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Jobs Galore at MCAA GFF 24

Over 150 students from 34 MCAA student chapters, plus nearly 150 MCAA members and supporters attended the MCAA GreatFutures Forum in Seattle, WA at the end of September. This annual conference connects future professionals with MCAA members and the internship and full-time employment opportunities they offer. It also educates students about the ongoing changes in the field and the advantages of working in mechanical contracting.

As Career Development Committee Chair and GreatFutures Forum emcee Andrew Palcan said, “We love a good theme.” 

Two years ago, students were asked to lean into “What is Mechanical Contracting” while on their journey to selecting a career. Last year, the message asked attendees to “Keep your eyes open… to the different paths to mechanical.” Now in 2024, the call to action has been made for our next generation to dig deep and take it upon themselves to be the innovative voices of the future. It’s their turn to “Move the Needle” in their careers and in our industry.

What will be the 2025 theme? You’ll have to be there to find out!

Save the Date

MCAA GreatFutures Forum
October 9-11, 2025
The Little America | Salt Lake City, UT

Job Fair Encouraged Networking

During the non-traditional job fair, students connected with MCAA members looking for interns and full-time new hires.  Employers proudly sported their company shirts, and students were easily identifiable in gray MCAA branded attire. Upon entry, everyone grabbed beads to signify if they were looking for or offering an internship (yellow), a full-time position post-graduation (green), or if they were attending in a supportive role to help make introductions and to enjoy the bacon-themed breakfast (purple). 

Students and employers networked their way through the room, traded contact information via their new digital business cards, and even had the opportunity for quick on-site interviews in a nearby room.

Job Board Connects Students to Internships & Careers Year-Round

Those who didn’t find the perfect employment pairing at GFF24, or who were unable to attend, are encouraged to check out the MCAA GreatFutures Job Board. Employers continually post new entry-level jobs and internships, so make the job board your first stop in finding your great future!

Job Board

New jobs and internships are highlighted on Instagram every two weeks. Don’t miss out on the latest posts! Be sure to follow us.

MCAAGreatFutures Instagram

How to Post an Entry-Level Job or Internship

  • Login with an MCAA username and password.
  • Click on the job board within the Career Development page.
  • Click Manage My Jobs and Add a Job to create your posting.
  • Jobs remain active for 1 month to ensure postings stay fresh.
  • When the job is set to expire, a reminder will be sent for you to either “mark as filled” or “duplicate” and repost for another month.
  • Interested students can view postings and submit their contact information and resume.
  • Your office will be notified via email when interested students submit their resumes.
  • From there, your office is encouraged to continue with your company’s regular application and interview process.

Thank You To Our 2024 MCAA GreatFutures Forum Sponsors!

MCAA’s Career Development Initiative works to build our industry’s great future for students and employers alike thanks to sponsoring companies like the ones above and significant financial support from the John R. Gentille Foundation (JRGF). Reach out to MCAA’s Michele Hoffman with questions or comments on our efforts.

Hiring for Summer 2025? Post on the Job Board to Get on MCAA Student Chapter Members’ Radar

Over 150 students from 34 chapters are registered for the 2024 MCAA GreatFutures Forum in Seattle, WA, at the end of the September. They will soon be scoping out MCAA’s GreatFutures Job Board for companies they would like to meet with onsite to discuss internships and entry-level full-time positions.

GFF24 Student Chapters in Attendance:

  • Alfred State College
  • Auburn University
  • Ball State University
  • Binghamton University
  • Bradley University
  • Buffalo State University
  • California Polytechnic State University, Pomona
  • California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
  • California State University, Chico
  • California State University, East Bay
  • California State University, Sacramento
  • Fairleigh Dickinson University
  • Iowa State University
  • Illinois State University
  • Indiana State University
  • Kansas State University
  • Kent State University
  • McMaster University
  • Missouri State University
  • Northern Kentucky University
  • Oregon State University
  • Pittsburg State University
  • Purdue University
  • Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
  • University of Manitoba
  • University of Maryland, College Park
  • University of Nebraska
  • University of Southern California
  • University of Washington
  • University of Wisconsin-Stout
  • Utica University
  • Virginia Tech
  • Washington State University
  • Wentworth Institute of Technology

Not attending GFF24? You can still post your job to start a conversation with interested students! 

