Troy Aichelle has spent 30 years in the mechanical construction industry, with extensive experience in office buildings, high-rise, hospitality, hospitals, casinos, and schools in both remodel and new construction environments. He is recognized as an effective team builder as well as a leader in business and sales planning, scheduling, cost-control, design, energy efficiency evaluations, constructability, value engineering, and labor productivity. Aichelle served on Mechanical Contractors Association of America (MCAA) Board of Directors, John R. Gentille Foundation (formally MCERF) Board of Trustees and as Chairman of the MCAA’s Career Development Committee overseeing more than 60 student chapters in North America and managing the annual National Student Chapter Competition.

Dr. Hanna is a professor and chair of the construction engineering and management program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. Dr. Hanna holds M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from Penn State University and he is a registered professional engineer in the U.S. and Canada. Dr. Hanna has authored over 100 refereed journal articles on construction-related topics with special emphasis on labor productivity, construction methods, cumulative impact of change, construction risk management and orders.

John Koontz has over 30 years of experience in the mechanical industry, including contracting, academics, and consulting. A former tenured associate professor at Purdue University, Koontz founded and directed Purdue’s Mechanical Construction Management Specialization Program and MCAA’s first student chapter. Additionally, Koontz has worked with MCAA contractors for 15 years in a variety of positions, including Project Engineer and Estimator, Project Manager, and Senior Project Manager. Koontz’s family heritage of long-term UA family members provides a sincere and deep-rooted pride, interest, and concern for the future success and survival of all parties involved in union mechanical construction.

Chip Mitchell is the founder and principal of Blue Fence Advisors, and a senior level executive with more than thirty years of combined business and legal experience. He also serves as a private arbitrator and mediator, and he is a panel member with the American Arbitration Association. Before he founded Blue Fence Advisors, Chip served as the General Counsel and Chief Administrative Officer of one of the largest privately held EPC trade construction companies in the country. He has been responsible for managing the company’s legal, risk management, and human resources departments, including corporate governance, compliance, contract management, bonding and insurance relationships, labor and employment issues, and dispute resolution.

Keith Rahn is an associate professor at Auburn University at the McWhorter School of Building Science. Rahn also served as an assistant professor at Illinois State University for nine years in the Construction Management Program. His classes focused on mechanical and electrical systems, project management and administration, estimating and project scheduling, and construction material and methods. In 2007, Rahn was presented the MCAA Educator of the Year Award. With 15 years of MCAA-related experience in estimating, project management, and ownership, his industry knowledge and educational background provide an unparalleled classroom experience.

Learn More About Jerry At:

https://www.electricalalliance.org/
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Starting as a Local 602 Steamfitter in the Washington D.C. region, Woody Woodall completed his apprenticeship and became an instructor for the Union Apprentice Program. Woodall is also the managing Principal of Customer Focused Solutions, Inc., an organization he founded to assist contractors, associations, and businesses achieve their strategic goals. After a long and distinguished career in the mechanical contracting industry, Woodall now focuses on education, collaboration, and operational support. His innovative approach to sales has transformed customer service teams from average to “Best in Class.”