Organization: MCAA

You Won’t Want to Miss MCAA’s Collective Bargaining Seminar & the UA/MCAA Labor Relations Conference

There’s still time to register for MCAA’s Collective Bargaining Conference and the UA/MCAA Labor Relations Conference this September! MCAA’s Collective Bargaining Conference will help improve your understanding of the bargaining process to assist in preparing for constructive negotiations. The UA/MCAA Labor Relations Conference will focus on topics such as the current need for manpower, organizing, workforce development, and more. Register today and join us in Las Vegas, NV for both events!

Collective Bargaining Seminar

September 25-27, 2023 | Las Vegas, NV

UA/MCAA Labor Relations Conference

September 27-28, 2023 | Las Vegas, NV

Through the registration process, you will have the ability to register for both conferences at once, or select an individual conference. After your conference registration is complete, you will be directed to make your own hotel reservations based on your particular travel arrangements. We look forward to seeing you there!

MCAA Congratulates Our Newest Pre-IPM Graduates

The last lecture is over, the last homework assignment submitted, the last quiz completed. So, congratulations are in order for this summer’s Pre-IPM graduates! Classes 21-24 have just completed their 12 weeks of online introductory project management training, bringing the total number of Pre-IPM grads to over 1,400. How did it go? Well, here’s what our recent grads had to say:

Was it worth your time?

“I loved it! I had some great takeaways that I have already brought to my company’s leadership team that I believe will help us improve our processes.”

“I really enjoyed being a part of this course and found that it was one of the most educational classes I have ever been enrolled in.”

“Very, very educational class with a lot of in person examples that I can relate to. This will help with the way I handle many different situations.”

“With being new to this industry, this was such a great starting course to get an overview of project management. It was a very thought-out course and I greatly appreciate all the work that went into this.”

Did we cover practical stuff?

“Each topic and class were full of useful tips and having the instructors from different backgrounds kept my attention and interest on different perspectives in this industry.”

“I liked the real-world examples and ideas. This class was just not theory based and it wasn’t just us looking at a bunch of slides.”

“There were some gems of info for the industry and what one needs for Project Management.”

“I just started an assistant project manager role about a year ago and I felt as though all of the topics that were covered were exactly what I needed to learn and what I was going through. “

How were the instructors?

“The best thing about Pre-IPM was the instructors. You could tell they really enjoyed being in class every week and teaching every week.”

“I thoroughly enjoyed the class and found it engaging throughout. The instructors were all excellent and provided us with quality teaching.”

“The teachers seemed passionate and were very good at answering questions.”

“The speakers were exceptionally experienced and discussed so many realistic situations and relatable topics.”

How did you feel about the online experience?

“The speaking parts kept me on my toes – I never wanted to get caught unable to answer a question!”

“I have been telling a lot of my colleagues that for an online training course, this has been very easy to stay engaged.”

“[When] Amy and John pulled students in with voice and camera to get involved in the discussion, it makes it feel like we are there in person.”

“There was a lot of involvement, and everyone had the opportunity to make an appearance which I think is nice.”

Lastly… did it change the way you approach your work?

“[The instructors] shared numerous tips and tricks that impacted the way I want to tackle all of my projects and manage my time inside and outside of the workplace.”

“All in all, this was very informative, I have already made adjustments based on this class to our day to operation.”

“This class has motivated me to go above and beyond with all projects from start to finish. Thanks for the opportunity to learn from this class.”

We truly enjoyed spending the summer with our Pre-IPM students and are so appreciative of all the great questions and ideas and stories they shared with us and each other. If you have APMs, PEs, new hires, recent college grads, or anyone else transitioning into a project management role – mark your calendars: registration for the 2024 courses will open at noon EST on February 15th, 2024. Visit the Pre-IPM webpage for more details!

Resource Highlight: MCAA’s Creating a Readable Corporate Newsletter

Staying in touch with customers, employees and others who may be interested in your company’s products and/or services, upcoming events, or other business developments is critical to your company’s growth and success. Thanks to the availability of myriad print and electronic media, the Internet and social media, companies have many options for connecting with their internal and external audiences. This bulletin focuses on one option—newsletters. It’s just one of MCAA’s educational resources that are free to MCAA members as a benefit of membership.

The bulletin includes:

  • The purpose of a newsletter
  • Audience assessment
  • The mission statement
  • Content considerations
  • Budgeting considerations
  • Staffing, or who does what?
  • How it looks, including design, format and structure
  • Documenting style with a style sheet
  • The print/no print decision and how to proceed once it’s made

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.

