Chris Grando, President of the National Union Insulation Contractors Alliance (NUICA), recently joined Ed “Flash” Ferenc on the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss how signatory contractors and the Insulators Union are strengthening collaboration, addressing regional workforce challenges and promoting the value of union craftsmanship.
Grando appeared on behalf of the Heat and Frost Insulators Labor Management Cooperative Trust (LMCT), filling in for LMCT Executive Director Pete Ielmini. The conversation offered a contractor’s perspective on what it takes to grow market share, improve communication and deliver complex projects with a highly trained union workforce.
NUICA’s mission: Support contractors and advance the industry
Grando shared his background in the insulation industry, which began in 1988 on Long Island, N.Y., and described his current role as COO of International Asbestos Removal (IAR). He also explained NUICA’s purpose: an alliance of signatory contractors working in partnership with the International to support existing union contractors and advance the mechanical insulation industry.
Grando noted that NUICA has undergone meaningful change over the past year, including leadership transitions and renewed focus on strengthening relationships with labor.
Changing the narrative: Collaboration before negotiation
A central theme of the interview was NUICA’s effort to “change the narrative” from conflict-driven relationships to proactive collaboration.
Grando emphasized that when labor and management work together toward shared goals — recruitment, training, market recovery and project delivery — the entire industry benefits. He described steps NUICA has taken to improve internal communication and organization, including establishing subcommittees and increasing strategic planning.
He also credited improved communication with Insulators General President Terry Larkin as a key factor in building momentum.
Regional challenges require regional solutions
Grando explained that industry pressures vary significantly by region, and that there is no “one-size-fits-all” solution.
In some areas, non-union competition is the primary concern. In others, the biggest issue is manpower, especially when major projects (such as large industrial builds or chip plants) require more skilled workers than a smaller Local Union can supply.
He also pointed to broader operational pressures that contractors nationwide must manage:
- Material availability and supply chain disruptions
- Rising costs and pricing uncertainty
- Tight schedules and compressed project timelines
- Workforce development and recruitment pipelines
Grando stressed that sharing ideas across regions—so that solutions developed in one market can inform another—is a major reason NUICA is prioritizing collaboration.
Competing with non-union: Sell craftsmanship, reliability and training
When discussing non-union market share, Grando described the shift contractors have seen in major metro areas, including the loss of residential work in New York City and growing non-union pressure in other historically union-strong markets.
He emphasized that the union advantage is not abstract, it is measurable in quality, safety and long-term performance.
As Grando explained, mechanical insulation has a right way and a wrong way. Poor installation can reduce performance, increase costs and undermine the very energy-saving outcomes owners and taxpayers expect.
He also highlighted the importance of recruitment and pre-apprenticeship pathways as part of a broader strategy to strengthen the workforce and protect market share.
A case study in collaboration: The new Buffalo Bills stadium
Grando also shared an on-the-ground example of labor-management coordination: IAR’s work on the new Buffalo Bills Highmark Stadium alongside Insulators Local 4.
He described the project as fast-paced and schedule-driven, with Local 4 operating at capacity and additional support coming from travelers — including members from Local 12 and even Houston — to meet demand.
Grando highlighted a unique technical feature of the stadium: A snow-melt system using radiant heat lines that required extensive insulation work. He praised the craftsmanship of the workforce and noted that the project will be a benchmark for the company.
He also discussed potential plans to capture video and project storytelling as a marketing tool to demonstrate what is possible when union labor and signatory contractors work together.
Moving forward: “better together”
In closing, Grando reiterated NUICA’s commitment to being part of the solution – working with LMCT and the International to promote union contractors, support industry initiatives and help advance priorities such as the Federal Mechanical Insulation Act.
As he put it, progress is strongest when labor and management show up together.