Tradeswork is the official podcast of the Rocky Mountain Mechanical Contractors Association, and airs on the 1st and 15th of each month. We highlight the good work of mechanical, plumbing, and HVAC/R contractors across Colorado, Wyoming, Nebraska, and South Dakota, share our recent research and studies, and unpack advocacy issues important to our members. We also discuss in depth the career path, earning potential and continuing education requirements of skilled trade jobs. You can learn more about us at: https://rmmca.org/
Episodes
Monday May 15, 2023
Monday May 15, 2023
On this episode of Tradeswork: The Rocky Mountain Mechanical Contractors Association Podcast, we welcome George Sparks who has been the president & CEO of the Denver Museum of Nature & Science since November 2004. Sparks’ passion is public policy, particularly around science and education. He is a member of the Colorado Forum, Colorado Concern, and is on the boards of Colorado Education Initiative, Colorado Music Hall of Fame, Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce, and the Denver School of Science & Technology. Here are some of the questions you can expect to be answered on this episode:
- What was the journey that ultimately pointed George to the museum, which he has successfully led for 19 years?
- What role do the skilled trades play in preserving the massive collection of artifacts stored by the museum?
- Why does George have a profound passion for science and education?
- How can we continue to get people excited about careers in the skilled trades?
- What is the most surprising thing people could discover about the museum? (This answer is a doozy)
- How does George view DMNS's place in the overall tapestry of the City of Denver?
- Why is George so active in so many nonprofits and civic organizations throughout the city?
This episode is available on podcatchers everywhere. Please rate, review and subscribe.
For more information about the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, please visit their website.
For more information about Rocky Mountain Mechanical Contractors Association, please visit our website.
Monday May 01, 2023
Monday May 01, 2023
On this episode of Tradeswork: The Rocky Mountain Mechanical Contractors Association Podcast, we welcome Ed Sealover, Vice President of Strategic Initiatives & Editor. He is also in charge of The Sum and Substance for the Colorado Chamber of Commerce. Prior to joining the Colorado Chamber, Ed was a multiple-time award-winning journalist at the Denver Business Journal and other publications. Here are some of the questions you can expect to be answered on this episode:
- Why did Ed leave a decorated journalism career for the Colorado Chamber?
- How did Ed cultivate a rapport with the business community and establish credibility?
- What does Ed see as the future of journalism?
- How does Ed see this transition as giving back to the business community and how does he hope to contribute positively to the economic future of the state?
- What is going on at the Capitol with construction defects, construction and zoning legislation, and other pertinent issues to our industry?
- Have the skilled trades broken through with our message to elected officials and what are the signs of that?
- What is Ed's favorite craft beer of the moment?
This episode is available on podcatchers everywhere. Please rate, review and subscribe.
For more information about the Colorado Chamber of Commerce, please visit their website.
For more information about Rocky Mountain Mechanical Contractors Association, please visit our website.
Saturday Apr 15, 2023
Saturday Apr 15, 2023
On this episode of Tradeswork: The Rocky Mountain Mechanical Contractors Association Podcast, we welcome Governor of Colorado, Jared Polis. Governor Polis is an entrepreneur, education leader, public servant, and Colorado native. He was elected as Governor in 2018 and re-elected in 2022. Prior to serving as Governor, Polis served on the State Board of Education and represented Colorado's 2nd Congressional district. Here are some of the questions you can expect to be answered on this episode:
- What steps are you taking to boost workforce development specifically in skilled trades, how can we reach Coloradans at a younger age to strengthen the talent pipeline?
- What are some of the other innovative ways Colorado is thinking about workforce training?
- How do your investments in workforce development specifically for the skilled trades contribute to this work?
- In what ways can the private sector work with the state government to grow our workforce and keep our economy thriving?
- What are some examples of things that you've seen that have worked in other states that could work here?
This episode is available on podcatchers everywhere. Please rate, review and subscribe.
For more information about Governor Jared Polis, please visit his website.
For more information about Rocky Mountain Mechanical Contractors Association, please visit our website.
Saturday Apr 01, 2023
Saturday Apr 01, 2023
On this episode of Tradeswork: The Rocky Mountain Mechanical Contractors Association Podcast, we welcome Amy Sherman, President and CEO of Economic Literacy Colorado, an organization that seeks “To empower Colorado students to achieve a lifetime of economic understanding and financial security.” Here are some of the questions you can expect to be answered on this episode:
- How does Economic Literacy Colorado work with school districts to empower students to be more financially literate?
- What types of projects do they work on?
- How has the conversation around economic literacy changed over the years?
- How would Amy envision a holistic approach to ensuring every student has good economic literacy?
- How does the mission of ELC align with RMMCA?
- How can you get involved with ELC?
This episode is available on podcatchers everywhere. Please rate, review and subscribe.
For more information about Economic Literacy Colorado, please visit their website.
For more information about Rocky Mountain Mechanical Contractors Association, please visit our website.
Wednesday Mar 15, 2023
Wednesday Mar 15, 2023
On this episode of Tradeswork: The Rocky Mountain Mechanical Contractors Association Podcast, we welcome Stacey Stegman, Vice President of Communications, Marketing & Customer Experience at Denver International Airport (DIA). Denver International Airport is the third-busiest airport in the world. With over 69 million passengers traveling through the airport in 2022, DEN is one of the busiest airline hubs in the world’s largest aviation market. DEN is the primary economic engine for the state of Colorado, generating more than $33.5 billion for the region annually. Here are some of the questions you can expect to be answered on this episode:
- What updates can she provide about the ongoing renovation?
- Her job entails multiple roles. What's involved in each, and how do they differ?
- How important are the skilled trades to ensuring DIA runs effectively 24 hours a day?
