Incorporating a diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) committee into your company or organization provides endless benefits. Adopting a DEI committee, can aid your company in promoting diversity, addressing biases, increasing employee engagement, building a stronger reputation, proving dedication to ethical responsibilities, and creating an inclusive environment to drive positive change. This bulletin explains how to form a DEI committee and how to maintain and strengthen your commitment to DEI through ongoing efforts and outside support.
Brodee Paul is one of the two recipients of the Alan P. O’Shea Memorial Scholarship. The Mechanical Contractors Association of New Jersey established these scholarships to honor the memory of Alan P. O’Shea, it’s former Executive Director, and to memorialize his many contributions to the mechanical contracting industry. The scholarships were presented by Richard Tomaiko (MCA of New Jersey President) and Phillip Petillo (MCA of New Jersey Executive Director).
Brodee is the President of his student chapter at the University of Nebraska and will be graduating from their five-year program with a Master’s in Architectural Engineering in May 2026. He’s currently interning with MCAA Member, The Waldinger Corporation.
“I joined my MCAA student chapter for two main reasons: First, to connect with fellow chapter members, as well as other student chapters and industry professionals across the nation. I wanted to join a body of people who have similar interests as me, but different experiences in their route to success.
The second reason was because of the many opportunities to give back to the organization. When I joined the chapter, I was elected as Recruitment Chair and I was taken out of my comfort zone in order to inform the students within my program what the MCA-Omaha student chapter provides as an organization. I had one of the most successful years of recruitment in Omaha and I’m proud to share it!
I’ve also been selected for multiple MCAA conferences where I had the honor of meeting so many individuals in this industry, as well as the individuals who lead our organization. I joined because of the benefits I could receive, but stayed because I want to contribute more to my chapter.”
MCAA and the John R. Gentille Foundation congratulate Brodee on this prestigious scholarship and thank the MCA of New Jersey for their commitment to supporting students interested in pursuing a career in the mechanical contracting industry.
Calling all Safety Professionals. Have you ever wanted to present at a national Safety & Health Conference?
Now is your chance to share your knowledge and expertise with hundreds of attendees from all over the country at the 2024 Safety & Health Conference in Tucson, AZ, January 16-18, 2024.
Submissions are due July 14th, 2023. Proposals must be submitted using the link below.
Please email raffi@mcaa.org for any questions about presenting.
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:
NIBCO INC. The NIBCO® 585HP High Performance ball valve and the revolutionary technology used in its construction, use, and performance. The 585HP includes patented, laser-welded construction (designed to eliminate potential leak paths), high-quality lead-free Performance Bronze®, and an easily reversible handle. With a pressure rating of up to 1,000 psi CWP and 150 SWP, the NIBCO 585HP ball valve is the perfect fit for drinking water, HVAC, isolation or throttling, or domestic hot and cold water piping operations.
Craftmark Pipe Markers Precoiled and pretensioned plastic snap on markers meet ASME/ANSI A13.1-2020 Scheme for the Identification of Piping Systems. MCAA members receive a 30% discount and free shipping on all pipe markers!
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!
Silicon Valley Mechanical, a full-service mechanical contractor in San Jose, CA, rapidly improved productivity and increased efficiency by putting PypeServer software into place. Here, Jamie Garza, detail manager, and Dean Garza, piping shop general foreman at Silicon Valley Mechanical, describe how they achieved those gains.
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.
The MCAA Fabrication Conference boasts a rich history of bringing together professionals from the mechanical contracting and fabrication industries. Now in its 24th year, the conference has grown to be a pivotal event, serving as a platform for industry leaders, innovators, and experts to share their knowledge, insights, and best practices. With a focus on cutting-edge technologies, process improvements, and collaboration, the MCAA Fabrication Conference has continually evolved to address the ever-changing landscape of the mechanical contracting world, fostering a community of professionals dedicated to advancing the industry and ensuring its sustainable growth.
Expanded Tours
While always popular, the conference has always been limited to the tour capacity of the host contractor. This year that changes. While UMC, Inc. will serve as the primary conference host, three additional contractors have agreed to have smaller tour groups through their facility as well. The 2023 conference will offer more tour options in a streamlined format.
UMC, Inc. – Primary tour host featuring a new 90,000 ft2 fabrication facility featuring piping and plumbing as well as a look at their digitally integrated fabrication process.
SJS Mechanical – One of the premier multi-family contractors in the US with a unique facility that focuses on light commercial and plumbing fabrication.
Shinn Mechanical – Innovative Seattle contractor that focuses on industrial and commercial markets, this tour will focus on their sprinkler fabrication, while highlighting their other fabrication solutions.
MacDonald Miller – Full-service design-build contractor with 11 locations and over 1,000 employees. Their tour offers a look at their Sheet Metal fabrication abilities.
Updated Education
While tours remain an important component to the MCAA Fabrication Conference, additional ideas, education, and innovation are increasingly important. The format of the conference is expanding so that the tour is not the only educational offering for attendees. This year’s conference will now include:
Contractor Case Studies – Learn from how others are doing it.
Breakout sessions – Repeated so you don’t miss it while on a tour.
Lean Workshops – Hands on exercises to demonstrate lean concepts.
Expanded Exhibit – Expanded beyond the reception through entire first day.
Uncapped Attendee Limit – The two per MCAA member rule has been removed.
The MCA of Western Washington (MCAWW) announced the winners of its annual MCAWW Safety Excellence Awards at its June 7, 2023 member luncheon. The awards went to JH Kelly, UMC, Holmberg Mechanical, Stirrett-Johnsen and PSR Mechanical, all also MCAA members. Congratulations to all the winners!
The awards were based on safety achievements and performance in 2022 and were awarded in 5 hours categories. The award winners were determined by a panel of independent judges consisting of a general contractor, a state regulator, and a university professor with a background in safety and health.
The winners of this year’s awards by category are:
1M Hours and More – JH Kelly
500,000 Hours to 999,999 Hours – UMC
150,001 – 499,999 Hours – Holmberg Mechanical
100,000 to 150,000 Hours – Stirrett-Johnsen
Under 100,000 Hours – PSR Mechanical
The awards were presented by MCAWW Board President Jeff White and Scott Middleton, MCAWW’s General Counsel and Government Affairs Director.
MCAA congratulates all the winners for their outstanding commitment to safety.
The MCAA GreatFutures Job Board is a tool to post entry-level full-time positions and internships that are directed at MCAA Student Chapter Members. Post a job now and then register for the GreatFutures Forum (student-focused conference) to meet candidates in person in Milwaukee on September 28-30th. The Job Fair is on the morning of September 29th and registration for the entire conference is complimentary for MCAA Members. Registration is currently available and closes August 30th .
One of the classic mistakes that owners of mechanical contracting firms often make when transferring ownership of their company is not fully exploring all their options. MCAA’s Business Transition Options for the Mechanical Contractor reviews the various options for transferring ownership of a company and showcases the advance planning and analysis needed for a successful transfer. It’s just one of MCAA’s educational resources that are free to MCAA members as a benefit of membership.
The bulletin covers:
How owner motives drive decisions
Understanding the tradeoffs necessary to meet the owner’s objectives
Transfer channels available
The valuation and liquidity issues associated with external vs. internal transfers
In the related podcast, host Bob Lindbloom and co-host Rob Armistead discuss Exit Strategy Planning with Mario Vicari, business advisor to privately-held companies at Kreisher Miller. Play the podcast directly from the WebBook, or listen and subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or Google Play.
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 Hygiene-friendly sinks have become essential post-pandemic. This course is designed to inform general contractors, architects, and interior designers how hygiene can be incorporated into sink design.
Explore critical topics such as management, personnel, finance, service technology, training, and recruiting issues. This is the only industry conference specifically geared to service companies and the unique challenges and issues they face. Also included is an exhibit of products and services that can help you run your business more efficiently. Education sessions will help you make your time, resources, and personnel go farther. Plus, there are expanded opportunities for structured networking and peer group discussions as well as numerous social events.
Explore critical topics such as management, personnel, finance, service technology, training, and recruiting issues. This is the only industry conference specifically geared to service companies and the unique challenges and issues they face. Also included is an exhibit of products and services that can help you run your business more efficiently. Education sessions will help you make your time, resources, and personnel go farther. Plus, there are expanded opportunities for structured networking and peer group discussions as well as numerous social events.
Explore critical topics such as management, personnel, finance, service technology, training, and recruiting issues. This is the only industry conference specifically geared to service companies and the unique challenges and issues they face. Also included is an exhibit of products and services that can help you run your business more efficiently. Education sessions will help you make your time, resources, and personnel go farther. Plus, there are expanded opportunities for structured networking and peer group discussions as well as numerous social events.
Explore critical topics such as management, personnel, finance, service technology, training, and recruiting issues. This is the only industry conference specifically geared to service companies and the unique challenges and issues they face. Also included is an exhibit of products and services that can help you run your business more efficiently. Education sessions will help you make your time, resources, and personnel go farther. Plus, there are expanded opportunities for structured networking and peer group discussions as well as numerous social events.
We are thrilled to share some exciting news with you! In our continuous efforts to enhance your user experience, we will soon be implementing a significant upgrade to the WebLEM login process. Say hello to Single Sign-On (SSO)!
With SSO, we are replacing the traditional login method with a streamlined and secure authentication process. This change aims to make accessing WebLEM a breeze, providing you with a more seamless and convenient experience.
How It Works
Once you log in to the MCAA website as a member or WebLEM subscriber, you will automatically be logged into the WebLEM. No additional login steps required! It’s that simple. To access WebLEM, click on Resources tab and then WebLEM.
In the event that you visit www.weblem.org directly (see below), you will be automatically redirected to the MCAA website. If you have already signed in to MCAA.org, you will have instant access to the WebLEM without the need for a separate login.
We believe that this upgrade will greatly enhance your overall user experience, making it easier than ever to access and utilize the valuable resources the WebLEM.
