Organization: MCAA

MMC Contractors Avoids Conflicts, Coordinates Processes With Ferguson VDC

As MMC Contractors embarked on building a large central utility plant for a globally recognized corporation in the lower Midwest, Ferguson’s new virtual design and construction (VDC) department became a pivotal partner, identifying potential pitfalls and offering cost-effective solutions for the job. Ferguson is a sponsor of MCAA’s 2021 Virtual Education Conference.

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

Congratulations to the MCAA/CNA Safety Excellence Award Winners for 2020

MCAA and long-time partner in safety CNA congratulate the MCAA/CNA Safety Excellence Award winners for 2020. MCAA President Brian Helm presented the awards during the closing session of the association’s 2021 Virtual Education Conference on March 25, 2021. This year’s winners exhibited exceptional safety leadership, advanced safety cultures, effective leading indicators of safety performance, and innovative safety initiatives in 2020. Watch for articles highlighting each winner’s outstanding safety performance in the coming weeks.

Congratulations from MCAA and CNA to:

  • W.W. Gay Mechanical Contractor, Inc.
  • Icon Mechanical
  • Mall City Mechanical
  • Matrix HG, Inc.
  • Southwest Town Mechanical

Beyond the Classroom Video Series: Participation–The Key to Growth

Adam Crnkovich is currently a Project Manager at the Ray Martin Company and a previous member of the University of Nebraska- Lincoln student chapter. As a student, Adam really enjoyed participating in MCAA’s Student Chapter Competition as it gave him incredible exposure to technical aspects that contractors work on, as well as played a huge role in his understanding of the industry as a whole. 

Additionally, during his time in his student chapter, Adam actively attended MCAA GreatFutures Forums and MCAA Annual Conventions which he says not only helped him continue to learn about the industry and network, but ultimately helped him grow further into his field and as a person. Adam shared participating in these opportunities “gave me a lot more experience that not only understand if this is something I wanted to pursue, but also how I could be better in the industry and grow as a person and career in general.”

Adam loves that the mechanical contracting industry is not only about building things, but building people and relationships, something he has personally benefited from.

MCAA’s Virtual Education Conference Delivered Education & Awards, Welcomed New Leaders

MCAA’s first Virtual Education Conference from March 22-25, 2021 featured top quality education seminars and an interactive exhibit, honored award winners, thanked retiring Board members and welcomed new leaders.  

Top Quality Education & An Interactive Exhibit 

Education sessions showcased topics from emerging trends to driving business growth and identifying potentially critical issues. Participants heard from United Association General President Mark McManus and MCAA President Brian Helm about the importance of our labor and management relationship, and how we can work together toward a meaningful and lasting labor/management partnership. 

The latest technology systems and trends were discussed, along with best practices for adapting to them. Attendees learned how to grow a strong and profitable service business, how to work better with a multi-generational workforce, and how to reduce healthcare costs, increase productivity and improve company culture and the bottom line. 

An interactive exhibit featured presentations by the conference sponsors with plenty of time for questions and answers. 

Congratulations, Award & Scholarship Winners! 

The Closing General Session provided an opportunity to celebrate excellence and offer congratulations to award winners. 

CNA/MCAA Safety Excellence Awards 

MCAA President Brian Helm recognized the MCAA member firms that achieved the highest level of safety excellence last year saying, “There is nothing more important to us than the safety and health of the people on our job sites and in our companies, especially this past year.” 

The winners were: 

  • W.W. Gay Mechanical Contractor, Inc. 
  • Icon Mechanical 
  • Mall City Mechanical  
  • Matrix HG, Inc. 
  • Southwest Town Mechanical 

To be eligible to win a CNA/MCAA Safety Excellence Award, a company has to submit a written application describing its safety and health program in 2020 and why it believes it deserves the award, and an innovation that helped it achieve a high degree of safety excellence last year. Companies are divided into five categories by number of hours worked, and a winner is chosen in each category. 

MILWAUKEE TOOL-MCAA Safety Professional of the Year Award 

MILWAUKEE TOOL Senior Vice President Scott Teson presented the MILWAUKEE TOOL-MCAA Safety Professional of the Year Award to Cheryl Wiese, Safety Director of Modern Companies in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He noted that Cheryl was a key stakeholder in her company’s ability to overcome the many challenges COVID-19 presented, from understanding the science to implementing safe return-to-work protocols and ensuring her team had the proper PPE to return to work and do their jobs safely. 

