Tradeswork: The Rocky Mountain MCA Podcast

Colorado Gives Day featuring Kelly Dunkin

On this episode of Tradeswork: The Rocky Mountain Mechanical Contractors Association Podcast, we welcome Kelly Dunkin, President & CEO of Colorado Gives Foundation. Kelly joined Colorado Gives Foundation as President and CEO in February 2019. Previously she worked for a variety of nonprofit, business and social impact organizations. Here are some of the questions you can expect to be answered on this show:

• What is Colorado Gives Day and how does it work?
• How can companies and individuals maximize their contributions to nonprofits?
• What are some examples of innovative ways companies and nonprofits have utilized Colorado Gives?
• How can small businesses utilize this platform?
• How did Kelly come to be a part of this organization and how does she see her role within it?

This episode is available on podcatchers everywhere. Please rate, review and subscribe.

For more information about Colorado Gives Foundation, please visit their website.

For more information about Rocky Mountain Mechanical Contractors Association, please visit our website.

Behind the Scenes at Winter Park Resort featuring Kelly Mace

On this episode of Tradeswork: The Rocky Mountain Mechanical Contractors Association Podcast, we welcome Kelly Mace, Director of Lodging & Property Management at Winter Park Resort. Here are some of the questions you can expect to be answered on this show:

• What are the unique challenges of managing a mountain resort?
• What plumbing, HVAC-R and skilled trades challenges exist in this milieu?
• How does one deal with wanting snow in one part of the resort and removing snow in another?
• What new projects has Winter Park Resort undertaken during Kelly's tenure?
• What sustainability measures has Winter Park Resort enacted that involve the skilled trades?
• What is the future for Winter Park, winter recreation and mountain tourism?

This episode is available on podcatchers everywhere. Please rate, review and subscribe.

For more information about Kroenke Sports and Entertainment, please visit their website.

For more information about Rocky Mountain Mechanical Contractors Association, please visit our website.

Getting an Inside Look at Ball Arena featuring Danny Nichols

On this episode of Tradeswork: The Rocky Mountain Mechanical Contractors Association Podcast, we welcome Danny Nichols, Executive Director of Engineering and Sustainability for Kroenke Sports and Entertainment. He oversees operations at Ball Arena, Dick's Sporting Goods Park, the Paramount Theatre and four office buildings near Ball Arena. Here are some of the questions you can expect to be answered on this show:

• How did Danny get his start at Ball Arena and what was his career path there?
• What are the unique challenges of HVAC and other skilled trades particularly when it comes to managing a venue that hosts professional ice hockey, basketball, lacrosse, and a variety of concerts and other events?
• What is it like working under pressure in such a high profile gig?
• What is the future of sustainability for venues such as these?
• What would Danny say to anyone considering a career in the skilled trades?
• Just how do they switch the floor from ice to hardwood and back? How quickly can they do it? What are the unique skilled trades challenges associated with this process?

This episode is available on podcatchers everywhere. Please rate, review and subscribe.

For more information about Kroenke Sports and Entertainment, please visit their website.

For more information about Rocky Mountain Mechanical Contractors Association, please visit our website.

Taking Care of Colorado's Iconic Red Rocks Amphitheatre featuring Tad Bowman

On this episode of Tradeswork: The Rocky Mountain Mechanical Contractors Association Podcast, we welcome Tad Bowman, Venue Director for Red Rocks Amphitheatre and the Denver Coliseum for the City and County of Denver's Division of Arts & Venues.  Arts & Venues is the city agency that oversees cultural programs and Denver's owned entertainment venues such as Red Rocks, the Denver Coliseum, McNichols Civic Center Building and the theatres at the Denver Performing Arts Complex (Buell Theatre, Ellie Caulkins Opera House and Boettcher Concert Hall). Here are some of the questions you can expect to be answered on this show:

• How did Tad get his start working in an organization like Division of Arts & Venues?
• What are the unique challenges of managing an iconic venue like Red Rocks?
• How are Red Rocks and the Denver Coliseum complementary in terms of their seasons and how does that influence maintenance and construction?
• How are the two venues unique and how are they different?
• Something you may not know: How is water uniquely handled at Red Rocks?
• How important is having skilled trades partners for an organization such as this?

