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Keep the Momentum Alive from GFF25

Nearly 170 students from 32 MCAA student chapters, plus over 100 MCAA members and supporters attended the MCAA GreatFutures Forum in Salt Lake City in mid-October. This annual conference connects future professionals with MCAA members for internship and full-time employment opportunities, plus three-days of mechanical-focused education.

On the final day of the conference MCAA Vice President / Assistant Treasurer, Scott Hinton, asked the students to think about where they are right now and to remember the excitement they have for their student chapter and future careers.

“The people who joined us in this room throughout the GreatFutures Forum have already successfully navigated their unique path and feel that very same excitement every single day. More than that, they are here to help you now discover your path. These are the people who have stepped up to be your advisors, mentors, sources of inspiration, and hopefully one day your peers and colleagues.

We’ve mentioned it a few times, but we love a good theme.

Three years ago, we asked, what is mechanical contracting?

Two years ago, the message was for everyone to keep your eyes open to the different paths mechanical offers.

Last year, we handed it over to you and asked, how can you move the needle within your career for the future of our industry?

These past few days, we’ve challenged you to take the steps to climb your own mountains of opportunity.

This extends beyond your time in Salt Lake City. When you get home, connect with your fellow student chapter members and truly put yourself out there by embracing every opportunity to make connections with the members of this amazing industry.

What will the theme of the 2026 GreatFutures Forum be? You’ll have to be there to find out!”

Save the Date

2026 MCAA GreatFutures Forum
September 24-26, 2026 | The Ritz-Carlton | St. Louis, MO

Job Board Connects Students to Internships & Careers Year-Round

Those who didn’t find the perfect employment pairing at GFF25, or who were unable to attend, are encouraged to check out the MCAA GreatFutures Job Board. Employers, now’s the time to post your new entry-level jobs and internships. Keep the momentum alive from GFF25!

How to Post an Entry-Level Job or Internship

 Login with an MCAA username and password. 
Click on the job board within the Career Development page. 
Click Manage My Jobs and Add a Job to create your posting.

Jobs remain active for 1 month to ensure postings stay fresh.
When the job is set to expire, a reminder will be sent for you to either “mark as filled” or “duplicate” and repost for another month.
Interested students can view postings and submit their contact information and resume.

Your office will be notified via email when interested students submit their resume. 
From there, your office is encouraged to continue with your company’s application and interview process.

VIEW JOB BOARD

New jobs are highlighted every two weeks on the mcaagreatfutures Instagram page.

If you have questions or need assistance, please reach out to MCAA’s Michele Hoffman.

Thank You to Our 2025 MCAA GreatFutures Forum Sponsors!

Special thanks to our GFF25 tour host, Mechanical Service & Systems, Inc. and Utah MCA for welcoming us to beautiful Salt Lake City!

Visit MCAA’s Career Development Initiative page to learn more about student chapter programming or the JRGF website to explore the work JRGF is doing to further education in the mechanical industry.

Post Entry Level Positions to the MCAA GreatFutures Job Board & Be Top of Mind for Students Attending GFF25!

Student chapter members will soon be arriving in Salt Lake City for MCAA’s 2025 GreatFutures Forum. One of the main highlights of this conference is always the Friday morning job fair, which is geared towards students looking for internships or full-time new hire positions once they graduate. Student job seekers have been instructed to check out the job board in advance and to do their homework on available positions in our industry. Now is the time for companies to lean into this opportunity to be top of mind as students start making their plans for Summer 2026 and beyond.

Posting to the MCAA GreatFutures Job Board is a quick and easy. The job board was created to highlight entry level (no experience required) positions in the mechanical contracting industry and is a complimentary resource for MCAA Members.

How to Post an Entry-Level Job or Internship

Login with an MCAA username and password.
Click on the job board within the Career Development page.
Click Manage My Jobs and Add a Job to create your posting.

Jobs remain active for 1 month to ensure postings stay fresh.
When the job is set to expire, a reminder will be sent for you to either “mark as filled” or “duplicate” and repost for another month.
Interested students can view postings and submit their contact information and resume.

Your office will be notified via email when interested students submit their resume.
From there, your office is encouraged to continue with your company’s application and interview process.

VIEW JOB BOARD

New jobs are highlighted every two weeks on the mcaagreatfutures Instagram page.

If you have questions or need assistance, please reach out to MCAA’s Michele Hoffman.

JRGF Internship Grants Available for Student Chapters, Employers and Affiliated Associations – Something for Everyone!

The John R. Gentille Foundation (JRGF) recently opened applications for 2026 Internship Grants.