Phishing Alert: Email with “MCAA Field Leaders Conferences – 2023” in the Subject

MCAA has become aware that some people have received an email stating that the MCAA Field Leaders Conference mailing list is available for sale. We would like to assure you that MCAA never sells lists of our members or our event attendees, nor do we authorize any third parties to do so.

The emails that we are aware of have come from different contacts at the same company, “conferencesonline.live,” but carry the same message:

Hi Team,

Just writing to check if you would be interested in acquiring the Attendees list of “MCAA Field Leaders Conferences” Held on| August 02nd – 04th – 2023| San Francisco, CA, USA

Each record will contain details like: Contact Name, Title, Phone Number, Fax Number, Physical address, State/City, Company Name, Company URL, and most importantly verified email addresses.

Let us know if you are interested and we will revert back with cost and other deliverables.

Email from conferencesonline.live

MCAA has investigated and determined that this is a phishing scheme designed to gather your personal or company financial information by selling you a list that you will never receive. Please handle them accordingly.

Students, There’s Only 3 Weeks Left to Register for the 2023 GreatFutures Forum

Join us September 28th – 30th at the Hyatt Regency Milwaukee for MCAA’s GreatFutures Forum! Check out the forum website to learn more about the program, job fair, hotel, and registration.

At the GreatFutures Forum you will:

  • Meet MCAA member contractors who are looking to hire interns and entry-level full time employees in 2024. Bring your resume and a smile!
  • Learn about the 2023-2024 Student Chapter Competition
  • Touch, feel and learn about the tools, processes and equipment used in our industry that mechanical contractors encounter every day on the jobsite or stumble upon back in the far corners of their shop. 
  • Tour MILWAUKEE TOOL’s facility
  • And so much more!

Registration is complimentary for all students, faculty, local affiliates, and MCAA members! The fall is the best time to get hired for both summer internships and full-time employment. MCAA can’t wait to see the employment connections materialize throughout the conference.  

Find the Latest from SLOAN and Trane 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
Fresh water is the world’s most important natural resource and severe droughts make water-saving restroom technology essential. Learn more about the solutions Sloan offers.

Trane
Trane’s new heat pump and dual fuel Precedent rooftop units, now up to 25 tons, offer multiple efficiency levels and customization options to serve variety of commercial applications.

Need Something Else?

Find many more smart solutions in MCAA’s 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!

ServiceTrade Helps B&W Mechanical Put Customers First, Building Long-Term Loyalty

B&W Mechanical, one of the largest mechanical contractors in the Southeast, chose ServiceTrade software to help them make the move from paper to digital, shortening the time it takes to provide quotes for repairs. Swift, detailed, clear communication is one way that B&W builds trust that leads to long-lasting customer relationships.

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.

MCAA Shares Safety & Health Videos to Support OSHA Safe + Sound Week

In honor of the Occupational Safety & Health Administration’s (OSHA) Safe and Sound Week campaign, August 7-13, 2023, MCAA is re-sharing a series of safety videos created by the Safety Alliance between MCAA, TAUC, NECA, and SMACNA for your use to highlight key safety topics with your employees and co-workers. From mental health, fall protection and other OSHA Focus Four topics like electrical hazards and caught in-between/struck-by, take time to focus on safety, you will be glad you did!

We kick off the week with a message from Mechanical Contractors Association of America (MCAA) Executive Director of Safety, Health & Risk Management Raffi Elchemmas about how workers can stay safe while using ladders and stairs, or when working at heights.

On Tuesday, we hear from National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) Executive Director, Outside Line Safety Mike Starner, CUSP, CHST about how workers can protect themselves from line of fire incidents including caught-in, caught-between and struck-by. Lockout/tagout is also covered.

The Association of Union Constructors Director of Environmental Health & Safety Alex Kopp shares a message on Wednesday about the importance of mental health and resources that are available to provide support.

On Thursday, we hear from SMACNA Director of Safety Justin Crandol, CSP, ARM, CRIS with tips to help workers protect themselves from heat hazards.

To close out the week, we hear from National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) Executive Director of Safety Wesley Wheeler, SMS, CESCP about the importance of personal protective equipment (PPE), a critical component to jobsite safety.

Learn more about OSHA’s Safe + Sound week here and follow the week’s news at #safeandsound.

Darnelle Everett and Sosina Haileselassie Have Joined the MCAA Staff

MCAA is pleased to welcome the two newest members of the staff: Darnelle Everett and Sosina Haileselassie.

