Archives: News Items

New Management Methods Bulletin Explores Captive Insurance as a Risk Reduction Tool

Mechanical contractors face an uncertain insurance market. MCAA’s new Captive Insurance Management Methods Bulletin explores the use of captive, or privately held, insurance as a way to mitigate risk and provide greater cost control relative to a contractor’s insurance premiums. It’s just one of MCAA’s educational resources that are free to MCAA members as a benefit of membership.

The bulletin covers:

What captive is, and why contractors might join a captive plan
What group captives are
The captive structure
How captives work
The captive marketplace
How contractors are using captives to avoid complacency
How contractors are using captives to formalize their practices and create repeatable processes that drive predictable results
Who qualifies to join

DOWNLOAD

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

Find all of MCAA’s educational resources in the Resource Center.

Have Questions or Need Personal Assistance?

Contact MCAA’s Frank Wall.

2023-2024 JRGF Scholarships & Grants – Applications Open!

The 2023-2024 John R. Gentille Foundation (JRGF) scholarship and grant applications are now available and are due by December 15^th (4:00 PM CST). Over $75,000 in scholarships and grants will be awarded to MCAA student chapter members during the Awards of Excellence Breakfast at MCAA24 in Orlando. Don’t miss your chance to be among the recipients!

JRGF and our generous donors are proud to present the following scholarships:

Alan P. O’Shea Memorial Scholarship

MCA of New Jersey
$2,500 each, two offered

ATP Inspiring Future Leaders Scholarship

ATP Learning Solutions
$2,500

Robert J. Durr, Sr. – UA/ NCPWB Partnering Scholarship

National Certified Pipe Welding Bureau
$2,500

DEWALT Patriot Scholarship
(Open to military veterans or those who are currently serving.)

DEWALT
$5,000 each, two offered

Donald V. Brown, Sr. Family Memorial Scholarship

D.V. Brown & Associates
$5,000

Ferguson – Women in the Mechanical Industry Scholarship
(Open to female students.)

Ferguson
$5,000 each, two offered

Foster McCarl, Jr. Memorial Scholarship

McCarl Family
$5,000

Reilly Family Memorial Scholarship

John W. Danforth Company
$5,000

Thomas J. Wanner Scholarship

MCA/MSCA of Cleveland
$5,000

Trimble Future Estimator Scholarship
(Open to Competition Final Four Team Members interested in a career in estimating.)

Trimble
$5,000

Viega – Joe Pikus Scholarship

Viega
$5,000

William A. Bianco, Jr. Memorial Scholarship

Kinetics
$5,000

Josam Endowed Scholarship
(Three-year endowed scholarship for sophomores.)

Josam Company
$2,500 x3 years (awarded 2022-2023)

APPLY TODAY

Student Chapter Grants

Applications for Student Chapter of the Year and Educator of the Year are also available and due on December 15th by 4:00 PM CST.

Chapter of the Year

$3,000 + Trophy

Applications are to be completed by the student chapter President or another student leader within the chapter. Applications from faculty advisors or industry advisors will not be accepted. Only one application per chapter will be accepted.

Educator of the Year

$5,000 + Trophy

Applications are to be completed by the student chapter President or another student leader within the chapter or an industry advisor. Peer-to-peer faculty nominations will not be accepted.

CHAPTER OF THE YEAR / EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR NOMINATIONS

Please contact Michele Hoffman (MCAA Director, Career Development) at 402-305-8969 or mhoffman@mcaa.org with any questions.

MJ Daly Receives Top Workplace Award for 2023

The Hearst Connecticut Top Workplaces have awarded MJ Daly, LLC, an MCAA member, a Top Workplaces 2023 award. The list is based solely on employee feedback from a third-party survey administered by employee engagement technology partner Energage, LLC. The confidential survey uniquely measures 15 culture drivers that are critical to the success of any organization, including alignment, execution, and connection, just to name a few. Congratulations to the MJ Daly team!

“Earning a Top Workplaces award is a badge of honor for companies, especially because it comes authentically from their employees,” said Eric Rubino, Energage CEO. “That’s something to be proud of. In today’s market, leaders must ensure employees have a voice and be heard. That’s paramount. Top Workplaces do this, and it pays dividends.”

About MJ Daly

MJ Daly is a premier Mechanical Contracting company serving Connecticut and Western Massachusetts. They provide comprehensive services for new and existing buildings’ essential systems – Virtual Design & Construction, Engineering, Mechanical, HVAC, Fire Protection, Building Automation, and Service & Maintenance. They deliver total system responsibility efficiently, ensuring customer satisfaction. MJ Daly is also a proud part of Arden Building Companies. To learn more, visit: https://www.mjdalyllc.com/ | Company Contact: Edward Carvalho | 203-753-5131

Part of a Larger Group

MJ Daly is part of one of the largest mechanical contracting companies in New England – Arden Building Companies. A $170 million mechanical construction company that provides a full range of services for Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Massachusetts. Arden Building Companies also includes Corporate Mechanical of New England, Earthwise Energy Technologies, MJ Daly, and Unique Metal Works. For additional information, visit http://www.ardenbuildingcompanies.com.

Find the Latest from Bitzer US, Inc. and Morris Group International in MCAA’s Virtual Trade Show

MCAA’s Virtual Trade Show connects our contractor members with the members of MCAA’s Manufacturer/Supplier Council.

Participating companies highlight and link to new products, product lines, services, solutions or web pages of particular interest. Here are just a few of the recent additions:

Bitzer US, Inc.
BITZER is a global leader in the manufacture of Screw, Scroll and Semi-Hermetic Reciprocating Compressors for commercial A/C and refrigeration applications.

Learn More

Nu Flow Technologies
Becoming a NuFlow Certified Contractor is more than buying our equipment. We prepare our contractors with everything they need to develop new expertise, product offerings, and revenue streams. Grow your business with NuFlow!

Learn More

Need Something Else?

Find many more smart solutions in MCAA’s Virtual Trade Show!

Visit the Virtual Trade Show

Speaking of Smart Solutions

Visit the Smart Solutions Case Studies area of our website to learn how other mechanical contractors found their win-win with cost-saving and productivity-enhancing applications from members of MCAA’s Manufacturer/Supplier Council.

This section of our website also includes tips and ideas to help your company save money and enhance your productivity. Don’t miss it!

Visit Smart Solutions

Strategic Mechanical Expands Prefab Capacity Using PypeServer Technology

With PypeServer technology, Strategic Mechanical, Inc., has sped up its fabrication processes and opened up new avenues for prefabrication. Strategic Mechanical serves clients throughout California; its 70,000-square-foot shop in Fresno, CA, includes an HVAC sheet metal shop, pipe fabrication shop, industrial metals fabrication shop, and electrical prefabrication. In this Q&A, Miro Telesmanic, vice president of operations, describes how Strategic Mechanical put PypeServer to work.

LEARN MORE

Looking for More Smart Solutions?

Visit the Smart Solutions Case Studies area of our website! You’ll see how other mechanical contractors found their win-win with productivity-enhancing and cost-saving applications from members of MCAA’s Manufacturer/Supplier Council.

Plus, you’ll find tips and ideas on other ways you and your company can save money and enhance your productivity.

VISIT SMART SOLUTIONS

Registration Open for MCAA’s 2024 Safety & Health Conference

January 16-18, 2024 | Loews Ventana Canyon – Tuscon, AZ

MCAA is excited to open registration for the 2024 Safety & Health Conference.

We will be offering more than 50 hours of training and education from subject matter experts on safety, health, risk management, and legal issues. Join us for three days of presentations, discussions, and demonstrations with 300+ occupational safety and health professionals, principals, owners, local affiliated executives, UA instructors, industry partners, NECA & SMACNA, and anyone who has safety and health responsibilities.

For the first-time in conference history we are being joined by TAUC’s EHS Committee and welcome all TAUC members to participate in this event.

Registration Pricing
This conference is one of MCAA’s most popular conferences and it sells out quickly. Register today to secure your spot! Member registration is $895 and guests are $295.

*Upon completing your registration, a link to book your hotel room will be emailed to you. If you encounter any issues while booking with the hotel please contact events@mcaa.org and we are happy to assist.

Extended Learning Courses
CHST $499
CPR Instructor: $299
CPR Provider: $49
CPR Instructor Renewal: $99

Have questions or interested in exhibiting? Contact us at events@mcaa.org or 301-869-5800.

LEARN MORE & REGISTER

MCAA’s Sean McGuire Talks Innovation in NECA Podcast

Sean McGuire, MCAA’s Executive Director, Innovative Technologies & Fabrication, is featured in this month’s episode of the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) Innovation Overload Podcast. He talks about mental health, process improvement, fabrication and practical ways to get started in applying innovation across your business.

Post an Internship Now to Get Noticed at GFF23

Around 150 students from across the country and Canada will be attending the MCAA GreatFutures Forum in Milwaukee, WI on September 28-30. One of the main conference goals is to educate these college students on the ins and outs of the mechanical contracting industry and the GREAT Future that lies ahead for them. The ultimate way for a student to gain experience and determine that mechanical is indeed the career path for them is through hands-on learning with an internship.

