Congratulations to Daniel DeSoto, Recipient of the Trimble Future Estimator Scholarship

July 15, 2024
Pictured: Brian Helm (JRGF President), Daniel DeSoto (Recipient), Rocco Bognet (Trimble Sales Director), Ron King (Former Trimble Industry Relations and Business Development Director), and Robert Beck (MCAA President)

The Trimble Future Estimator Scholarship was developed to recognize a student interested in a career as an estimator within the mechanical contracting industry.

For the past few years, Trimble has donated complimentary use of the Trimble Estimation MEP software for MCAA Student Chapter Competition teams. Likewise, this scholarship is awarded to a Student Chapter Competition Final Four team member.

Daniel graduated in May from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo with a degree in Construction Management. This summer, he jumped back into the classroom in pursuit of a Masters, this time at the University of California, Berkeley. During his time in the student chapter, Daniel served as Student Chapter President and helped his team to a second place finish for the 2022-2023 project and a first-place finish for the 2023-2024 project during his senior year. Daniel previously interned with MCAA member, Pribuss Engineering.

“My involvement with the MCAA student chapter has given me lifelong friendships, career opportunities, and personal and professional development. I have made great relationships through the MCAA club at CalPoly by spending hours together working on the competition, which has created a bond almost like family since we spent so much time together. We know each other inside and out. MCAA has also helped me develop personally and professionally by teaching me what it takes to succeed in this industry and providing a guide for how to be a leader. One of the biggest takeaways is that building relationships is extremely important.

Last summer, I did estimating work for a mechanical contractor (who I met through my chapter involvement). After using all the software and enjoying the process, I began to realize that I could work on a lot more projects at a time. I really enjoyed the fast pace of everything as well as the amount of responsibility given to me from day one. I have always really loved to compete; this is part of the reason I engaged in the Student Chapter Competition. Estimating is similar to this process, except for the fact you are competing against real companies. I really grew to love this process by the end of my internship and can’t wait to see what my future in estimating will look like. I hope to someday be a chief estimator producing accurate estimates and creating value for the company I work for.”

MCAA and the John R. Gentille Foundation congratulate Daniel on this prestigious scholarship and thank Trimble for their commitment to supporting students interested in pursuing a career in the mechanical contracting industry.

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