SMACNA Greater Chicago

What SMACNA Greater Chicago does

SMACNA Greater Chicago is a regional chapter of the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors' National Association (SMACNA) operating as a nonprofit trade association headquartered in Bellwood, Illinois. It serves sheet metal and HVAC contractors across the Greater Chicago metropolitan area, spanning specialties including industrial, HVAC, custom fabrication, architectural, residential, kitchen ventilation, siding/decking, and testing/balancing. The association's core offerings include member advocacy, labor-management collaboration with SMART Local 265, education and safety training programs (including ClickSafety online training and a virtual classroom series), a searchable contractor directory, the quarterly Metal Press newsletter, and a mobile app on iOS and Android. Membership dues form the primary recurring revenue stream, supplemented by event registration and sponsorship income from activities such as the annual golf outing ($400-$1,000 sponsorship tiers), summer outing, holiday dinner, and SMACNAPALOOZA industry nights.

The organization maintains a tightly integrated labor-management partnership with SMART Local 265, codified in a four-year collective bargaining agreement (June 2024 to May 31, 2028) and a Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee program with 218 apprentices currently enrolled. Local 265 recently relocated to an upgraded Downers Grove training facility equipped with laser welding booths and computer labs, and holds TABB certification and Platinum-level accreditation from the International Training Institute. The chapter is governed by an elected board led by President Tom Coonan (effective December 2025), Executive Vice President Tony Adolfs, Vice President Mike Suggs, and Secretary Treasurer Mike Catanzaro, with active engagement programs including the YES (Young Executives) group for emerging leaders and the annual Partners in Progress Conference. Recent technology investments include the 2024-launched SMACNA Greater Chicago mobile app and the 2025 redesigned SMACNA Portal for member management, company roster administration, and online payments.

Name

SMACNA Greater Chicago

Legal name

SMACNA Greater Chicago

Website

https://smacnagreaterchicago.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

SMACNA Greater Chicago is a nonprofit regional chapter of SMACNA providing advocacy, labor-management collaboration, education, and safety resources to sheet metal and HVAC contractor members across the nine-county Greater Chicago area.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Bellwood

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Revenue from contractor membership dues that fund association operations, legislative efforts, and member services including education, networking, and labor-management initiatives.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

SMACNA Greater Chicago is a regional trade association chapter that provides sheet metal and HVAC contractors with legislative advocacy, labor-management collaboration with SMART Local 265, networking events, education and training programs, safety resources, and a quarterly Metal Press newsletter. Membership-based services are delivered through a member portal, mobile app, and in-person events covering the Greater Chicago metropolitan area.

Product overview

SMACNA Greater Chicago is a trade association for sheet metal and air conditioning contractors offering a portfolio of member services including a mobile app, online member portal, quarterly Metal Press newsletter, contractor directory, education/training programs, and safety resources. The core offerings are the SMACNA Portal for member management and the SMACNA Greater Chicago App for mobile access to news, directory, calendar, and safety information. Education services include classroom and online training through ClickSafety and virtual classroom programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Metal Press: The quarterly newsletter of SMACNA Greater Chicago, keeping members informed on association and industry happenings.
• YES (Young Executives of SMACNA)

