MSCA is holding an in person Sales Leadership Symposium on January 13-14, 2022! Taught by in-the-field industry experts, the Sales Leadership Symposium will teach sales leaders how to drive revenue growth and enhance profitability through a structured sales approach. Attendees will take home innovative ideas, crucial skills and the invaluable SALES LEADERSHIP TOOL KIT, which includes over 90 pages of resources to be an effective sales leader in the HVACR/Plumbing industry
Over the course of the MCAA22 Convention there will be opportunities to hear from inspiring speakers on the topics that matter.
Entrepreneurial Inspiration
Marcus Lemonis will help you change the way you think about your business, and how to find greater success in work and in life. Those who have had the chance to hear his story would say that he is humble, down to earth and 100 percent brutally honest. See him at the Monday, March 14th Opening General Session!
Action through Activism
Geena Davis is not only an Oscar and Golden Globe winner, but a world-class athlete, a member of the genius society Mensa, and is becoming recognized for her tireless advocacy of women and girls. She is also the founder of the non-profit Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media, engaging film and television creators to reduce gender stereotyping. Hear her powerful message at the Tuesday, March 15th Brunch with Geena Davis, sponsored by Ferguson.
Overcome your Challenges
Cris Carter is a pro football hall of famer and longtime sports broadcaster, finishing his football career as the NFL’s second all-time leading receiver with the second-most touchdowns in league history. But Carter’s road to success didn’t come easily. As he made a name for himself in football, he was privately battling addiction off the field. Now, nearly three decades later, Carter shares his profound story with worldwide audiences. Hear his moving story at the Wednesday, March 16th Awards of Excellence Breakfast, sponsored by CNA and Milwaukee Tool.
Disrupt to Compete
Erik Wahl has a simple message: disruption is the new normal and businesses must embrace creativity in a wholesale fashion, or risk being left behind. As an internationally recognized artist, TED speaker, and No. 1 bestselling author, he will lead you through this discussion and help you to choose wisely. Experience his message at the Thursday, March 17th Closing General Session.
Read more about our incredible Keynote Speakers and register for the Convention now.
The future of MCAA is fundamentally linked to the quality of the individuals who serve on its Board of Directors. MCAA members who would like to be considered for one of five vacancies are encouraged to learn more and complete the application. Applications should be returned no later than January 14, 2022. Candidates and their spokespersons will be scheduled for interviews at the 2022 MCAA Annual Convention. Those who are selected will begin their terms in March 2022.
The Baker Group recently hosted 200 contractors to their Des Moines, Iowa operations as part of the 2021 MCAA Fabrication Conference, powered by MSUITE. As hosts, they shared with attendees how they perform every aspect of their operations, including BIM, engineering, multi-trade fabrication, safety and transportation.
“While every one of the 18 stations shared great ideas and opportunities for contractors, the aspect that shined through was how much attention Baker has spent focusing on their process and workflow,” said Sean McGuire, MCAA’s Director of Innovative Technologies. “It is a real accomplishment for an organization of their size to go through that process. By documenting each area of their operations’ workflow, they can assess if it can be improved and allow everyone to understand what to do and how to work together. Rob Cross and his team at the Baker Group have an extremely impressive fabrication operation.”
In addition to the shop tour, the conference included education on cutting-edge practices for fabrication. Amanda Comunale shared top management mistakes in fabrication and Jonathan Marsh discussed how contractors can map their workflows using tools like MCAA’s Successful VDC Management application.
Stacy Zerr and Curt Baker of Waldinger also presented at the conference and shared how they recently redesigned their fab shop to incorporate digital workstations. The software allowed for direct digital integration into their fabrication facility.
The program concluded with a panel discussion led by Britton Langdon on Industry 4.0. The panel talked about how fabrication has evolved to greater emulate manufacturing and how contractors are adapting by incorporating tools that allow them to implement new manufacturing processes. Some of these tools include connected equipment to drive productivity in cutting and welding.
MCAA will hold its next fabrication conference in November of 2022 and will be sponsored by McKinstry Company in Seattle. Leading up to the event, MCAA will host a series of fabrication webinars. Details will be posted on MCAA.org as they become available.
Don’t forget, Student Scholarship and Award Applications are due by Thanksgiving! Don’t miss out on the opportunity to nominate your student chapter for MCAA’s Student Chapter of the Year Award and your Faculty Advisor to be MCAA’s Educator of the Year!
