Rich Happel

UMC’s Rich Happel Appointed to MSCA National Board of Directors

Service Group General Manager Rich Happel at University Mechanical Contractors, Inc. (UMC) has been appointed to the national board of directors for the Mechanical Service Contractors of America (MSCA). MSCA is the leading organization for HVACR contractors, providing education, marketing, and labor/management services to assure its contractor members deliver quality performance, value and expertise for all building system needs.

During Happel’s term on the MSCA board, he will collaborate to plan and execute the annual MSCA national education conference held for the purpose of accelerating professional growth and experience through exposure to game-changing technology, mechanical service business innovations, and important peer connections.

Happel has been participating in the MSCA annual education conference for more than 12 years. In 2014, Happel was appointed to the MSCA National Education Committee where he works with a team of other mechanical service providers from around the United States developing educational opportunities for the service industry. Four years ago, in Seattle, Happel was asked to chair the first-ever Service Committee for the Mechanical Contractors Association of Western Washington (MCAWW), where over the next 18 months, he and the other service committee team members developed the Mechanical Service Professionals’ (MSP) Program. The committee meets regularly to discuss topics, trends, and issues that affect the mechanical service industry in and around the Puget Sound region.

“It’s impressive the amount of trust that has developed between many of us service industry business leaders who [some of which] used to consider each other archrivals,” says Happel. “I can pick up the phone and discuss a problem with anyone in my group and know that I’m getting an honest, straight answer.”

Happel says he’s at a point in his 36-year career where looking at the big picture and giving back to the industry has become a major commitment.

“I’ve been on both sides of the fence in this industry,” he said. “With 16 years in the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) world, working with Trane and Carrier, and now as a service contractor at UMC, I really appreciate my experiences in this industry and love to share these with the next generation that will follow me.”

MSCA began in the mid-70’s as a subsidiary of the Mechanical Contractors Association of America (MCAA); there are more than 1,400 member companies across the nation.

About UMC

UMC is industry leader in the design, building, and maintenance of some of the world’s most intricate mechanical systems. With 98 years in the Seattle area, UMC has built and maintained mechanical systems for some of Seattle’s most iconic structures—the Space Needle, Benaroya Hall, Columbia Tower, and Seattle Spheres are just a few.