On this episode of Tradeswork: The Rocky Mountain Mechanical Contractors Association Podcast, we welcome Michael Burke, Director of Post Secondary and Workforce Readiness, and Adam Nelson, Carpentry Teacher at Adams 27J School District, here in Colorado. Here are some of the questions you can expect to be answered on this show:

• What is the Workforce Cooperative Program and how did it come to be?
• How do the building trades and firefighter training go hand-in-hand?
• What are the specifics of the kinds of things kids get to work on in this program?
• How has this program helped to evolve the perception of the skilled trades?
• What would the ideal future of education look like?
• How ready are kids for job sites after going through this training?
• If you have a stress dream where you show to school and take a test you're unprepared for, what subject is it in?

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

For more information about Adams 27J, please visit their website.

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

On this episode of Tradeswork: The Rocky Mountain Mechanical Contractors Association Podcast, we welcome Angie Simon, Executive Director and Co-Founder of Heavy Metal Summer Experience, which exists to inspire students with real-world training showcasing dynamic career opportunities in the skilled trades, and to ensure the continued vitality of the union construction industry. Here are some of the questions you can expect to be answered on this show:

• What is the Heavy Metal Summer Experience and how did it come to be?
• What do campers do in their camps?
• How much has the camp grown, and where does it operate now?
• What do people most need to know about a career in the skilled trades?
• What is Angie's professional journey, and how did it lead her to found this organization?
• Is Angie a fan of heavy metal music?

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

For more information about the Heavy Metal Summer Experience, please visit their website.

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

On this episode of Tradeswork: The Rocky Mountain Mechanical Contractors Association Podcast, we welcome our very own Executive Director, Randy Drennen. With his feet underneath him more since taking the role of Executive Director, Randy finally sits in the hot seat where Host Jon Ekstrom gets to know him a lot better. Here are some of the questions you can expect to be answered on this show:

• What was Randy's career path that led his arrival as Executive Director of RMMCA?
• Elevator pitch: Why should your average person care about the skilled trades?
• What has been the most surprising thing he's learned during his tenure?
• Whenever his time leading the organization is up - which we hope is not for a very long time - what will he want people to remember about him?
• You'll get to know Randy a lot better in this episode as we learn a lot about his tastes:
  • The ultimate concert he would throw himself?
  • What's on his book and DVD shelves?
  • Professional athlete whose brain he'd like to peek into?
  • As a kid, what did he want to be when he grew up?

We think you'll enjoy this fun, off-kilter chat and walk away knowing our leader better than you did before listening. 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.

On this episode of Tradeswork: The Rocky Mountain Mechanical Contractors Association Podcast, we welcome Benny Baltrotsky, Vice President, Partnerships & GTM for DEWALT. From their website: "When we put the DEWALT® name on something, it’s a commitment to get the job done right. It’s the mark we’ve left over 100 years of helping world-builders build the modern world." Here are some of the questions you can expect to be answered on this show:

• What are the key technological advances DEWALT has achieved?
• Where are they headed in the future?
• How does AI impact the construction industry? What can it be used for?
• What concerns Benny the most about the future of construction?
• What excites him the most?
• What was Benny's career path that led him to this role?
• How does DEWALT stand out from its competition?

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

For more information about DEWALT, please visit their website.

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

On this episode of Tradeswork: The Rocky Mountain Mechanical Contractors Association Podcast, we welcome Heather Sherwood, President of the Western States College of Construction, which is committed to supporting our industry by providing quality educational and training opportunities at our eight education centers. WSCC’s affiliated apprenticeship programs provide the opportunity to build an exceptional and fulfilling professional career in our industry. Our students earn excellent salaries while learning and practicing construction or service under the leadership of highly motivated construction professionals and mentors. Here are some of the questions you can expect to be answered on this show:

• How did Heather's professional journey lead her to become President of the Western States College of Construction?
• How does Heather hope to change the perception of the skilled trades in Colorado?
• How can a degree from WSCC confer credibility onto skilled trades professionals?
• What excites Heather most about the future of the skilled trades? What keeps her up at night?
• What would Heather tell someone considering entering the skilled trades about the opportunity that awaits them?

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

For more information about Western States College of Construction, please visit their website.

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

On this episode of Tradeswork: The Rocky Mountain Mechanical Contractors Association Podcast, we welcome Rex Buchanan, National Trade Association Manager for DEWALT. From their website: "When we put the DEWALT® name on something, it’s a commitment to get the job done right. It’s the mark we’ve left over 100 years of helping world-builders build the modern world." Here are some of the questions you can expect to be answered on this show:

• What differentiates DEWALT from its competitors?
• What does a National Trade Association Manager do?
• How does DEWALT work to recruit people to work in the skilled trades?
• What challenges does Rex see for people attempting to work in the trades?
• What kinds of technological advances has DEWALT made in its products?
• How does Rex view the future of the construction industry?

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

For more information about DEWALT, please visit their website.

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

On this episode of Tradeswork: The Rocky Mountain Mechanical Contractors Association Podcast, we welcome Kelly Dunkin, President & CEO of Colorado Gives Foundation. Kelly joined Colorado Gives Foundation as President and CEO in February 2019. Previously she worked for a variety of nonprofit, business and social impact organizations. Here are some of the questions you can expect to be answered on this show:

• What is Colorado Gives Day and how does it work?
• How can companies and individuals maximize their contributions to nonprofits?
• What are some examples of innovative ways companies and nonprofits have utilized Colorado Gives?
• How can small businesses utilize this platform?
• How did Kelly come to be a part of this organization and how does she see her role within it?

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

For more information about Colorado Gives Foundation, please visit their website.

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

On this episode of Tradeswork: The Rocky Mountain Mechanical Contractors Association Podcast, we welcome Kelly Mace, Director of Lodging & Property Management at Winter Park Resort. Here are some of the questions you can expect to be answered on this show:

• What are the unique challenges of managing a mountain resort?
• What plumbing, HVAC-R and skilled trades challenges exist in this milieu?
• How does one deal with wanting snow in one part of the resort and removing snow in another?
• What new projects has Winter Park Resort undertaken during Kelly's tenure?
• What sustainability measures has Winter Park Resort enacted that involve the skilled trades?
• What is the future for Winter Park, winter recreation and mountain tourism?

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

For more information about Kroenke Sports and Entertainment, please visit their website.

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