Elevating Members, Workforce and Opportunities in Chicago.

As I step into my role as President of SMACNA Greater Chicago, I want to start by thanking Jeff Lukitsh for his leadership these past few years. His time leading our chapter kept us moving forward, and he leaves the board well-positioned to continue building on that momentum.

Overall, the outlook for the Chicago market is encouraging, as highlighted by our speaker during the January member meeting. Tenant work remains on the upswing, with many commercial spaces being snapped up by investors for redevelopment. Data center work is also very busy in the Midwest, and many companies within our association are already seeing real growth. The outlook for construction activity in the next few years appears favorable.

As a statistics person at heart, I’ve always enjoyed digging into numbers and seeing how everything adds up. Data can tell us a lot about where we’re headed. But numbers only matter if we help lift everyone up. In my new role, I challenge myself and the rest of the board to keep looking for long-term solutions that make sure all members (and our labor partners) are positioned to succeed.

One area we can’t afford to ignore? Recruitment. Getting students interested in the skilled trades is critical to the future of all our businesses. This industry isn’t what many people still picture from 20 or 30 years ago. Yes, the work is often physical — but it’s supported by incredible pay and benefits, and has transformed in recent years to include modern technology across all levels of the industry. Recruitment and training the workforce of tomorrow were among the key topics discussed on a national stage during the 2026 Partners in Progress Conference a few weeks ago. Continuing to share and brainstorm strategies together will help advance our industry even more, setting us up for a more solid future.

There’s always a better way to educate and open eyes to the opportunities our industry offers. I’m looking forward to having more conversations with our union and contractor members about filling the skills gap and continuing to work together to keep SMACNA Greater Chicago strong!

Tom Coonan
President, SMACNA Greater Chicago