Bay Area SMACNA Newsletter 4th Edition 2023

NORTH BAY | SAN FRANCISCO | GREATER OAKLAND | SAN MATEO | SANTA CLARA

BAY AREA SMACNA’S

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EDGE MEMBER NEWSLETTER | Fourth Edition | 2023

MEMBER HIGHLIGHT: ICOM Pages 11-12

2023 SMACNA ANNUAL CONVENTION Page 15

ANNUAL DINNER

Page 21-24

HIT PAUSE FOR CALIFORNIA BUSINESSES Page 27

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IN THIS ISSUE NEWS & UPDATES

EDUCATION

02 PRESIDENT’S REMARKS 04 TENANT SPACE AVAILABLE 13 RECAP: WOMEN’S SUMMIT 13 THANK YOU TO OUR 2023 WIC SPONSORS 28 WELCOME NEW MEMBER: CORE CONSTRUCTION BUILDERS & ASSOCIATES

MEMBER FEATURES 05 ASSOCIATE MEMBER: RHUMBIX 11 MEMBER: ICOM MECHANICAL, INC.

29 PROJECT MANAGEMENT PROGRAM

APPRENTICES & INTERNS 07 CONTRACTOR ORIENTATIONS FOR APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS 26 STUDENTS INTRODUCED TO THE TRADES

SAFETY 08 CAL SMACNA SAFETY SEMINAR

TECHNOLOGY

EVENTS & RECAPS 08 SAVE THE DATE: CAL SMACNA’S 58TH ANNUAL CONVENTION 09 RECAP: SPORTING CLAYS OUTING 15 RECAP: 2023 SMACNA ANNUAL CONVENTION 19 RECAP: 2023 BOARD GETAWAY 21 RECAP: ANNUAL DINNER BRINGS 100+ MEMBERS TOGETHER 28 SAVE THE DATE: CAL SMACNA’S 2024 DAY AT THE CAPITOL EVENT

25 IMPROVING PROJECT EFFICIENCY WITH DIGITAL WORKFLOWS

LEGISLATIVE 03 A BRIEF SNAPSHOT FROM SACRAMENTO 27 HIT PAUSE FOR CALIFORNIA BUSINESSES

CHECK THE WEBSITE! www.bayareasmacna.org Stay up to date on the latest news, events and classes. Access the member directory, webinars, internships, scholarships and safety training opportunities. Plus, catch up on past issues of The Cutting Edge!

ASSOCIATION NEWS | Updates from Duane Davies

PRESIDENT’S REMARKS

Since taking on the role as president of Bay Area SMACNA, I’ve had the privilege of spending quality time with our association’s leadership. One of our top priorities for 2024 is to recognize and cultivate emerging leaders within our organizations. With the construction industry set to undergo significant changes due to retirements in the next 5-10 years, it is our responsibility to ensure that we have a plan in place to fill the potential expertise gap. By developing emerging leaders, we can ensure that our association and member businesses are well-equipped to handle whatever the future holds.

Duane Davies PRESIDENT

duaned@nabco.biz Tel: 510-623-7000

We’re also pleased to announce that Bay Area SMACNA and Local 104 have an updated SFUA that incorporates all existing MOUs into a comprehensive document. This initiative has been long overdue, with the last update published 16 years ago. Members can expect to receive the new document in the coming months.

As we bring this year to a close, I want to express my gratitude to Keith Atteberry, the immediate past president, for his exceptional leadership. His contributions were recognized and celebrated during our annual dinner and installation of officers in November. I am honored to take on the role of president and continue to work with our association’s leadership to move Bay Area SMACNA forward and grow together as an industry leader among our peers.

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LEGISLATIVE UPDATE | General Update

A BRIEF SNAPSHOT FROM SACRAMENTO CAL SMACNA’s advocacy staff and Legislative Committee (including Bay Area members Mike Pence, Lisa Tuck, Duane Davies, Mitch Hoppe and Sean O’Donoghue) worked hard during the 2023-2024 legislative session to protect and improve conditions for signatory contractors in the sheet metal industry.