Student Chapters	Due January 15, 2026	Up to $500 per intern / $1,000 per new hire
Employers	Due April 1, 2026	$1,000 (25 total grants available)
Affiliated Associations	Due April 1, 2026	$5,000 (5 total grants available)

Student Chapter Internship Grants

Grants are intended to offer additional support to student chapters that are successfully connecting students with internship and full-time employment in the mechanical contracting industry. Chapters are encouraged to use this funding to bring additional students to future mechanical education conferences such as the GreatFutures Forum or MCAA Convention.

Grants Details:

Interns – Up to $500 each
Full-Time New Hires – Up to $1,000 each

Submitted by the Faculty or Industry Advisor.
Based on 2025 employment.
One application will be accepted per school, per grant type.
Interns/New Hires must be active participants in an eligible student chapter.
Distributed in March 2026.

Additional Information & Applications

Employer Internship Grants

Employer internship grants are intended to offer support to mechanical contracting companies that are new to offering internships, small companies, or those that are looking to grow their internship program in the mechanical industry.

Grant Details:

$1,000 grant – 1 per company (25 total grants available)

Submitted by the company.
Interns may be from any 4-year accredited college or university.
Planned internship (8-week minimum) may occur any time during the 2026 calendar year.
Internship must be in the mechanical contracting industry.
Distributed in May 2026.

Additional Information & Application

Affiliated Association Internship Grants

Affiliated Association internship grants are intended to offer support for the development and growth of local student chapter programming that creates new employment opportunities or student inclusivity at events with potential employers and/or mentoring programs/new resources for student chapters.

Grant Details:

$5,000 grant – 1 per association, inclusive of all student chapters (5 total grants available)

Submitted by the Affiliated Association Executive or Staff.
Include new/upgraded student chapter programming plans for the 2026 calendar year.
Distributed in May 2026.

Additional Information & Application

JRGF Sponsored Research Study with Virginia Tech Produces Groundbreaking Construction Helmet Ratings

In a major advancement for workplace safety, the Virginia Tech Helmet Lab has unveiled its first-ever ratings system for construction helmets after a two- year research study. This initiative, funded by the John R. Gentille Foundation, ELECTRI International, the American Society of Concrete Contractors, and The Association of Union Constructors, evaluates helmets based on their ability to reduce concussion and skull fracture risk during severe but survivable falls on construction sites.

Science-Driven Safety: The STAR Testing System

The ratings are based on Virginia Tech’s STAR (Summation of Tests for the Analysis of Risk) protocol, which assesses helmets through a series of oblique drop tests. These tests simulate real-world fall scenarios using a medium NOCSAE headform dropped onto a 25° steel anvil coated with sandpaper at two speeds—5.5 m/s and 6.8 m/s. Each helmet undergoes 12 impact tests across three locations, with results weighted according to the frequency of fall types observed in job-site accident reports.

The STAR score predicts the number of head injuries a worker might sustain if exposed to 100 such impacts. A lower score indicates better performance, and helmets earning 4 or 5 stars are recommended for workers exposed to fall hazards.

Type II Helmets Outperform Traditional Hard Hats

The study highlights a critical distinction between traditional Type I hard hats and modern Type II helmets. Type II helmets, which include interior energy-absorbing materials and chin straps, significantly outperform their counterparts:

Concussion risk reduction: Up to 48%
Skull fracture risk reduction: Up to 77%

These findings underscore the life-saving potential of upgrading to Type II helmets, especially in an industry where falls account for 60% of traumatic brain injury fatalities and nearly half of all fatal slips and trips.

A Call to Action for the Construction Industry

The Helmet Lab’s research is a response to real-world tragedies, such as the 2018 Miami pedestrian bridge collapse, which exposed the limitations of traditional hard hats. Advocates like Scott Greenhaus, co-founder of the Hats to Helmets initiative, have long pushed for change, and Virginia Tech’s data-driven approach provides the evidence needed to support that shift.

Looking Ahead

New helmets will be added to the ratings as they become available, ensuring the system remains current and comprehensive. The lab’s work is independent of manufacturer influence, offering consumers and safety professionals an objective tool to make informed decisions.

For and overview visit VT’s Rating Page and for technical details, the full STAR Protocol for Construction Helmets is available through Virginia Tech’s VTechWorks repository.

JRGF Opens Applications for $105,000 in Student Scholarships

The John R. Gentille Foundation (JRGF) continues to grow support for students interested in pursuing a career in the mechanical contracting industry by opening applications for a record-breaking $105,000 in individual student scholarships. These 24 scholarships will be presented at MCAA26 in Phoenix, AZ during the Awards of Excellence Breakfast.

