SMACNA 2011 68th Annual Convention Day2 : Page 1

Published Pub lished by by: y: 68th Annual Convention September 27, 2011 The Broadmoor Hotel Experience... colorado springs SHEET METAL AND AIR CONDITIONING CONTRACTORS’ NATIONAL ASSOCIATION SMACNA 2011 Header.indd 2 SMACNA Southern Calif. contractor to be 2012 association president 8/10/11 10:17 AM DAILY EVENTS Tuesday 6:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. . . . . . . . . Convention registration 6:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Product show continental breakfast 6:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Product show 8:45 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. . . . . . . . . .Chapter executives session 10:30 a.m. to noon . . Business development sessions 10:45 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. . . New-technology sessions Noon to 1:30 p.m. .Spouse luncheon (Aimee Mullins) 12:15 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. . . . . . . . . . . Contractors’ lunch 2 p.m. to 2:45 p.m. . . . . . . New-technology sessions 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. . Business development sessions 3 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. . . . . . . New-technology sessions Chapter night R Wednesday 6:45 a.m. to 7:45 a.m. . . . . .Congressional Insiders Club breakfast 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. . . . . . . . . . Convention registration 8 a.m. to 8:15 a.m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SMACN IFUS contributors meeting 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. . . . . . . . . . SMACNA annual business meeting 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Labor forum 11:30 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. . . . . . . . . . President’s lunch 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. . . . . . . . . . Business development sessions 6 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. . . . . . . . . Pre-dinner reception 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dinner, show (Kool & the Gang) See you next year at: The SMACNA Convention Daily is produced by S NIPS and BNP Media. Sally Fraser, publisher and advertising sales; Michael McConnell, editor; Karen Talan, production; and Nicole Bonkoski, art direction. ichard Rivera has changed cars, Rivera acquired it in 1993. When the current homes and construction projects in Key Air was incorporated, annual revenue was about $5 million and the company only had his 36-year sheet metal career. The things that haven’t changed, nine sheet metal workers on staff. Rivera’s histor y with the company goes however, are his employer’s name, ofﬁ ce phone number and address. much farther back than just the early 1990s, He’s experienced three different area codes however. He interviewed at what was then — 213, 310 and 562 — but the business, Key c alled Key A ir C onditioning C o. Inc ., a me c hanic al con tr ac tor da t-Air Conditioning; the number; ing to 1944, after earning an and the Laurel Avenue address associate degree in HVAC and in Santa Fe Springs, Calif., have refrigeration from an Orange remained. County area community col-It’s the kind of stability that is lege, working his way through rare in sheet metal and HVAC school delivering ﬂ owers. work today. But the president Rivera was 19 years old. of Key Air will be making one He was hired June 16, 1975, major change in the next year: and like now, t he coun t r y he will take on the duties of was in a tough recession. He SMACNA president. Rivera will earned $600 a month. be spending the next year visit-He started in what he called ing association members and a “grunt” position, eventually tr ying to help them sur vive Richard Rivera working in estimating, engi-and thrive in what has been an neering, purchasing, project management, unstable industry in recent years. and in time became a vice president. “This is a very trying time for contractors,” Rivera said he especially enjoyed sales. Rivera said. “There is no question about it: The “I think the one thing that is my strongest amount of work for contractors has subsided.” That includes Key Air, which at its peak had asset is sales, to secure work,” he said. But after eight years as vice president, Key $35 million in annual revenue and 120 sheet metal workers. Major projects that bear its Air’s current owners decided to sell the com-mark include the Tom Bradley International pany. And on Jan. 21, 1993, the assets of Key Terminal renovation at Los Angeles Interna-Air Conditioning Co. were added to Key Air Con-tional Airport and NBC’s Burbank, Calif., stu-ditioning Contractors, with Rivera as owner. It was around this time that Rivera became dios. Today, revenue is around $20 million, and more active in SMACNA, working as president Rivera said he employs about 40 sheet metal of the Los Angeles chapter and eventually serving as a national director and joining the workers. Still, Rivera said his company is doing OK, group’s executive committee. The next year will see him traveling more thanks to the ability to stay away from “reck-than ever, visiting chapters throughout North less bidding” and unproﬁ table projects. America, but Rivera, who has lived in the “There is actually quite a bit of work in Southern California,” he said. “Unfortunately, Orange County area since his parents emi-grated from the Philippines in the late 1940s, there is also quite a bit of competition.” Key Air’s ofﬁ ces are located just outside Los said he is looking forward to it. “Being born and raised in Southern California, Angeles. Even with the current recession, the com-you don’t get to see too much of the country,” continued on page 3 pany is still substantially larger than when