In addition to the various bills and regulations, the committee

just about comfort anymore; it’s about health and safety in our

worked to increase awareness of ventilation and IAQ needs

buildings. On the heels of California adopting this program,

in public schools, the need for new statewide school facility

the federal government has provided billions in subsidies and

bonds and why additional employer mandates on businesses

tax credits for HVAC ventilation system nationwide.

in California are harmful.

A shout out to SMACNA, who has helped tremendously with lobbying of the 117th Congress and White House to

CAL SMACNA continued its work with SMART and the CA

generously fund these programs, as well as elevating public

Energy Commission on the implementation of the AB 841

awareness of the IAQ problem in modern buildings through

CalSHAPE program to assess ventilation, improve filtration

WeAreWhatWeBreathe.com.

and install C02 monitors in K-12 schools. The funding for this ventilation assessment program has now grown to over $900M

Several of our high priority bills were “Held for Consideration

and is available only to those contractors who employ TABB

in 2024,” necessitating our continued vigilance in the coming

and MATT certified technicians along with a skilled and trained

year. We are pleased, however, that the Governor used his

workforce for modifications, replacement and/or repairs.

veto power on anti-employer bills that made it to his desk in 2023.

The Legislature and Governor approved of this HVAC-specific program because of the increasing awareness that HVAC isn’t

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KEY CALIFORNIA BILLS DURING 2023 AB 247: Transitional Kindergarten Through Community College Public Education Facilities Bond Act of 2024 This measure places a $14B school facility bond before the state’s voters, to be used to construct and modernize our schools and community colleges, including HVAC and ventilation.

POSITION: Support | STATUS: Held for consideration in 2024 AB 377: California Career Technical Education Incentive Grant Program: Strong Workforce Program

ASSOCIATION | Bay Area SMACNA

TENANT SPACE AVAILABLE

This measure increases the annual grants for high-quality CTE

Now that our new offices are complete, the warehouse

programs from $300M to $450M beginning in FY 2024-25.

tenant space is ready to be leased! Take advantage of our

POSITION: Support | STATUS: Held for consideration in 2024

build-to-suit option with a Tenant Improvement (TI) budget.

AB 524: Discrimination: Family Caregiver Status

two entry doors, two bathrooms, a loading bay and janitor’s

This bill would prohibit employment discrimination on account

At just $1.70 per square foot, this is a steal! Space includes closet with sink.

of family caregiver status as a civil right, making it more difficult for CA employers to manage shifts and dramatically increasing litigation costs.

POSITION: Opposed | STATUS: Vetoed SB 795: Energy: Electronic Statewide Compliance Documentation Data Repository This bill would have improved building documentation and code enforcement through a statewide registry.

POSITION: Support | STATUS: Held for consideration in 2024 SB 799: Unemployment insurance: Eligibility For Benefits This measure would have allowed striking workers to collect unemployment after striking for two weeks, increasing costs disproportionately on signatory contractors.

POSITION: Opposed | STATUS: Vetoed SB 830: Public Works: Prevailing Wages On Offsite Duct Fabrication This measure requires all non-standard duct manufactured offsite for public works to be completed under prevailing wages. CAL SMACNA had concerns about enforcement and documentation.

POSITION: Opposed | STATUS: Held for consideration in 2024

?

QUESTIONS? Email Sean O’Donoghue at sodonoghue@bayareasmacna.org.

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ASSOCIATE MEMBER | Rhumbix

RHUMBIX:

MADE FOR THOSE WHO BUILD

“There had to be a better way to create and work with realtime data,” Scheel said.

Scheel and his co-founder, fellow Navy Veteran Drew DeWalt, began developing solutions they wished they’d had while working in the field, all designed to help make work safer and more productive. Rhumbix officially launched in 2014 and today, the company is an industry leader in labor and resource management. The cloud-based platform provides “a full suite of software technology to handle all field operations, including timekeeping, attendance, payroll, production tracking, change order management and analytics to assist with compliance reporting for union contractors,” Scheel said.

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Since its inception, the Rhumbix Platform has been deployed on more than 730,000 projects, including San Francisco’s Salesforce Tower and Transbay Terminal, and the MSG Sphere in Las Vegas. Clients consistently report a 50-85% time savings on administrative efficiencies, and 10-20% increase in recovery rate for work tracked on a time and materials basis using Rhumbix. Rhumbix customers have also seen data accuracy increase by as much as 90%.