To be eligible, students must be an active participant of an MCAA Student Chapter, working towards an undergraduate degree in Construction Management, Mechanical Engineering, HVAC or another similar field; and most importantly, have an interest in pursuing a career in mechanical contracting, as demonstrated through activities and employment. Some scholarships have additional requirements.

Applications are due November 5^th.

JRGF and its generous donors are proud to present the following 2026 scholarships:

Scholarship Name	Donated By
Alan P. O’Shea Memorial Scholarship (x2)	MCA of New Jersey
Ann Mattheis Memorial Scholarship	MCAA Career Development Committee
ATP Inspiring Future Leaders Scholarship	ATP Learning Solutions
Bolton Family Scholarship	The Bolton Family
DEWALT Patriot Scholarship (x2)	DEWALT
Donald V. Brown, Sr. Memorial Scholarship	D.V. Brown & Associates
EVAPCO, Inc. Engineering Scholarship (x2)	EVAPCO, Inc.
Ferguson Women in the Mechanical Industry Scholarship (x2)	Ferguson
Foster McCarl, Jr. Memorial Scholarship	The McCarl Family
Geiling Family Scholarship	The Geiling Family
Josam Endowed Scholarship (3-year scholarship)	Josam Company
Reilly Family Memorial Scholarship	John W. Danforth Company
Rick and Debbie Gopffarth Mechanical Construction Endowed Scholarship	Rick and Debbie Gopffarth
Robert T. Armistead Memorial Scholarship (x2)	Armistead Mechanical Inc. and the family of Robert T. Armistead
Robert J. Durr, Sr. – UA / NCPWB Partnering Scholarship	NCPWB
Thomas J. Wanner Memorial Scholarship	MCA/ MSCA of Cleveland
Trimble Future Estimator Scholarship	Trimble
Viega Scholarship	Viega
William A. Bianco, Jr. Memorial Scholarship	Kinetics

Student Chapter of the Year and Educator of the Year nominations are also now open and due on November 5^th.

Chapter of the Year Award

The Student Chapter of the Year Award recognizes an MCAA student chapter for outstanding achievement as an organization of students who are planning careers in the mechanical construction industry. The $10,000 award recognizes exceptional achievement in governance and leadership, membership recruiting, fundraising, community involvement and career development.

Nominations must be completed by the Student Chapter President or another student leader in the chapter.

Previous Recipients

2025 – Pittsburg State
2024 – University of Maryland, College Park
2023 – University of Nebraska
2022 – University of Maryland, College Park
2021 – University of Nebraska
2020 – University of Nebraska
2019 – Pittsburg State University
2018 – Iowa State University
2017 – University of Nebraska
2016 – University of Missouri-Columbia

Educator of the Year

The Educator of the Year Award recognizes MCAA student chapter faculty advisors for serving as advisors, educators, and mentors of students who plan to develop a professional career with the mechanical construction industry. This $5,000 award honors the involvement and engagement of our industry’s academic leaders.

Nominations must be from the Student Chapter President or another student leader in the chapter, or an Industry Advisor for the chapter. Peer-to-peer faculty advisor nominations will not be accepted.

Previous Recipients

2025 – Shannon Nicklaus (Pittsburg State University)
2024 – Joe Karpinski (Kent State University)
2023 – Marie Patterson (California State University, Chico)
2022 – Jacob Nelson (Missouri State University)
2021 – Sherif Attallah (Ball State University)
2020 – Cristina Cosma (Wentworth Institute of Technology)
2019 – Blake Wentz (Milwaukee School of Engineering)
2018 – Brad Perkins (Iowa State University)
2017 – Mostafa Khattab, Dennis Pettitt (Colorado State University)
2016 – Blake Wentz (Milwaukee School of Engineering)

It’s Prime Time to Hire – Post to the MCAA GreatFutures Job Board to Attract Fresh New Talent

Students are back on campus and looking for opportunities to further their classroom education with hands-on learning. Now is the prime time to get their attention for summer internship positions before the on-campus career fairs start up. Yes, your company should already be thinking about summer interns (and full-time new hires) if you want your pick of top talent.

Posting to the MCAA GreatFutures Job Board is a quick and easy way to attract fresh new talent. The job board was created to highlight entry level (no experience required) positions in the mechanical contracting industry and is a complimentary resource for MCAA Members.

How to Post an Entry-Level Job or Internship

Login with an MCAA username and password.
Click on the job board within the Career Development page.
Click Manage My Jobs and Add a Job to create your posting.

Jobs remain active for 1 month to ensure postings stay fresh.
When the job is set to expire, a reminder will be sent for you to either “mark as filled” or “duplicate” and repost for another month.
Interested students can view postings and submit their contact information and resume.

