Meet the Staff

Stephen L. Lamb, CAE

Stephen L. Lamb, CAE, has been Executive V.P. of the Mechanical Contractors Association of Chicago since 1993. MCA bargains for 400 union piping contractors with the 9,000 member Pipefitter LU 597. Lamb is Recording Secretary of the Joint Arbitration Board; a trustee of the $1.2 billion LU 597 Pension Fund as well as the Welfare, Training, and 401(k) Funds; is a member of the JATC and Referral Hall Committees; and is administrator of the Substance Abuse LMCC.

Lamb’s other duties include lobbying at the city and state level, representing MCA to nearly a dozen outside organizations, and CEO of MCA with an annual budget of $3.5 million and a staff of eight. He is Past President of the Illinois Mechanical Specialty Contractors Association – a statewide sub-contractor lobbying group.

Nationally, Lamb is past Chairman of the MCAA - Association Executives Council and has served on a number of MCAA committees. He was also the facilitator of the MCAA Market Recovery Task Force, and is currently facilitating United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters/MCAA Strategic Planning.

Attaining the Certified Association Executive designation in 1997, Lamb has taught the CAE legal review multiple times, and is regionally recognized for his knowledge of association antitrust law. Over the last eight years he has facilitated planning sessions for more than two dozen MCAA affiliates, including: St. Louis; Detroit; Washington, D.C., Philadelphia; Southern California; Kansas City and Omaha. Lamb has also worked with SMACNA and PCA of Chicago as well as the AGC Chapters in Lake County, Illinois, and Toledo, Ohio, and labor-management and labor-management-owner (tri-partite) meetings.

Earlier this year Lamb attained the Master Facilitator designation from the Leadership Access Institute, Richard Barnes, President.

His major (and most expensive) hobby is collecting fines wines and presenting seminars on “Entertaining With Wine At Work and At Home.”

Lamb is bald, and fairly short.

Daniel Bulley

Over the years Daniel Bulley, Senior Vice President, has worked in every facet of the Mechanical Contractors Association of Chicago. While his degree in Mechanical Engineering helps him be an effective resource on code and technical matters, he enjoys the broader range of skills and experience MCA has provided him. He is most excited while ferreting out the latest industry trends or riding his Harley. He also enjoys writing and speaking.

Evan Williams

Evan Williams, CAE, IOM, serves the Mechanical Contractors Association of Chicago as Vice President of External Relations. Williams’ role for the Association includes association governance, labor relations, external relations, and government advocacy. He is regularly engaged on issues critical to the Association’s mission and staff and serves on key boards, committees, and coalitions essential to MCA’s mission.

Prior to joining MCA, Williams worked with nearly 100 clients, including professional associations, non-profits, private firms, units of government, educational institutions, hospitals, and law firms employing expertise in client and member relations, advocacy, and coalition building.

Daniel C. Day

Daniel C. Day, CAE, Vice President of Education, has been at the Mechanical Contractors Association of Chicago since 2004. Dan directs the educational programming, MCA/PEC Business Conference and the Annual Golf Outing, as well as other industry events. He is the staff liaison to meetings and events, education, and membership committees. Dan has earned the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) Certified Association Executive (CAE) designation. The CAE is the highest professional credential in the association industry and is accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA). In addition to his duties at MCA, Dan also serves as Executive Director of the CEA and is Secretary of the Joint Conference Board (a jurisdictional dispute resolution board for the Chicago and Cook County construction industry).

Dan loves to play golf in his spare time, is currently serving on the board of the Western Trade Association as Captain and is a fanatic when it comes to the Chicago Bears. GO BEARS!

Laurie Leonard

Laurie Leonard, Director of Program Services, has been with MCA since 1988. She has coordinated the education program since its infancy. (Would you believe that in the beginning all of the registrations were stored in a Word Perfect file?) She assists in the administration of virtually all MCA activities from the collection of dues to the management of the welding bureau. Not only does she help develop many of the education programs, but she also oversees the certification programs, production of meetings and presentations, coordinating arrangements with speakers and venues.

Patty Elliott

Patty Elliott, Director of Communications, joined the Mechanical Contractors Association of Chicago in 2011. Patty leads the association’s overall marketing and communications activities with an emphasis on email marketing, publications and video productions. She also promotes MCA’s many diverse programs and educational offerings, and is liaison to the career development committee.

Patty loves to travel, is an avid reader and news junkie.

Susan Rocque

Susan Rocque, Director of Finance, has been with MCA since 2001.  With over 20 years accounting experience, she is responsible for managing the day-to-day finances of MCA as well as PEC, CWB, MIPAC, Coordinating Committee & IEBB.  In addition, she is responsible for the Human Resource department.

She is very well acquainted with all things number-related, being proficient with GAAP, FASB and all IRS issues.  Now, how exciting is that?!  She has the professional designation of TNTM (too numerous to mention).

Kay Gray

Kay Gray, Staff Assistant, has a B.S. degree in Elementary Education. After parenting two children to adulthood, she entered the workforce again to pursue a new career as “jack of all trades and master of none” at the Mechanical Contractors Association of Chicago. As well as helping out wherever needed, she handles the Certified Welding Bureau requests for papers on certified welders. She has been with MCA and CWB since December of 2000.

For enjoyment she likes traveling, music, sports and interacting with her five grandchildren.