“We understand a lot of people are in different stages of their digital transformation journey, and our analytics suite allows them to get value out of the data collected across different projects and different owners so they can benchmark internally and begin to automate insights,” Scheel said.

“Analytics helps them go from a reactive way of managing projects to more proactive.”

“

Technology drives change and change is hard. We say the best tool is the one your team will actually use ...

ZACH SCHEEL CEO

“

The idea for Rhumbix was ignited more than a decade ago, sparked by a multi-billiondollar project at a Chilean copper mine.

Navy Veteran Zach Scheel was tasked with tracking and reporting the labor hours and production metrics for more than 7,000 craftworkers running 24-hour shifts and using paper timecards. It was complex and inefficient, with little to no actionable insights to show for it.

The construction industry is notoriously late to the game when it comes to technology. However, Scheel sees successful companies handle it by implementing processes for change management and including everyone on the team from the top down. Enter the Rhumbix commitment of delivering value to “workers first” — one of the company’s core values — because empowering the field with solutions that work ultimately benefits the organization as a whole.

“Technology drives change, and change is hard,” Scheel said.

“We say the best tool is the one your team will actually use, and the bar for usability is consumer mobile apps, such as Uber or DoorDash. If it’s not as easy and usable as ordering a pizza, it’s not going to be used. Usability in the field and office is something that really differentiates Rhumbix from other solutions in the market.”

Even as Rhumbix continues to streamline construction workflows, Scheel is always looking to improve the platform and bring more solutions to the industry — and Bay Area SMACNA members.

“We love meeting folks who are potential customers because it’s a great way to get feedback from the people representing the voice of the industry,” Scheel said. “What are the biggest things they struggle with from a software perspective? What features and functionality do they want to prioritize? We’re not going to solve their problems by sitting in our offices!”

Rhumbix is excited to celebrate the company’s 10-year anniversary next March.

“It’s a pretty big milestone for a startup,” Scheel said.

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APPRENTICES | Contractor Orientations

CONTRACTOR ORIENTATIONS:

FOR APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS

Contractor orientations are held at various times throughout the year at our local Joint Apprenticeship Training Centers (JATC), facilitated by Bay Area SMACNA contractors. In these sessions, contractors share valuable industry insights and guidance on what they look for in a successful apprentice. They also provide an opportunity for apprentices to get to know the local contractors and ask any questions they may have about the industry.

The most captivating component is the personal stories shared by contractors. Hearing about their experiences of where they started to where they are now is both inspiring and motivating. These stories emphasize that with hard work and commitment, anyone can achieve their goals.

In our last two orientations, we heard Paul Irwin’s story.

After his apprenticeship, he started at Bell Products as an estimator in 1982 and later went on to become an owner.

He said what he loves most about working at Bell is it’s more than just a job, it’s a family.

“If you don’t love it, you shouldn’t be here” was the sentiment from Duane Davies’ story. He found something he loved and went from hands-on training in the field to being the President of National Air Balance Company.

These two stories and the insights into what contractors are looking for in apprentices highlight the importance of taking pride and finding passion in your work. Committing to it can lead to a sense of fulfillment and ultimate success in your career.

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THANK YOU CONTRACTORS Thank you to all our contractor representatives who have presented during contractor orientations this year!

KEVIN BURLEIGH, NABCO SCOTT CARSTAIRS, Therma DUANE DAVIES, NABCO JEREMY DAY, Silicon Valley Mechanical PAUL IRWIN, Bell Products CARL KOOS, Marina Mechanical If you are interested in presenting at one of our future contractor orientations, please contact Kathy de Jong at kdejong@bayareasmacna.org.

SAVE THE DATE MAR

16

MARCH 16

The Apprentice Turnout Celebration for classes of 2020, 2021 and 2022 Alameda County Fairgrounds Pleasanton, California

SAFETY | Seminar Recap

CAL SMACNA

SAFETY SEMINAR The CAL SMACNA Safety Seminar was held in the new Bay Area SMACNA training room on September 21, and we were excited to have more than 20 of our local contractors participate.