- What does Stacey hope people say about their experience at DIA?
- What's the story with all the conspiracy theories at the airport?
This episode is available on podcatchers everywhere. Please rate, review and subscribe.
For more information about Denver International Airport, please visit their website.
For more information about Rocky Mountain Mechanical Contractors Association, please visit our website.
Wednesday Mar 01, 2023
Wednesday Mar 01, 2023
On this episode of Tradeswork: The Rocky Mountain Mechanical Contractors Association Podcast, we welcome Debbie Brown, President of the Colorado Business Roundtable. The Colorado Business Roundtable (COBRT) is a public policy organization of executives from some of the state’s largest employers working to strengthen the state’s economic vitality. COBRT engages with elected leaders, business and nonprofit leaders, and other strategic allies to improve the business climate in our state by unapologetically amplifying the voice of business. Here are some of the questions you can expect to be answered on this episode:
- What types of members does COBRT have, and what issues do they engage on?
- How do the members of COBRT perceive the state of business in Colorado in 2023?
- How important are the skilled trades and/or construction industries to the members of COBRT?
- What workforce development challenges exist in your view? And how do we overcome them?
- What is the Opportunity Now Grant? How would such an initiative benefit the members of both RMMCA and COBRT?
This episode is available on podcatchers everywhere. Please rate, review and subscribe.
For more information about Colorado Business Roundtable, please visit their website.
For more information about Rocky Mountain Mechanical Contractors Association, please visit our website.
Wednesday Feb 15, 2023
Wednesday Feb 15, 2023
On this episode of Tradeswork: The Rocky Mountain Mechanical Contractors Association Podcast, we welcome Jennifer Gremmert, Executive Director of Energy Outreach Colorado. They believe everyone deserves affordable access to the vital resources that power their homes. When everyone can afford and maintain the energy in their home, then they can focus on living, rather than merely surviving. The foundation of their vision, mission, and values are to support, stabilize, and sustain vulnerable households in Colorado by providing home energy assistance through programs and outreach. Here are some of the questions you can expect to be answered on this episode:
- How does Energy Outreach Colorado work to achieve their goals?
- In what ways do they lean on the skilled trades?
- How does Jennifer describe the current cultural environment pertaining to energy?
- What lies ahead in the energy space?
- What kinds of partnerships has Jennifer cultivated to help achieve her organizational goals?
This episode is available on podcatchers everywhere. Please rate, review and subscribe.
For more information about Energy Outreach Colorado, please visit their website.
For more information about Rocky Mountain Mechanical Contractors Association, please visit our website.
Wednesday Feb 01, 2023
Wednesday Feb 01, 2023
On this episode of Tradeswork: The Rocky Mountain Mechanical Contractors Association Podcast, we welcome Joe Vostrejs, Principal and Co-Founder of City Street Investors. City Street turns spaces into places through transformative real estate investments and strategic business operations. Their “Custom Crafting” concept means they create projects that synchronize the needs and desires of the community with investment in under-appreciated assets. Here are some of the questions you can expect to be answered on this episode:
- What does "custom crafting" mean and how does it involve the community?
- How important is it as real estate developer who re-develops existing buildings into new concepts to collaborate with the skilled trades early and often?
- How important is the input of skilled tradesman to making a project both feasible and successful?
- City Street Investors has been a key player in the redevelopment of Denver Union Station and Lowry Hangar 2. What insights did Joe learn from those projects?
- How did City Street turn two different 7-11s into restaurants?
- What is the most difficult project City Street has ever done?
This episode is available on podcatchers everywhere. Please rate, review and subscribe.
For more information about City Street Investors, please visit their website.
For more information about Rocky Mountain Mechanical Contractors Association, please visit our website.
Sunday Jan 15, 2023
Sunday Jan 15, 2023
On this episode of Tradeswork: The Rocky Mountain Mechanical Contractors Association Podcast, we welcome Kelly Caufield, Executive Director of Common Sense Institute, a non-partisan research organization dedicated to the protection and promotion of Colorado’s economy. Kelly is the key management leader of CSI and oversees the administration, strategic plan, and programming for the organization. Kelly brings nearly 20 years of policy, research, and advocacy experience to CSI. Here are some of the questions you can expect to be answered on this episode:
- What are the top 5 issues CSI is flagging for 2023?
- How did Kelly end up as Executive Director of CSI?
- How will recently passed laws affect the business community?
- Why is it important that CSI remain non-partisan and how does that affect their research?
- How should the intermingling issues of workforce development and higher education evolve?
This episode is available on podcatchers everywhere. Please rate, review and subscribe.
For more information about Common Sense Institute, please visit their website. You can also follow them on Twitter.
For more information about Rocky Mountain Mechanical Contractors Association, please visit our website.
Sunday Jan 01, 2023
Sunday Jan 01, 2023
On this episode of Tradeswork: The Rocky Mountain Mechanical Contractors Association Podcast, we welcome Sean Wyatt, Business Manager for Plumbers Local 3, which has a company to fit your needs. Whether it is an old garbage disposal to be replaced or a new state-of-the-art hospital being built, Plumbers Local 3 has the companies of choice. All of their companies are registered with the state of Colorado which ensures that they are compliant with state and federal laws. Here are some of the questions you can expect to be answered on this episode:
- What does a union's business manager do?
- How are Locals numbered?
- Why did Sean run for business manager?
- How did he get into plumbing and what was his career path?
- What are some of the key innovations in the plumbing industry?
This episode is available on podcatchers everywhere. Please rate, review and subscribe.
For more information about Plumbers Local 3, please visit their website.
For more information about Rocky Mountain Mechanical Contractors Association, please visit our website.