This episode is available on podcatchers everywhere. Please rate, review and subscribe.

For more information about City and County of Denver's Division of Arts & Venues, please visit their website.

For more information about Rocky Mountain Mechanical Contractors Association, please visit our website.

Managing the Unique Needs of the Denver Center for Performing Arts featuring Glen Lucero

On this episode of Tradeswork: The Rocky Mountain Mechanical Contractors Association Podcast, we welcome Glen Lucero, Vice President of Venue Operations for the Denver Center for Performing Arts (DCPA). With more than 25 years of experience in operations, strategic planning, and facilities management, he oversees all DCPA properties including two buildings, six theatres and a ballroom within the Denver Performing Arts Complex. His team encompasses Engineering, Custodial, Security, Environmental Health & Safety and Patron Experience. Here are some of the questions you can expect to be answered on this show:

• How many different spaces and different types of spaces does Glen manage?
• What are the unique challenges in operating performance spaces from an HVAC, plumbing and skilled trades perspective?
• Glen expresses a passion for "establishing standards in public spaces." What does that mean, and how does it influence his approach to his work?
• How did COVID fundamentally change aspects of, in particular, the HVAC systems at the DCPA?
• How will policy influence the way venues are managed in the future?
• How important is having skilled trades partners for an organization such as this?

This episode is available on podcatchers everywhere. Please rate, review and subscribe.

For more information about Denver Center for Performing Arts, please visit their website.

For more information about Rocky Mountain Mechanical Contractors Association, please visit our website.

The Growing Need for Electricity: Revisiting Our Conversation with Dynalectric CEO Gina Cullen

On this episode of Tradeswork: The Rocky Mountain Mechanical Contractors Association Podcast, we revisit our conversation Gina Cullen, President & CEO of Dynalectric Colorado. As talk of moving to further electrify our power grid continues in Colorado and across the world, one certainty is that demand for skilled electricians will only increase. We have a special kinship with our brother and sister electricians, and that's why we thought it pertinent to revisit this conversation with Gina who talks at length about her journey from electrician to CEO and the many fascinating projects she's worked on along the way. Here are some of the questions you can expect to be answered on this show:

• How did an earthquake inspire Gina's career choice?
• Why is the challenging architecture of the Denver Art Museum one of her most satisfying projects to work on?
• How can the work of electricians literally change people lives for the better?
• What is the best part of her job? What is the most challenging?
• How is the work of electricians largely invisible?
• What does a day in the life of an electrician look like?
• How is electrical work like artwork?

This episode is available on podcatchers everywhere. Please rate, review and subscribe.

For more information about Dynalectric Colorado, please visit their website.

For more information about Rocky Mountain Mechanical Contractors Association, please visit our website.

Gina Cullen joined Dynalectric Colorado in 1992. She is active in the local industry organizations including the Colorado State Electrical Board, Denver Metro Economic Development Corporation Board of Governors, and various International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and National Electrical Contractors Association committees. She holds a Colorado Master Electrician License and a Bachelor of Science in organizational management – project management from Colorado Christian University.

Improving Diversity and Evolving the Construction Industry featuring Ale Spray

On this episode of Tradeswork: The Rocky Mountain Mechanical Contractors Association Podcast, we welcome Ale Spray, CEO and president of the Hispanic Contractors of Colorado (HCC). Their mission is to build opportunities to strengthen and sustain our members’ knowledge, connections and voice with in the public/private sector in the Colorado construction industry. Prior to this role, Ale was the community empowerment manager for Mortenson, where she was responsible for successfully overseeing community participation plans to maximize opportunities for small, women, minority and other diverse groups and workers on Mortenson’s projects. Here are some of the questions you can expect to be answered on this episode:

• Who is the HCC and what do they do? 
• What does "diversity, equity and inclusion," or DEI, mean to Ale?
• Why have DEI initiatives come under fire in some corners of the world, and how does Ale respond?
• What is unique about HCC in their outreach to their communities to recruit talent to our industry?
• What obstacles still exist for women as they look to advance into leadership positions in their companies?
• What do she and HCC have their eye on in this year's legislative session?