Attending these free safety seminars can greatly benefit your company by keeping you informed and prepared for upcoming safety regulations. With Cal/OSHA rule changes pending for Indoor Heat Illness and Lead, it’s important to be one step ahead and ensure your company is ready for the impact these changes may bring. In addition to learning about the latest from Cal/OSHA and hot safety topics, this seminar emphasized the importance of being confined space compliant and having an updated IIPP for your company. CAL SMACNA members have access to a model IIPP and Safety Manual, updated annually and available at no charge.

The seminar was presented by CAL SMACNA’s Safety Consultant, Steve Bowers, CSP, CIT, President of Global Safety Management Consultants. Steve has more than 30 years’ experience in the Environmental, Health & Safety (EH&S) field in the high-risk petrochemical, semiconductor and construction industries. In addition to numerous safetyrelated certifications and professional memberships, he is an instructor for OSHA Construction 30/10 Hour, NFPA 70E, EM385-1-1 and has certifications for Hazardous Materials/ Waste Management, Emergency Response/Incident Commander and Industrial Fire Fighting.

EVENT | April 3-6

CAL SMACNA’S 58TH ANNUAL CONVENTION Expand your professional and personal network during CAL SMACNA’s 58th Annual Convention, set for April 3-6, 2024. Experience the timeless craftsman charm of The Lodge at Torrey Pines, the venue for this year’s event.

Attendees will have the opportunity to participate in educational workshops, hear from inspiring speakers and take part in the annual business meeting, where we’ll discuss top priorities for our organization in the coming year and beyond. Don’t miss out on this exciting opportunity!

Registration is open now. Check your email for information or scan the QR code below.

APR

3

APR

6

APRIL 3-6

The Lodge Torrey Pines La Jolla, California

REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN Scan the QR code for details and registration information. https://bit.ly/smacna-annual-convention

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EVENT RECAP | October 7

SPORTING CLAYS OUTING 2023 SPORTING CLAY WINNERS 1ST

Western Allied Mechanical Pat Brill James Kastelic Randy Freitas Julian Hole

2ND

Fairview Heating & Air Robert Conner Ryan Fithian Bradley Conner Joe Poupore

3RD

Dowdle & Sons Mechanical Andrew Dowdle Doug Chew Justin Dowdle Steve Barloggi

We were thrilled to see so many of our Bay Area SMACNA members come out for our annual Sporting Clays event on October 7 at the Bird’s Landing Hunting Preserve. The day was filled with friendly competition between teams as they aimed for first place belt buckles.

After a morning of sporting clays, everyone gathered for an amazing BBQ lunch and raffle prize drawings. Congratulations to all the winners! We hope everyone had a great time and we can’t wait to see you all again at our next event. Thank you to all who participated and contributed to making this event a success.

Duck and Cover:

Mark Oden

High Overall Shooter:

Greg Dondono

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MEMBER HIGHLIGHT | ICOM Mechanical, Inc.

ICOM: 40+ YEARS OF CLIENT-FOCUSED HVAC SOLUTIONS What’s in a name? At ICOM Mechanical Inc., the company’s name literally says it all; it stands for Industrial/Commercial.

According to President and CEO Vijay Singh, founder Don Isaacson began ICOM as a small service company in 1981. Built on a foundation of providing quality service to clients, ICOM’s reputation grew, along with their portfolio of services. Today, ICOM is one of the leading mechanical contractors in San Jose, providing HVAC, process piping, cleanroom, design/build, LEED design, control solutions and other services across a variety of markets.

“I can’t get enough of it, that’s the problem. I can never retire,” Singh said with a laugh. “If I didn’t love this, I wouldn’t be in this industry for this long. I get up every morning and get so much energy just thinking about what I have to do today, tomorrow, this week. In our industry, the unique thing about it is that it provides you plenty of opportunity to challenge yourself.”

“The core value, the DNA of ICOM, is to serve the client,” Singh said. “It’s that commitment to the client and the passion to serve them — whatever they need, from full designs to repairs — that allows us to continue serving clients who have been with us since day one. We give equal value to the small needs and to the bigger needs.”

