Tradeswork: The Rocky Mountain MCA Podcast

What Sets Bell Plumbing & Heating Apart? featuring Tom Teynor

On this episode of Tradeswork: The Rocky Mountain Mechanical Contractors Association Podcast, we welcome Tom Teynor, President & CEO of Bell Plumbing & Heating. Bell has been providing plumbing, heating, cooling and electrical services for Denver families since 1926. Here are some of the questions you can expect to be answered on this episode:

• Who is Bell Plumbing & Heating, and what has contributed to their longevity and success for nearly 100 years?
• What drew Tom to this industry after working in financial services and tech startups?
• What are the workforce challenges faced by the industry, and what is Bell doing to address them?
• How has Bell evolved its business model since Tom took over the reins of the company?
• What is the most satisfying part of working in the skilled trades industry for Tom?
• What are the most common misconceptions about working in this industry?

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

For more information about Bell Plumbing, please visit their website. 

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

Who is Consumer Energy Alliance? featuring Emily Haggstrom

On this episode of Tradeswork: The Rocky Mountain Mechanical Contractors Association Podcast, we welcome Emily Haggstrom, Vice President of Communications and Creative Development for Consumer Energy Alliance, the leading voice for sensible energy and environmental policies for consumers, bringing together families, farmers, small businesses, distributors, producers and manufacturers to support America’s environmentally sustainable energy future. Here are some of the questions you can expect to be answered on this episode:

• Who comprises the membership for Consumer Energy Alliance, and what issues do they focus on?
• What workforce issues exist in the energy sector and how do they relate to those in the construction industry?
• What is CEA doing to help cultivate the needed workforce?
• Where does Colorado rank in terms of energy production, and what issues are top of mind?
• What would ideal energy policy look like?

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

For more information about Consumer Energy Alliance, please visit their website. 

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

Checking In With MCAA President Robert Beck

On this episode of Tradeswork: The Rocky Mountain Mechanical Contractors Association Podcast, we welcome Robert Beck, CEO of the John W. Danforth Company, an industry leader with over 130 years of experience, John W. Danforth Company specializes in providing engineered mechanical solutions in the Commercial, Sports & Entertainment, Industrial, Healthcare, Higher Ed & K-12, Government, and Advanced Technology Manufacturing (ATM) markets and the President of the Mechanical Contractors Association of America, which serves the unique needs of approximately 2,600 firms involved in heating, air conditioning, refrigeration, plumbing, piping, and mechanical service and is the national organization under which RMMCA exists. This conversation will focus largely on Robert's role as MCAA President. Here are some of the questions you can expect to be answered on this episode:

• What are the key issues MCAA is focused on now and in the future?
• What has Robert learned in his time as President and traveling across the country to chapters?
• How does union labor stack up against non-union labor in terms of cost and timeline of deliverables?
• What is the coolest project he has worked on? (Hint: If you had "boblsed course" on your bingo card, please go to the pay window?
• How does MCAA support local chapters of the organization?
• How does the mechanical contractor industry continue to attract top talent from colleges, high schools, and even earlier?

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

For more information about the Mechanical Contractors Association of America, please visit their website. 

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

How Is the Homebuilding Industry in Colorado? featuring Ted Leighty

 

On this episode of Tradeswork: The Rocky Mountain Mechanical Contractors Association Podcast, we welcome Ted Leighty, CEO of the Colorado Association of Home Builders and the Home Builders Association of Metro Denver. The Colorado Association of Home Builders is the unified voice of the Colorado Home Building Industry. CAHB is an affiliate of the National Association of Home Builders and has 10 local home builders associations across Colorado. They advocate for positive legislative solutions and oppose measures that impair the ability to deliver housing and unreasonably regulate the industry; empower their members with learning opportunities at the local, state and national levels; and support the goals and activities of each of the 10 local associations. Here are some of the questions you can expect to be answered on this episode:

• What factors have led to Colorado's housing market to have high prices and low inventory?
• What remedies could be administered to alleviate the pressure on both the price and the inventory?
• What issues does the CAHB anticipate for the next legislative session?
• How important are the skilled trades in terms of ensuring a reliable stock of housing options?
• How do regulations play a role in terms of the supply of available housing at all price points?
• What's ahead for the Colorado housing market?

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

For more information about the Colorado Association of Home Builders, please visit their website. 

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

• What factors have led to Colorado's housing market to have high prices and low inventory?
• What remedies could be administered to alleviate the pressure on both the price and the inventory?
• What issues does the CAHB anticipate for the next legislative session?
• How important are the skilled trades in terms of ensuring a reliable stock of housing options?
• How do regulations play a role in terms of the supply of available housing at all price points?
• What's ahead for the Colorado housing market?

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

For more information about the Colorado Association of Home Builders, please visit their website. 

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

Reflections on Eight Years at the Helm of Colorado Concern with President and CEO Mike Kopp

On this episode of Tradeswork: The Rocky Mountain Mechanical Contractors Association Podcast, we welcome Mike Kopp, President & CEO of Colorado Concern, an exclusive alliance of top executives with a common interest in enhancing and protecting the Centennial State’s business climate. They commit business leadership and financial resources to support legislative candidates and statewide policies that ensure a sound economic future for Colorado. Mike has led Colorado Concern for 8+ years, and will step down in December. Here are some of the questions you can expect to be answered on this episode:

• Who are the types of members who participate in Colorado Concern?
• What types of issues does Colorado Concern get involved in?
• What are the biggest successes Colorado Concern has achieved with Mike at the helm?
• What does Mike see as the biggest threats ahead to business in Colorado?
• What are the biggest lessons Mike has taken away during his time leading the organization?
• What's next for Mike Kopp?