John R. Gentille Foundation Scholarships 

Mark Rogers, President of the newly renamed John R. Gentille Foundation, announced the recipients of the John R. Gentille Foundation Scholarships. He noted that the students receiving scholarships were selected for their academic performance, leadership skills, interest in developing a career in the mechanical industry, work ethic, and technical abilities. 

The Foster J. McCarl, Jr. Memorial Scholarship 

Ahmed Seck of the University of Maryland College Park received a $5,000 scholarship check in memory of Foster McCarl, Jr., without whose vision there would be no foundation. McCarl’s Inc. (Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania) is the scholarship sponsor. 

The William A. Bianco, Jr. Memorial Scholarship 

Luke Bennett of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln received a $5,000 scholarship check in memory of the foundation’s former President and MCAA Distinguished Service Award (DSA) recipient William A. “Bill” Bianco, Jr. The scholarship is sponsored by Kinetics of Fremont, California. 

The Reilly Family Memorial Scholarship

Masen Dinklage of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln received a scholarship check for $5,000 in honor of the Reilly family, honoring Wayne Reilly, Emmitt Reilly and Patrick Reilly. John W. Danforth Company in Tonawanda, New York, is the scholarship’s sponsor. 

The Alan O’Shea Memorial Scholarship 

Parker Scott Filius of Purdue University and Jakob Cimino of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln each received a $2,500 scholarship check in honor of Alan O’Shea. MCA of New Jersey is the scholarship’s sponsor. 

FERGUSON – Women in the Mechanical Industry Scholarship

Kimberly Sikkema of Ferris State University and Sarah Galan of Wentworth Institute of Technology each received a $5,000 scholarship, sponsored by Ferguson, for worthy female students invested in career in the mechanical contracting industry. 

Josam Endowed Scholarship

Hailey Brennan of the University of Maryland, College Park received a $2,500 scholarship underwritten by the Josam Company. This scholarship category was added last year and offers established a $2,500 annual scholarship for students pursuing a degree in Construction Management, Mechanical Engineering or a similar field. Provided that all qualifications are met each year, the recipients will receive the scholarship in their sophomore, junior AND senior years. 

New Student Chapter Chartered

MCAA welcomed its newest student chapter by granting a charter to Utica College in Utica, New York. The new chapter is sponsored by The Mechanical Contractors Association of the Capital District. 

Educator of the Year 

Dr. Sherif Attallah of Ball State University was recognized as the Educator of the Year based on his mentoring, industry knowledge, involvement, and active participation in MCAA’s Student Chapter program activities. In addition to a trophy, he received a check for $5,000. 

Student Chapter of the Year 

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln was selected as this year’s Student Chapter of the Year. The Career Development Committee chose the winner after evaluating how well the chapter promotes an understanding of the mechanical industry and the career opportunities we offer. They received a check for $3,000. 

MCAA Student Chapter Competition 

Fairleigh Dickinson University won the top prize of $10,000 and a trophy for their work on this year’s Student Chapter Competition project, which required student chapters to act as the prime contractor on the renovation project to the historic University of Pennsylvania Museum.  

Virginia Tech Blacksburg Campus was the runner-up team, placing second and receiving a trophy and check for $5,000. 

Kansas State University and Missouri State University rounded out the final four. Each of these finalists received $2,500. 

Six additional teams that just missed the final four were recognized with checks for $1,000. They are, in alphabetical order: 

  • Ball State University 
  • Binghamton University 
  • McMaster University 
  • Purdue University 
  • University of Maryland College Park 
  • The University of Missouri Columbia 

Thank You to Retiring Board of Directors Members 

President Helm expressed MCAA’s thanks to retiring Board members, saying, “We appreciate all their time and talents, and they will certainly be missed on the Board. We thank you for your service as a member of the MCAA Board of Directors!” 

Troy Aichele 
Nashville, Tennessee 

Gary Grandchamp 
Kirlin Group 
Rockville, Maryland 

Ken Harbour 
Cleveland Mechanical Services 
Atlanta, Georgia 

Bob Hightower 
Apollo Mechanical Contractors 
Kennewick, Washington 

Bill Hughes 
MILWAUKEE TOOL 
Mickelton, New Jersey 

Mike Brandt 
Immediate Past President, MCAA 
Smith and Oby Company 
Walton Hills, Ohio 

Welcome, New Leaders 

President Helm shared some final words before passing the gavel to MCAA’s 2021 President, Armand Kilijian. President Kilijian introduced the Executive Committee and new Board members who will lead the association in the coming year.  