The core value, the DNA of ICOM, is to serve the client It’s that commitment to the client and the passion to serve them — whatever they need, from full designs to repairs — that allows us to continue serving clients who have been with us since day one.

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VIJAY SINGH

President & CEO of ICOM

“

With Singh at the helm of ICOM, you’d be hard-pressed to find someone more enthusiastic and passionate about the possibilities in the construction industry.

“

The pandemic years brought a new set of challenges to even the most prepared in the building trades and mechanical contracting industry. But Singh and his ICOM team rose to the occasion, pulling off a multi-million-dollar, multi-phase R&D facility with an aggressive timeline. Their success resulted in retaining the customer as a service client.

“Because of COVID, you couldn’t provide the manpower to finish a job, so projects were getting delayed, which would keep adding costs,” Singh said. “It was difficult. You don’t plan to have situations like that, and finding a balance to finish a

project without adding extra cost to the client was difficult.”

Today, ICOM customers run the gamut from leaders in healthcare, data streaming and global security, to educational facilities and entertainment venues. Recently, the company performed both HVAC and plumbing design/build for the multi-million-dollar San Jose State Spartan Athletics Center.

Project completion was a milestone achievement to the school’s goal of building a sustainable championship-level program in the Mountain West and nationally.

Google Alta is another project that Singh was excited for his team to be part of. In the short-term, the four-story building in Mountain View serves as a 1,294-space parking structure.

However, it was intentionally designed with the flexibility to repurpose the facility into an office building. ICOM’s scope of work included all plumbing and HVAC design-build and installation.

According to Singh, ICOM has been a member of Bay Area SMACNA since 1982 — just one year after the company was founded. Now on the Board of Directors, Singh’s nearly three

decades of expertise is instrumental in the development of the association’s overall strategic vision.

“In some sense, the members are competitors,” he said. “But when we meet, we meet as one group and talk about the well-being of all members. The intent of the relationship as it was established is a win-win for everybody.”

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RECAP | WIC Event

WOMEN’S SUMMIT Get on the WIC list and stay up-to-date! Email contact@wicbayarea.org and tell your colleagues, male and female!

You can also follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

This year’s SMACNA Women in Construction Annual Summit was a great success, with more than 1/3 of the women from the Bay Area SMACNA Chapter in attendance. The event is dedicated to fostering women’s leadership and career development in the construction industry.

“We enjoyed the San Diego sun and great leadership tactics during our day together,” said Carna Phillips, SHRM-CP, WIC Executive Board Member.

THANK YOU TO OUR 2023 WIC SPONSORS COPPER SPONSORS

STAINLESS SPONSORS

INTERESTED IN BECOMING A WIC SPONSOR? Email: contact@wicbayarea.org

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ALUMINUM SPONSORS

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MECHANICAL • ELECTRICAL • PLUMBING • SHEET METAL • PROCESS PIPING • BUILDING AUTOMATION • FACILITIES SERVICES

What Can We Do For You?

800.829.1666

airsystemsinc.com

940 Remillard Ct., San Jose, CA 95122

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EVENT RECAP | October 15-18

2023 SMACNA ANNUAL CONVENTION The 2023 SMACNA Annual Convention — held in Phoenix, Arizona, at the JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge — offered a chance for members, chapter executives and associate members to network, learn about industry trends and discuss business topics with leading providers and manufacturers.

During the annual business meeting, safety awards were

in the HVAC industry, as well as updates on regulatory

presented, Paul Irwin was elected to the National Board

changes. Attendees gained valuable insights and knowledge

and Randy Attaway received an award as an outgoing

from these sessions, which they could take back to their

Board member for all his years of service. Our new National

respective companies and implement in their work.

president, Carol Duncan, highlighted her vision for the upcoming year and covered various topics, including

Overall, the SMACNA Annual Convention was a huge

workforce needs, expanding educational programs,

success, providing a platform for members to connect, learn

improving website accessibility, engaging more members

and have fun. We look forward to next year’s convention in

and building stronger Chapters. She also emphasized the

Palm Desert, California!

importance of innovation, technology, marketing and communication, as well as the need to recruit and retain new tradespeople.