How to Post an Entry-Level Job or Internship

  1.  Login with an MCAA username and password.
  2.  Click on the job board within the Career Development page.
  3.  Click Manage My Jobs and Add a Job to create your posting.
    •  Jobs remain active for 1 month to ensure postings stay fresh.
    •  When the job is set to expire, a reminder will be sent for you to either “mark as filled” or “duplicate” and repost for another month.
    •  Interested students can view postings and submit their contact information and resume.
  4. Your office will be notified via email when interested students submit their resume.
  5.  From there, your office is encouraged to continue with your company’s application and interview process.
VIEW JOB BOARD

How to Support Student Chapter Recruitment

The MCAA Career Development Committee recently rolled out a new eight-part Recruitment Guide that includes tailored resources for everyone to help pitch in and support our student chapters with their recruitment efforts on campus this fall. 

In addition to a flyer and PowerPoint template for our students to use, four guides are available with content created specifically for Faculty Advisors, Local Association Executives and MCAA Members.

Example:

Student Chapter Recruitment Best Practices – For MCAA Members

  • Create Facetime Opportunities
  • Be Side by Side with your Local Association
  • Raffles & Swag – Who Doesn’t Love Free Stuff?
  • Competition Support
  • Fundraising Support
  • Community Service Partnerships
  • Communications & Publications – Their Success is Your Success!
  • Keep Up on MCAA Opportunities
  • Play the Long Game

Browse the Recruitment Guide today and reach out to your local student chapter to offer your assistance with recruiting efforts!

Recruitment Guide

GreatFutures Forum – Seattle: Register by August 30th!

Registration for the 2024 MCAA GreatFutures Forum will close soon. Don’t miss this opportunity to join MCAA and our generous sponsors for this three-day event that connects MCAA members with students interested in internship and full-time opportunities in mechanical contracting. MCAA Members, Sponsors, Local Affiliate Association Executives, Students, and Faculty Advisors  all enjoy complimentary registration, so register today! All registrations and hotel bookings must be submitted by August 30th.

Program Highlights

Thursday

  • Registration & Snack Station
  • Welcome / Presidential Message from Rick Gopffarth
  • Moving the Needle Panel
  • Trivia Announcement
  • Mastering the Swing of Social Etiquette
  • Topgolf – Offsite Activity and Dinner

Friday

  • Job Fair Prep for Students and Employers
  • Job Fair Breakfast
  • Innovation – An Intertwined Future Keynote with Tanmay Bakshi
  • Faculty / Industry Advisor and Student Chapter President Meetings
  • Competition Skills: Takeoff Basics
  • Lunch
  • 24-25 Competition Introduction
  • MacDonald Miller Tour
  • Seattle Aquarium – Offsite Dinner

Saturday

  • Breakfast
  • The Mechanical Puzzle
  • Building Your Chapter Roundtables
  • Trivia Answers & Prizes, Alumni head-to-head
  • Wrap-Up and Lunch Gift Cards

2024 MCAA GreatFutures Forum
September 26 – 28 | The Westin Seattle

GreatFutures Forum Registration & Information

Not sure if the GreatFutures Forum is right for you? Check out this video!

Thank You to Our Generous GFF24 Sponsors

  • ACCO Engineered Systems – Transportation
  • CPMCA – Beverage Break 
  • DEWALT – Saturday Breakfast
  • Ferguson – Bags
  • Harris – Saturday Lunch Gift Cards
  • MILWAUKEE TOOL – Wednesday CDC Cocktail Hour 
  • MCA Western Washington – Friday Job Fair Breakfast
  • NIBCO – Thursday Arrival Snack Station
  • Procore – Thursday Topgolf Dinner
  • Southland – Thursday Alumni Breakfast
  • Victaulic – Friday Aquarium Dinner
  • Viega – Shirts
  • Zurn Elkay – Friday Lunch Sponsor

Congratulations to Aidan Wolownik, Recipient of the Reilly Family Memorial Scholarship

Congratulations to Aidan Wolownik, the 2023-2024 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.

One of many magical moments during the MCAA24 Awards of Excellence Breakfast in Orlando was when Kevin “Duke” Reilly stood next to his Danforth colleague, MCAA President Robert Beck, to present this annual scholarship.

Later in the awards ceremony, Robert shared the stage with Andrew Palcan, MCAA Career Development Committee Chair, who received this same scholarship from Robert Beck eight years ago, also in Orlando. The stage was certainly full of excitement and pride during this award!

