Category: Career Development

MCA of Eastern Missouri Student Chapter Member Accepts Second Internship with SIEMENS

Kylie Nedelka, a mechanical engineering major from the University of Missouri-Columbia, has accepted a second summer internship with SIEMENS, a member of MCAA’s Manufacturer/Supplier Council. Kylie found the opportunity at the 2018 GreatFutures Forum, where she met Kristin Junia, Program Manager at SIEMENS.

“We were traveling on the same bus to Disneyland and we struck up a conversation,” said Kristin. “I was impressed with her communication and how comfortable she was in new situations and invited her to visit us at the job fair the next day. When she stopped by our booth, we spoke more in depth about her education and the type of internship she was seeking, and we offered her a position with Siemens Smart Infrastructure (then Building Technologies). Ultimately, we identified a spot for her in our Seattle branch, where she worked primarily in the field.”

Kylie reflects on her experience with SIEMENS:

My summer internship with Siemens was incredible. I gained invaluable knowledge that has already helped me in my engineering career. Going into the internship, I was nervous that I would be overwhelmed with new information, but thanks to MCAA, I was familiar with certain subjects that I dealt with in my internship. Siemens company culture made me feel immediately welcomed. Everyone was willing to take the time to teach me, and I could apply this new knowledge to actual Siemens projects. I was truly a part of the team. 

The first five weeks of my internship was spent in the office with the engineering department. My main project was USPS service migration from insight to desig0. My last five weeks, I worked as a field technician at a data center. This experience was very rewarding because I got to do hands-on work that led to a better understanding of HVAC systems.

My experience was so great, that I have accepted a position as an engineering intern for this upcoming summer! I look forward to the new experiences to come!

Kristin Junia said, “Kylie has made a positive impact in our business. We are excited that she will be returning this summer, this time in our Chicago branch. In this role she will be more office-based, focusing on building automation system design and integration. She will work alongside our engineers to identify gaps in engineering and create an action plan to address needs. We want Kylie to experience different roles and responsibilities within Smart Infrastructure so that she is able to determine where she sees herself in the future.”

Hiring a Summer Intern? Apply for the NEW Internship Grant Funded by MCERF

MCAA’s student internship grant process has changed! For 2020, the focus is on the intern to give them the best opportunities possible with MCAA member companies. Five-hundred-dollar grants will now be offered directly to students who accept internships or full-time positions, with funding from the Mechanical Contracting Education & Research Foundation (MCERF).

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 member companies after graduation.

Be the Next Internship Success Story

In 2019, MCA of Indiana member Freitag-Weinhardt, Inc. used an internship grant for Indiana State University student Jonathan Dang. He will join the company full-time following his December 2020 graduation.

Jonathan noted that, “one of the things that made a career in the mechanical industry so appealing is the investment in students and their futures.” The new 2020 internship grants help further show a company’s investment in young talent like Jonathan.

Read more about Jonathan’s experience as an intern with Freitag-Weinhardt here.

How does the new grant application process work?

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 Visa Gift Card to the member company so it can present the Gift Card to the student at the start of their internship.

MCAA’s Director of Career Development, Harlee Mooney, 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!

Kent State Graduate Reflects on Career Success, MCAA and MCA of Cleveland Involvement

Alex Berman, a 2019 Construction Management graduate from Kent State University and a past MCAA Student chapter member, has found success in the industry as an Estimator and Project Assistant at MCA of Cleveland member Geauga Mechanical in Northeast Ohio.

“I really enjoy my role here. I get to work on bids and takeoffs, but also work on projects as they are being built. My role as a project assistant consists of equipment tracking, submittals, and quality control/punch lists. Since it is a family company, I have worked at Geauga during summers throughout high school and into college. I officially was an estimator and project assistant intern the summer before my senior year.”

At Kent State, Alex was involved in the MCAA Student Chapter – even serving as its president her senior year. She says, “It was a great opportunity to work on the projects with my peers and get additional real-world bid experience. The industry professionals are great at giving support and taking us on project site tours to see mechanical elements in real life. The student chapter really gave us great opportunities to network and intern in our area.”

Alex has stayed involved with MCAA through the MCA of Cleveland. “I started attending the Cleveland Chapter meetings as one of the representatives for my company. Through this I joined our local technology committee and attended the MCAA Technology Conference in San Diego. I am looking forward to learning more about technology in the industry and sharing that information with others in our local chapter.”

