Pittsburg State University students learned about careers in mechanical contracting during a recent meeting hosted by the Mechanical Contractors Association student chapter.
Martin Mechanical representatives visited campus on Feb. 12 at Crossland Technology Center to speak with students about the mechanical contracting industry, internship opportunities, and the differences between mechanical and general contracting.
Seth Rogers, general manager and senior estimator at Martin Mechanical, said the company came to Pittsburg State to share insight into the day-to-day work of mechanical contractors.
“We came down here today to give an insight on what we do day-to-day as mechanical contractor and just the differences in different opportunities between mechanical contractor versus general contractor,” Rogers said.
Rogers said Martin Mechanical is looking to hire one or two interns this summer, depending on student qualifications. He said internships allow students to gain experience in estimating, project management and design work.
“You basically get the opportunity to learn the full-fledged part of project management estimation,” Rogers said. “Getting to see that day-to-day, and some design engineering, some drawing, a little bit of 3D modeling.”
Jim Rogers, president of Martin Mechanical, encouraged students to explore the range of opportunities available in the trades and contracting field.
“The world’s a wide-open place right now,” Jim Rogers said. “There’s a lot of opportunity.”
Jim Rogers said success in the industry depends on personal effort and willingness to pursue opportunities.
“I think the only thing that would hold them back is themselves,” he said.
The event was supported by the Mechanical Contractors Association of Kansas City, which works with student chapters and contractors across the region.
Kathleen Livingston, outreach manager with the Mechanical Contractors Association of Kansas City, said Pittsburg State hosts a local MCA student chapter that meets regularly.
“There is a local student chapter for Pittsburg State, and they host monthly meetings,” Livingston said.
Livingston said the chapter helps connect students with professionals in the mechanical contracting industry.
Bergen Souder, a junior at Pittsburg State studying construction management, said the meetings give students a chance to learn directly from companies working in the field.
“The goal of the meetings is that we have companies come and talk to us to show what the companies are about,” Souder said.
Souder said Martin Mechanical’s visit provided students with another perspective on career options in construction.
“They’ve been in business for almost 100 years, and they know what they’re talking about,” he said.
Brooks Scheelk, president of the PSU Mechanical Contractors Association student chapter, said members also participate in a national MCA project that gives students experience with proposal and estimating work.
“We make a proposal for this year and do our own estimate, our own schedule, create our own company,” Scheelk said. “It’s a whole semester-long process and it really teaches people a lot about creating proposals and becoming a mechanical contractor.”
Scheelk said the student chapter invites guest speakers each semester to introduce students to careers within mechanical contracting.
“Mechanical contracting flies under the radar, and we just want to expose it to everyone,” he said.