Organization: MCAA

There’s a reason that MCAA’s Institute for Project Management (IPM) team love what they do: it’s the students. The members of classes 83 and 84 were no exception. Seventy-two participants from MCAA member companies consistently brought their A-game to every class: from Negotiation to Cost Control, from Scheduling to Change Order Negotiation. With enthusiasm and curiosity, they studied and practiced tried-and-true strategies taught by our seasoned contractor-instructors, asked great questions, and learned as much from each other as from our expert instructors. Congratulations to our newest IPM graduates!

Constantly Reimagined to Address Today’s Challenges

Founded in 1987, MCAA’s Institute for Project Management is older than many of the project managers who attend. But the hallmark of our program is that it is ever-changing and evolving to keep pace with the challenges facing the mechanical industry today. Our curriculum is constantly evaluated and reimagined by our dedicated Project Management Education Committee volunteers; and informed by feedback from our students about what they need to know to be the best project managers (PMs) in the industry. The lessons learned at IPM are invaluable to attendees from companies both big and small.

In-Demand Training Delivers a Great Return on Investment

The IPM is MCAA’s most in-demand project management training program, and so it has enrollment limits. If you have a top-notch PM with 3+ years of experience, sign them up and we will deliver a great return on investment not just for them as individuals, but for your company as a whole.

Registration Will Open January 30 for the Next Classes

Mark your calendars! Registration for our April-start programs will open at 12pm EST on January 30. To learn more about the program, click the button to visit our course webpage.

Baker Group, an MCAA member, is celebrating 60 years in business. Founded as a small plumbing contractor in 1963 on the east side of Des Moines, Baker Group now provides design, installation and servicing solutions to commercial, industrial and institutional building clients. MCAA congratulates the entire Baker Group team on achieving this milestone.

“The strongest indicator of future performance is always past accomplishment,” said Board Chair BJ Baker III, who is the son of founder BJ Baker, Jr. He served as the organization’s CEO from 1984 until transitioning to his current position in 2021. “We are proud of our history and the way we have grown by relentlessly focusing on meeting the evolving needs of clients. This has offered us an opportunity to proactively develop further expertise and expand our reach.”

Headquartered in Ankeny, IA, with locations in Des Moines, Cedar Rapids and Davenport, Baker Group has grown to one of the Midwest’s largest full-service specialty contractors with extensive capabilities accommodate projects ranging from complex mission-critical facilities to small office improvements.

Specifically, Baker Group provides design, installation and service solutions in HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning), plumbing and piping, electrical systems, sheet metal, security systems, fire alarm systems, parking revenue control, compressed air, advanced manufacturing, automation, facility maintenance and operations, and more. 

In 2019, Baker Group became an employee-owned organization. With literal ownership in the organization, employees have been critical to growth. Moving forward, Baker Group is focused on continuing to bring increasingly efficient and innovative design and build services to even the most complex of projects.

“Our future most certainly includes new services and delivery techniques in response to our client needs,” said Gary Bridgewater, the company’s Chief Executive Officer.

Baker agreed, saying, “From our founding, we have been committed to ensuring our clients receive sustainable, high-value products and services; high-quality design and construction; cost-effective installation and on-time completion,” he says. “That is why we are still here and still growing 60 years later. Whatever the project, whatever its size, our employee-owners committed to making sure our clients can always expect the best.”

Only three weeks remain to register for MCAA23 and secure the Early Bird rates! Your convention registration gets you full access to all MCAA23 has to offer including: all major general sessions, education seminars, the Manufacturer/Supplier Council product display and trade show, social events and, of course, a private concert with MatchBox Twenty! However there are also some major unadvertised perks included such as impeccable networking opportunities, the chance to expand your contact list and the opportunity to turn business relationships into friendships that last a lifetime.

You will get out what you put into MCAA23. So please come prepared to be present, to be engaged and to be impressed. Every attendee’s experience will be unique in how they Make Their Moments. How will you make yours? Register today to start your experience.