Southern Calif.Contractor To Be 2012 Association President

RIchard Rivera has changed cars, homes and construction projects in his 36-year sheet metal career. The things that haven’t changed, however, are his employer’s name, office phone number and address.He’s experienced three different area codes — 213, 310 and 562 — but the business, Key Air Conditioning; the number; and the Laurel Avenue address in Santa Fe Springs, Calif., have remained. It’s the kind of stability that is rare in sheet metal and HVAC work today. But the president of Key Air will be making one major change in the next year: he will take on the duties of SMACNA president. Rivera will be spending the next year visiting association members and trying to help them survive and thrive in what has been an unstable industry in recent years. “This is a very trying time for contractors,” Rivera said. “There is no question about it: The amount of work for contractors has subsided.” That includes Key Air, which at its peak had $35 million in annual revenue and 120 sheet metal workers. Major projects that bear its mark include the Tom Bradley International Terminal renovation at Los Angeles International Airport and NBC’s Burbank, Calif., studios. Today, revenue is around $20 million, and Rivera said he employs about 40 sheet metal workers. Still, Rivera said his company is doing OK, thanks to the ability to stay away from “reckless bidding” and unprofitable projects. “There is actually quite a bit of work in Southern California,” he said. “Unfortunately, there is also quite a bit of competition.” Key Air’s offices are located just outside Los Angeles. Even with the current recession, the company is still substantially larger than when Rivera acquired it in 1993. When the current Key Air was incorporated, annual revenue was about $5 million and the company only had nine sheet metal workers on staff. Rivera’s history with the company goes much farther back than just the early 1990s, however. He interviewed at what was then called Key Air Conditioning Co. Inc., a mechanical contractor dating to 1944, after earning an associate degree in HVAC and refrigeration from an Orange County area community college, working his way through school delivering flowers. Rivera was 19 years old. He was hired June 16, 1975, and like now, the country was in a tough recession. He earned $600 a month. He started in what he called a “grunt” position, eventually working in estimating, engineering, purchasing, project management, and in time became a vice president. Rivera said he especially enjoyed sales. “I think the one thing that is my strongest asset is sales, to secure work,” he said. But after eight years as vice president, Key Air’s current owners decided to sell the company.And on Jan. 21, 1993, the assets of Key Air Conditioning Co. Were added to Key Air Conditioning Contractors, with Rivera as owner. It was around this time that Rivera became more active in SMACNA, working as president of the Los Angeles chapter and eventually serving as a national director and joining the group’s executive committee. The next year will see him traveling more than ever, visiting chapters throughout North America, but Rivera, who has lived in the Orange County area since his parents emigrated from the Philippines in the late 1940s, said he is looking forward to it. “Being born and raised in Southern California, you don’t get to see too much of the country,” He said. “It’s exciting to see other parts of the country and how our sheet metal industry is very similar coast to coast.” Rivera said he is hoping to boost the profile of SMACNA contractors.His goals for the coming year are: More members and more engaged members. “Hopefully, SMACNA’s recent introduction on Facebook and other social media will boost our level of engagement, particularly among younger members so they appreciate the services a large association such as SMACNA can provide,” he said.

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