them invested in the mechanical contracting industry.

MCAA Congratulates Student Chapter Competition Finalists

This year’s Student Chapter Competition project was demanding, allowing students to showcase their knowledge of mechanical contracting in a written proposal for a a real-world construction bid.

MCAA congratulates the four finalists: Ball State University, Milwaukee School of Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, and the University of Missouri-Columbia.

The finalists were selected from among 33 submissions. Their insight into the project and the overall quality of their proposals impressed the judges, all members of MCAA’s Career Development Committee.

Thank you to Fresh Meadow Mechanical Corporation of Fresh Meadows, New York for providing this year’s project details. The project tasked students with developing a proposal to be the prime contractor on a chiller and cooling tower replacement project in the Penn South building in New York City. The project included the completion of all plumbing, piping and HVAC, electrical, controls and any other work required to complete the project as described in the bid documents.

Meet the Final Four Teams

Ball State University

Ball State received their charter at the 2016 MCAA Convention. They received a Chapter of Excellence Grant in 2019, recognizing their extraordinary performance and accomplishments in maintaining interest in the mechanical contracting industry. Sherif Attallah, Associate Professor of Construction Management, is the chapter’s faculty advisor.

This was Ball State’s first year placing in the final four of the competition.

The competition team consisted of all Construction Management majors:

Nick Brandon, Class of 2021
Gareth Brouwer, Class of 2021
Ross Debonis, Class of 2021
Michale Delong, Class of 2020
Austin Fest, Class of 2021
Cory Huffman, Class of 2021
Cassie Dorony, Class of 2020

Milwaukee School of Engineering

MSOE won last year’s Student Chapter Competition at MCAA19. The chapter previously won in 2011 and 2013.

They placed in the Final Four of the Competition in 2006, 2008, 2012, 2014 and 2017. MSOE was a recipient of a 2019 Chapter of Excellence Grant. Blake Wentz, Department Chair of Civil & Architectural Engineering & Construction Management, is the chapter’s faculty advisor.

MSOE’s Competition Team:

Nathan Bevers, Class of 2020, Architectural Engineering
Luke Grohmann, Class of 2021, Construction Management
Lucas Haas, Class of 2020, Construction Management
Brooke Scott, Class of 2020, Architectural Engineering & Construction Management
Logan Stone, Class of 2021, Architectural Engineering
John Cunningham, Class of 2022, Architectural Engineering

Logan Stone is the 2020 recipient of the William A. Bianco, Jr Memorial Scholarship. Brooke Scott received the Alan P. O’Shea Memorial Scholarship in 2019.

University of Maryland, College Park

This is Maryland’s first time back in the final four since 2014. After working on rebuilding the chapter that time, they won an Emerging Chapter Grant in 2019. Fitzgerald Walker, Academic Advisor for the Mechanical Engineering department, is in his first year as the chapter’s faculty advisor.

Meet Maryland’s competition team, all Mechanical Engineering majors:

Hailey Brennan, Class of 2022
Talha Dasti, Class of 2020
Samuel Gigioli, Class of 2021
Zachary Hood, Class of 2020
Ahmed Seck, Class of 2021

Hailey Brennan is the 2020 Recipient of the Josam Endowed Scholarship.

University of Missouri-Columbia

Mizzou won the the Student Chapter Competition at MCAA17, and competed in the final four last year at MCAA19. The chapter’s current advisor is Lawrence Shilke, Manager Engineer of the University of Missouri-Columbia.

The competition team consists of all Mechanical Engineering majors:

Mohammed Al-Ramis, Class of 2021
Ellie Henshaw, Class of 2020
Austin Mathews, Class of 2020
Adam Moore, Class of 2020
Kylie Nedelka, Class of 2020
Evan Taylor, Class of 2021
Derrick Jenkins, Class of 2021

Kylie Nedelka recently accepted a second summer internship with SIEMENS. Read the full story HERE.

MCAA and the John R. Gentille Foundation congratulates all of the finalists and recognizes their commitment and dedication to this year’s project. A signification amount of time and effort has been put into the competition, and thank you all the student chapters for their commitment to the MCAA GreatFutures program

Please contact Megan Walsh if you have questions about any of our student activities or the internship grants funded by the John R. Gentille Foundation (JRGF).

Molly Sizemore Receives Ferguson-Women in the Mechanical Industry Scholarship

Molly Sizemore, a junior at Pennsylvania State University, has been awarded one of the two Ferguson-Women in the Mechanical Industry Scholarships.

Ferguson underwrites these scholarships, which recognize high-achieving female students working towards a degree relative to the mechanical industry.

Academic Experience

Molly is the President of the MCA of Central Pennsylvania-sponsored student chapter at Pennsylvania State University, where she studies Architectural Engineering specializing in mechanical systems.