Whether or not your company is able to attend the conference in person, use the MCAA GreatFutures Job Board to get your internships (and entry-level full-time jobs) in front of students who are eager to explore career opportunities not only in their own backyard, but possibly someplace new. Campus career fairs are in full swing and now is the best time to start conversations for summer 2024.

MCAA GreatFutures Job Board – How to Post an Entry-Level Job or Internship

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

We look forward to connecting your company with the next generation of industry talent. If you have questions or need assistance doing this, contact Michele Hoffman.

MCAA & Alliance Partners Suicide Prevention Webinar Recording Available

Studies show that suicide is killing workers in the construction industry at five times the rate of work-related injuries like falls and struck-by incidents. And it’s killing them in all parts of the industry – including upper management. Unfortunately, there is no simple answer to why this is happening nor is there an easy fix, but in many cases deaths from suicide CAN be prevented when we push mental health stigma aside and help one another. MCAA and our Alliance partners explored the topic during a September 13, 2023, webinar. This is one recording you won’t want to miss – you could help save a life!

MCAA and our Alliance partners at CPWR – The Center for Construction Research and Training (CPWR), the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA), the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors’ National Association (SMACNA), and The Association of Union Constructors (TAUC) partnered to present the webinar.

During the event, a representative from NASCAR driver Daniel Dye’s race team and the Race to Stop Suicide participated in a conversation about real issues affecting us every day and ways to spot signs of depression or feelings of hopelessness in colleagues, employees, and loved ones.

Panelists shared their own experiences with mental health, engaging in suicide prevention activities in the workplace, and breaking down barriers in an industry that does not always welcome conversations about feelings. Employers and other attendees walked away with ideas to help reduce stigma and save lives and a toolbox of mental health resources for the construction industry.

Meet the Panel

Moderator:

Chris Trahan Cain, CIH, Executive Director, CPWR

Panelists:

Raffi F. Elchemmas, Executive Director, Safety, Health and Risk Management, MCAA
Alexander M. Kopp, Director of Environmental Health and Safety, TAUC
Daniel Dye, NASCAR Driver
Randy Dye, Chairman, Race to Stop Suicide
Kevin Striegle, Manager, Daniel Dye Racing
Justin Crandol, MS, CSP, ARM, CRIS, Director of Safety, SMACNA
Wesley L. Wheeler, SMS, CESCP, Executive Director of Safety, NECA

See a Brand-New Video from MILWAUKEE TOOL

In addition to the panel discussion, the webinar featured a brand-new video on overcoming suicidal thoughts from Justin Azbill, National EH&S Director at MILWAUKEE TOOL, an MCAA member company.

VIEW WEBINAR

DOWNLOAD PRESENTATION

DOWNLOAD ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Resource Highlight: MCAA’s Subrogation Can Spell Trouble

At some point, mechanical contractors may face losses from subrogation claims that are not covered by insurance. Left unchecked, these losses can bankrupt a contractor. MCAA’s Subrogation Can Spell Trouble provides examples of subrogation problems and their resolution to help contractors protect their interests. It’s just one of MCAA’s educational resources that are free to MCAA members as a benefit of membership.

The bulletin highlights problems that can occur with the following:

Subrogation
Workers’ compensation subrogation waiver
Commercial auto subrogation waiver
Commercial general liability coverage form
Subrogation waiver endorsement
Umbrella
Underwriting

DOWNLOAD

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.

Connect With the Latest Training from Ridge Tool Company and SLOAN at MCAA.org

The Manufacturer/Supplier Training area of MCAA’s website connects our contractor members with training opportunities available from the members of MCAA’s Manufacturer/Supplier Council.

Participating companies highlight and link to new webinars and training opportunities across their product lines, services, solutions or web pages. Here are just a few of the recent additions:

Ridge Tool Company
RIDGID pressing tools allow you to fix pipes with water in the line for faster and more efficient connections. Plus, our rings and jaws swivel, giving you the freedom to access hard to reach places.

Learn More

SLOAN
Sloan CX Manual Flushometers are modern, elegant concealed flush valves designed to impress patrons. Learn how they are installed in this short video.

Learn More

Interested in More Training from Our Supplier Partners?

Be sure to visit the Manufacturer/Supplier Training area for all the latest offerings.

Learn More

Find the Latest from SLOAN and Morris Group International in MCAA’s Virtual Trade Show

MCAA’s Virtual Trade Show connects our contractor members with the members of MCAA’s Manufacturer/Supplier Council.