Our Bay Area SMACNA Chapter Night was held at The Vault of Scottsdale, which houses a collection of rare vehicles for car enthusiasts. Our members had a great time perusing and learning about these vehicles. The event also provided an excellent opportunity for our contractor and associate members to network and get to know each other better.

The convention featured several educational sessions, including presentations on the latest technologies and tools

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Randy Attaway was recognized as an outgoing Board member.

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EVENT RECAP | September 18

2023 BOARD GETAWAY On September 18, we held our annual Board Getaway at the beautiful Bernardus Lodge & Spa in Carmel Valley. The meeting began with Chris Walker giving an update on current legislation proposals, including climate changes, raising the number of sick days per year and lead thresholds. He also discussed the Pause Pledge, an initiative to help California business owners by encouraging legislators and the Governor to hit the pause button on new employer mandates.

Visit www.thepausepledge.com to learn more about current bills and their impact on California businesses.

Throughout the day, members engaged in productive discussions on various topics affecting our organization. Reports were given on finances, the training trust and PAGA. Overall, it was a highly successful and informative event, and we look forward to next year’s Board Getaway.

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Our annual Board Getaway allows contractors to step away from their day-to-day operations and devote a significant amount of time exclusively towards the betterment of the Bay Area sheet-metal industry and our association.

SEAN O’DONOGHUE

Executive Vice President of Bay Area SMACNA

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EVENT RECAP | October 11

ANNUAL DINNER BRINGS 100+ MEMBERS TOGETHER The Bay Area SMACNA’s Annual Dinner and Officer Installation is a highly anticipated occasion among the members of our organization. We had a great turnout this year, with more than 100 contractor and associate members in attendance. The event was held at the Meritage Resort and Spa in Napa, which offered a refreshing change from the traditional venue in San Francisco.

The evening began with a warm welcome from Sean O’Donoghue, Executive Vice President of Bay Area SMACNA. He introduced outgoing President Keith Atteberry, who shared the organization’s achievements from this past year. He also expressed gratitude to the Bay Area staff for their support. Todd Hill, SMACNA National Secretary-Treasurer, then took the stage to share SMACNA’s accomplishments and goals for the future.

Buckley, in recognition for his outstanding leadership and contributions to the sheet metal industry. We would also like to congratulate all incoming Board members: Sheri Learmonth, Marina Mechanical; Mike MacDonald, North Bay Commercial Services; Jon Mohs, AGC, Inc.; Jessica Pact, Martinez Mechanical Sheet Metal; and Scott Peterson, Peterson Mechanical. We are excited to add their experience to our Board and work with them in the coming year!

The highlight of the evening was the introduction of 2024 Bay Area President Duane Davies. He shared his vision for the organization in the upcoming year and encouraged members to inspire the younger generation to get involved.

He then presented the 2023 Lonnie Michael III Achievement Award to Rich Buckley, President of Anderson, Rowe and

The Annual Dinner is more than an opportunity for members to network and socialize — it’s a chance to celebrate the season with colleagues and friends. We hope everyone who attended had a great time and left the event feeling inspired and rejuvenated.

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TECHNOLOGY | Industry Advancements

IMPROVING PROJECT EFFICIENCY WITH DIGITAL WORKFLOWS In today’s rapidly evolving business climate, project timelines are becoming increasingly compressed, making streamlined communication between the office, field and shop more critical than ever before. Broken or lagging communication can lead to poor productivity, high costs and a constant state of reactivity. Fortunately, technological advancements can provide a solution.