Molly talks about how, “to my surprise, mechanical contracting fell into my lap after I was searching for a challenge in my academic career. When I first entered Penn State, I was generally just an architectural engineering student teetering between the structural and lighting design options. As I progressed in my academic career, I found myself really fascinated by HVAC and fire protection. HVAC really presented itself as an intricate puzzle which really drew me in.”

Molly acknowledges that, “MCAA has definitely created a springboard for me into the mechanical contracting industry, and I’m very excited to continue this journey and get others involved.”

She was able to grow her industry network by attending the 2019 Great Futures Forum, which has led her to ignite a passion for mechanical contracting in other students who have chosen to get involved with her student chapter.

Southland Industries Internship

Molly has accepted her second summer internship with MCA of Metro Washington member, Southland Industries. She reflects on her experiences:

“I liked the specialization of Southland and the responsibilities they gave me. I also really liked the mentor dynamic where I could sit down for an hour a week and ask any questions I had. My internship put me in a position where I can see all stages of the mechanical contracting process and have an opportunity to contribute at any stage. In my experience with Southland, I really love the dynamic of the firm in that everything is very mechanical-focused and specialized. I like the ability to have a detailed conversation about what is happening at every part of a mechanical system.”

You can read more about Molly’s internship experience here.

Women in the Mechanical Industry Perspective

Molly gives her thoughts about the challenges and opportunities that come along with being a woman in the industry:

“As a woman in the mechanical industry, I’ve experienced first-hand with being the only woman on a project team. Though I initially faced this as a challenge on my path, I turned it around and viewed it as an opportunity to build my own self-confidence and create a voice for myself in an industry dominated by men.

Beyond my own personal experience, I have been able to mentor young women in the Penn State College of Engineering to ignore the stereotypes and be more than a statistic. As a greater challenge, I think it will be getting everyone on the same page with accepting diversity in the industry. Diversity in a team brings new and innovative ideas because people come with different backgrounds and experience.”

Women in the Mechanical Industry and the John R. Gentille Foundation congratulated Molly Sizemore on this prestigious scholarship and thank Ferguson for their commitment to encouraging young women to be engaged in the industry.

University of Nebraska Awarded Student Chapter of the Year

The University of Nebraska Student Chapter has been awarded the 2019 MCAA Student Chapter of the Year.

The Student Chapter of the Year Award recognizes an MCAA student chapter for outstanding achievement as an organization of students who are planning careers in the mechanical construction industry. The award honors exceptional achievement in governance and leadership, membership recruiting, fundraising, community involvement, and career development.

The University of Nebraska Student Chapter is sponsored by the MCA of Omaha. Vishnu Reddi, Assistant Professor of Practice with the Durham School, College of Engineering, is the chapter’s faculty advisor.

The Student Chapter was one of MCAA’s first. Chartered in 1998, it has since remained one of the most active in the MCAA student chapter network.

The chapter takes a unique approach to fundraising, community service and networking opportunities with local MCA members.

Fundraising

In 2019, the chapter hosted four events to raise funds and provide opportunities for students to network with the MCA of Omaha’s 30 mechanical contractor members. The events included a beer tasting, a wine tasting and two golf tournaments. The most profitable of these was a beer tasting that raised a record-breaking amount.

Community Service

In 2019, the student chapter participated in three community services events.

One of the highlights was the annual Heat’s On event, during which HVAC service technicians and students provide free inspections of senior citizens’ furnaces to ensure that they are working safely for the winter months. Students worked with their service member partners to run through a checklist that included inspecting the filter, flames, flame sensor, flue gas, changing fire alarm batteries, and more.

MCAA Member Networking

Each student is offered the opportunity to be mentored by a professional from an MCA of Omaha member company, an internship with a member company, and the chance to serve on a committee with several contractors. By the time a student graduates, the goal is for them to have personal relationships at almost every MCA of Omaha member company that they can carry into their future careers.

In April 2019, Student Chapter members visited MCA of Omaha members to hand out mugs with candy in them for Administrative Professionals Day. This introduced students to all of the member companies.

In the fall, students took a behind-the-scenes tour of the mechanical and plumbing systems at Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium. The students also travelled to a virtual design and construction conference hosted by Victaulic.

Mentorship Program

During the year, the MCA of Omaha matches every student with a mechanical contractor mentor from a local MCA of Omaha company. This match between student and mentor is based on the student’s specific interests. Mentors engage with the students a minimum of four times throughout the year. Mentors show students what they do on a daily basis at job sites and give a tour of their offices, walking students through the daily routine to help them get a feel for everyday life in the industry. Through this experience, students gain first-hand knowledge of the industry to help them make more educated career decisions.

Industry Internships

Students had the opportunity to attend Internship Day in the fall, where they had a chance to interview with multiple MCAA companies that are looking for interns. Six of the nine students were offered and accepted internships with an MCAA member company.

You can read about chapter member Caleb Kowalski’s internship experiences with MCAA members here.

MCAA and the John R. Gentille Foundation congratulate the University of Nebraska students on their active involvement with MCAA and their commitment to the mechanical contracting industry.