Tradeswork: The Rocky Mountain MCA Podcast

Hosted by Rocky Mountain Mechanical Contractors Association

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May 2026

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About the show

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/

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60 recent

May 15, 2026Episode 8022 min

Entrepreneurship and Public Office featuring Marissa Harmon

On this episode of Tradeswork: The Rocky Mountain Mechanical Contractors Association Podcast, we welcome Marissa Harmon, Mayor of City of Lone Tree and Owner of Roots & Mane, a luxury hair salon in her very own fair city. Here are some of the questions you can expect to be answered on this episode: What inspired Marissa to open her own salon? How did entrepreneurship and the trade of hair stylist uniquely prepare her for elected office? Where do the two overlap and intersect? How vital are the skilled trades to a hair salon? How vital are they to ensure the smooth running of a municipality? In her opinion, how can governments support both small businesses and skilled trades professionals? What does Marissa have in mind for her future? This episode is available on podcatchers everywhere. Please rate, review and subscribe. For more information about Roots & Mane, please visit their website. For more information about City of Lone Tree, please visit their website. For more information about Rocky Mountain Mechanical Contractors Association, please visit our website.

May 1, 2026Episode 8150 min

A Deep Dive on Energy Issues featuring Gary Arnold and Randy Drennen

On this episode of Tradeswork: The Rocky Mountain Mechanical Contractors Association Podcast, we welcome Gary Arnold, Director of Energy and Infrastructure for the United Association and Randy Drennen, our very Executive Director of RMMCA. The topic at hand is related to energy, decarbonization, building standards, and data centers. Here are some of the questions you can expect to be answered on this episode: What is the Climate Action Plan, and what factors are inhibiting its adoption? What would result in this project being more successful and/or workable? What is Regulation 28; what is Energize Denver; and how do they impact Building Performance Standards? What is the current dialog around data centers in Denver and Colorado? What are the myths and facts about data centers? This episode is available on podcatchers everywhere. Please rate, review and subscribe. For more information about the United Association, please visit their website. For more information about Rocky Mountain Mechanical Contractors Association, please visit our website.

March 1, 2026Episode 7929 min

A Conversation with Women about Women in the Skilled Trades

On this episode of Tradeswork: The Rocky Mountain Mechanical Contractors Association Podcast, we welcome Lindsay Williams who leads Service for U.S. Engineering across the Rocky Mountain region, Ashley Ekstrom, Project Manager for Trautman & Shreve, and Sarah Harkssen an officer of the women's committee with other women from UA Local 3 and UA Local 208 and Plumbing Campus Lead at Western States College of Construction. Here are some of the questions you can expect to be answered on this episode: What drew these women to the trades and what keeps them enthused about the job? How do they handle mentorship of young women in the trades? What mentors and role models did they have? What challenges have they had to overcome in a male-dominated industry? How did they approach those challenges? What projects really stand out in their work histories? What would younger versions of themselves have liked to hear as they were beginning their careers? This episode is available on podcatchers everywhere. Please rate, review and subscribe. For more information about Trautman & Shreve, please visit their website. For more information about U.S. Engineering, please visit their website. For more information about UA Local 3, please visit their website. And for UA Local 208, please visit their website. For more information about the Western States College of Construction, please visit their website. For more information about Rocky Mountain Mechanical Contractors Association, please visit our website.

February 15, 2026Episode 7818 min

Inside Denver Botanic Gardens with Suzi Latona

On this episode of Tradeswork: The Rocky Mountain Mechanical Contractors Association Podcast, we welcome Suzi Latona, Director of Operations at Denver Botanic Gardens whose mission is to connect people with plants, especially plants from the Rocky Mountain region and similar regions around the world, providing delight and enlightenment to everyone. Here are some of the questions you can expect to be answered on this episode: How much does the Director of Operations cover at an organization like this? We pay a quick tribute to Brian Vogt and discuss his impact on Denver Botanic Gardens. The Chatfield location has new projects coming online. What are they and what went into them? What are the incredibly varied and unique HVAC and plumbing needs for housing this many different types of plants? What goes into an event like Blossoms of Light? And when do they start planning for it? What is something people may not know about the Botanic Gardens that they should? This episode is available on podcatchers everywhere. Please rate, review and subscribe. For more information about Denver Botanic Gardens, please visit their website. For more information about Rocky Mountain Mechanical Contractors Association, please visit our website.

February 1, 2026Episode 7728 min

The Agricultural Innovation of FarmBox Foods featuring Jason Brown

On this episode of Tradeswork: The Rocky Mountain Mechanical Contractors Association Podcast, we welcome Jason Brown, Vice President of Operations for FarmBox Foods which provides the tools and knowledge to sustainably grow locally sourced food year-round in any climate, anywhere in the world. They handle all of the transportation logistics and shipping, and their deployment team will help you get up and running once the farm arrives at your site. Here are some of the questions you can expect to be answered on this episode: What was the origin for FarmBox Foods? How do you set up a farm inside a shipping container? How much food can grow in one of these units and what types of foods are grown? Who has been purchasing these types of units and what does it take to get them up and running? What are the company's biggest accomplishments so far? What are the biggest misconceptions people have about farming and agriculture? This episode is available on podcatchers everywhere. Please rate, review and subscribe. For more information about FarmBox Foods, please visit their website. For more information about Rocky Mountain Mechanical Contractors Association, please visit our website.

