SPEAKERS

Keynote Speakers

ErikQualman

Bestselling Author & Keynote Speaker

Erik Qualman has spoken in over 55 countries and has reached over 50 million people. He is the #1 bestselling author of five books on digital leadership and was voted the 2nd Most Likeable Author in the World. His Socialnomics work has been on 60 Minutes to the Wall Street Journal and used by NBCUniversal to NASA. Over 500 universities use his materials. Qualman’s animation studio wrote and produced the world’s most-watched social media video, “Social Media Revolution.” Qualman formed Equalman Studios which has produced film and animation projects for the likes of Disney, Cartier, CompuCom, Chase, Hearts on Fire, IBM, and many other global brands.

AimeeCopeland

Aimee Copeland Foundation Executive Director

Aimee Copeland is a psychotherapist, activist, certified yoga instructor, and executive director of the Aimee Copeland Foundation. She is also the founder of Grant Park Counseling Group in Atlanta, GA, as well as the founder of Asheville Center for Inner Healing in Asheville, NC. Aimee holds dual master’s degrees in psychology and social work, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Georgia and North Carolina, and attended UGA for undergraduate studies in psychology. She is here to share her story of resilience and inspiration, despite all the odds.

Lt. Col WaldoWaldman

Decorated Fighter Pilot & Bestselling Author

Known as “The Wingman,” Lt. Col (ret.) Waldo Waldman is the author of National Bestseller Never Fly Solo. He helps organizations build collaborative cultures of trust, courage, and commitment in order to adapt to change, break performance barriers, and overcome adversity. Waldo is an expert on change management and resilience—having overcome a fear of heights and claustrophobia to achieve his dream of becoming a fighter pilot. His compelling stories and tactics on overcoming adversity, performing under pressure, and servant-based leadership are extremely relevant to organizations who are going through disruptive change and seeking to build a “One Team, One Mission” culture of excellence and trust.

UA General President Mark McManus

McManus

In August 2021, at the UA’s 40th General Convention, Mark McManus was unanimously re-elected to a second term as General President of the United Association (UA), where he will continue to lead the nation’s most progressive and influential trade union, representing more than 363,000 highly skilled mechanics in the plumbing and pipefitting industry.

Mark began his career with the UA in 1983 when he was initiated into Plumbers Local 24 in Newark, New Jersey. He was elected Business Agent in 1994 and Business Manager in 1997. His talents and leadership brought him to the United Association General Office in 2007, where he has served as International Representative and Administrative Assistant to the General President. He served five-year terms as General Secretary-Treasurer and as General President prior to being re-elected to a second five-year term as General President.

General President Mark McManus is responsible for supervising the day-to-day affairs of the United Association and for decisions concerning internal union governance, as well as rendering decisions and adjusting disputes and other matters affecting the organization. He is the Chairman of the UA General Executive Board, UA Strategic Planning Committee, and Chairman of the Board of Trustees on multiple UA pension funds. Mark McManus supervises the development and implementation of all major policies and programs of the United Association, including the industry-leading UA Veterans in Piping®(VIP) Program.

In addition, he serves as Vice President of the Executive Council of the Metal Trades Department, is a member of the Building Trades’ Governing Board of Presidents, and serves on the Board of Directors of Helmets to Hardhats. In April 2020, General President McManus was appointed by Maryland Governor Larry Hogan to serve on his Coronavirus Recovery Team, where he worked in part to advise the Governor on the necessary steps for restarting Maryland’s economy and reopening businesses across the state. Mark and the UA are extremely active in all aspects of the political world—national, state, and local—in a bipartisan manner.

Mark McManus has had a distinguished career in support of our nation's hardworking men and women and is unwavering in his commitment to a strong and mutually beneficial partnership between labor and management.

Education Session Speakers

Bonus Program: Process Mapping – The Thing You Know You Should Be Doing

Sunday, October 22, 2023
8:30 AM - 2:00 PM

JonathanMarsh

 CEO and Founder, Steel Toe Consulting

Jonathan Marsh

CEO and Founder, Steel Toe Consulting
Jonathan Marsh is CEO of SteelToe Consulting LLC, a firm that specializes in helping construction companies integrate and implement modern construction technology and workflows to improve and streamline their businesses. He also works as a construction startup advisor and as a software product manager for construction software. In addition to conducting research and reporting for industry groups, he helps develop hardware and software solutions for the construction space. Marsh is the former CTO of Wm. T. Spaeder Company, where he led IT, virtual design & construction, and engineering. While there, he championed technology adoption and the advantages of using progressive technological approaches. He has an extensive background in MEP construction and engineering, with projects ranging from commercial buildings to industrial refineries, and has over two decades of experience in the AEC industry.