Your office will be notified via email when interested students submit their resume.
From there, your office is encouraged to continue with your company’s application and interview process.

VIEW JOB BOARD

New jobs are highlighted every two weeks on the mcaagreatfutures Instagram page.

If you have questions or need assistance, please reach out to MCAA’s Michele Hoffman.

Visit MCAA’s Career Development Initiative page to learn more about student chapter programming or the JRGF website to explore the work the John R. Gentille Foundation (JRGF) is doing to further education in the mechanical industry.

MCAA Student Chapter Competition Released – Mentors Wanted!

The 2025-2026 MCAA Student Chapter Competition was released on September 10^th. MCAA extends its sincere appreciation to Helm Group (Freeport, IL) for providing the project, which requires the teams to act as the mechanical contractor for a water park project in Florida.

The purpose of the competition is to provide student chapter members with an experience that will enrich their education by challenging their problem-solving and management skills, technical acumen, creativity, resourcefulness, and knowledge of mechanical systems. Students gain valuable experience in working with a team of peers against a schedule to prepare a written proposal (round 1), and planning and delivering of an oral presentation (round 2, if selected for the Final Four).

Proposals are due by 4PM Central Time on Wednesday, December 10^th and the Final Four will compete at the 2026 MCAA Convention on Tuesday, March 17^th.

Special thanks to Procore for letting the students use their project management software, Trimble for giving students hands-on experience with Estimation MEP and AutoBid, and Ferguson for providing current unit pricing for the required pipe, valves, and fittings.

For a second year, DEWALT will be sponsoring the competition prizes:

First Place ($10,000)
Second Place ($5,000)
Honorable Mention ($2,500) x2
Merit Award ($1,000) x6
MVP ($500)

Competition Mentors Wanted!

Looking to get involved with your local MCAA Student Chapter? Consider volunteering to mentor their competition team as they work their way through the project this fall.

Check out the University Directory for a listing of chapters and get in touch with the faculty advisor or your Affiliated Association Executive to coordinate a meeting. If distance is an issue, online meetings work too!

Mentor Recommendations

Set 2-3 meetings throughout the semester.

Help the team stay on track by setting (early) due dates for each segment.

Review the Guidelines for Advising for a list of Do’s and Don’ts.

View the Student Chapter Competition page on the MCAA website for videos of previous Final Four presentations, GreatFutures Forum Competition Skills sessions, and GreatFutures Forum Competition information sessions.

Not only does mentoring help the students learn about mechanical and grow their interest in our industry, but it also offers an opportunity for your company to network and get in valuable face time with potential future interns or new hires.

Looking for Additional Ways to Get Involved with the Career Development Initiative?

Post internships or full-time new hire positions on the MCAA GreatFutures Job Board.

Contact MCAA Director, Career Development, Michele Hoffman (mhoffman@mcaa.org) with questions or Sean McGuire, JRGF Executive Director (smcguire@mcaa.org) regarding scholarship donations or research.

Viega Highlights Intern Success & Industry Collaboration

MCAA congratulates Viega on two successful internships that began with making connections at MCAA’s GreatFutures Forum last year. Read on to learn about their experiences and find out how you can join us at this year’s GreatFutures Forum.

At Viega, we’re always excited to explore fresh ideas and smarter ways to do things in our industry. That’s why we love connecting with up-and-coming talent and welcoming student interns to join us each summer. Our 2025 intern cohort made a significant impact across our entire organization, and we’re still buzzing about it. We believe that strong intern programs are fueled by great industry partnerships. For this reason, we look forward to teaming up with other industry partners for events that help students make connections and learn about career opportunities in our field.

Viega and the MCAA GreatFutures Forum

Halimat Omilabu makes connections during the job fair.

Last fall, Viega participated in the MCAA GreatFutures Forum, an event hosted by the Mechanical Contractors Association of America for college students. During the annual GreatFutures Forum, students from nearly 50 student chapters and MCAA member companies were invited to gather for three days of student-focused education sessions that highlight the mechanical contracting industry, while providing fun peer-to-peer relationship building and a chance to network during a job fair. During last year’s GreatFutures Forum, Viega had the opportunity to meet Joseph Ercolini, a student at the Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston, and Halimat Omilabu, a student at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Viega’s Summer Internship Program

From that initial connection, both applied to Viega’s summer internship and were accepted for a 3-month program that incorporates a mix of theoretical knowledge and practical experience. Omilabu and Ercolini spent their internships working with Viega’s Engineering Services team in Nashua, New Hampshire. They got hands-on experience supporting projects in radiant design, fire sprinkler systems, and product applications — plus, they had a chance to spend time with the MCAA team. Thanks to this, they learned about everything from manufacturing sales to operations, and discovered just how many different career paths the industry has to offer.

