As part of NextGen Month, NextGen in Focus: Celebrating Tomorrow’s Leaders, Today highlights rising leaders across B.C.’s mechanical contracting industry—those building their careers through hands-on experience, mentorship, and a commitment to continuous growth.
This week, we’re featuring Marc Musil, Lead Hand at National Hydronics Group, whose journey reflects the impact of early exposure to the trade, strong mentorship, and steadily stepping into leadership.
Marc Musil
Lead Hand, National Hydronics Group
The mechanical contracting industry has always been part of my life. My grandfather founded National Hydronics Group, so growing up the business was never just work – it was family. Some of my earliest memories are walking through the fabrication shop and being amazed by the machinery, the noise, and the size of everything being built. I didn’t fully understand it at the time, but I knew I was around people who took pride in what they were creating.
After graduating high school, getting into plumbing felt like the natural next step. I started my apprenticeship and quickly learned how much skill and teamwork goes into the mechanical trades. The people I worked with early on played a big role in shaping my career. Experienced tradespeople took the time to teach me properly, share what they knew, and help me improve every day. That mentorship gave me confidence that helped build a strong foundation, both technically and professionally.
As I worked through my apprenticeship and earned my Red Seal, my role within the company started to grow. I took on more responsibility and moved into a lead hand position, gaining experience coordinating work in the field and helping guide crews on projects. More recently, I’ve been working closely with a superintendent who has been mentoring me as I continue working towards stepping into a foreman role. Learning from someone with that level of experience has shown me what it really takes to run jobs successfully.
One of the things I enjoy most about mechanical construction is the variety. No two projects are the same. Whether it’s working through a tight mechanical room or large-scale changeover floors, every project presents new problems to solve and new opportunities to learn. Seeing a project go from drawings to a finished building is one of the most rewarding parts of the job. Knowing the work we do helps buildings operate and contributes to shaping the Lower Mainland’s skyline is something I take a lot of pride in.
I’ve been lucky to have opportunities to grow and people around me who continue to support that growth. Mentorship and learning from others have been a huge part of my journey, and I think that’s what keeps this industry strong. I look forward to continuing to develop as a leader while helping support and guide others entering the trade, just as others once did for me.
More NextGen in Focus stories coming soon.
About
The Mechanical Contractors Association of B.C. (MCABC) is the dedicated representative of the mechanical contracting industry in British Columbia – the industry with the largest share of skilled trades workers in the construction sector. As the connection to industry excellence for our diverse membership, we deliver education and professional development programs that enable high standards of practice and business success. Through advocacy and strong industry partnerships, we influence policy and regulatory development at all levels of government, advancing the interests of our industry and improving its ability to meet B.C.’s growing infrastructure demand.
Media Contact
Conor Brendan Dunne
Manager, Communications & Stakeholder Engagement
cdunne@mcabc.org
(604) 205-5058
