Although summer ’25 isn’t quite here yet, it’s already time to start the process for securing your summer ’26 interns! Save the date for the 2025 MCAA GreatFutures Forum (October 9-11, 2025) in Salt Lake City, Utah. Conference registration, including the Job Fair, is complimentary for MCAA Members, MCAA Student Chapter Members, Faculty Advisors, Affiliated Association Executives and Forum Sponsors. Registration will open on July 1st.
Congratulations to Aidan Wolownik, the 2024-2025 recipient of the Thomas J. Wanner Memorial Scholarship. This scholarship, which was established in 2022, was created to honor the previous MCA/MSCA of Cleveland, Inc. Executive Director, Thomas J. Wanner. For the past three scholarship presentations, Tom was on stage to help present the scholarship in person, but this year was unable to travel and passed away two days after the awards breakfast. He is sorely missed and fondly remembered by the entire MCAA family.
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 three decades. He served as a trustee, a chair and member on numerous local industry, business, and civic organizations.
The current scholarship recipient, Aidan Wolownik, is studying construction management at Pittsburg State University and is anticipated to graduate this May. Aidan has been a member of the student chapter since 2022 and has held the roles of Fundraising Chair and President. Upon graduation, Aidan will join MCAA Member, Lippert Mechanical Service Corporation as an Assistant Project Manager.
“What is most appealing to me about mechanical construction is that we make a building come alive. Essentially, the general contractor builds the skeleton and mechanical contractors go in and put all the organs together. This plays a huge role in our world today. Without mechanical contracting, buildings are nothing but walls.
Likewise, what I’ve gained by being involved with MCAA is hands down the networking. Networking plays a whole role in the mechanical industry, and with networking comes connections. After graduation, I hope to be able to support my chapter by being an alumni advisor.”
MCAA and the John R. Gentille Foundation congratulate Aidan 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.
There are still plenty of students looking for the perfect summer job. Whether your company is in need of a new project manager, estimator, or a few new interns, posting to the MCAA GreatFutures Job Board is a quick and easy way to attract fresh new talent looking for opportunities across the country. The job board was created to highlight entry level (no experience required) positions in the mechanical contracting industry and is a complimentary resource for MCAA Members.
New jobs are highlighted every two weeks on the mcaagreatfutures Instagram page.
If you have questions or need assistance, please reach out to MCAA’s Michele Hoffman.
Visit MCAA’s Career Development Initiative page to learn more about student chapter programming or the JRGF website to explore the work that the John R. Gentille Foundation (JRGF) is doing to further education in the mechanical industry.
Congratulations to Jaden Doebelin, one of two recipients of the 2024-2025 DEWALT Patriot Scholarship. The scholarship, now in its fourth year, was created to recognize two veterans, or those who are currently serving in the United States military, who have valiantly served their country and have chosen to enter a career in the construction industry. Thank you to DEWALT for honoring our military and to our scholarship recipients for their service to our country. These two special scholarships were presented at the MCAA Awards of Excellence Breakfast in Austin, TX on March 5th by Jon Howland (U.S. Navy Veteran) and David Steiner.
Jaden Doebelin has been serving in the United States Iowa Army National Guard for over five years and is currently a non-commissioned officer, holding the rank of Sergeant. He is in charge of a mortar firing team comprised of three other soldiers. His main job is to ensure safe, timely, and accurate fires as a battalion asset. Over the course of his military career, he has been promoted for his drive for learning and passion for leadership.
Jaden is studying Construction Engineering and will graduate this May from Iowa State University. He previously interned with MCAA Member, Baker Group, and plans on working full-time at a mechanical contracting company upon graduation.
“My position as a service project manager intern allowed me to see a little bit of everything and get exposed to things I learned in school; this also allowed me to ask all the questions I wanted and expand my knowledge in different areas of the mechanical world.