January 15, 2026Episode 7629 min

New RMMCA Board President Lana Marsh

On this episode of Tradeswork: The Rocky Mountain Mechanical Contractors Association Podcast, we welcome our Executive Director Randy Drennen and Lana Marsh, Executive at Olson Plumbing & Heating, a company committed to providing reliable plumbing services across Colorado. With decades of experience, their company prides itself on delivering exceptional service to home and business owners. Whether addressing a leaking pipe or a clogged drain or providing emergency plumbing services, their skilled team ensures prompt service day and night, resolving plumbing issues with professionalism and dedication to customer satisfaction. Here are some of the questions you can expect to be answered on this episode: Olson Plumbing & Heating started in 1917. What can we attribute their success and longevity to? What does the path to Board Presidency entail? How long is it? What does she hope to accomplish in her tenure as President? What issues are top of mind as we approach 2026? What projects stand out most for Lana in her career? Check out the original motorcycle of Mr. Olson in the picture below: And here's the recent re-creation of it: This episode is available on podcatchers everywhere. Please rate, review and subscribe. For more information about Olson Plumbing & Heating, please visit their website. For more information about Rocky Mountain Mechanical Contractors Association, please visit our website.

December 1, 2025Episode 7526 min

Getting to Know MCAA CEO Tim Brink

On this episode of Tradeswork: The Rocky Mountain Mechanical Contractors Association Podcast, we welcome Robert Beck, CEO of Mechanical Contractors Association of America, which serves the unique needs of approximately 2,600 firms involved in heating, air conditioning, refrigeration, plumbing, piping, and mechanical service and is the national organization under which RMMCA exists. He is also the President of Hughes Environmental Engineering. This conversation will focus largely on Robert's role as MCAA CEO. Here are some of the questions you can expect to be answered on this episode: What was Tim's background that led him to lead the Mechanical Contractors Association of America? What key issues is MCAA focused on now and what are they monitoring in the near and long term future? What accomplishments is he most proud of? How did the COVID-19 pandemic change the business? Has it returned to where it was, or has it changed forever? What excites him most about the skilled trades? What keeps him up at night? What is something everyone should know about the skilled trades that they may not currently? This episode is available on podcatchers everywhere. Please rate, review and subscribe. For more information about Hughes Environmental Engineering, please visit their website. For more information about the Mechanical Contractors Association of America, please visit their website. For more information about Rocky Mountain Mechanical Contractors Association, please visit our website.

November 1, 2025Episode 7439 min

Skills Jam featuring JJ Owen and David Ottavianelli

On this episode of Tradeswork: The Rocky Mountain Mechanical Contractors Association Podcast, we welcome JJ Owen, Executive Director of Skilled Careers Coalition, and David Ottavianelli, Skilled Careers Coalition Advisory Board Member. In his role as Executive Director of Skilled Careers Coalition (SCC), JJ Owen creates, shapes, and directs the strategy behind SCC and its mission to fuel a robust pipeline of talent and help close the widening skilled labor gap by inspiring and empowering the next generation of skilled professionals. Here are some of the questions you can expect to be answered on this show: What is Skilled Careers Coalition and how did they come to be involved in it? Where have they seen the most success in recruiting more workers to the skilled trades? What is Skills Jam? How young is too young to get students thinking about potential career paths? What has been the most rewarding accomplishment they've had in their time at SCC? This episode is available on podcatchers everywhere. Please rate, review and subscribe. For more information about Skilled Careers Coalition please visit their website. Also be sure to check out Skills Jam on YouTube and TikTok. For more information about Hughes Environmental Engineering, please visit their website. For more information about Rocky Mountain Mechanical Contractors Association, please visit our website.

October 1, 2025Episode 7325 min

Getting to Know MCAA President Brian Hughes

On this episode of Tradeswork: The Rocky Mountain Mechanical Contractors Association Podcast, we welcome Brian Hughes, President of the Mechanical Contractors Association of America (MCAA) and Hughes Environmental Engineering. Here are some of the questions you can expect to be answered on this show: What was Brian's path in ascending to leading MCAA? How long has Hughes Environmental Engineering been in business, and what does he attribute their longevity to? What is a project he's worked on that stands out most in his mind? (It's very cool) Why get involved in trade associations? What benefits are associated with membership and participation? What has been most effective in developing the workforce for the skilled trades? Where are some of the more unusual places new workers in the skilled trades are coming from? This episode is available on podcatchers everywhere. Please rate, review and subscribe. For more information about MCAA please visit their website. For more information about Hughes Environmental Engineering, please visit their website. For more information about Rocky Mountain Mechanical Contractors Association, please visit our website. Recorded at the Mile High Sports studio inside Number 38.

September 15, 2025Episode 7232 min

Debunking Myths about Labor Unions featuring Rick Allen

On this episode of Tradeswork: The Rocky Mountain Mechanical Contractors Association Podcast, we welcome Rick Allen, International Representative for the United Association. I'm also joined by Randy Drennen, RMMCA President. You can also view this episode on our YouTube channel. Here are some of the questions you can expect to be answered on this show: Who is the International Association and what does Rick's work entail? What are the top myths both guests have heard about organized labor? How have portrayals of unions in pop culture influenced some of the myths about labor unions? Are the skilled trades simply "back up" for those who can't go to college? Are skilled labor jobs dirty, dangerous and low-paying? Are those in a labor union lazy? What are the truths about these myths and what else might we not know about the realities of labor unions? This episode is available on podcatchers everywhere. Please rate, review and subscribe. For more information about the United Association please visit their website. For more information about Rocky Mountain Mechanical Contractors Association, please visit our website. Recorded at the Mile High Sports studio inside Number 38.