This episode is available on podcatchers everywhere. Please rate, review and subscribe.

For more information about Hispanic Contractors of Colorado, please visit their website.

For more information about Rocky Mountain Mechanical Contractors Association, please visit our website.

Crisis Proofing Today's Learners featuring Jean Eddy

On this episode of Tradeswork: The Rocky Mountain Mechanical Contractors Association Podcast, we welcome Jean Eddy, President & CEO of American Student Assistance (ASA), an organization that aspires to help students know themselves, know their options, and make informed decisions about their education and career goals early in life. Our overall objective is to build a generation of successful individuals who are confident, competent, and ready to realize the future they envision. A national non-profit, ASA has been pioneering solutions to help students for more than 60 years. 

Jean is also the author of a book titled Crisis-Proofing Today’s Learners: Reimagining Career Education to Prepare Kids for Tomorrow’s World. The book is an informative guide – for parents, educators, policy makers, and business leaders – of the best way to prepare youth for post high school education and career success. Here are some of the questions you can expect to be answered on this episode:

• Who is the ASA, and what kind of work do they do? 
• Why is there a stigma around trade schools, community colleges and other forms of secondary educational opportunities?
• How early should we be exposing kids to different career options?
• Plumbers in Massachusetts make HOW MUCH?
• How do we continue to evolve the perception of what jobs in the skilled trades actually look like?
• What would an ideal high school experience look like to equip kids to better approach adulthood and their career?

This episode is available on podcatchers everywhere. Please rate, review and subscribe.

For more information about American Student Assistance, please visit their website. Jean's book can be found here.

For more information about Rocky Mountain Mechanical Contractors Association, please visit our website.

How the Skilled Trades Enhance the Live Sports Experience featuring Vic Lombardi

On this episode of Tradeswork: The Rocky Mountain Mechanical Contractors Association Podcast, we welcome Vic Lombardi, Altitude TV Reporter and Host. Vic has more than 25 years of experience in the sports industry and is a 32-time Emmy award winner, 16 for Best Sports Anchor and voted 2018 Colorado Sportscaster of the year. He is also the co-host of the Altitude Sports Radio 92.5 morning show. Lombardi is one of the most respected sports personalities in the country, which the number of awards attest. Here are some of the questions you can expect to be answered on this episode:

• How do the skilled trades contribute to the live sports experience?
• In a mixed use arena that houses both basketball and hockey, where does the ice go during basketball games?
• Why is television the true competitor of the live sports experience?
• What are some of Vic's favorite arenas and stadiums and why? 
• How has the world of arenas and stadiums changed in Vic's time working in the industry?
• Do the Denver Nuggets or Colorado Avalanche bring home another championship trophy this year?

This episode is available on podcatchers everywhere. Please rate, review and subscribe.

To follow Vic Lombardi on social media, please visit his X profile. 

For more information about Rocky Mountain Mechanical Contractors Association, please visit our website.

The Exit Interview with Outgoing RMMCA CEO Dave Davia

On this episode of Tradeswork: The Rocky Mountain Mechanical Contractors Association Podcast, at the insistence of his partners at Catalyst Public Affairs and his producer Jon Ekstrom, Dave Davia sits down for an exit interview as he prepares to depart Rocky Mountain MCA after 17 years of service. Jon asks Dave for his origin story at Rocky Mountain MCA, asks him to name his proudest accomplishments (which Dave expertly and humbly deflects, as is his way), inquires what his advice would be for his successor, and closes by finding out what Dave wanted to be when he grew up. 

The conversation is a fitting cap to Dave's impressive career advocating on behalf of the skilled trades and the many partnerships, friendships, and achievements along the way. We are grateful for Dave's service to the organization, and we wish him nothing but continued success and prosperity in his new venture. Please enjoy the capstone episode of this chapter of Tradeswork: The Rocky Mountain Mechanical Contractors Association Podcast. 

This episode is available on podcatchers everywhere. Please rate, review and subscribe.

For more information about Rocky Mountain Mechanical Contractors Association, please visit our website.