Archives: News Items

Winning Team, Pittsburg State University, Visits the Site Used for the 2022-2023 Student Competition

The 2022-2023 MCAA Student Chapter Competition 1st Place Team, Pittsburg State University, was invited to Denver, CO on April 21st to view the real-life completed site for their proposal of the National Western Center, which included a meeting with Lynn Mueller, CEO of SHARC Energy.

Leslie Fangman, VP of Corporate Development at Centrio, led the group through a tour of the district energy facility that features the largest SHARC system in North America.  The students learned about the inception of the project, the predevelopment process, the construction and the operation of the facility.

Andy Wright (Senior Project Manager), Taylor Heideman (Project Manager), Kevin Stoddard (Director of Preconstruction), Sarabeth Gandara (Preconstruction Manager) and John Marlow (VP of Project Development) from US Engineering also joined on the tour to meet the chapter and answer questions from the mechanical contractor’s perspective on the project.

After the tour of the energy facility, the students quickly toured a couple of additional buildings on the National Western Campus and then headed off to the US Engineering office for a tour, “101 course” of the officer air handling unit, and lunch. 

On Friday afternoon, US Engineering attendees joined the students for a few rounds of TopGolf and networking.  Attendees from US Engineering included: John Marlow (VP of Project Development), Whitney Bell-Haggard (VP of Strategy), Kevin Stoddard (Director of Preconstruction), Sarabeth Gandara (Preconstruction Manager), Josh Martinez (Preconstruction Manager), Brandon Richardt (Preconstruction Engineer) and Lupe Garza (Project Manager).  Leslie Fangman with Centrio also attended.

Thank you to US Engineering, Centrio and SHARC Energy for this incredible invitation and experience for our championship team!

Congratulations to Veronica Brems, Recipient of the 2023 William A. Bianco, Jr. Memorial Scholarship

Veronica Brems is this year’s recipient of the annual William A. Bianco, Jr. Memorial Scholarship. MCAA member, Kinetics, established this scholarship to honor William “Bill” Bianco (the foundation’s former President and an MCAA Distinguished Service Award recipient) for his many contributions to the industry’s continuing advancement.

Veronica is the President of her local student chapter at Purdue University and will be graduating in May 2025 with a Bachelor of Science in Construction Management. Last summer, Veronica interned with Auburn Mechanical in Auburn, WA where she aided in writing, reviewing and logging RFI’s and submittals, engaged in weekly site walks with members of the safety teams, field superintendents, project managers and executive team, and communicated with venders, plus wrote purchase orders for equipment.

“Working for a mechanical contractor is appealing to me because it is what makes the building come to life. There is no way for a building to function without the systems that circulate the air, provide heating and cooling, plumbing, fire sprinklers, etc. Five years after graduation, I see myself working for a mechanical contractor as a Project Manager leading a team of individuals to create something special for the clients.”

MCAA and the John R. Gentille Foundation congratulate Veronica on this prestigious scholarship and thank Kinetics for their commitment to supporting students interested in pursuing a career in the mechanical contracting industry.

Congratulations to Daniel Colon-Crespo, Recipient of the 2023 DEWALT Patriot Scholarship

The DEWALT Patriot Scholarship, now in its second year, was created to recognize two veterans, or those who are currently serving in the United States Military, who have valiantly served their country and have chosen to enter a career in the construction industry.  Thank you to DEWALT for honoring our military and to our scholarship recipients for their service to our country.  These two special scholarships were presented at the MCAA Awards of Excellence Breakfast in Phoenix on March 29th by Jake Sullivan (U.S. Marine Corp Veteran) and Jon Howland (U.S. Navy Veteran). 

Daniel Colon-Crespo has been serving in the Michigan National Guard since December 2019 as a Specialist and had the opportunity to lead during training events, as well as ensuring the safety of others during natural disasters and under extreme conditions. 

Daniel will be graduating in December 2024 from Ferris State University and is planning on interning this summer in Michigan with MCAA Member, Hurst Mechanical (Control Resource).  Daniel has also been serving as Ferris State’s MSCA Student Chapter President since January 2021 and previously held the offices of Community Service Chair and Historian.

“Working for a mechanical contractor appeals to me because, as I learned at the GreatFutures Forum, mechanical contracting is like the heart of a building.  I think the challenge of trying to maintain human comfort in a building is extremely rewarding.  I joined MCAA because I new it would be important for my future.  It connects me with mechanical contractors, builds my leadership skills, enhances my communication abilities, and has helped me learn more about possible job opportunities.”

MCAA and the John R. Gentille Foundation congratulate Daniel on this prestigious scholarship and thank DEWALT for their commitment to supporting students interested in pursuing a career in the mechanical contracting industry, as well as for recognizing the courageous service of our country’s Veterans.

Save the Date for MCAA’s 2023 GreatFutures Forum

Time to start thinking about your summer ’24 interns! Save the date for MCAA’s GreatFutures Forum (September 28-30, 2023) in Milwaukee, WI. Conference registration (including the Friday Job Fair) is complimentary for MCAA Members, Local Association Executives and Forum Sponsors. Registration will open on June 15.

Resource Highlight: MCAA’s BIM – What Is It and Is It Right for My Company?

Building Information Modeling (BIM) is a standard requirement in many project specifications. MCAA’s BIM – What Is It and Is It Right for My Company? explains what BIM is and offers tips to help companies reap the greatest benefit from this technology. It’s just one of MCAA’s educational resources that are free to MCAA members as a benefit of membership.

The bulletin covers:

  • What BIM is
  • Making the investment pay off
  • Why it’s a good idea to take the lead early
  • Getting started
DOWNLOAD

The Achieving Spatial Coordination through BIM – A Guide for Specialty Contractors resource mentioned in the bulletin can be found here.  