We are excited about the SSO and are confident that you’ll appreciate the improved login process. With the upcoming SSO implementation, each WebLEM user will have their own unique login credentials. Gone are the days of relying on shared credentials that your WebLEM administrator had to update and distribute to all users within your company. This change ensures greater security and individual accountability for your WebLEM access.
Please Note
Due to the transition to SSO, your company admin may have to regenerate your subscriber token and/or the API key. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause, but this step is essential to ensure a secure and uninterrupted login experience. The good news is that now you can find out who your company administrator is by simply clicking on the drop-down box located at the top right-hand corner of the WebLEM page.
We understand that change can sometimes be challenging, but we firmly believe that this shift to SSO will greatly improve your WebLEM experience. Our team is working diligently to make this transition as seamless as possible.
We will be rolling out this upgrade soon. We appreciate your continued support and patience during this upgrade.
Morebodi Sebadieta is the recipient of the Viega – Joe Pikus Scholarship. Upon the news that Joe would soon be retiring, Viega wanted to commemorate his passion for student learning by naming a scholarship in his honor. This new scholarship is available to an active participant of an MCAA student chapter, who is a junior or senior, majoring in construction management, with a 3.5 GPA or higher, who participated in the student chapter competition, and most importantly, who is committed to a career in mechanical contracting, demonstrated through an internship.
Morebodi is studying construction management at California State University, Chico and anticipates graduating in December 2023. He has been interning at Kinetics since May 2022 and is planning on continuing his internship with them this summer as a Project Engineer.
“The technicality of mechanical systems is what has kept me interested in this industry. I’ve learned quite a lot from my internship, especially with process piping. I consider mechanical contractors specialists in the construction industry, which really intrigues me.
Five years after graduation I see myself being a Project Manager and running projects for a mechanical contractor. The more I hear about something, the more I want to learn and perfect it. Mechanical construction is not any different. I’m eager to learn more about mechanical and joined the MCAA and ASC competitions to help me gain as much knowledge and experience as I can before graduating.”
MCAA and the John R. Gentille Foundation congratulate Morebodi on this prestigious scholarship and thank Viega for their commitment to supporting students interested in pursuing a career in the mechanical contracting industry.
In a new fleet safety series, CNA, a member of MCAA’s Manufacturer/Supplier Council, offers MCAA members four infographic posters around the most common claim, auto safety. The posters address common issues including: tips to reduce auto accidents, situational awareness while driving, driving under the influence, and understanding distracted driving. MCAA thanks CNA for sharing these valuable safety resources with the entire membership.
Think about this:
In 2020, almost 3,000 fatal and over 200,000 nonfatal distraction-related motor vehicle accidents occurred.
Commercial drivers are six times more likes to be involved in a critical event when participating in handheld browser activities.
In 2020, there were fewer vehicles on the road, but the decrease in miles driven did not correlate to fewer accidents.
Even with an 11% decrease in miles driven, vehicle accident deaths rose by 8.3%.
Download the four infographics to share with your team. The more conscious we all are of how to prevent auto accidents, the more likely we are to avoid them, and that’s good for everyone!
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:
Morris Group International Meet the Maintenance Advantage® key tool from Murdock Mfg., a division of MGI. This all-in-one tool unlocks all the maintenance features on the Water Cooler and Bottle Filler with EZ Door™ filter.
Autodesk, Inc. Success in a changing market comes from your ability to adapt while doing more with less. With improved collaboration throughout the project lifecycle, savings in time and money, and new capabilities like precision prefabrication, BIM makes the difference between surviving and thriving. Learn how the integrated tools in the AEC Collection can help you achieve better business outcomes.
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!
In recent years, the power needed to heat or cool buildings has fallen dramatically with the focus on reducing energy consumption and minimizing the environmental impact of HVAC installations. The flow rates in our installations are much lower now than in the past, especially if we use modulating controls on the terminal units. Here, IMI Hydronic Engineering explains the issues around low flow rates in boilers, cooling units, and pumps; solutions to guarantee the minimum flow rate; and effective ways to control low flow rates.
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.
The 2023 MCAA Safety Statistics & Awards program recognizes member company safety performance from 2022. This year the MCAA Safety Excellence Initiative is proud to recognize 86 MCAA members companies. All applicants receive a valuable benchmarking report that will allow them to compare their own 2022 incidence rates with the aggregate rates of the other participating MCAA companies overall, those in the same size category, and with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics incidence rates.
Across the board MCAA contractors have an average recordable rate of 1.2, lower than our own rate last year, and significantly lower than our industry in general by over 60%. As far as lost workday cases go, MCAA members once again performed better than last year with a .27 rate compared to non-members rate of 1.9.
Those who qualified also received a certificate of recognition.
The program provides six awards categories including awards for zero recordable cases, zero lost workday cases, recordable cases incidence rates that are 25% or more below the industry average, lost workday cases incidence rates that are 25% or more below the industry average, and two that are a mix of these items.
MCAA is pleased to give the following contractors special recognition for their safety performance.
Congratulations to all award winners and thank you to everyone who submitted. MCAA members’ focus on safety & health is objectively above average and your support of this programs highlights your company’s commitment to safety.