An Industry Win-Win

Joseph Ercolini begins his GreatFutures Forum / Viega internship journey.

When companies partner for events like the GreatFutures Forum, everyone wins. Bringing together rising stars and connecting them with internships and job opportunities at companies like Viega keeps the industry talent pool strong, which means we can keep delivering innovative fitting products and solutions to the market faster than ever. Students like Omilabu and Ercolini are a part of that talent pool. Each brings their ideas, enthusiasm and critical-thinking skills to their internships. There’s no doubt they have a bright future ahead, and we’re looking forward to connecting with them again at the upcoming GreatFutures Forum in October. We’re also looking forward to meeting new future leaders and innovators too!

How to Sign Up for This Year’s GreatFutures Forum

The 2025 MCAA GreatFutures Forum will take place October 9-11 in Salt Lake City, Utah. MCAA Student Chapter Members, Faculty Advisors, Members, Affiliated Association Executives, and GFF25 Sponsors all enjoy complimentary registration. Registration closes September 9.

GreatFutures Forum Registration

Find the Missing Piece of Your Team at GFF25!

Registration for the MCAA GreatFutures Forum in Salt Lake City closes on September 9th. Complimentary registration, including the job fair, is offered for this three-day conference (October 9-11, 2025) for MCAA Student Chapter Members, Faculty Advisors, MCAA Members, Affiliated Association Executives, and GFF Sponsors.

2025 MCAA GreatFutures Forum Highlights

Mountains of Opportunity Hot Potato Panel
The Power of No
TP Challenge Activity
Job Fair
Presidential Message from Brian Hughes
Keynote from Olympian Vince Poscente
The Mechanical Puzzle
Mechanical Tour of Mechanical Service & Systems, Inc.
Utah Olympic Oval Dinner, Behind the Scenes & Rink Time
Student Chapter Competition Introduction
Building Your Chapter Roundtables

Deep-Dive Technical Puzzles: Collect Them All

Student Chapters are encouraged to ‘Collect Them All’ by attending multiple years of the GreatFutures Forum and collecting different systems puzzles to use on campus as recruitment or educational tools.

These puzzles, and their corresponding sessions, were created from GreatFutures Forum attendee feedback requesting a deeper dive into the technical side of our industry, specifically the systems involved in mechanical contracting.

This year’s puzzle and session:

The Mechanical Puzzle Round 2: Hot Water
Friday, October 10 | 1:00 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.

This session goes piece by piece (literally) to explain how a system is built, connected and utilized by end-users.

Check out the Mechanical Education Basics Guide, which includes an article highlighting additional ways to use the GFF Puzzles.

Mechanical Education Basics Guide

Looking for Additional Ways to Get Involved with the Career Development Initiative?

Check out the Universities Page for a listing of student chapters with students in your area.

Post internships or full-time new hire positions on the MCAA GreatFutures Job Board.

Contact MCAA Director, Career Development, Michele Hoffman (mhoffman@mcaa.org) with questions or Sean McGuire, JRGF Executive Director (smcguire@mcaa.org) regarding scholarship donations or research.

Congratulations to Drew Figura, Recipient of the Geiling Family Scholarship

Congratulations to Drew Figura on receiving the inaugural Geiling Family Scholarship at MCAA25 during the Awards of Excellence Breakfast. The Geiling Family Scholarship supports students pursuing careers in the plumbing and mechanical trades, helping to develop the next generation of industry leaders. The scholarship empowers recipients to focus on building skills and advancing their knowledge. This $5,000 scholarship represents a commitment to investing in the future of the plumbing and mechanical contracting community.

Drew graduated in May 2025 from the University of Nebraska with a degree in Construction Management and was a member of his student chapter since 2022. He previously interned with MCAA Member, Helm Group, and returned as a full-time Project Engineer upon graduation.

“What appeals to me about mechanical construction is working on one scope within the entire project. The mechanical scope is intricate, and many systems vary from project to project. There are so many components to mechanical construction that make every day interesting.

Likewise, I have gained so much throughout the last three years being involved with MCAA. I have made multiple connections within the construction industry through student chapter events held throughout the year. MCAA has provided me with experience through my current internship, which has provided me with a full-time job upon graduation. I hope to stay involved in MCAA by becoming a mentor for the student chapter after I gain more experience within the industry.”

MCAA and the John R. Gentille Foundation congratulate Drew on this prestigious scholarship and thank the Geiling family for their commitment to supporting students interested in pursuing a career in the mechanical contracting industry.