Executive Committee 

Immediate Past President 
Brian Helm 
The Helm Group 

President-Elect 
Bob Bolton 
Arden Building Companies 

Senior Vice President and Treasurer 
Robert Beck 
John W. Danforth Company 

Vice President and Assistant Treasurer 
Rick Gopffarth 
Dynamic Systems 

New Board Members 

Each of the following has been elected to a three-year term on MCAA’s Board of Directors. 

  • Shaabini Alford, Murray Company 
  • John Dineen, Postler & Jaekle Corporation 
  • Jim Gaffney, Goshen Mechanical 
  • John Marlow, US Engineering Construction 
  • Parthiv Amin, SLOAN 

President Kilijian congratulated the new Board members before delivering his first address to the association as its president, saying: 

“I look forward to continued collaboration and innovation as we see what the pandemic throws at us next and what our “next normal” will look like. There has never been a better time to be an MCAA member.” 

Armand Kilijian, MCAA President

Resource Highlight: MCAA BIM & Prefabrication Resources

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 two SmartMarket reports developed in partnership Dodge Data & Analytics. The reports on BIM and prefabrication will help contractors understand the benefits, challenges and opportunities presented by these technologies.

In his remarks at MCAA’s Virtual Education Conference, MCAA President Armand Kilijian identified fabrication of duct, pipe, and building systems as one example of a technology that, once implemented in a company’s culture, can reap yearly benefits. These reports provide the legwork needed to get started with or expand use of both BIM and prefabrication.

You Might Also Like These Related Resources

If you have questions about MCAA’s Innovative Technologies Initiative, which developed these resources, please contact Sean McGuire.

MCAA and Leading Experts Discuss What Recent Multiemployer Pension Reforms Will Mean for Your Company

What do the multiemployer pension reforms in the Butch Lewis Emergency Pension Plan Relief Act of 2021 (signed into law by President Biden in the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 on March 11, 2021) mean for your company? MCAA’s John McNerney is joined by leading industry experts Earl Pomeroy of Alston & Bird and Josh Shapiro of The Groom Law Group to lay out the details of the law, the questions remaining to be answered in regulations issued by the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation in the 1,200 days from enactment, and what it will mean for your plans and the industry overall. Mr. Shapiro and Mr. Pomeroy will also speak about remaining reform items to be addressed in upcoming enactment of Composite Plans and perhaps also new and improved Variable Benefit plan options for trustees to consider.

About the Presenters

Former Congressman Earl Pomeroy, who served in Congress for 18 years, and as a member of the prestigious House Ways and Means Committee, was the lead sponsor of the Pomeroy-Tiberi pension reform proposal as early as 2010. He is currently consulting with MCAA on pension reform issues.

Josh Shapiro is a leading actuarial expert on multiemployer pension issues in Washington, D.C., having served as the research and policy director at the National Coordinating Committee for Multiemployer Plans, and for the past eight years as a pension/actuarial advisor at The Groom Law Group in Washington, D.C. For many years, Mr. Shapiro and Groom Law Group have served as advisors to MCAA on pension and other employee benefits policy issues.

John McNerney is MCAA’s General Counsel. He also serves as executive director of government and labor relations at MCAA, collaborating with other specialty construction employer groups and the United Association to advance legislative and policy positions in MCAA members’ best interests.

Highlighting NEI Instructor Tom Williams

MCAA’s National Education Initiative (NEI) Seminars bring our best programs to your local association or your company thanks to instructors like Tom Williams, a retired mechanical contractor who shows contractors how to prosper while adding value to the complete construction process.

Before his retirement, Tom was the president of construction at McKenney’s, Inc. a multi-disciplined construction and engineering firm with offices in Atlanta, Georgia and Charlotte, North Carolina. During that time, McKenney’s annual revenues grew from $3 million dollars to $145 million dollars, posting profitable years every year after 1977.

Tom’s passion for teaching industry professionals to improve both their hard and soft skills is well known throughout the industry. He taught at MCAA’s Institute for Project Management (IPM) for thirty years and led development of MCAA’s Planning for Profitability: Your Guide to Successful Preconstruction Planning and Successful Project Management Flowchart. (The latter was also the basis for the recently released Successful VDC Management Flowchart.)