Throughout my involvement with the MCAA student chapter, I have been a member for two years and also served as President. One of the main things I’ve gained from this experience is how big the mechanical industry is. I realized I’m a part of a community that strives for lifelong learning, being an intentional leader/coworker, and networking. I recently attended the 2025 GreatFutures Forum in Seattle and was able to reconnect with peers I made at MCAA24 in Orlando. This solidified the uniqueness of the mechanical industry and the importance of building relationships early on. You truly never know who you are going to run into someday.
Five years from now I hope to be a project manager, potentially leading and mentoring a team or other coworkers in life and the workplace. I want to utilize my experiences by starting slowly and ensuring I understand everything before becoming a project manager. Through my military experience, I gained a passion for leadership and mentorship. I believe having the ambition to be a lifelong learner and having people in your life to help you reach your aspirations and goals is crucial. I believe obtaining those qualities throughout my experiences will benefit me tremendously in the mechanical industry.”
MCAA and the John R. Gentille Foundation congratulate Jaden on this prestigious scholarship and thank DEWALT Industrial Tool Company for their commitment to supporting students interested in pursuing a career in the mechanical contracting industry.
Congratulations to Jennifer Tartaglia, one of two recipients of the 2024-2025 EVAPCO, Inc. Engineering Scholarship. These brand new $5,000 scholarships were designed to recognize and encourage students whose goal is to pursue a degree in Mechanical Engineering or Civil Engineering, or a field of study relevant to mechanical contracting/ equipment manufacturing that supports the mechanical contracting industry. The scholarships made their debut at the MCAA Convention in Austin, TX during the Awards of Excellence Breakfast on March 5th.
Jennifer Tartaglia is a Mechanical Engineering major at the University of Maryland, College Park and is anticipated to graduate this spring. She has been an active member of her student chapter for the past two years and currently serves as the UMD Student Chapter President. Last summer, Jennifer interned with MCAA Member, Harris.
“Mechanical construction has a unique appeal due to its combination of hands-on work, problem-solving, and precision. I find the challenge of translating intricate plans into actual structures rewarding, as it demands a balance of technical skills and adaptability. There’s also a tangible impact; you see your efforts directly shape the environment, which is incredibly satisfying. Plus, the constant innovation in materials, systems, and methods keeps things fresh, offering endless opportunities to learn and grow.
I love that I am able to apply the knowledge I’ve learned as a student chapter member and as a mechanical engineering major to tangible applications.”
MCAA and the John R. Gentille Foundation congratulate Jennifer on this prestigious scholarship and thank EVAPCO, Inc. for their commitment to supporting students interested in pursuing a career in the mechanical contracting industry.
Congratulations to Brady Thompson, the 2024-2025 recipient of the Reilly Family Memorial Scholarship, which honors the late owners (Wayne, Patrick, and Emmett Reilly) of the John W. Danforth Company, one of the preeminent and charter members of MCAA.
Brady is a Construction Management major at the University of Nebraska at Omaha with an anticipated graduation of May 2026. He has been an active member of his student chapter since 2022 and has served as both Treasurer and Vice President. This summer, he is interning with MCAA Member, Prairie Mechanical Corporation.
“The time I have spent with Prairie Mechanical over this past school year and summer has been life changing. Through Prairie, my knowledge of mechanical systems has grown exponentially. This growth has not only made me a better project manager, but also taught me how to become an estimator. I have started to run small projects and assist the estimating team with pre-construction bids. My experience at Prairie has exposed me to a variety or projects, both big and small, allowing me to understand the different types of mechanical systems.”
“My local chapter in Omaha is particularly active. Some of my most memorable experiences were attending the GreatFutures Forum in Boston and the MCAA Convention in Florida last year. These events deepened my passion for the mechanical construction industry. To remain actively involved with MCAA, I plan to mentor future students and collaborate with the leaders of Nebraska’s chapter to continue advancing the impact on student chapter members.”
MCAA and the John R. Gentille Foundation congratulate Brady on this prestigious scholarship and thank the John W. Danforth Company for their commitment to supporting students interested in pursuing a career in the mechanical contracting industry.