The construction technology industry is booming, with an

information can be entered into a platform to track the full job,

estimated $5.4 billion invested in 2022 alone. By leveraging

including issues, cost to complete and client billing, and can be

cloud and mobile applications, the industry is transforming

viewed on a phone or tablet.

paper-based workflows into digital workflows that foster enhanced communication, accuracy and efficiency. However,

Other technological advancements include augmented and

to be impactful, this technology needs to be quickly adopted

mixed reality, which allow models to be brought into a device

across the organization, including field and shop mechanics.

but still use the real world to ensure a proper fit. Tablets and phones are preferable to goggles or headsets

Getting data from estimators out to the field can be a challenge,

that can only be used by one person. Layout and scan to BIM

and while sheet metal is sophisticated, it’s not always well-

technology creates a 3D model of a job site and how ductwork

connected. Challenges in the industry include too many

will fit. Analytics can be used to check performance and

software applications, difficulty linking platforms and the

monitor material flow.

disruption that implementation can cause. Troubleshooting

A common data environment ensures teams have access to

is necessary to ensure that the right solution is chosen, and

critical project information, making a more proactive approach

disconnected data linked. By improving digital workflows,

possible.

organizations can enhance efficiency, labor productivity and decision-making capabilities. Technologies to digitize the

To succeed, it’s important to

workforce include mobile applications that act as a home base

partner with a company that

for managing documents, field tickets and orders. Paper forms

can support and challenge you

can become lost, but digital input can be tracked to databases,

to use technology. They should

and barcodes can be leveraged to track items such as fittings.

also be able to grow with your organization and understand

For example, the field can send items needed to the shop with

which solutions are best

all necessary information and dimensions, so that the shop

for your workflow.

can quickly fabricate them. Checklists can track testing and sign-off on items that are being commissioned. Project status

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APPRENTICES | National Apprentice Week

STUDENTS INTRODUCED TO THE TRADES The Sheet Metal Workers’ Local 104 and Bay Area Industry Fund team went full steam ahead with recruiting efforts in 2023.

Leading into National Apprenticeship Week (Nov. 14-20), JATC Outreach Coordinator Henry Funke organized more than 10 sites to host programming for 1,500+ prospective candidates from high schools, pre-apprenticeship programs and college campuses.

In keeping with this year’s theme of “skills for life,” students

Emphasizing the importance of a skilled and trained

learned of the many opportunities to continually learn and

workforce has been consistently highlighted at every board

apply their talents in the ever-evolving sheet metal, HVAC and

meeting, contractor orientation and convention this year.

construction industries. Candidates are often surprised at the

Participating in National Apprenticeship Week has been an

competitive compensation packages and region covered by the

ideal platform to promote this message to a wider audience of

Bay Area SMACNA and Local 104 District 1.

potential employees.

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LEGISLATIVE | The Pause Pledge

HIT PAUSE FOR CALIFORNIA BUSINESSES The post-COVID economy remains challenging in California and across the nation. CAL SMACNA members — both small and large — struggle with inflation, high interest rates, reduced capital, reduced manhours and legal compliance with the sheer volume of mandates on employers passed by the California Legislature and Governor Newsom in the last six years.

At the urging of our members, CAL SMACNA worked with other CA business organizations to support The Pause Pledge campaign to send letters and emails directly to the Governor and State and Assembly representatives in opposition to new employer mandates.

By the end of the year, more than 1,000 letters were sent directly to the attention of the Governor and Legislature. “Hit the Pause Button” is now well known in the Capitol and has had a beneficial impact on sensitizing policymakers to the concerns of employers.

FIND OUT MORE INFORMATION Scan the QR code for details and registration information. https://bit.ly/pause-pledge

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SHOW YOUR SUPPORT

TAKE ACTION

EVENT | February 5-6, 2024

CAL SMACNA’S 2024 DAY AT THE CAPITOL EVENT FOR MORE INFORMATION Scan the QR code for details and registration information. https://bit.ly/k2fezv

We need your help to make a difference. On Feb. 4-5, we are headed to the capitol to speak up for our cause.

Join us for a powerful and impactful day at the capitol.

Let’s work together to make a change!

Are you frustrated with politicians? Are you concerned they are out-of-touch? We need your help to make a difference.

CAL SMACNA’s 2024 Day at the Capitol will give you the opportunity to directly communicate with your own legislators and ask them to support our industry and hit the pause button on ALL new bill introductions that create additional costs and mandates on CA employers in 2024.