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

For more information about the Colorado Concern, please visit their website. 

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

The Present and Future of Energy featuring Colorado Oil & Gas Association President and CEO Dan Haley

On this episode of Tradeswork: The Rocky Mountain Mechanical Contractors Association Podcast, we welcome Dan Haley, President & CEO of the Colorado Oil & Gas Association (COGA). COGA strives to be the unified political and regulatory voice for the oil and natural gas industry in Colorado, and to support their members through advocacy, partnerships, education and stakeholder engagement.  Here are some of the questions you can expect to be answered on this episode:

• What is the current state of the oil and natural gas industry in Colorado?
• In his time running COGA, what are the technological changes that have occurred in the oil and natural gas industries?
• How do the skilled trades intersect with and embolden the oil and gas industry?
• What are the biggest misconceptions about the oil and gas industry?
• For young people considering their career path, what would Dan tell them about work in the oil and natural gas industry?
• What should people know about the push for electrification, climate change, and Colorado's future of energy?

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

For more information about Colorado Oil & Gas Association, please visit their website. 

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

U.S. Engineering is Making Sh*t Happen featuring Josh Seiler and Andy Wright

On this episode of Tradeswork: The Rocky Mountain Mechanical Contractors Association Podcast, we welcome Josh Seiler, General Manager of Service, and Andy Wright, Senior Project Manager with U.S. Engineering, a full-service mechanical contractor committed to providing solutions for the life of your facility. U.S. Engineering focuses on improving the total cost of ownership through construction, service, maintenance, metal fabrication and energy analysis. Their priority is to support your mission today and vision for tomorrow.  On this episode we're discussing the Central Utility Plant for the National Western Complex, which is the largest sewer heat recovery system in North America. And Here are some of the questions you can expect to be answered on this episode:

• What are the origins of the Central Utility Plant, and how did it come to be?
• What unique components went into the design of this facility?
• What challenges are associated with designing and implementing a system of this size?
• How many tons of CO2 are saved by implementing a system like this?
• How could a system like this work elsewhere?
• What makes U.S. Engineering uniquely suited for such a project?

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

For more information about the U.S. Engineering, please visit their website. 

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

The Many Hats of National Western Center Authority CEO Brad Buchanan

On this episode of Tradeswork: The Rocky Mountain Mechanical Contractors Association Podcast, we welcome Brad Buchanan, CEO of the National Western Center Authority. When you hear National Western Center, you likely think of the National Western Stock Show, one of Denver's marquee events each year. We discuss the Stock Show in depth, but there is so much more happening at the National Western Center, this episode is your behind-the-scenes tour. Here are some of the questions you can expect to be answered on this episode:

• What else happens at this complex outside of the 16 days in January when the Stock Show occurs?
• What construction projects are on the horizon for the National Western Center (and there are plenty)?
• What types of innovative projects have the skilled trades been involved in with this complex?
• What is the future of jobs in agriculture, construction, and the skilled trades?
• What challenges exist in those industries, and how might they be overcome?
• In this role, how does Brad contribute to our understanding of the future of food?

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

For more information about the National Western Center, please visit their website. 

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

Go Behind the Scenes at Water World with JR Berninzoni and Bob Owens

On this episode of Tradeswork: The Rocky Mountain Mechanical Contractors Association Podcast, we welcome Water World General Manager JR Berninzoni and Deputy Director Bob Owens. Water World is a water park that is part of the Hyland Hills Park and Recreation District and located in Federal Heights, Colorado, roughly 10 miles north of downtown Denver, Colorado. The park first opened in August 1979 with the first two waterslides in the state of Colorado, the Bonzai Pipeline. The park occupies 70 acres making it one of America's largest water theme parks, and features 50 attractions. Here are some of the questions you can expect to be answered on this episode:

• What types of work do skilled tradespeople do at Water World?
• What does it take to manage a theme park as big and complex as Water World?
• Which attraction has the highest degree of difficulty?
• What advice would JR and Bob give to people considering a career in the skilled trades?
• What are the hidden gems of Water World?
• After 20+ years each working at Water World, what is their favorite ride?

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

For more information about Water World, please visit their website. 

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

A Wide Ranging Conversation with Denver Metro Chamber President J. J. Ament

On this episode of Tradeswork: The Rocky Mountain Mechanical Contractors Association Podcast, we welcome J. J. Ament, President and CEO of the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce. As president and CEO of the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce, the leading voice for Colorado's business community, J. J. Ament is focused on effectively advocating for small and large businesses in our region. Before being appointed to his current position, he served from 2017 to 2021 as the chief executive officer of the Metro Denver Economic Development Corporation, a part of the Chamber family of organizations and the largest privately funded and governed economic development organization in Colorado. Here are some of the questions you can expect to be answered on this episode:

• What are the Chamber's key areas of focus? Who does it represent, and what does it do?
• How would J. J. characterize this year's legislative session?
• Equally as important, how does J. J. characterize the current regulatory environment?
• Why is it vital for businesses to engage in the civic process?
• What are the hurdles and possible solutions to workforce development in Colorado?
• How do we embolden the skilled trades and build a strong pipeline of workers in this key industry?
• What are J. J's thoughts on the evolving political climate in the city and region?

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

For more information about the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce, please visit their website. 

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