FLASHBACK to the MCAA16 Awards of Excellence Breakfast in Orlando, FL – Pictured: Mark Rogers (JRGF President), Andrew Palcan (Recipient), Robert Beck (John W. Danforth Company), Steve Dawson (MCAA President)

Andrew, Robert and the team at Danforth share an enthusiasm for full circle moments and hope to see this year’s recipient of the Reilly Family Memorial Scholarship follow through with his quote below and end up on the convention stage for his own magical flashback moment.

MCAA24 Awards of Excellence Breakfast in Orlando, FL – Pictured: Andrew Palcan (Career Development Committee Chair) and Robert Beck (MCAA President)

Aidan is a Construction Management major at Pittsburg State University with an anticipated graduation of May 2025. He is an active member of his student chapter and has served as both the Fundraising Chair and President (two terms). This summer, he is interning with MCAA Member, P1 Construction.

“The thing that’s most appealing about mechanical is all the coordination that takes place. From the fabrication shop to the project site, everyone is always making things smooth and I hope to see this process in action as I intern over the summer.

What I’ve gained the most from my involvement with MCAA is the networking with other schools and contractor members. I have really come a long way to get out of my shell when talking to other people. I plan to stay involved after I graduate and attend national conferences and hope to get on the MCAA Board so I’m able to donate back time and resources for a scholarship to help other students learn about the mechanical industry.”

MCAA and the John R. Gentille Foundation congratulate Aidan 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.

Plug and Play Materials Available for Student Chapter Recruiting

The MCAA Career Development Committee recently rolled out a new eight-part Recruitment Guide that includes tailored resources so everyone can pitch in and support our student chapters’ recruitment efforts on campus this fall. This resource will help you contribute to building a great future for our industry.

Two available resources at the forefront of the new guide are the PowerPoint Template and the Flyer Template. These are intended to be plug and play materials for anyone visiting campus. 

The PowerPoint is an excellent tool for students, faculty and MCAA members to use during pre-arranged classroom visits (short presentations at the start or end of a class period to spread the word about the student chapter). Chapters may also unhide the last few slides on the template to add in their meeting calendar and/or share internship experiences or local events of interest.

The Flyer Template is also a great resource to print and distribute during classroom visits, and could also be used during organizational fairs put on by the school / department. The front is packed full of MCAA benefits and the back is blank for chapters to give it their own flair with chapter specifics. 

Customization Guides for both the PowerPoint and Flyer Template offers suggestions and ideas for how to add local relevant information and expand overall chapter interest on campus.

An hour or two spend on campus this fall assisting with chapter recruitment could result in a company’s next great intern or new hire! The first step is creating awareness about the mechanical industry as a whole, which is a team effort that typically includes the faculty advisor, student chapter members, local association executives and MCAA members. 

Browse the Recruitment Guide today and reach out to your local student chapter to offer your assistance with recruiting efforts!

Recruitment Guide

New Resource: MCAA Student Chapter Recruitment Guide

Enhancing year-long recruitment strategies to further the support that student chapter members feel from the MCAA membership can be the ultimate decision maker for post-graduation plans. To many of these students, that choice isn’t simply about a job. They are searching for a community of professionals where they feel welcome and engaged. There’s no better time to start connecting the dots for a Great Future with MCAA than while they’re still in school.

The MCAA Career Development Committee is proud to roll out a new eight-part Recruitment Guide. The guide has something for everyone from MCAA contractor members to Local Affiliate Executives and Faculty Advisors. There’s even PowerPoint and flyer templates to assist the students with classroom visits as they head back to campus at the end of the month. 

MCAA Recruitment Guide

Available Recruitment Guide Resources

For Faculty:

  • Recruitment Idea List
  • Recruitment Timeline

For Students:

  • PowerPoint Template + Customization Guide
  • Flyer Template + Customization Guide

For MCAA Members:

  • Recruitment Best Practices

For Local Association Executives:

  • Recruitment Best Practices

Looking for additional ways to get involved with student chapter recruitment?  Check out the Universities Page for a listing of chapters or contact MCAA Director, Career Development, Michele Hoffman (mhoffman@mcaa.org).

Congratulations to Yulien Liz, Recipient of the Robert T. Armistead Memorial Scholarship

Congratulations to Yulien Liz, one of two recipients of the first ever Robert T. Armistead Memorial Scholarship. This $5,000 scholarship was established by Armistead Mechanical, Inc. and the family of Robert “Bob” Armistead to symbolize his leadership, dedication, and impact on the mechanical contracting industry. In honor of Bob’s service as MCAA President, the selected winners are required to have served in the role as their local student chapter president.