The John R. Gentille Foundation (JRGF) Internship Grant program has been upgraded for 2025 to offer a new level of support for the multiple entities involved with developing the future talent of our industry.
These internship grants are intended to offer support to companies that are new to offering internships, small companies, or those that are looking to grow their internship program.
Grants are intended to offer support for the development and growth of local student chapter programming that creates new employment opportunities or student inclusivity at events with potential employers, mentoring programs, or new student-focused resources.
Visit MCAA’s Career Development Initiative page to learn more about student chapter programming or the JRGF website to explore the work JRGF is doing to further education in the mechanical industry.
MCAA welcomed its two newest student chapters by granting charters to Arizona State University and the University of Manitoba during the MCAA25 Awards of Excellence Breakfast on March 5th in Austin, TX.
For a full listing of the 42 active MCAA Student Chapters, visit the GreatFutures Universities tab, which can be found under the Career Development Initiative dropdown at www.mcaa.org.
Interested in hiring interns or soon to be graduating full-time new hires? Be sure to put October 9-11, 2025 on your calendar and plan on attending the 2025 MCAA GreatFutures Forum in Salt Lake City, UT. This annual student-focused conference includes a Friday morning Job Fair that is timed perfectly to coincide with when students are actively seeking summer employment options.
GFF25 is complimentary to all student chapter members, faculty advisors, affiliated association execs, contractor members, and conference sponsors. Registration will open in July 2025. We look forward to seeing you there!
Questions regarding student chapter programming, starting a new student chapter, or the GreatFutures Forum can be directed to MCAA’s Director, Career Development – Michele Hoffman (mhoffman@mcaa.org).
At the MCAA25 Awards of Excellence Breakfast on March 5th, McMaster University was awarded the top prize of $10,000, sponsored by DEWALT Industrial Tool Company, and a trophy for their outstanding work on the 2024-2025 Student Chapter Competition.
California State University, Chico was the runner-up, placing second and received a trophy and check for $5,000.
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo and Pittsburg State University rounded out the final four. Both of these Honorable Mention finalists received trophies and $2,500 checks.
Six teams (out of the 27 submissions) were recognized with Merit Trophies and checks for $1,000. They are, in alphabetical order:
The project involved submitting a proposal as the prime mechanical contractor for the MCAA Medical Research Project in New York City. This included all piping, HVAC, controls and additional work required by the bid documents.
Fresh Meadow Mechanical Corporation supplied the competition project, and Chris Milone and Michael F. Russo introduced the project and shared what really happened.
New this year, DEWALT Industrial Tool Company sponsored all prize money for the competition.
Procore let students use their project management software, offering real-world experience using their powerful tool.
Trimble donated use of Trimble Estimation MEP software and provided training sessions to get the students up to speed.
Ferguson provided pricing for pipe valves and fittings, letting students see what it’s really like to obtain and work with that data.
A big thank you also goes to the Chair of the Career Development Committee, Andrew Palcan, Helm Group, for serving as the emcee for the competition in Austin!
Parker Jenkins
Pittsburg State University
The Career Development Committee recognized the student who did the best job presenting their proposal, whether or not their team won. The audience members voted live between the presentations and ultimately Parker Jenkins from Pittsburg State University was awarded a trophy, a $500 gift card, a complimentary seat in MCAA’s Preparatory Institute for Project Management (PIPM), and the title of 2024-2025 Most Valuable Presenter.
Parker is majoring in Construction Management at Pittsburg State University. He plans to start at P1 Construction (an MCAA member) following graduation this spring.
Parker’s student chapter is sponsored by the MCA of Kansas City and advised by Shannon Nicklaus, our 2024-2025 Educator of the Year.
Kavan Limbasiya
Pittsburg State University
The Trimble Futures Estimator Scholarship was developed to recognize a student not only interested in mechanical contracting, but specifically to a student with an interest in being a mechanical estimator upon graduation. This $5,000 scholarship is available to a student who participated in the Final Four round of the MCAA Student Chapter Competition.
