Clear the Air

Seth Lennon is joined by Jen Clark (General Sheet Metal) and Brandon Patterson (Plan Group) for this episode of Clear the Air. The panel takes a moment to discuss educational opportunities available to SMACNA members and how attending these sessions has positively impacted their professional journeys. 

Seth Lennon is joined by our residential committee panel, Paul Heimann (Welsch), Tom Mascari (Mendel), and Rob Schimmelpfennig (HAVE) to talk about the customer experience. The panel talks about some techniques for bringing new customers into the fold, but also how critical a commitment to service and integrity is for maintaining those relationships. 

On the latest episode of Clear the Air, Seth is joined by Matthew Cole of Wing's Testing and Balancing and Rallin Harris of Energy Balance and Integration. The panel goes into detail about where TAB stands six years after the COVID-19 pandemic, some of the core tenets of the business, and what SMACNA contractors considering adding this service to their business model need to know before starting. 

In the latest chapter of our Emerging Leaders Series, Garrett Montrone of Western Sheet Metal talks about his sheet metal industry journey. Garrett talks about his time working in technology at Goldman Sachs and how he ended up returning to the family business, applying many of the lessons learned to the operations of Western. 

In this edition of SMACNA’s podcast series on Emerging Leaders, Ernie Menold, President of Ernest D. Menold, Inc., shares his career path in the sheet metal world. He talks with host Seth Lennon about his early role in the trade, his decision to pursue a different career path, and why he returned to sheet metal. 

In this chapter of SMACNA’s Emerging Leaders series, Devon Madon of Madon Sheet Metal reveals her inspiring path from academia to entrepreneurship, showing how her time in a family business gave her the skills and confidence to launch her own family-run sheet metal company.

Jennifer Lohr from Fisher Balancing and Gina Medel of the Penn Air Group join Seth Lennon to talk about Fire/Life Safety. The panel not only details the importance of this space in several of our critical business lines, but also talk about the importance of inspections and why there needs to be a renewed focus on enforcement. 

Cameron Page, CEO of SMACNA Silver Associate Member Clearstory Technologies, joins Seth for this episode. During the discussion, Cameron talks about how his experience as a general contractor and the challenges surrounding change orders led him to found Clearstory, and he outlines how his firm's product offerings can help SMACNA contractors navigate one of the most challenging aspects of their business. 

Megan Pope, Executive Vice President of Sheet Metal & Roofing Contractors Association of the Miami Valley, Ohio, joins Seth for this episode. Megan talks about how being an association professional is "in the family," some of the challenges and opportunities that she's discovered during her professional journey. She also provides some words of wisdom for her fellow SMACNA Chapter Executives. 

This special edition of Clear the Air features a discussion between SMACNA President Tom Martin and SMART General President Mike Coleman. The two discussed their relationship from their time together in Cleveland and throughout their rise through the national ranks of their respective organizations. The conversation also focused on their mutual priorities and the need to collaborate. 

Felipe Raats of SMACNA Brasil join Seth for a comprehensive discussion of the state of the industry in Brazil and how SMACNA plays a huge part in elevating the space. The discussion examines several critical topics, including how healthcare is becoming a dominant business line for contractors in the country. 

For the latest episode, Seth is joined by Austin Keating, the editor of SNIPS News. Seth and Austin talk about what the tariffs could mean for the entire industry, as well as examining some of the other critical topics throughout the space and what stakeholders need to know about whats to come. 

SMACNA's own Denise Murphy McGraw joins Seth to discuss the upcoming CEA National Issues Conference in Washington, DC. The two talk about the value of attending this top-tier event, detail some of the issues that will be front and center during the conference, and preview a little bit about the program itself. 

SMACNA's own Travis Voss joins Seth to discuss the 2025 Fab Forum. The event, being held in Boston and featuring local contractor McCusker-Gill, is an opportunity for SMACNA contractors to learn more about some of the emerging fabrication technologies and best practices. Seth and Travis also discuss some of the trends that will be detailed during the educational sessions at the Fab Forum! 

For a special edition of Clear the Air, Seth Lennon is joined by a special panel (Tom Mascari, Rob Schimmelpfennig, and Rob Wentzel) featuring some of SMACNA's top residential contractors. This discussion focuses on the current state of the residential sector; some current challenges contractors face, and some opportunities that could be had by engaging in the space. 

From the floor of the AHR Expo in Orlando, FL, Seth Lennon is joined by Edson Alves Junior of Brazilian SMACNA Contractor Star Center. Seth and Edson discuss why being a part of SMACNA is so critical for Brazilian contractors while also discussing some of the particulars of the Brazilian marketplace and how it compares to North America. 

SMACNA President Tom Martin joins Seth Lennon on the floor at the AHR Expo in Orlando, Florida. Tom takes a moment to reflect on the early portion of his term, his goals for the association and the benefit of SMACNA being a presence at industry events such as the AHR Expo. 

Seth Lennon is joined by SMACNA CEO Aaron Hilger to discuss the evolving tariffs on steel and aluminum currently under consideration by the Trump Administration and details what contractors should know about their impact and what the future holds.