Afternoon Education Showcase

Monday, October 23, 2023
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM

ChristopherThornberg

 Founder, Beacon Economics LLC

Dr. Christopher Thornberg

Founder, Beacon Economics LLC

Christopher Thornberg founded Beacon Economics LLC in 2006. Under his leadership, the firm has become one of the most respected research organizations in California, serving public and private sector clients across the United States. In 2015, Dr. Thornberg also became Director of the UC Riverside School of Business Center for Economic Forecasting and Development and an Adjunct Professor at the School. Dr. Thornberg became nationally known for forecasting the subprime mortgage market crash that began in 2007 and was one of the few economists on record to predict the global economic recession that followed. Well known for his ability to capture and hold audiences, Dr. Thornberg has presented to hundreds of leading business, government, and nonprofit organizations across the globe.

MikeRosone

 Vice President of Service Sales, Arista Air Conditioning Corporation

Mike Rosone

Vice President of Service Sales, Arista Air Conditioning Corporation
Vice President of Service Sales, Arista Air Conditioning Corporation

Employing Mindfulness Techniques to Combat Employee Burnout and Increase Productivity

Sponsored by MCAA's Women in the Mechanical Industry

Tuesday, October 24, 2023
9:45 AM - 11:00 AM

JohnnyCrowder

 Founder and CEO, Cope Notes

Johnny Crowder

Founder and CEO, Cope Notes
The founder and CEO of Cope Notes, Johnny Crowder gives audiences practical self-care tools and mental health strategies that people can start using now to improve their emotional health and wellbeing. With infectious positivity, humor and authenticity, this trauma survivor and Certified Recovery Peer Specialist shows audiences why talking about mental health topics is key to coping, and why the most resilient organizational cultures proudly prioritize and support mental health for all. Since his first keynote in 2011, Johnny's refreshingly vulnerable and candid perspective has attracted praise from hundreds of outlets, including Upworthy, CNN, and Forbes he provides realistic, yet hopeful insight into the pains of hardship with authenticity, levity, and unconventional wit.

Let's Get Heat Pumped Up!

Tuesday, October 24, 2023
9:45 AM - 11:00 AM

GreggHolladay

 Business Development Manager - Specialty Markets, Bradford White Water Heaters

Gregg Holladay

Business Development Manager - Specialty Markets, Bradford White Water Heaters

Gregg Holladay is a Business Development Manager – Specialty Markets for Bradford White Water Heaters. In his role over the past six years, Gregg worked to educate utilities, architects, builders, and the plumbing/HVAC trade on the benefits of Energy Star heat pump water heaters, including Bradford White’s own AeroTherm™. Before joining the Bradford White team, Gregg spent 32 years with General Electric (GE) where he introduced GeoSpring™, the first Energy Star electric heat pump water heater, to the US market. As a pioneer in this industry, Gregg is considered an expert speaker on this topic conducting countless numbers of webinars and advising utilities across the country on integration best practices, and he currently serves as a member of the Energy Star Manufacturers Action Council. With GE’s exit from the heat pump water heater market, their manufacturing assets were acquired by Bradford White and integrated into their own state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Middleville, MI. Now, Bradford White’s engineers and manufacturing experts uses these assets to produce the next generation AeroTherm, the only heat pump water heater with top connections to facilitate easy installation.

PaulCampbell

 Director, Energy and Sustainability Marketing, ICF

Paul Campbell

Director, Energy and Sustainability Marketing, ICF

Paul Campbell is an Executive Leader with over 30 years of diverse experience in energy efficiency, sustainability, account management, program execution, operations, and Six Sigma quality system implementation. He is currently responsible for executing business development plans for ENERGY STAR and growing partnerships with utilities and their program administrators across the U.S. Paul began his career as a reliability engineer with Amoco Oil Company before joining GE Plastics as a manufacturing operations lead. For 16 years he was with Sears and Kmart in a variety of leadership roles including the launch of their corporate sustainability team. Campbell has a BS Mechanical Engineering (U. of Illinois) and MBA (College of William and Mary).

The UNstuck Challenge! Moving Your Team and Leadership to a Legacy Level

Wednesday, October 25, 2023
8:45 AM - 10:15 AM
10:30 AM - 12:00 PM

SteveThomas

 Motivational Speaker

Steve Thomas

Motivational Speaker

Steve is not a motivational speaker. He is a speaker who will motivate and inspire you, but that is not his ultimate priority. Instead, Steve will challenge you to look at things with a new perspective and help you understand why being intentional in what you say and do, especially with your team, will bring higher productivity and an all-around better environment. Steve consistently ranks as MSCA’s highest rated speaker and is a popular speaker throughout the industry.

Discussing the National Service and Maintenance Agreement

Wednesday, October 25, 2023
8:45 AM - 10:15 AM

BrianKelly

 Joint Labor Committee Co-Chair & Director of HVACR Service, United Association

Brian Kelly

Joint Labor Committee Co-Chair & Director of HVACR Service, United Association

Brian P. Kelly was unanimously elected at the 40th General Convention as an International Representative who will continue to serve in his role as the UA Director of HVACR Service. General President Mark McManus had appointed Brian Kelly Director of HVACR Service and as an International Representative, effective December 1, 2019.

