Tradeswork: The Rocky Mountain MCA Podcast

What Does the Future of Adams County Look Like? featuring Lisa Hough

On this episode of Tradeswork: The Rocky Mountain Mechanical Contractors Association Podcast, we welcome Lisa Hough, President and CEO of Adams County Regional Economic Partnership (AC-REP). As a public/private, nonprofit economic development organization, AC-REP serves the Greater Adams County region, its 10 municipalities, more than 10,000 companies, and just over a half a million residents by working to write the next chapter of the region by amplifying its unique business story, championing area real estate developments, and focusing on new infrastructure. Here are some of the questions you can expect to be answered on the show:

• What are some new projects underway in Adams County?
• What makes the demographics unique in Adams County?
• How is the region navigating the workforce challenges faced by the entire state?
• What is the top regional challenge?
• What is Lisa most excited about for the region?
• What is the overall mood of the business community she serves?

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

For more information about AC-REP, please visit their website.

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

How Can Two Large Construction Contractors Collaborate? featuring Greg Friess and Jamie Hodges

On this episode of Tradeswork: The Rocky Mountain Mechanical Contractors Association Podcast, we welcome Greg Friess, Senior Vice President and General Manager at Murphy. Since 1907, Murphy has set the standard for mechanical and industrial construction, and engineering, providing clients throughout the United States with high quality, timely execution, excellent value and fair price. We're also joined by Jamie Hodges, Executive Vice President at Industrial Contractors/Management, Inc, or ICM for short. ICM's mission is as follows: "The employees of ICM commit to safely delivering the finest quality industrial construction projects, on time and on budget." Here are some of the questions you can expect to be answered on the show:

• How doe these companies partner and collaborate on large scale projects?
• What was the career path for these two executives as they rose throughout their respective companies?
• What is a millwright? What does a millwright do?
• What are some of the favorite projects they have worked on together?
• What are the challenges in having multiple contractors working on one job together and how do you overcome them?
• What impacts have they made on their communities?
• Why do they believe construction has the best people of any industry out there?

For more information about Murphy Company, please visit their website.

For more information about ICM, please visit their website.

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

Talking About the Future of Education with Jason Gaulden

On this episode of Tradeswork: The Rocky Mountain Mechanical Contractors Association Podcast, we welcome Jason Gaulden, 2022 Education Fellow at Common Sense Institute and Partner at Oak Rose Group, a strategy consulting firm specializing in education, workforce development, and economic mobility. Jason has spent his professional career working at the intersection of the business and nonprofit sectors. He recently wrote an op-ed in the Colorado Springs Gazette called "Moving beyond 'college for all.'" Here are some of the questions you can expect to be answered on the show:

• What is the "college for all" mindset and how do we evolve it to meet our cultural and economic needs?
• What employment needs exist as a culture and how do we meet them?
• What does the construction industry need to do to evolve its perceptual problem?
• Which organizations are doing good work to evolve education and workforce development?
• What role does the business sector have in developing the future of education?

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

For more information about Common Sense Institute, please visit their website.

For more information about Oak Rose Group, please visit their website.

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

The Many Hats of ICM Director of Client Relations Rick Goodmay

On this episode of Tradeswork: The Rocky Mountain Mechanical Contractors Association Podcast, we welcome Rick Goodmay, Director of Client Relations at Industrial Contractors/Management, Inc, or ICM for short. ICM's mission is as follows: "The employees of ICM commit to safely delivering the finest quality industrial construction projects, on time and on budget." Here are some of the questions you can expect to be answered on the show:

• What types of projects does ICM do?
• What does a Director of Client Relations do on a day-to-day basis, and how many different types of people does he interact with?
• What was the winding road with many stops that Rick took to arrive in his current role?
• What values does Rick embody that help him be successful?
• What are the biggest challenges in industrial construction?
• What are the coolest projects Rick worked on during his time in the field?
• What advice does Rick have for young people thinking about a career in the trades?

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

For more information about ICM, please visit their website.

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

Why Work at Milwaukee Tool? featuring Tim Laupert

On this episode of Tradeswork: The Rocky Mountain Mechanical Contractors Association Podcast, we welcome Tim Laupert of Milwaukee Tool. Since the company began in 1924, Milwaukee Tool has led the industry in developing innovative solutions that deliver increased productivity and unmatched durability for professional construction users. Here are some of the questions you can expect to be answered on the show:

• How and why did Tim join Milwaukee Tool?
• What are the different types of roles available at Milwaukee Tool?
• What are "jobsite solutions?"
• What are the best parts of representing such a large brand? What are the challenges?
• How does Milwaukee Tool bring a new product to market?
• What career opportunities exist at Milwaukee Tool?

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

For more information about Milwaukee Tool, please visit their website.