You can find student chapter members like Alex at MCAA2020. Don’t miss the Networking & Recruiting 360 event Wednesday, March 18, 9:00 am – 11:00 am. To preview students’ resumes, visit mcaagreatfutures.org.

Please contact Harlee Mooney if you have questions about any of our student activities or the new 2020 internship grants funded by the Mechanical Contracting Education & Research Foundation (MCERF).

Be the Next Success Story – Apply for the NEW Internship Grant Funded by MCERF

For 2020, MCAA has updated its student internship grant process to focus on the intern and give them the best opportunities possible with MCAA member companies. Five-hundred-dollar grants will now be offered directly to students who accept internships or full-time positions, with funding from MCERF.

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.

Here are a few success stories

MCA of Metropolitan Washington (MCAMW) member The Bowers Group, also known as W.E. Bowers, hired Andrew Nguyen, a junior at Virginia Polytechnic Institute, for a summer internship. Read the story here.

In 2019, BMWC Constructors, Inc. used an internship grant for Purdue University Senior Madelyn Conway’s summer internship. She will join the company full-time following graduation. Read the success story here.

How does the new grant application process work?

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 Visa Gift Card to the member company so it can present the Gift Card to the student at the start of their internship.

MCAA’s Director of Career Development, Harlee Mooney, 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 – Working for a Manufacturer/Supplier

In this month’s Beyond the Classroom, meet MILWAUKEE TOOL’s Territory Manager, Hyojon Robbins, who highlights the unique opportunities available to students who choose careers working for a manufacturer/supplier. 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.

MCA of Indiana Student Chapter Member Finds Full-time Position with Freitag-Weinhardt, Inc.

Jonathan Dang has accepted a full-time position with Freitag Weinhardt, Inc., in Terre Haute, Indiana. He is interning for the company while he completes his studies at Indiana State University, where he is pursuing a B.S. in Safety Management with a minor in Construction Management. He will join the company as an employee after graduation in December 2020.

Jonathan, who is the president of the MCAA Student Chapter at Indiana State University, noted that “one of the things that made a career in the mechanical industry so appealing is the investment in students and their futures.”

He went on to describe the experiences that led to his career choice. “When I started to pursue my college degree, I did not know what I wanted to be. Until I was given the opportunity to go to my first MCAA GreatFutures Forum in 2018 in Anaheim. I never understood how amazing MCAA and all its members can be. From the latest technology to the passion of all the individuals there, I was awestruck and, at that moment, I was all in.”

Jonathan met Bob Moreland and Mark Ungar from Freitag-Weinhardt, Inc. at an MCA of Indiana event during MCAA19 in San Antonio. “They offered me an internship at their office, and I took it,” he said. “During my internship, I have learned how to do estimating, subcontracts, POs, and change orders, and I understand how people operate in the field.”

Jonathan also attended the 2019 MCAA GreatFutures Forum in Washington, D.C. He said, “No matter how many MCAA events I attend, I am always blown away by the fact that MCAA is willing to invest much of their resources in college students like me. I look forward to the future that MCAA is building.”

You can find student chapter members like Jonathan at mcaagreatfutures.org.

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

Apply for the NEW MCAA Internship Grants Funded by MCERF!

For 2020, MCAA has updated its student internship grant process to focus on the intern and give them the best opportunities possible with MCAA member companies. Five-hundred-dollar grants will now be offered directly to students who accept internships or full-time positions, with funding from MCERF.

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 does the new grant application process work?

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 Visa Gift Card to the member company so it can present the Gift Card to the student at the start of their internship.

MCAA’s Director of Career Development, Harlee Mooney, 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!

MCAA GreatFutures Forum Helps Jump Start Student Chapter Member’s Career

MCAA congratulates Thomas Walsh for accepting a full-time position with U.S. Engineering Innovations. Thomas is a graduate of the University of Missouri-Columbia with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering. He was a presenter in the MCAA19 Student Chapter Competition Final Four in Phoenix, Arizona where he also received the Reilly Family Memorial Scholarship, sponsored by the John W. Danforth Company.