For a full list of available Management Methods Bulletins, visit the Management Methods Bulletins page.

Have Questions or Need Personal Assistance?

Contact MCAA’s Frank Wall.

2023 MCAA Safety Conference Highlighted Safety Leadership & Worker Health

    Safety is the top priority for MCAA contractors, and attendance at the 2023 MCAA Safety Conference proved it. The 2023 conference was the largest safety event in MCAA history, bringing together over 350 professionals to focus on safety and health in San Diego, CA.

    The conference featured 50 hours of education and training including keynotes on safety leadership, mental health, and safety management. It included 20 breakout sessions on current safety issues and priorities.

    “This has been one of the best conferences I’ve ever been a part of.”

    Tracy Haus, MCAA Safety & Health Committee Chairman and Baker Group Safety Director

    The conference celebrated its 20th anniversary at PETCO Park at an event hosted by the MCAA Board of Directors.

    Feedback from attendees was exceptional and highlighted the new expert panel discussion and presentation from Jen Massey, the UA’s Safety, Health, and Environmental Administrator.

    With the increased focus on health, from mental health to worker health, MCAA will expand the conference moving forward. Mark your calendar and plan to join us for the 2024 MCAA Safety & Health Conference January 16-18, 2024 in Tucson, AZ.

    Inspection Notice: Specific 3M Construction & Vest Style Harnesses

    3M has notified the industry of a potential issue that could result in some construction and vest style harnesses not performing properly. This condition results in the adjuster not being able to be adjusted or not locking in place after adjustments have been made. This manufacturing issue will result in the harness not performing properly in the event of a fall, which could result in severe injury or death. Protect your workers – read the inspection notice below.

    MCAA’s Final Four Student Chapters Will Compete at MCAA23 in Phoenix for First Place and a $10,000 Prize

    Twenty-two MCAA Student Chapters submitted a proposal for the National Western Center Campus Energy project.  Congratulations to the Final Four and Merit Award teams. The teams will present their proposals on the afternoon of Tuesday, March 28th at MCAA23 in Phoenix, AZ.

    Students were asked to provide a proposal for construction of the mechanical and plumbing systems at the new district energy facility on the National Western Center Campus in Denver, CO. The scope of the project included the installation of three 1000-ton cooling towers, six 6000-mbh boilers, a SHARC sewer heat recovery system, plate and frame heat exchangers, pumps, piping and supporting infrastructure. 

    This new 9,000 SF district energy facility will heat and cool multiple vertical buildings on the campus primarily by recovering heat from the 72” Delgany sewer main. The campus buildings include a veterinary hospital, a cattle expo hall and arena, an equestrian expo hall and arena, events center, agricultural education buildings with labs, greenhouses and kitchens, and a gallery/entertainment building. Upon completion, this project will be the largest sewer heat recovery system in North America. It is a huge step forward in de-carbonizing our commercial buildings with the use of both new and traditional technologies.     

    Thank you to the following companies for their special contributions to the competition project:

    • U.S. Engineering of Westminster, CO (supplying the project)
    • Procore (use of their Project Management software)
    • Trimble (use of Trimble Estimation MEP software)
    • Ferguson (providing pricing for pipe valves and fittings) 

    Semester Break Creates Employment Golden Opportunity on MCAA’s GreatFutures Job Board

    College students across the country are finishing up finals and heading home for winter break. Following a few days of post-finals rest, their #1 priority will be to secure a summer internship or full-time position. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to put your company in the spotlight during the golden weeks between semesters! Post your entry level, full-time job or internship today and ring in the new year to successfully growing your workforce.

    How it works:

    • Login with an MCAA username and password
    • Click on the job board within the Career Development page
    • Click Manage My Jobs and Add a Job to create your posting
    • Jobs remain active for 1 month to ensure postings stay fresh
    • When the job is set to expire, a reminder will be sent for you to either “mark as filled” or “duplicate” and repost for another month
    • Interested students can view postings and submit their contact information and resume
    • Your office will be notified via email when interested students submit their resume
    • From there, your office is encouraged to continue with your company’s application and interview process
    VIEW JOB BOARD

    MCAA’s Job Board Delivers Results

    A student from Ball State University was recently hired by U.S. Engineering after using the new GreatFutures job board to find a summer internship. Congratulations to Reece Manning and U.S. Engineering! Read the article.

    There’s Still Time to Apply for an Internship Grant!

    If you already employed an intern in 2022, remember to submit an application for an Internship Grant. MCAA members may submit up to two applications per year for a $1,000 grant (to your company) and an accompanying $500 gift card (to the intern).

    APPLY FOR AN INTERNSHIP GRANT

    New Study Compares Contractor Usage of Best and Worst Language in Contract Clauses

    The John R. Gentille Foundation (JRGF) has partnered with ELECTRI International (NECA) and the New Horizons Foundation (SMACNA) to assess and produce a detailed report on construction contracting best practices. Our collaboration is meant to provide industry-wide data that supports our members’ contract negotiations and guidance on better contract language to reduce liability. With better practices in place, risk can be shifted away from trade contractors to the appropriate party, leading to a more profitable industry overall.

    First, Document Crunch identified the criteria used to analyze where the provisions at issue were considered Best Practice, Medium Practice, or Deficient Practice. Once those parameters were established, the Document Crunch proprietary platform extracted specific terms from each of the contracts to determine the frequency of each practice. After analyzing the data, Document Crunch has identified the 10 riskiest contract provisions that impact trade contractors.

    Download a free copy of the research results below, which includes a description of each provision at issue, the criteria used to identify each issue, and the frequency of occurrence across the sample data.

    The John R. Gentille Foundation underwrites the development of practices, tools, methods and materials to advance the mechanical and service trades.

    DOWNLOAD FREE COPY