Prior to being appointed Director of HVACR Service, Kelly had been Business Manager/Financial Secretary-Treasurer of Pipefitters Local 537 in Boston, MA, since he was elected in 2016. As Business Manager, Brian oversaw the design and construction of Local 537’s Training Center and union and benefits offices. In 2010, he became a Business Agent for Local 537’s refrigeration division, a post he held until being elected Business Manager. He served on his local’s Executive Board from 2004 to 2007.

Kelly has served as a trustee on his local’s pension and benefit funds and as a member observer on the Plumbers and Pipefitters National Pension Fund. He has also served on the UA/MSCA Labor/Management Committee and as Vice President and President of the New England States Pipe Trades Council. Kelly has also served as Vice President of the Massachusetts AFL-CIO and on the Massachusetts, Building Trades Executive Board. He also represents the building and construction trades on the licensing board of the Massachusetts Bureau of Pipefitters, Refrigeration Technicians, and Sprinkler Fitters.

Kelly was initiated into Pipefitters Local 537, Boston, MA, in March 1991. He graduated from the local’s apprenticeship program in 1995. He is a graduate of the UA’s Instructor Training Program and taught fifth-year HVAC and journeyman training at Local 537. He holds an Associate in Applied Science Degree in Industrial Training and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Labor Studies.

RussBorst

 Joint Labor Committee Co-Chair & Vice President of Service, Hurst Mechanical

Russ Borst

Joint Labor Committee Co-Chair & Vice President of Service, Hurst Mechanical
Russ Borst has been involved in the Mechanical Contracting business for 20 years. He currently manages and supervises the Service Department at Hurst Mechanical, including HVAC Service Management, HVAC system design, temperature controls / DDC, project management, and energy audits for commercial building, churches, and schools. Borst is also President of Quad City Mechanical: Plumbing Contractors, and is a past chair for the the MSCA Education Committee and MSCA Board of Managers.

Better Thinking vs. More Effort – Improving What to Pursue and Execute Successfully

Wednesday, October 25, 2023
8:45 AM - 10:15 AM
10:30 AM - 12:00 PM

EricPapp

 Founder, Agape Leadership, LLC

Eric Papp

Founder, Agape Leadership, LLC

Eric Papp is the founder of Agape Leadership, LLC, an intellectual capital firm focusing on leadership for business performance. He has a successful history of delivering proven strategies for being productive and increasing performance in a complex world. Since 2010, he has worked with thousands of managers and is evaluated as one of North America’s top management trainers. He is the author of Leadership by Choice, published by John Wiley and Sons, 3 Values of Being an Effective Person, The Sales Planner, and The Priority Planner.

The New Way to Recruit

Wednesday, October 25, 2023
10:30 AM - 12:00 PM

 

ChrisMadello

 Business Manager/Financial Secretary Treasurer, UA Local 602

Chris Madello

Business Manager/Financial Secretary Treasurer, UA Local 602
Chris Madello began his career with Steamfitters UA Local 602 in Washington, D.C. in February of 2000. After graduating from the Apprenticeship Program with UA Local 602, and working several years as a Journeyman and instructor, in 2010 he left the field and began working as a Union Organizer, focusing predominantly on the HVACR Service Industry. Chris Madello has spent 23 years working with, teaching, recruiting and representing UA Local 602 and other UA Local Unions, focusing most of his time working to improve culture, foster growth, in membership and contractor base, and he continues to work to create a strong and mutually valuable partnership between labor and management.

JustinPomerville

 Business Manager/Financial Secretary Treasurer, UA Local 85

Justin Pomerville

Business Manager/Financial Secretary Treasurer, UA Local 85
Justin Pomerville is the Business Manager/Financial Secretary of the United Association Local Union 85 Plumbers, Steamfitters and HVACR Service Technicians for the Northern 29 ½ Counties of Michigan. In addition to working with the Trades, he is devoted to increasing trade schools awareness throughout the Saginaw Bay Region. Justin sits on various committees and boards for school districts and is a speaker for many of the local job fairs, open houses, and other educational presentations.

KipBagley

 Senior Vice President, Mesa Energy Systems

Kip Bagley

Senior Vice President, Mesa Energy Systems
As Senior Vice President of one of the nation’s largest mechanical service companies, Kip Bagley oversees Mesa Energy Systems' 12 offices HVACR service operations, production and recruiting. During the course of his career, he has either worked directly with or had oversight in all aspects of the mechanical HVACR customer service business including field, dispatch, sales, operations, and finance departments. His 17 years of field experience set him apart from many in service management and provides a unique perspective for leadership and oversight of the service business beyond the profit and loss statements.
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