Darnelle is a meeting coordinator supporting the Events Department by helping with planning and logistics. He was born and raised in Washington, D.C. and graduated from nearby Morgan State University with a B.S. in Communications. He enjoys discovering new music and food. He is also interested in sports, fashion, and traveling to new countries.

Sosina is a dues coordinator supporting the Accounting Department. She has a B.A. degree in Accounting, which she earned while living in Ethiopia. Her extensive accounting background includes positions from accounting clerk to supervisor (and pretty much everything in between) in the airline and construction industries and at a law firm. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with friends and watching British comedies and classic U.S. comedies.

Join us in welcoming Darnelle, Sosina and their families to the MCAA staff family.

Need Help This Fall?  Hire a School Year Intern!

Internships don’t have to stop when students head back to campus.  Many college and university students are still looking to expand their knowledge of mechanical contracting with real world experience through school year internships.  Schedules and available hours might look a bit different due to their classes, but if your company is willing to be flexible, then a school year internship is a win-win for everyone.    

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

Once you’ve successfully hired your intern, head over to the JRGF Internship Grant page to submit at Part 1 application for a $1,000 grant for 1 intern or $2,000 grant for 2 or more interns.  These grants are available anytime throughout the year (summer interns and/or school year interns).    

Did you recently hire one of your interns full-time?  If they were previously on a Part 1 list, submit a Part 2 application for a $500 gift card for your new hire.

Resource Highlight: MCAA’s Credit Card Payments

Credit cards are rapidly becoming the preferred method of covering a variety of financial transactions between contractors and their vendors/suppliers and project owners. MCAA’s Credit Card Payments reviews the advantages and disadvantages of making payments via credit card to help you fully understand the benefits and costs involved. It’s just one of MCAA’s educational resources that are free to MCAA members as a benefit of membership.

The bulletin covers:

  • Getting established with the appropriate accounts
  • Advantages to the contractor
  • Advantages to the vendor and supplier

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.

MCAA’s 2023 Fabrication Conference to Showcase MacDonald Miller Sheet Metal Operations

The 2023 MCAA Fabrication Conference, powered by MSUITE, has expanded to include additional educational offerings and four facility tours. This year’s conference will focus on specific fabrication operations for attendees, including a sheet metal-focused tour hosted by MacDonald Miller. 

Seattle is a city that embraces fabrication, but there are local factors that present unique challenges. The cost of land and local regulations force contractors to innovate. During the MacDonald Miller tour, attendees will see how these restrictions guided them to a lean fabrication principle so that finished work is demand-driven and stored onsite for as little time as possible. Attendees will also learn how and what information MacDonald Miller processes and tracks through their KPI dashboard and how to utilize software connections to visualize production.

MCAA’s 2023 Fabrication Conference is scheduled for September 11-13, 2023, in Seattle, Washington, at the Grand Hyatt Hotel. Limited space is still available for registration. 

Connect With the Latest Training from SLOAN and Ridge Tool Company 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:

SLOAN
Learn about the installation process of the Sloan CX Sensor Flushometer, featuring the world’s smallest front-access wall panel. The design offers chic style and elevated design for high-end spaces.

RIDGID Tool Company
Learn more about the latest in RIDGID diagnostics – TruSense technology. Advanced sensors deliver unmatched in-pipe image clarity and camera position detail.

Interested in More Training from Our Supplier Partners?

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

Congratulations to Cole Perkins, Recipient of the 2023 Robert J. Durr, Sr. – NCPWB Partnering Scholarship

Congratulations to Cole Perkins, the recipient of the new Robert J. Durr, Sr. – NCPWB Partnering Scholarship, which is in honor of Robert J. Durr, Sr., former chairman of the National Certified Pipe Welding Bureau Board of Trustees for his effort and dedication in creating a partnership between the United Association and the NCPWB, which resulted in the formation of the Joint Welder Testing Program.

Cole is studying Construction Engineering at Iowa State University and will be graduating in May 2024. He’s been an active member of his student chapter and has served as Recruitment Chair and Vice President. Cole previously interned with MCAA Members MMC Contractors and Baker Group.

“I really enjoy seeing how my work in the construction industry positively impacts our community. I especially enjoy building systems and learning how they work and coincide with other trades in the industry. I’m also a very curious person that enjoys learning new topics. I joined my local MCAA student chapter to become active in my future profession and network with others in my industry.

For the future, I would love to be a project manager working with the guys in the field on a daily basis after gathering enough experience to do so. Long-term, I see myself at a company that has a good community-based culture that’s active in their community and participates in volunteering-based opportunities. Working to improve those in my community is important to me.”