Thomas reflects on how his experiences with MCAA, the MCA of Eastern Missouri and his student chapter helped him find his great future in the mechanical industry:

My experience with the MCAA student chapter was instrumental in helping me find full-time employment in mechanical contracting. I first met U.S. Engineering at the 2018 MCAA Great Futures Forum in Anaheim with the Missouri-Columbia student chapter where I applied for an internship. During interviews for this internship, I was able to speak at great length about my involvement in the MCAA student chapter and the annual competition. The interviewees were very impressed with my work on the competition and how easily it translated to the work they do every day as mechanical contractors.

I had the opportunity to present part of Mizzou’s competition proposal on stage at MCAA19 in Phoenix which played a big role in helping me become a better public speaker and presenter.

My internship with U.S. Engineering was amazing. I primarily worked alongside Preconstruction Managers and Project Managers. One of the larger responsibilities I had was to put together a full mechanical bid from design documents for a potential project. I was also responsible for acquiring and reviewing quotes from vendors for large mechanical equipment. I shadowed project controls to learn more about scheduling and real estate to learn more about renovations. My internship with U.S. Engineering was primarily so rewarding, because I was able to pursue parts of contracting that I found interesting.

Because my internship was so rewarding, I accepted a full-time opportunity with U.S. Engineering Innovations. I will be returning to work with the same team that I interned alongside. At my full-time position, I will work as a Preconstruction Engineer creating bids and proposals, estimating change orders, and assisting in scheduling. I will also work as a project engineer to assist in logistics, procurement and quality control of our ongoing projects. I will have the opportunity to travel to some of our sites and assist in and experience construction in the field.

You can meet student chapter members like Thomas at MCAA2020. Don’t miss the Networking & Recruiting 360 event Wednesday, March 18, 9:00 am – 11:00 am. MCAA thanks Viega for sponsoring the event.

To preview students’ resumes and to see who will be in Maui, visit mcaagreatfutures.org.

Please contact Harlee Mooney if you have questions about any of our student activities or the internship grants funded by the Mechanical Contracting Education & Research Foundation (MCERF).

Penn State University Student Finds Opportunities with MCAA

Molly Sizemore has accepted her second summer internship at Southland Industries, a member of the MCA of Metropolitan Washington.

She will be interning in the company’s engineering department, where she will work on mechanical and plumbing systems projects in Navisworks and Revit. Last summer, she saw the project management side of the industry as an intern on a data center project in Ashburn, Virginia.

Molly said, “working on a data center opened my eyes to understand different heating and cooling systems since they’re so MEP-heavy and mission critical. Southland has opened many doors of opportunity in the past year – one of them being MCAA.”

Molly learned about the opportunity to be part of a MCAA Student Chapter during her internship last summer. There, she met Lauren Boyle, a Southland Industries design engineer and a past member of the MCAA Student Chapter at the Pennsylvania State University, also known as Penn State. Lauren told Molly about MCAA and the resources that would be available to her.

Molly worked with her faculty advisor and her local association, the MCA of Central Pennsylvania, to help the Penn State University chapter gain momentum and even participate in this year’s MCAA Student Chapter Competition. She said, “Participating in the competition has been a really unique experience in my college career.”

Molly also attended the 2019 GreatFutures Forum in Washington, D.C., where she was, “…blown away by the friendly faces of both students and professionals along with the engaging and fulfilling content of the conference.”

Molly is looking forward to expanding her network before heading to Washington, D.C. for her internship.

“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 said.

You can meet student chapter members like Molly at mcaagreatfutures.org.

Please contact Harlee Mooney if you have questions about any of our student activities or the internship grants funded by the Mechanical Contracting Education & Research Foundation (MCERF).

Student Chapter Competition Final Four Announced

Congratulations to our four finalists for this year’s Student Chapter Competition: Ball State University, Milwaukee School of Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park and the University of Missouri-Columbia.

The MCAA Student Chapter Competition drew a record 33 submissions this year.

Thanks 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 includes 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.

You can see the final four teams compete at MCAA2020 on Monday, March 16 from 1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Don’t miss the opportunity to learn from these students’ insightful approaches to a real-world contracting bid!

The winners will be announced at the Awards of Excellence Breakfast featuring Joe Montana on Wednesday, March 18 at 6:30 a.m. The top competition prize is $10,000. The second-place team will receive $5,000 and the other two finalists will each receive $2,500.

Each of the other six teams in the top ten will receive a Certificate of Merit and a check for $1,000. Congratulations to those recipients: