Register Now for Coffee with Koontz Episode 11: Spotlight on Service – Changing Perspectives on Essential Work

August 7, 2020

Episode 11: Spotlight on Service – Changing Perspectives on Essential Work
Friday, August 14 at 2:00 p.m. EDT

‘I didn’t start out in construction. I went to college.’ How many times have you heard that from someone in the mechanical industry? Whether it’s pressure from parents or an uncertainty about what to do after high school, college often seems to be the default option. 

Kip Bagley (Senior VP of Service, EMCOR Services – Mesa Energy Systems; Co-Chair, MSCA Board of Managers) had himself graduated with a degree in Physical Education and was on his way towards a Master’s degree, when one of his professors wrote down on the chalkboard what a PE teacher with a Master’s could earn. Well, Kip’s dad was earning twice that as an air conditioning tech, and the phone call home that took place shortly after basically went “I changed my mind. I want to do what you do.”

When COVID-19 hit and the world was divided up into essential and non-essential workers, it shone a new light on the mechanical industry, and specifically the service sector. These folks were keeping hospitals running and grocery stores functioning. Mechanical techs were going to work, bringing home a paycheck, and serving the nation. As Kip observes, if anything good has come out of the pandemic – besides there being less traffic in LA – it may be that more people are realizing that the trades are a viable alternative to college: one where they can succeed, make money, and have stability. Join John and Kip as they discuss how the circumstances of 2020 have impacted recruitment, perception of the industry, and what it means to be of service.

REGISTER TODAY

Related Articles
Welcome to Inside MCAA, The Blueprint to Mechanical Contracting, the podcast dedicated to unveiling the strategies and resources that power success within the Mechanical Contractors Association of America. Hosted by renowned Customer Experience Coach and NEI Instructor Frank Favaro, each episode dives deep into the wealth of educational tools, networking opportunities, and advocacy efforts that define MCAA.…
Registration is now open for two impactful labor relations events taking place consecutively in Las Vegas this October—designed to strengthen negotiation skills, improve labor-management collaboration, and advance our industry together. The back-to-back MCAA Collective Bargaining Conference and UA/MCAA Labor Relations Conference offer a unique opportunity to develop aligned strategies, share perspectives, and build stronger labor-management relationships across the mechanical industry.…
Each year, thousands of workers suffer from heat illness while working in high temperatures, direct sun, and humid conditions; dozens even die. MCAA's Heat Stress resources, alongside those from our partners at OSHA, CNA, and MILWAUKEE TOOL, provide strategies and tips for protecting those workers. These are just a few of MCAA’s educational resources that are free to MCAA members as a benefit of membership.…
Mark your calendars for the 2025 MSCA Education Conference, November 9–12 at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess. This year’s theme, Transform, challenges us to rethink how we inspire teams within our organizations while still being leaders and advancing the industry. In addition to our in-depth education sessions and conference-favorite peer-to-peer discussion roundtables, we have a great line up of keynote speakers. Registration opens June 18th.…
Load More...