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:
Orbitalum Orbitalum’s product line includes the industry leading GF series saws, RPG facers, Orbimat power supplies, and Orbiweld enclosed weld heads for precision stainless steel tube cutting, facing and welding.
Manufacton by ViZZ Technologies Manufacton is a SaaS (mobile/web) platform that helps construction firms plan, track and manage both prefabrication and regular material handling. The Manufacton platform helps optimize the end-to-end prefabrication process.
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!
There are still a few seats available in the MCAA’s top-level project management training program, the Advanced Institute for Project Management. Class 18 of this annual course will take place in Austin TX, January 31 – February 4, 2022. Intended for senior project managers, project executives, and operations officers, this five-day program will cover a host of topics appropriate to those who are managing multiple large projects, other project managers, a PM department, or the project-driven portion of company operations. Tuition for the course is $2,900. Registration is done online, and will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis. Visit the AIPM webpage where you can learn more about the program and access the registration link.
Atomatic Mechanical Services Inc. credits XOi with helping them manage their workload. “Before using XOi, we were on the brink of having to hire more inside support to handle quotes,” said Jordan Goldenstein, general manager of Atomatic’s residential group. “Now, with this smoother process, we are able to handle the work with our existing personnel.”
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.
On Friday, November 12, 2021, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit continued its stay on the implementation of the OSHA Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) on vaccine mandates and testing pending a full review of the request for a permanent injunction. It also directed OSHA to “take no steps to implement or enforce the mandate until further court order.” MCAA will continue to provide updates as the situation evolves.
As MCAA resumed in-person programming this fall, industry leaders from across the nation gathered at Babson College for this year’s Advanced Leadership Institute. This cohort of executives from both the construction and service sectors studied strategic decision-making, managing organizational change, conflict resolution, and a whole lot more. After two intensive weeks of leadership education, Friday marked the graduation of the 21st Advanced Leadership Instituteclass.
In addition to their 70 hours of classroom instruction, participants conducted independent team research projects in which they tackled current issues facing mechanical contractors and developed best practices for approaching these challenges. And while they were at it, they built a network of peers and made new friendships that we hope will last for a very long time.
As they do every year, participants of the MCAA’s Advanced Leadership Institute wowed their professors with their enthusiasm and engagement. It is this commitment on the part of the participants that makes the ALI experience what it is meant to be – the premiere forum for growth and development of leaders in the mechanical industry.
Graduates of the Advanced Leadership Institute demonstrate time and again that people are what drive our industry to continued and future success. We congratulate the 2021 ALI graduating class, and are proud to continue to facilitate the investment that our member companies make in their leadership.
Admission to MCAA’s flagship educational program is highly competitive, and space is limited. The application for ALI Course 22 will be released in February of 2022. More information.
Each week, MCAA will highlight one or more of the educational resources that are free to MCAA members as a benefit of membership. This week, we focus on MCAA’s 2021 3D Scanning Technology Research Report. The report assesses various laser, non-laser scanning and photogrammetric hardware and software tools used by mechanical contractors. MCAA members stand to benefit from these and other rapidly evolving technologies that can expedite work, increase precision and prevent mistakes.
In addition to scanning, the MCAA’s Construction Technology Research Series explores tracking, layout, design and fabrication technologies using BIM and other tools.
With MSUITE’s FabPro software, Limbach successfully streamlined operations in a pop-up fabrication shop with multiple trades working side-by-side, minimizing assembly and installation time. The combination of exceptional teamwork, technology, and advanced planning led to completion of the project two months early and helped the building owner save $5.6 million.
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.
Hear from three highly successful members of MCAA’s Executive Committee and an MCAA Past President about all aspects of managing a successful mechanical contracting company. Find out what Bob Bolton, Rick Gopffarth, Robert Beck, and Mark Rogers do to make their companies and their people thrive and prosper.
Learn about the latest cybersecurity threats and how to protect and defend yourself and your company from MCAA’s cybersecurity expert Nick Espinosa.
Unlock more meaningful relationships and learn how leading with purpose can help you resolve mental blocks, regulate disruptive emotions and achieve peak performance with Natalie Fikes.
No MCAA convention would be complete without our featured speakers. Here are just a few …
Adam Stelzner, aspiring rock star turned Ph.D. rocket scientist. He’ll inspire you to dare greatly and embrace the power of curiosity, creativity, and courage to do what others say is impossible during his Monday session. Sponsored by Apollo Valves.
Be sure to catch Wednesday morning’s featured speaker Michael Rogers, a technology pioneer, futurist-in-residence and best-selling novelist. Sponsored by Trimble.
