Tradeswork: The Rocky Mountain MCA Podcast

Partnering on Developing Our Workforce featuring COBRT President Debbie Brown

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.

What Does Energy Outreach Colorado Do? featuring Jennifer Gremmert

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.

The Importance of Developers Partnering with Skilled Trades featuring Joe Vostrejs

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.

What Issues Has Common Sense Institute Flagged for 2023? featuring Kelly Caufield

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.

What Is a Business Manager for a Union? featuring Sean Wyatt

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.

What Does a Preconstruction Manager Do? featuring Sarabeth Gandara

On this episode of Tradeswork: The Rocky Mountain Mechanical Contractors Association Podcast, we welcome Sarabeth Gandara, Preconstruction Manager for U.S. Engineering, a full-service mechanical contractor committed to providing solutions for the life of your facility. Their innovative thinkers and expert collaborators combine over 125 years of expertise to help your facility evolve throughout generations. 

Sarabeth shares her history in how she became a preconstruction manager, what that job is and what it entails, and why she loves working for U.S. Engineering. Here are some additional questions you can expect to be answered on this episode:

• Who is the Mechanical Contractors Association of America and what programs do they have?
• What happens at student competitions?
• What role does a preconstruction manager have in the scope of a project?
• How is she involved with Junior Achievement?
• What program has she helped developed to help students understand her job better?
• What advice does Sarabeth have for young people considering a career path?

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

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

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

How Do the Apprentices of Local 208 Celebrate the Season of Giving? featuring Rusty Birdsell

On this episode of Tradeswork: The Rocky Mountain Mechanical Contractors Association Podcast, we welcome Rusty Birdsell, a 4th year apprentice, and Apprenticeship Council President for Denver Pipefitters Local 208. Denver Pipefitters Local 208 is all about providing the best labor force in Colorado. They pride themselves on providing the best training programs in the state. Here are some of the questions you can expect to be answered on this week's episode:

• How did Rusty get into pipefitting?
• What would Rusty tell someone who is uncertain about their career about working in the trades?
• What types of things does Rusty work on as a pipefitter?
• How did he become Apprenticeship Council President?
• What are the volunteer activities undertaken by Local 208?
• What other nonprofits does Rusty interact with?

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

For more information about Denver Pipefitters Local 208, please visit their website.

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

 

 

Let’s Break Down the 2022 Midterm Elections with Jennifer Brandeberry and Julie McKenna

On this episode of Tradeswork: The Rocky Mountain Mechanical Contractors Association Podcast, we welcome founders of Brandeberry McKenna Public Affairs, Jennifer Brandeberry and Julie McKenna. They describe themselves this way:

"Politics are always changing – every four years, every two years, every day. This is no truer than in Colorado. From term limits to substantial campaign finance reforms, the old adage rings true: the only thing constant is change.

"Throughout the years, Brandeberry-McKenna Public Affairs has successfully navigated this environment with integrity, hard work and honest communication.

"We deal with the most complex and competitive issues of the legislature and we are focused on results. Results that strengthen your organization and create a lasting positive presence in the Capitol and throughout the State."

Here are some of the questions you can expect to be answered on the show:

• What were the large takeaways from the 2022 midterm elections?
• What leadership changes are in store for the state legislature?
• What priorities does the newly re-elected governor have going forward?
• How will any of the successful ballot measures impact our industry?
• What is the general outlook for Colorado following the election?

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

For more information about Brandeberry McKenna Public Affairs, please visit their website.

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

What’s Up with Colorado Real Estate? featuring Elizabeth Peetz

On this episode of Tradeswork: The Rocky Mountain Mechanical Contractors Association Podcast, we welcome Liz Peetz, Vice President of Government Affairs for the Colorado Association of Realtors,the state’s largest professional, voluntary, non-profit, real estate trade association that is dedicated to serving more than 30,000 REALTOR® members across the state. These agents are also members of 30 local associations statewide and the National Association of REALTORS®.  Here are some of the questions you can expect to be answered on the show:

• What are the trends in Colorado real estate?
• Why is all real estate "local?"
• How are interest rates and other factors impacting first time home buyers?
• How is the Colorado association of Realtors working to address these challenges?
• What opportunities exist to help people buy a home?

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

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

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

Let’s Learn About Junior Achievement Rocky Mountain with President and CEO Robin Wise

On this episode of Tradeswork: The Rocky Mountain Mechanical Contractors Association Podcast, we welcome Robin Wise, President and CEO of Junior Achievement-Rocky Mountain, Inc. which is part of the world’s largest nonprofit dedicated to motivating kids for future career success, self-sufficiency, and financial acumen. They accomplish this through a huge network of stellar volunteers who share their stories with young people and deliver lessons in career readiness, financial literacy, and entrepreneurship. Here are some of the questions you can expect to be answered on the show:

• What does Junior Achievement do?
• What is the origin story for Junior Achievement and how far back does its history go?
• What workforce development challenges exist and how is Junior Achievement tackling them?
• What industries is Junior Achievement currently most focused on?
• What is the Free Enterprise Center?
• What is the Dream Accelerator?
• How can people get involved in Junior Achievement?

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

For more information about Junior Achievement-Rocky Mountain, please visit their website.

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