Participating companies highlight and link to new products, product lines, services, solutions or web pages of particular interest. Here are just a few of the recent additions:

SLOAN
More and more buildings are opting for gender-inclusive restrooms. Learn how contractors can keep up and deliver on inclusive design.

Learn More

Morris Group International
Simplify maintenance with Murdock^®, a member of Morris Group International. Murdock Maintenance Advantage^® water coolers have 27 parts, compared with standard water coolers that have 60+ parts.

Learn More

Need Something Else?

Find many more smart solutions in MCAA’s Virtual Trade Show!

Visit the Virtual Trade Show

Speaking of Smart Solutions

This section of our website also includes tips and ideas to help your company save money and enhance your productivity. Don’t miss it!

Visit Smart Solutions

Grodsky Tackles Tight Timelines and Tight Spaces With Easy-to-Use Press Fittings From Mueller Industries

To expedite construction of a new university housing project designed as a hybrid of wood and steel, Harry Grodsky & Co., Inc. turned to Mueller Industries and its Mueller Streamline Co. products and piping systems specialists “We were able to save an incredible amount of time on the project thanks to Mueller” and its Streamline® ACR Press Fittings in particular, said Ross Halket, superintendent at Grodsky. Mueller’s products gave Grodsky “the ability to get stuff into tight spaces, [and with] no fear of burning the building down, the ability to run piping in areas where brazing would have been hazardous,” Halket noted.

LEARN MORE

Looking for More Smart Solutions?

Plus, you’ll find tips and ideas on other ways you and your company can save money and enhance your productivity.

VISIT SMART SOLUTIONS

Register NOW for the 2024 MEP Innovation Conference!

Once again, MCAA, NECA, and SMACNA have partnered together to host the 2024 MEP Innovation Conference, January 29-31, 2024, in Orlando, FL.

Immerse yourself in educational sessions, collaborative roundtable discussions, and hands-on exhibitor demonstrations that spotlight cutting-edge technologies that can improve contractor’s productivity and profitability. This is also your chance to network and is a must-attend for principals, senior management, middle management, safety & health professionals, project managers, technicians, estimators, supervisors, students, faculty, and local executives.

Join us for an unparalleled experience at the forefront of technology and innovation in the mechanical, electrical, plumbing, service, and sheet metal contracting industries.

Get $200 off your registration with promo code M3AAV!PM3P
Hurry, this code expires on November 1, 2023

LEARN MORE & REGISTER

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS

Resource Highlight: MCAA’s Enforceability of Contractual Fines/Penalties for Subcontractor Safety Violations

Subcontract agreements often include contractual provisions that seek to impose additional fines or penalties for safety violations. MCAA’s Enforceability of Contractual Fines/Penalties for Subcontractor Safety Violations explains how those provisions could impact a subcontractor and how best to avoid them. It’s just one of MCAA’s educational resources that are free to MCAA members as a benefit of membership.

The items covered include:

Why mechanical contractors should be aware of these provisions
What to do in the event such a provision is included in a subcontract
The law
Liquidated damages
Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) states
UCC states with added protections
Non-UCC states
Indemnity clauses

DOWNLOAD

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.

Get the Project Management Essentials You Need to Succeed from NEI Instructor Troy Aichele

MCAA’s National Education Initiative (NEI) Seminars bring our best programs to your local association or your company thanks to instructors like Troy Aichele, a 30-year veteran of the mechanical construction industry. Troy’s courses share project management essentials that will enhance project managers’ skill sets, enabling them to deliver less risky, more profitable projects.

Troy’s 30 years of industry experience gave him a broad range of project experience in both remodel and new construction environments. A past member of the MCAA Board of Directors and the John R. Gentille Foundation (JRGF) Board of Trustees, he served as Chair of MCAA’s Career Development Committee. His three-time win of the Mechanical Contractors Association of Western Washington’s (MCAWW) Educator of the Year Award is testament to his abilities as an educator.

Troy’s Project Manager Training (PMT) Seminars give project managers, assistant project managers, and others a grounding in the skills they need to mitigate project risks, protect estimate assumptions, optimize efficiencies, control cost, and maximize the project’s chances of success.

Like our other NEI instructors, Troy brings his unique blend of industry and teaching experience to virtual courses, a relatively new NEI offering. Providing top notch, accessible education for everyone in your organization is what the MCAA’s NEI is all about! Visit the NEI website for more information about these seminars and a full list of the NEI courses available to MCAA members.