The MCAA Career Development Committee is hard at work planning for the 2025-2026 competition. The project will be announced this fall and a Q&A session is already on the schedule for the GreatFutures Forum in Salt Lake City, UT (October 9-11, 2025). Registration, which opens in July, is complimentary for MCAA contractor members, including the GreatFutures Job Fair on Friday morning. You won’t want to miss it!
Congratulations to McMaster University, all of our runners-up and merit trophy recipients, our MVP and the newest recipient of the Trimble Future Estimator Scholarship. And another huge round of thanks to all of those who made the competition a success. We can’t wait to see what you come up with for next year!
The student chapter members at Pittsburg State University proudly nominated Shannon Nicklaus for the MCAA 2024-2025 Educator of the Year based on his mentoring, mechanical industry knowledge, participation in chapter activities, and involvement in the creation of student-focused networking opportunities with local mechanical contractors through the MCA of Kansas City. In addition to a trophy, he received a $5,000 award during the MCAA25 Awards of Excellence Breakfast on Wednesday, March 5th.
The $5,000 award was underwritten by the John R. Gentille Foundation (JRGF). MCAA thanks JRGF for their generous support of this award and the student chapter program as a whole.
“Shannon consistently goes above and beyond the typical duties of a faculty advisor by actively advocating for the betterment of students both within and beyond the chapter.”
“Shannon is always fighting to provide more resources and opportunities for students. His dedication is clear in the way he continuously pushes for improvements that benefit not only the chapter, but the entire student body.”
“Shannon transforms more than just his students’ career opportunities; he also creates an environment, both in the classroom and within our student chapter, where we develop friendships, confidence in the professionals we are becoming, and the life skills to successfully navigate adulthood. This makes him not just an instructor, but a trusted mentor during our pivotal college years.”
– Aidan Wolownik – Pittsburg State University Student Chapter President
Shannon takes great pride in the members of the MCA Student Chapter at Pittsburg State University and works tirelessly to continuously bring top students into the organization. Shannon has transformed chapter meetings by creating an environment where students can gain information from industry professionals, meet new people and learn about the mechanical industry. Additionally, Shannon ensures the chapter has the best of opportunities, such as attending the GreatFutures Forum, MCAA Convention, WiMI Conference plus all of the events put on by MCA KC. These events allow chapter members to network with contractors, professors, and students locally and from across the country. These experiences not only help chapter members learn more about the mechanical industry, but he also makes sure that when the group travels to a new city that they do something fun. The stories and pictures from past events help to recruit new members and help the chapter build a bond.
“Shannon is a leader at helping our chapter develop relationships and lifelong friendships within our student chapter. Who doesn’t want to be a part of something that great?”
Shannon plays a crucial role in connecting student chapter members with MCAA contractors by organizing events that foster direct engagement. Student chapter meetings often feature local contractors, which builds meaningful industry relationships. Rather than simply providing contacts, Shannon actively facilitates relationships, helping students secure internships, job offers and mentorships in the mechanical industry.
Through Shannon’s efforts and connections this past year, he has successfully assisted over ten students with getting internships in mechanical, leading to six full-time job offers. He goes above and beyond to help students find opportunities by personally reaching out to companies through his strong relationships within the mechanical contracting industry. Companies trust his judgment and often open new positions, based on his recommendations, knowing that the students he advocates for are highly capable and will be well-prepared.
His dedication is a key factor in expanding employment opportunities for students in the mechanical contracting industry at Pittsburg State University.
Shannon’s leadership style with the Pittsburg State student chapter is marked by a collaborative and empowering approach. He consistently creates an environment where students feel valued and encouraged to take initiative, allowing students to contribute to the chapter’s success.
“Shannon ultimately leads by example. He is always approachable and willing to offer guidance, but also trusts the chapter’s officers to make decisions and manage chapter operations. His emphasis on teamwork and open communication fosters a strong sense of responsibility among members.”
Congratulations to Pittsburg State’s Shannon Nicklaus on being awarded the 2024-2025 Educator of the Year!