Yulien is a Mechanical Engineering student at Fairleigh Dickinson University who anticipates graduating in December 2025. He is an active member of his student chapter, where he has served as both Vice President and President. He has interned with MCAA member companies Binsky & Snyder, A&A Industrial Piping, and Mid-Atlantic Mechanical.

“My involvement in the Fairleigh Dickinson Student Chapter has significantly enhanced my skill set. Despite having a background in the technical side of HVAC before college, my participation in the chapter transformed my knowledge base. Through working on the student chapter competition my freshman year, I acquired skills in estimating, scheduling, and logistics for a real construction project. Then, the following year, I utilized those skills with the rest of our returning team to create a stronger proposal which resulted in a top-four national placement. As the current student President, I continue to learn new things in every meeting and have expanded my professional network through interactions with local MCA professionals, which ultimately led to securing valuable internships.

The MCAA student chapter has provided me with essential mechanical contracting skills, networking opportunities with professionals, experience in public speaking at the national level, exposure to business travel, and leadership experience in guiding a team. Once I graduate, my intention is to give back by becoming a local mentor and supporting upcoming students in the same way I was helped. I deeply appreciate the value of this experience and am enthusiastic about providing guidance to future students.”

MCAA and the John R. Gentille Foundation congratulate Yulien on this prestigious scholarship and thank Armistead Mechanical, Inc. and the family of Robert T. Armistead for their commitment to supporting students interested in pursuing a career in the mechanical contracting industry.

Congratulations to Tabitha Watson, Recipient of the Ann Mattheis Memorial Scholarship

MCAA has established a new annual scholarship in honor of the memory of Ann Mattheis, a former Director of MCAA’s Career Development / GreatFutures program. Ann’s dedication and contributions to building the GreatFutures program has left an enduring legacy for multiple decades of students and for the overall MCAA membership through her many roles with MCAA.

Tabitha Watson is the inaugural scholarship recipient and is a Construction Management major at Pittsburg State University, with an anticipated graduation this December. She is an active member of her student chapter and was employed by MMC Contractors over the summer as a BIM / VDC intern.

“I have gained a lot of knowledge of how each team has to work together like a well-oiled machine in order to produce a great project. The MCAA student chapter at Pittsburg State University has done a great job at bringing in industry leaders to talk to students about some of the struggles they face and how to overcome challenges.

I’m interested in participating on the competition team, especially when it comes to understanding the BIM / VDC side of the project. BIM / VDC is still an up-and-coming program for many companies, but mechanical construction uses VDC / BIM a lot already and I would like to learn more about it. After I graduate, I hope to be with a company that’s an active member in MCAA and to help future students understand the benefits that mechanical contractors have to offer. I enjoy traveling and seeing what all is going on at a jobsite, but I am a firm believer that life has a funny way of showing us what we are meant to do and what is put in place for us.”

The John R. Gentille Foundation congratulates Tabitha on this prestigious scholarship and thanks MCAA for their commitment to supporting students interested in pursuing a career in the mechanical contracting industry.

Use the GreatFutures Universities Listings to Find a School Year Intern

Visit the MCAA GreatFutures Universities page to browse student chapters and to view contact information for faculty advisors or to note the sponsoring local MCAA affiliated association.

Reach out to the faculty advisor and the local association executive when looking to hire interns for the school year. These two resources typically work together to keep a pulse on which students still need internships and if they are interested in any specific or specialized part of our industry. Let them know that your company is looking to recruit new talent and keep your eyes and ears open for additional opportunities to say hello. Connections can happen anywhere, not just during the school’s annual career fair! Consider attending the chapter fundraisers, social outings or community service events and easily walk away with contact information for a handful of potential new hires.

Visit the MCAA GreatFutures Universities Page

Internship Grants

2024 Internship Grants are $1,000 for 1 intern, or $2,000 for 2 or more interns. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, but must be submitted no later than January 31, 2025 for all 2024 grants. 

Once you officially hire an intern, be sure to submit a Part 1 Internship Grant.

Part 1: Internship Grant Application

Once you convert an intern from your Part 1 list to a full-time new hire, make sure you submit a Part 2 Internship Grant.

For companies successfully converting an intern from their Part 1 list to a full-time new hire, a $500 gift card will be mailed to the company to present to their new hire. New hire conversions are unlimited, but the name must be included on a Part 1 list from an MCAA member company. Part 2 applications may not be submitted until after the full-time start date and must be submitted no later than January 31, 2025 for all 2024 grants.

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.