Book your courses via the NEI website, then apply for a 20% rebate on the instructor fees, up to $5,000 per class.*

LEARN MORE ABOUT TROY’S CLASSES

NEI WEBSITE

*This benefit is available only to MCAA members and local affiliates in good standing who book courses via the NEI website. Learn more about the rebate program here. Have questions or need personal assistance? Contact MCAA’s Frank Wall or call him at 301-990-2215.

MCA of Western Washington Leverages Policy to Enhance Safety & Benefit Members

The MCA of Western Washington (MCAWW), an MCAA affiliate, leveraged a state “focused inspection” policy exemption to create MCAWW Safety W.I.S.E., a program that certifies member firms with exceptional safety programs, exempting them from nearly all project and fabrication site inspections. The program also provides MCAWW Safety W.I.S.E.-branded jobsite banners and hard hat stickers to those that are certified, allowing them to further differentiate themselves in the marketplace. MCAA applauds the MCA of Western Washington’s innovative safety program and its commitment to worker safety.

Leveraging Policy to Serve Members

In Washington state, workplace safety and health is regulated by the Washington Department of Labor and Industries (L&I). The agency’s “focused inspection” policy permits construction contractor associations to certify that member firms meet certain safety criteria. If certified, a firm is then exempt from nearly all L&I project and fabrication site inspections.

Several years ago, MCAWW leveraged this L&I policy to develop MCAWW Safety W.I.S.E. with the tagline “Washington Industry Safety Elite.” The application process is straight forward and confidential:

An MCAWW member firm applies and provides a copy of its accident prevention plan.
MCAWW’s safety consultant reviews these materials and conducts a site visit.
If the applicant scores enough points, the firm is certified for one year, after which they can reapply. Certified firms receive MCAWW Safety W.I.S.E.-branded jobsite banners and hard hat stickers.

MCAWW’s goal in launching MCAWW Safety W.I.S.E.was to not only limit the scope of L&I inspections for certified firms, but also to give firms with exceptional safety programs an additional “notch in their belt” for safety achievements. If a firm applies and cannot be certified, MCAWW’s safety consultant will explain why. Any improvements based on the consultant’s review elevate safety in the industry.

As of August 1, 2023, 26 of MCAWW’s approximately 52 contractor member firms are certified in MCAWW Safety W.I.S.E.

Tips for Other Local Affiliates

Other local associations in state-regulated safety and health states like Washington may want to explore whether there is a comparable policy in their area. Those that are not in state-regulated states may want to explore whether there is a comparable policy under the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). If you have any questions or would like additional information, please contact Scott Middleton at the MCA of Western Washington.

Find the Latest from Mueller Industries, Inc. and ATP Learning Solutions (ATP) in MCAA’s Virtual Trade Show

MCAA’s Virtual Trade Show connects our contractor members with the members of MCAA’s Manufacturer/Supplier Council.

Participating companies highlight and link to new products, product lines, services, solutions or web pages of particular interest. Here are just a few of the recent additions:

Mueller Industries, Inc.
The Streamline® press fitting offering is the latest example of the industry-leading innovation and commitment to customer needs that make Streamline® the standard for excellence.

Learn More

ATP Learning Solutions (ATP)
ATP Learning Solutions offers technical expertise, instructional design, and attention to detail. We deliver high-level customized educational solutions designed to meet your training needs, using your content or ours.

Learn More

Need Something Else?

Find many more smart solutions in MCAA’s Virtual Trade Show!

Visit the Virtual Trade Show

Speaking of Smart Solutions

This section of our website also includes tips and ideas to help your company save money and enhance your productivity. Don’t miss it!

Visit Smart Solutions

Harris Realizes Immediate ROI With Watts Specialties Pipe Cutter

Harris saw an immediate return on investment (ROI) from their Watts Specialties automated pipe cutter, with improved efficiency in cutting and handling and no need for hand-cutting for olets or saddles. Based in St. Paul, MN, Harris has 15 regional offices with more than 300,000 square feet of fabrication shops.

LEARN MORE

Looking for More Smart Solutions?

Plus, you’ll find tips and ideas on other ways you and your company can save money and enhance your productivity.

VISIT SMART SOLUTIONS

Post an Internship Now to Get Noticed at GFF23

MCAA GreatFutures Job Board – How to Post an Entry-Level Job or Internship

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

Still interested in Attending the 2023 GreatFutures Forum?

September 28-30, 2023 | Milwaukee, WI

Registration for the entire conference is complimentary for MCAA contractor members and has been extended to Tuesday, September 5^th. Visit the GreatFutures Forum webpage for the full program and registration, as well as information about our untraditional job fair. The best part: There aren’t booths and trinkets, and you don’t need to bring anything besides yourself. See you in Milwaukee!