Products and services

• SMACNA Greater Chicago App A custom mobile application providing members with association notifications, recent news, contractor directory, interactive calendar, downloadable resources, one-touch meeting sign-up, and safety information. Available on iOS and Android platforms for SMACNA Greater Chicago contractor members.
• New SMACNA Portal Online web-based member portal enabling users to manage profiles, use Company Management tools to connect employees and manage rosters, access the SMACNA bookstore and industry publications, and manage finances including invoices and payments. Available to SMACNA members.
• Metal Press Newsletter Quarterly newsletter keeping members informed on association and industry happenings. Available as downloadable PDFs from the Metal Press Archive dating back to 2016.
• Contractor Directory Online searchable directory of member contractors organized by specialty categories including Architectural, HVAC, Custom Fabrication, Industrial, Manufacturing, Residential, Service, Kitchen, Siding Decking, and Testing Balancing.
• Education and Training Programs Classroom and online educational opportunities including industry workshops, lunch and learns, ClickSafety online training, and virtual classroom series for contractor members.
• Safety Resources Safety education, OSHA regulation updates, and safety news resources to keep contractors informed and safe on the job.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 31,968 meals packed for Feed My Starving Children in single volunteer event with 30 members
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Partners in Progress Conference (with SMART Local 265)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2026Annual conference bringing together SMACNA Greater Chicago contractors and SMART Local 265 union leadership for industry discussions, workforce development, and labor-management collaboration. The 2026 conference was held in Orlando, Florida, addressing topics including apprentice retention, code official collaboration, and industry trends.
• International Training Institute (iTi) - TABB CertificationcoreOthers · 1 January 2009Local 265 received TABB (Testing, Adjusting, and Balancing Bureau) certification through NEMI and earned Platinum-level accreditation through the International Training Institute (iTi), validating the quality of the JATC's training program and confirming it meets national standards.
• SMART Local 265coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSMACNA Greater Chicago maintains a strong labor-management partnership with SMART (Sheet Metal Workers International Association) Local 265. The partnership includes collective bargaining negotiations, joint apprenticeship and training programs (JATC), workforce development initiatives, and collaborative advocacy for the sheet metal industry. Local 265 relocated its training center to Downers Grove in 2024 with upgraded equipment including laser welding booths and computer labs. The union has 8 staff members and 218 apprentices enrolled.
• Porter Pipe & SupplyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBulldog Cartage, a member company, operates inside Porter Pipe & Supply's operations, providing storage and material management services. The Porter family of companies shares services across its portfolio.
• SMART Local 73 and Local 219 (Rockford)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal 265 (the union partner) works closely with neighboring training directors at Local 73 and Local 219 in Rockford for regional workforce development coordination.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors Association (PHCC): National trade association for plumbing and HVAC contractors with state/local chapters, education programs, and advocacy functions. Directly comparable chapter-level service model for HVAC-adjacent contractors.
• American Subcontractors Association (ASA): National trade association for construction subcontractors with local chapters, providing advocacy, education, and networking; comparable membership-based support model for specialty trade contractors in commercial construction.
• National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA): National trade association for union electrical contractors with parallel chapter structure, labor-management relationships with IBEW, education, advocacy, and member services. Closest structural analog outside the sheet metal trade.
• Mechanical Contractors Association of America (MCAA): National trade association for union mechanical contractors (HVAC, plumbing, piping), overlapping heavily with SMACNA's member base. Comparable model: collective bargaining support, education, advocacy, and local-chapter structure.

Broad incumbents

• National Association of Home Builders (NAHB): Large national trade association for the residential construction industry with affiliated state/local associations. Comparable association model with chapter-based advocacy and education, though focused on residential rather than commercial/mechanical.
• Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors' National Association (SMACNA): National parent federation of which SMACNA Greater Chicago is a regional chapter. Directly comparable in mission (advocacy, labor relations, technical support for sheet metal/HVAC contractors), but operates at a national rather than regional level.
• Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC): National trade association representing open-shop (non-union) commercial construction contractors. Functions as a structural counterpart to SMACNA's union model in the same geographic markets, including Chicago.

Others

• ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers): Global professional society advancing HVAC&R technology and standards. Not a contractor association, but its standards and certifications directly shape the regulatory and technical environment SMACNA Greater Chicago members operate in.
• SMART (Sheet Metal, Air, Rail, and Transportation Division): International union that includes the Sheet Metal workers (formerly SMWIA) and is the labor counterpart to SMACNA. Local 265 is the direct chapter partner of SMACNA Greater Chicago on collective bargaining and JATC operations.

Regional players

• SMACNA San Diego: Another regional SMACNA chapter serving sheet metal and HVAC contractors in Southern California. Closest structural and operational comparable: same national affiliation, same member services, but in a different metro market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SMACNAGC
• Facebookfacebook.com/smacnagreaterchicago
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/smacna-greater-chicago

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about SMACNA Greater Chicago