There’s much more to explore. See the full program, meet the speakers and learn about everything we have planned for when we reunite in San Diego!
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:
Johnson Controls, Inc. For training services tailored to your specific needs, explore Johnson Controls courses and programs for all your HVAC Controls and Equipment, Fire Systems, and Security. From hands-on to CEU coursework, our comprehensive programs are designed to provide current industry knowledge about today’s connected building environments.
FastEST, Inc. Included with every purchase or lease, FastEST Estimating Software provides online training with one of our experienced team members. Our customer service team is available 24/7 for training and any support you may need! For those who are wanting a more in-depth and hands on training experience, we are hopeful that by mid-year we will start our regional training classes back up. In the meantime please visit our website and the help section of our program for tutorial videos.
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.
Aquatherm LP Engineered from scale- and corrosion-resistant polypropylene, Aquatherm Blue Pipe® is ideal for commercial heating and cooling systems and many other non-potable applications. It is available in sizes ranging from ½-in. to 24-in. to handle any size project. Aquatherm pipe and fittings are connected using virtually leak-free heat fusion, and have an anticipated life span of 50+ years.
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!
MCAA is ‘ALL IN’ for our 19th Annual Safety Directors’ Conference at Disney World in Orlando, Florida, January 18-20, 2022. This conference brings together hundreds of occupational safety and health professionals, MCAA local affiliate executives, United Association safety instructors, principals, owners, and others who have safety and health responsibility.
The conference includes:
20 Knowledgable Speakers Several Hands-On Workshops Team Building at EPCOT
PLUS The 2021 Safety Professional of the Year will be announced
On November 6, 2021, the attorneys general in ten states (Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, Iowa) sued the Biden administration over the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) on COVID-19 that would have been effective immediately. As anticipated, the ETS has been stayed by the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals. MCAA members won’t have to worry about enforcement until the courts hear, and rule on, the lawsuits.
The Baker Group will host 200 contractors in their Des Moines, Iowa operations at the 2021 MCAA Fabrication Conference, powered by MSUITE, starting this Monday, November 8.
This year, the conference will showcase how contractors have begun to digitally integrate their VDC Departments to their fabrication shops using software built for the purpose. What began with BIM software platforms that allowed for projects to be coordinated better across trades has evolved. Up until a few years ago, the digital integration stopped at the VDC department. There was an air gap in the process between the designing and the building or fabricating. Once precise fabrication drawings were spooled and printed, the fabrication department had to go through great pains to make changes in the field and the VDC department.
Now with tools like MSUITE’s FAB Pro and BIM Pro, the digital processes are connected throughout the construction process. Companies like The Baker Group can share design decisions between the VDC group, project managers, the field, and the fabrication shop. Manufacturing tools like Tiger Stops and CNC pipe cutting machines can be driven directly from the software and be used to reduce waste and improve efficiency.
Innovation comes from hard work, grit and the successes and failures that go along with it. If you are fortunate, you can improve your processes from the trials and errors of your peers. The MEP Innovation Conference, powered by Trimble, has developed into the most in-depth conference on construction technology and innovation.
The conference is now a partnership with MCAA, NECA, and SMACNA and will bring in the best innovators from across the MEP spectrum to Tampa, Florida, January 24-26 2022. With the inclusion of over 65 MEP contractors as presenters, each session will present a case study from your peers on how they integrated the latest tools, technology, hardware, and software.
Registration is exclusive to MCAA/MSCA, NECA, and SMACNA members as well as their union affiliated partners.
Registration is open!
COVID restrictions have limited the capacity of this event and it will sell out fast.
Each week, MCAA will highlight one or more of the educational resources that are free to MCAA members as a benefit of membership. This week, we focus on MCAA’s Mechanical Service Safety Training Video and its materials. This video will teach your service techs how to protect themselves from the most common safety hazards in the field.
Your workers will learn:
How to conduct a quick walk-around vehicle inspection
Why it’s important to preplan their days to ensure that they have the right tools, materials and safety equipment on hand
How to protect themselves and others while driving
Why they should check in with their supervisor or someone at the office when working alone
How to safely set up and use ladders
When fall prevention/protection are needed and how to properly protect themselves
How to protect themselves from electrical hazards while working on equipment pushing 480 volts or less
What additional protection is needed when working on equipment pushing more than 480 volts
The video comes with a pocket guide that highlights key training points, a training documentation sheet, a 20-question multiple choice test, and a test answer key.
