Meet the Nominees to SMACNA’s Board of Directors

The Director Nominating Committee has released its slate of candidates. These individuals have extensive experience in advancing SMACNA and the broader union sheet metal/HVAC sector.

Jason Hanson, Ernie J. Menold, Phil McShane, Rebecca Wiseman, Gary Luthe, Angelo Paris and Chad Bunting are this year’s candidates to serve on the SMACNA Board. Chad Bunting’s term will expire in 2027, and Gary Luthe’s term will expire in 2029.  All other nominees will serve 4-year terms.

Here’s a little more on each of these exceptional individuals and why they wish to continue serving SMACNA.

Chad Bunting

Chad Bunting is owner and President of Schoppe Co., Inc. (SCI) in Salt Lake City, Utah. SCI is a straight line sheet metal company, specializing in the fabrication and installation of HVAC systems for hospitals, schools, higher education, office buildings, and collection systems. SCI employs, on average, 40 union sheet metal workers.

Incorporated in 1878, SCI is one of the oldest construction companies in the nation. Chad graduated with a BS in Construction Management from BYU and is a third-generation owner, following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather.

Jason Hanson

Jason Hanson is the President of Dakota Metal Fabrication. Jason entered the industry in 1990, beginning as a pre-apprentice. Dakota as a company got started in 2007 and joined SAMCNA in 2013. Jason has a long history of being involved in the trades at the local level. Jason’s service includes work as a SMARCA Chapter Councilor, Secretary-Treasurer, Vice President, North Dakota JATC Trustee, and currently as President of SMARCA, which represents member contractors in Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota. At the national level, Jason has served as the Council of Chapter Representatives Chair & Vice-Chair, and as Secretary, along with spending time on the SMACNA-IFUS Accepted Industry Practice for Industrial Duct Construction Task Force. Outlining his desire to serve, Hanson said: “Serving as a director of SMACNA would let me contribute to an organization that plays an important role in advancing our industry, supporting contractor success, and strengthening the future of the trade.”

Gary Luthe

Gary Luthe is the President and CEO of Cherry Hill, NJ-based Luthe Sheet Metal. Gary entered the industry as an apprentice in 1982. In addition to running the 33-year-old SMACNA Member, Gary is deeply involved in the industry at multiple levels, with a long tradition of serving SMACNA. At the local and state level, he served in several capacities, including as Secretary, Vice-President, President (2 terms; Board Member; Industry Fund Trustee; JATC Co-Chair; JATC Trustee; Events Committee; SMIAC; Budget & Finance Committee; JAB; Negotiation Committee; Director Nominating Committee; Northeast States Council Committee. Nationally, Gary did a previous term on the National Board of Directors (2017-2021); has been a part of the Be4All committee; and served on the Director Nominating Committee. Talking about his desire to continue serving the association, “SMACNA members range in size from small specialty firms to large industrial companies, and the work that this association does to help all of them is critical.”

Philip McShane

Philip McShane is the President of metro Detroit-based McShane Mechanical Contracting. McShane entered the industry as a shop-layout apprentice, leading to him founding McShane Mechanical in 1997. At the local level, McShane has served in multiple capacities, including as President of SMACNA Detroit, Chair & Trustee of the Local 80 Pension Fund, and Trustee of Local 80 of the JATC. At the national level, McShane served on the ITI Master Committee for Competence-Based Training; the HVAC Industry Committee; and as the New Horizons representative for SMACNA Detroit. In talking about why he is looking to serve, Philip said, “There are a wide variety of members in SMACNA; it is important that they all have a voice in helping to drive this industry forward.“

Ernie J. Menold

Ernie J. Menold is the Chairman of Philadelphia SMACNA member Ernest D. Menold, Inc. Ernie started in the industry in 1985 as a Project Manager. He also got his feet wet on the floor of his family’s company during summers between High School and College. As a third-generation lead for the company, Ernie watched the company evolve beyond industrial HVAC and embrace expanded technologies to help his firm grow. Menold is no stranger to SMACNA involvement, with service on the Financial Management Task Force; the SMACNA Technical Resource Committee; as an ITI Trustee; the SMACNA Industrial Steering Committee; and as a Congressional Insider Club Member. Menold talked about his commitment to SMACNA, saying “The greatest benefit to my personal SMACNA involvement has been talking to other contractors about shared issues and best practices.”

Angelo Paris

Angelo Paris is the Owner/General Manager of British Columbia-based Apollo Sheet Metal. Paris joined the industry in 1987 as a truck driver and rose through his family’s company until he was ready to build on the legacy of Apollo’s founder, his father Tony, and assume the reins as owner and General Manager. Paris is very involved in the industry, both nationally and within British Columbia, as he serves as a member of the board of trustees for the local JATC and as a member of the board of directors for SMACNA British Columbia. Angelo believes in continuing his family’s long-time service to SMACNA, saying, “It would be an honor to represent Canada and leverage the 40 years of experience I’ve built during my time in our industry. I am excited to have the privilege to follow my father’s example and serve.”

Rebecca Wiseman

Rebecca Wiseman is the CEO of Kansas City-based PM Contracting. She got her start in the industry focused on Payroll management, Project Coordination, and billing. She is now an integral part of the leadership of her family business, focusing on business development and company operations. In the Kansas City area, Wiseman is active on boards or committees of the Sheet Metal Local #2 JATC, MOKAN Health & Welfare, SMACNA, MCA, and JDRF. In terms of National Service, Wiseman is part of the SMACNA National Education Task Force and the SMACNA National Education Resource Committee. In talking about her desire to serve, Wiseman said: “I want to serve as a director of SMACNA because I spend the majority of my time building this industry, whether it is being a part of the educational resources for all, or in the training center for the local union, or touring training centers around the country to better all of the sheet metal trade.”