MEET THE BOARD MEET THE BOARD: MICHAEL REED Michael Reed is vice-president/branch manager of Limbach’s Southern California branch in Seal Beach, California. Limbach is a full-service HVAC contractor completing sheeting and piping fabrication and installation on commercial and institutional projects. Reed moved to Southern California in February of 2019, having been a New York City SMACNA member for five years and serving as a trustee on the Joint Labor Management Board. Reed may be new to Southern California, but he is a veteran in sheet metal, recently celebrating 31 years in the industry. “My father was a sheet metal worker, and his uncle owned a business so there are three generations in the industry,” Reed says. “I started as a union sheet metal worker and have been able to grow my career, having worked in almost every facet of the industry.” Reed completed an apprenticeship, worked as a foreman, then went on to CAD operation before transitioning into project management and executive level positions. “Sheet metal is all I have known and something I am passionate about,” he says. “Our industry is unique because in sheet metal we are working with raw materials and creating something new. I like the creativity in that.” When it comes to a mantra for success, a positive mindset can make all the difference. “I feel like it comes down to work ethic in this industry,” Reed says. “You have good days and bad days, but success comes from showing up with a positive state of mind.” The sheet metal industry has faced many changes over years, and above all technology has been its most important change... and challenge. “Everything is a crunch,” Reed says. “There is no time to take a breath. There are tight project expectations on scheduling, timing, and labor, and technology is a big part of that. Everyone is constantly available, they expect a reply to an email in 30 seconds, and that you have your phone at the ready.” The sheet metal industry is positioned to create an important opportunity for itself—attracting the next generation workforce, which is essential to ensuring the industry lives on into the future.
“We need to go out and find the right talent and be smart about it,” he says. “That might mean visiting vocational schools or high schools to show students what we do and to introduce them to our trade.” Limbach is bringing high school students into each of its branches to complete internships over the summer, and the objective is walking them through what the sheet metal industry is like. “In the future, we will be missing people at the field level,” Reed says. “There are a lot of talented people out there who don’t know what sheet metal is, and it is up to us to promote it, especially as a SMACNA-union joint venture.” Recruitment is just one way SMACNA fills an important role in the sheet metal industry to support contractors and raise the bar on industry standards. “We have smaller companies that rely on SMACNA to negotiate for them and to discuss and decide on best practices,” Reed says. “SMACNA is an advocate for contractors, providing them the resources and support to fight for themselves.” During his two-year term, Reed hopes to initiate lunch and learns between SMACNA members and the engineering community. These events bring the parties together to discuss the advantages of using signatory contractors, how ductwork is fabricated and installed, and the advantages of using SMACNA-specific specifications. “This would create opportunities to talk about how SMACNA can help the engineering community, teach them SMACNA philosophies on specifications and best practices, and maybe achieve some specification and tolerance changes that will help us be more successful in the future,” Reed says. ▪
PUBLISHER / EDITOR
Industry Reporter
SUMMER 2021
Jessica Kirby Direct: 250.816.3671 jessica.kirby@pointonemedia.com
CREATIVES Lara Perraton 877.755.2762 lperraton@pointonemedia.com
CONTRIBUTORS
Superior Duct Fabrication Women in Construction: Gina Medel
Natalie Bruckner Robin Brunet Hector Vargas
COVER PHOTO Courtesy of GES Sheet Metal, Inc.
While information contained in this publication has been compiled from sources deemed to be reliable, the publisher may not be held liable for omissions or errors. Contents ©2021 by Point One Media Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or duplicated without prior written permission from the publisher. Printed in the USA. Postage paid at La Verne, California. To update or cancel subscriptions please call 1.877.755.2762 or email circulations@pointonemedia.com
Summer 2021
3