WELCOME! | New Contractor Member Mitch Hoppe and his wife Mitch Hoppe

NEW

CORE CONSTRUCTION BUILDERS & ASSOCIATES DOUG CHEW dchew@c2bandassociates.com

6 Crow Canyon Ct., Ste. 200 San Ramon, CA 94583 c2bandassociates.com 1-800-485-3152

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EDUCATION | Project Management Graduates

PROJECT MANAGEMENT PROGRAM We’re excited to announce a successful Project Management Program, held for the first time in our new training room!

Students representing 16 contractor member companies attended the six-week program that ran from September 26 to October 26.

This program was designed to equip students with the skills needed to successfully orchestrate people, resources and the tasks to execute projects on time and within budget.

Our experienced instructors guided students through case studies, simulations and interactive sessions to help them gain practical knowledge and hands-on experience in project

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL FALL PROJECT MANAGEMENT PROGRAM GRADUATES!

management.

Adam Kimmel

Throughout the course, students learned how to develop better relationships with internal and external customers by effectively communicating project progress, managing

Julio Manzo

Alex Anguiano

Kirk Lane

Aleya Dolorfino

Levin Atondo

Chris Scott

Long Yang

Clayton Hoagland

Matt Lee

Dan Levi

Matt Proctor

meet their needs. Additionally, students benefited from

Dave Alves

Mauricio Guevara

networking opportunities with other professionals in

Desiree Estrada

Mike Bell

the field and were given access to resources to help them

Eddie Martinez

Mitchell Berger

Eric Williams

Patrick Karleskind

Eric Larsen

Robert Hunsinger

stakeholder expectations and delivering results that

continue to develop their skills beyond the course.

We’re extremely proud of our graduates for their hard work and dedication to the program. We believe their newly acquired skills will undoubtedly benefit their organizations and help them advance in their careers.

29 | BAY AREA SMACNA Fourth Edition 2023

Franky Kaw

Sam Miyano

Jordan Bramlett

Wyatt Hattich

Joshua Dobson

THANK YOU TO OUR INSTRUCTORS

ALONG WITH VOLUNTEER PANELISTS

Chris Bennett, Kathy de Jong, Kevin Dougherty,

Bobby Bramlett (Aire Sheet Metal),

Rae Ann Inniello, Craig Kisylia, Stephane McShane,

Mike Fisher (Therma) & Stephane McShane

David Morton & Henry Nutt III

2024 BAY AREA SMACNA OFFICERS

Duane Davies

Bobby Bramlett

President

Vice President

First Vice President

NABCO

Aire Sheet Metal

Silicon Valley Mechanical

Sean Greenwood

Mark Napier Secretary

Keith Atteberry

Southland Industries

Marelich Mechanical

Treasurer Critchfield Mechanical

Brian Pyle

Past President

2024 TRUSTEES & DIRECTORS Michelle Acosta

Mitch Hoppe

Scott Peterson

Acosta Sheet Metal

Melrose Metal Products, Inc.

Peterson Mechanical, Inc.

Leonard Bertolami

Paul Irwin

Mike Pence

United Mechanical, Inc.

Bell Products, Inc.

Control Air Enterprises

Paul De Bella

Larry Jimenez

Vijay Singh

De Bella Mechanical

ACCO Engineered Systems

ICOM Mechanical, Inc.

Rich Buckley

Sheri Learmonth

Paul Steckel

Anderson, Rowe & Buckley, Inc.

Marina Mechanical, Inc.

Van-Mulder Sheet Metal, Inc.

Don Dennehy, Jr.

Sargon Michael

Bob Tuck

Crown Sheet Metal & Skylights, Inc.

Allied Heating & Air Conditioning

Atlas Heating & Air Conditioning

Chris Enfantino

Mike MacDonald

Doug Ulrich

Environmental Systems, Inc. .

North Bay Commercial Services, Inc

Burlingame Heating

Yindy Felkins

Jon Mohs

Art Williams

Western Allied Mechanical

AGC, Inc.

Air Systems, Inc.

Mike Fisher

Jessica Pacat

Therma

Martinez Sheet Metal, Inc.

BAY AREA SMACNA 6689 Owens Dr., Ste. 200 | Pleasanton, CA 94588 TEL: 510-635-8212 | FAX: 510-635-0320 www.BayAreaSMACNA.org