The work of the Harrisburg Regional Chamber & CREDC would not be possible without the support of our Board Members and Investors. Every month get to know one of our Chamber Board Members in our “Chamber Board Monthly Spotlight” series.
This month, get to know Ainsworth Inc. Vice President, Mid-Atlantic Region Mike McHenry. McHenry has been a Chamber Board Member since 2021. McHenry has been with Ainsworth for over 10 years. Ainsworth, locally known as Enginuity until 2021 when it joined the Ainsworth family, is one of North America’s leading integrated multi-trade companies providing high-quality technical trades services, including HVAC, mechanical, electrical, data cabling, and building and industrial automation for institutional, commercial, and industrial clients across North America. Ainsworth focuses on heavy industrial and heavy commercial HVAC and Mechanical Services to Fortune 500 clients right in our own backyard.
Read on to learn more about Mike McHenry and why he serves on the Chamber board.
– How long have you been active with the Chamber and how long have you been a Chamber board member?
~ I’ve been active with the Chamber since I was hired by Enginuity, so for ten years. Enginuity’s founder Jim Mooney made it a point early on to bring me to Chamber events, and to introduce me to his colleagues in those settings. So personally, I’ve been active for ten years, but the Enginuity/Ainsworth organization has been a member since its founding in 2002. In fact, the Chamber played a huge part in the growth of the company and when Jim tells the company history to new hires (as is custom), the Chamber plays a central role.
– What do you like most about being a chamber member?
~ For me, the special annual events and the networking are hard to beat. Each major event the Chamber hosts has a different purpose – the Catalyst Awards celebrates our local heroes and tells the stories of hometown successes right here in the Capital Region. VIBE is a networking event with a hard-hitting top-shelf keynote speaker to energize us for a busy spring and summer. DEI events, The Economic Forecast, The Governor’s Address – they’re all part of a rich constellation of programming and special events that foster relationships and growth for our bold leaders.
– Why did you become a board member?
~ Jim Mooney has been a mentor of mine for ten years, and seeing him prioritize Chamber involvement from day one sent a very clear two-part message to me: one, being involved in the Chamber is good for our business. The relationships, advocacy, and dots that get connected within our economic landscape – there’s a huge upside there for us as a company. Secondly, but equally important – it’s critical to bring positive impact to our community and the Chamber is a conduit to so much good, locally. Giving back to the Chamber by serving on committees or as a board member – it’s an opportunity to do good for the region – so why not?
– What do you like most about being a board member?
~ My favorite part of being a board member is that when I got hired here, no matter what the company needed, Jim ‘knew someone’, and they always happened to be members. Ten years later, as a board member, I and my own local colleagues discuss our own business challenges, and time and time again – I ‘know someone,’ and they always happen to be members. Being a connector for people in the region to other amazing people and having the Chamber be the context for that connection to happen – it’s very fulfilling.
– What do you think people should know about the Chamber?
~ I think that people should understand that the Chamber, to quote one of my favorite songs, is a ‘You Get What You Give’ situation. Sure – you can join. But if you don’t do anything with your membership throughout the course of the year, you’re not going to feel the impact that the Chamber has brought to so many organizations in the region over the past 139 years. The more time you invest in attending events, meeting new people, and getting involved – the more time you spend around fellow bold and visionary members – the more you’ll see the powerful results that the region has come to count on from the Chamber.
– Any other information you would like people to know?
~ I’m a dad of four young kids (two are twins), and my wife Jenny and I live in Mechanicsburg where we enjoy an action-packed schedule and a house that’s full of laughter, chaos, music, and Legos. I grew up in Newport, so I know the Harrisburg Region’s geography quite well having been raised here. But I went to Millersville, met Jenny there, and we lived and worked in the Lancaster area for 15 years before moving to the Harrisburg Region to be closer to Enginuity. It was a gift to be reintroduced to the region as an adult and to discover what a great place it is to work and raise a family. Everywhere you look there are fun things to do, great places to eat, and amazing organizations bringing impact to our community, and our family is looking forward to a summer of all that – and more!