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

 

 

New Energy Codes and their Impact on Housing Costs featuring Evelyn Lim

On this episode of Tradeswork: The Rocky Mountain Mechanical Contractors Association Podcast, we welcome Evelyn Lim, Common Sense Institute's 2022 Mike A. Leprino Fellow & 2021 Terry J. Stevinson Fellow. Evelyn is the Director of Policy and Research at the American Cornerstone Institute.  She was most recently the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Regional Administrator for Region 8 which covers Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota. Earlier this year she authored a paper titled "The Uncertain Future Cost of Colorado’s Energy Infrastructure and Housing Affordability." Here are some of the questions you can expect to be answered on the show:

• How has the growth of Colorado's population impacted the housing market?
• How many new housing units need to be built to accommodate demand?
• What are the new energy codes builders need to consider as they build new units?
• How might those codes affect price?
• What are the costs associated with moving toward universal electrification?

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

To read the entire report referenced in this episode, you can find it here.

For more information about Common Sense Institute, please visit their website.

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

What Can You Expect as a 4th Year HVAC Apprentice? featuring Bernardo Villaruel

On this episode of Tradeswork: The Rocky Mountain Mechanical Contractors Association Podcast, we welcome Bernardo Villaruel, a 4th year apprentice who is a member of UA Local 208 and works for American Mechanical Services (AMS), whose mission is to provide quality workmanship for a fair price. Their intent is to honor all of their commitments and to strive for 100% customer satisfaction. AMS is a privately owned family of companies providing primarily commercial heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) service and construction work in various locations across the country. Here are some of the questions you can expect to be answered on the show:

• What is it like at the start of an apprenticeship?
• What was the toughest part of his apprenticeship? (Hint: It was COVID-related)
• What led him to a career in HVAC?
• What is Bernardo's favorite thing about working in this trade?
• What are "controls" and what kind of work did Bernardo do on them?
• What is Bernardo's next goal upon graduating?

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

For more information about American Mechanical Services, please visit their website.

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

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

Breaking Down the 2022 Legislative Session with Kelly Maher and James Mejia

On this episode of Tradeswork: The Rocky Mountain Mechanical Contractors Association Podcast, we welcome political commentators and analysts Kelly Maher and James Mejia. They discuss their biggest takeaways from the recently adjourned Colorado legislative session including the largest budget ever passed, how actions during this session will impact the skilled trades, achievements for social outcomes, and a lot more. The two also discuss which legislators they think will be missed the most and do some light predicting of the November elections and beyond. It's fascinating insight from two experienced political analysts.

Kelly Maher is a Republican political analyst at 9News in Denver. She is a veteran of politics, public policy, and the media. On the national stage, Kelly has appeared on Fox News, The Daily Show and CNN. She is a speaker, writer, and aspiring urban farmer. You can find her at her Substack column Real Best Life. 

James Mejia is a longtime Denver fixture and Democratic political expert also at 9News in Denver. He is a former front page writer for La Voz Colorado and a contributor of The Huffington Post. James was a cabinet member for Denver Mayor Wellington Webb and managed the building of 1 million square feet for the justice center during the administration of Mayor John Hickenlooper.

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.

Let’s Check In with our Board President Brodie Arndt

On this episode of Tradeswork: The Rocky Mountain Mechanical Contractors Association Podcast, we welcome Brodie Arndt, Board President for Rocky Mountain MCA and Vice President of Colorado Manufacturing and Logistics for Murphy Company. Since 1907, Murphy has set the standard for mechanical and industrial construction, and engineering, providing clients throughout the United States with high quality, timely execution, excellent value and fair price. Here are some of the questions you can expect to be answered on the show:

• What is it about Murphy Company that has caused Brodie to stay for 13 years?
• What was his path through Murphy Company leading to where he is today?
• Why did Brodie choose to serve on the Rocky Mountain MCA Board and now serve as its President?
• What is fabrication? How does the process work?
• What is "quick response?"
• What was Brodie's favorite/most rewarding project at Murphy Company?
• What is Brodie's advice for people considering getting into the trades?

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

For more information about Murphy Company, please visit their website.

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

How Is Life as an Electrical Apprentice? featuring Brittney Alvarado

On this episode of Tradeswork: The Rocky Mountain Mechanical Contractors Association Podcast, we welcome Brittney Alvarado, an electrical apprentice with IBEW Local Union 68. For more than 120 years, Journeyman and Apprentice Electricians of IBEW Local 68 have helped the counties of Adams, Arapahoe , Boulder, Broomfield , Clear Creek, Denver, Douglas, Eagle, Gilpin, Jefferson, Lake, Larimer, Logan, Morgan, Phillips, Sedgwick, Washington, Grand, Jackson, Weld and Yuma as well as their surrounding areas, grow and prosper. They have provided superior and safe electrical construction and maintenance work that has allowed this region’s residences, communities, and businesses to thrive and continue to maintain their vision for the future. Here are some of the questions you can expect to be answered on the show:

• What led to Brittney choosing electrical apprenticeship over the other trades?
• What does she like best about her apprenticeship? What would she change if she could?
• Does she plan to focus more on commercial work, or on residential work?
• What are the misconceptions from people about electrical work?
• What would she tell young women considering a career in the trades?
• What impact does her work ultimately have on the community? What would she like it to?

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

For more information about IBEW Local Union 68, please visit their website.

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