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

Find the Latest from Ferguson 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:

Ferguson
Ferguson is a market leader dedicated to helping contractors keep projects on schedule and provide custom solutions. Our extensive inventory includes fixtures, faucets, equipment/instrumentation, pipe, valves, fittings, tools, safety and MRO supplies so you can find the products you need when and where you need them.

Morris Group International
Meet the Emergency Thermostatic Temperature Valve from ConTrols®, a member of Morris Group International. This valve is certified to deliver safe, tepid water to safety systems.

Need Something Else?

Find many more smart solutions in MCAA’s 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!

Celebrate MCAA’s 20 Years of Safety Excellence Each Month of 2023 With a Safety Resource Kit

To celebrate MCAA’s 20 Years of Safety Excellence, MCAA is offering monthly safety kits to benefit our contractors around the country and the mechanical industry workers they support. Each kit will include videos, webinars, trainings, and additional resources on each monthly topic.

August 2023: Equipment Safety

In 2020, almost 3,000 fatal and over 200K nonfatal distracted-related motor vehicle accidents occurred. Commercial drivers are 6 times more likely to be involved in a critical safety event when participating in handheld browser activities. Also in 2020, there were fewer vehicles on the road, but the decrease in miles driven did not correlate to fewer accidents. Even with 11% fewer miles driven, vehicle accident deaths rose by 8.3%. This month’s kit includes resources on auto safety, forklift safety, and heavy equipment safety. Also, check out the four new CNA infographics in their fleet safety series.

MCAA/CNA Microlearning Safety Video Series

Worker Safety Training Videos & Accompanying Resources

Forklift Safety

Heavy Equipment Safety

Inspecting Materials Handling Equipment

Supervisor Safety Training Videos

Safety Bulletins

Safety Guides

CNA Fleet Safety Infographics

Top 5 Reasons to Attend GFF23 as a GreatFutures Alumni

  1. Thursday Alumni Breakfast – Reconnect with fellow student chapter alumni from the past 30 years (1993 – 2023).
  1. Friday Job Fair – Recruit the next generation to come work for the best industry around and share employment opportunities with your company for internships or full-time positions for post-graduation.  We’ve removed the booths and added color-coded identifiers to create the most untraditional and relaxed job fair around.
  1. Saturday Trivia Contest – An Alumni team will be formed and go head-to-head with the current chapters to claim annual bragging rights and the opportunity to select the recipient of a donation to the charity of the winning team’s choosing.
  1. Education, Off-Site Events and Full-Circle Moments – Recharge yourself by helping the next generation find their future in the mechanical contracting industry, Tour MILWAUKEE TOOL and enjoy an evening at the Harley-Davidson Museum.
  1. Complimentary Registration – Open now thru August 30th for all MCAA Members!

MCAA GreatFutures Forum
September 28 – 30th, 2023
Hyatt Regency Milwaukee

Looking to connect with fellow GreatFutures Alumni? Search for the MCAA GreatFutures Alumni group on LinkedIn and request to join.

Postler & Jaeckle Boosts Productivity Using GTP’s STRATUS Manufacturing and Installation Labels

With a goal of eliminating paper in the shop, increasing efficiency in cutting, and using barcode labels to improve shop workflows, Postler & Jaeckle started working with STRATUS software from GTP Services in 2015. Since then, the company has seen a continuous return on investment with STRATUS, most recently by using labels to increase efficiency with hangers.

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.

OSHA Announces Hazard Alert for Heat

On July 27, the Department of Labor (DOL) announced that the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) issued a hazard alert for heat. This action is to remind employers of their obligation to protect workers against heat illness or injury in outdoor and indoor workplaces. The agencies will also step up inspections and enforcement of heat-safety violations in high-risk industries, including construction.

OSHA also released information posters in both English and Spanish related to this hazard alert.

This announcement comes on the heels of a press conference where President Biden asked the DOL to issue the advisory and ramp up enforcement of heat safety violations. “DOL will ramp up enforcement of heat-safety violations, increasing inspections in high-risk industries like construction and agriculture, while OSHA continues to develop a national standard for workplace heat-safety rules,” the White House said in a July 27 fact sheet.

With the unprecedented heat waves most states are experiencing, OSHA also announced it, “will intensify its enforcement where workers are exposed to heat hazards, with increased inspections in high-risk industries like construction…”.

In April, OSHA announced a National Emphasis Program on Heat and in 2021 OSHA began the rulemaking process to consider a heat-specific workplace standard.

Learn more about OSHA’s Heat Illness Prevention Campaign here.