His Project Profitability (PP) Seminars for Construction teach company principals, top executives, foremen and key project management staff how to improve jobsite and office productivity while enhancing the value delivered to customers. The seminars provide those who attend with a better understanding of the construction process, the keys to productivity, and what can be done to maximize jobsite profitability.

Like our other NEI instructors, Tom brings his unique blend of industry and teaching experience to virtual courses, a new NEI offering. Providing top notch, accessible education for everyone in your organization is what the MCAA’s NEI is all about! Even during the COVID-19 era. Visit the NEI website for more information about these seminars and a full list of the NEI courses available to MCAA members.

Mike Star Among Contractors Sharing Opportunities & Challenges for 2021 in ACHR News

MSCA Board of Managers Chair Mike Star is among the contractors who spoke with ACHR News about the opportunities and challenges they expect to see in 2021. He credits “having the MSCA family for brainstorming and a sounding board” with helping his company make it through the COVID-19 pandemic. In the year ahead, he expects to see an increase in major renovations, IAQ products and upgraded and remote controls.

Find the Latest from Jay R. Smith Mfg. Co.® and Wheatland Tube 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:

Jay R. Smith Mfg. Co.® a Member of Morris Group International
Trap primer adapters are connected to the floor drain outlet prior to the P-trap. They can be rotated in any direction prior to bonding providing a quick and cost-saving installation. Available in multiple connection types and sizes and made from either PVC or ABS.

Learn More
Wheatland Tube SureThread Continuous Weld Pipe

Wheatland Tube
The uniform grain structure of SureThread™ continuous weld standard pipe delivers exceptional strength and allows for each threading, bending and cutting – making installation fast.

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

Saladino Mechanical Cuts Down Time, Costs With Uponor’s PEX Products

Saladino Mechanical of Kansas City, MO, won the bid for a college dorm renovation by specifying Uponor’s PEX piping rather than more costly copper—a move that saved the contractor time and money during installation. The dorm’s new plumbing system is also more efficient, saving energy and conserving water. Uponor is a sponsor of MCAA’s 2021 Virtual Education Conference.

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

MCAA Among Supporters of Bill Strengthening Financial Security for Infrastructure Projects

MCAA is among supporters of legislation reintroduced earlier this week that would increase the financial security of federal infrastructure projects. A recent article in Transportation Today highlights the legislation reintroduced by U.S. Sens. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Mike Rounds (R-SD), along with U.S. Sens. Stephen F. Lynch (D-MA) and Troy Balderson (R-OH), Promoting Infrastructure by Protecting Our Subcontractors and Taxpayers Act of 2021.

Resource Highlight: MCAA’s Lockout/Tagout Safety Resources

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 lockout/tagout safety resources, which can help keep workers safe when they work with and around stored energy.

MCAA has received several recent inquiries about lockout/tagout safety procedures for various mechanical construction and service applications. Lockout/tagout refers to a process for working safely with and around stored energy that can be hazardous to our workers if appropriate protective measures are not implemented and performed correctly. Among other applications, lockout/tagout applies to safe pressure testing operations, safe line breaking, and working safely around energized electrical equipment.

MCAA’s Lockout/Tagout Safety Resources Include

You Might Also Like These Related Resources

Safety resources for safe pressure testing, which address lockout/tagout:

Safety resources for safe line breaking:

Have Questions or Need Personal Assistance?

Contact MCAA’s Pete Chaney.

Highlighting NEI Instructor Kevin Dougherty

MCAA’s National Education Initiative (NEI) Seminars bring our best programs to your local association or your company thanks to instructors like Kevin Dougherty, who provides tangible solutions to today’s problems in an easy-to-listen-to style.

Kevin has been speaking to the construction industry for over 30 years, including presentations for MCAA, MSCA, the UA and other trade associations. His work and education experience enable him to relate to today’s problems and provide tangible solutions in an easy-to-listen-to style. Kevin’s ability to entertain audiences and hold their interest while getting his message across consistently makes him one of the industry’s top speaking and training talents.

His Service Training Series (STS) Seminars for Service are designed for service professionals to enhance the company’s strength in providing quality service to their customers. The series covers fundamental principles of effective leadership and communication, the value of customer service and more.

Like our other NEI instructors, Kevin brings his unique blend of industry and teaching experience to virtual courses, a new NEI offering. Providing top notch, accessible education for everyone in your organization is what the MCAA’s NEI is all about! Even during the COVID-19 era. Visit the NEI website for more information about these seminars and a full list of the NEI courses available to MCAA members.

Connect With the Latest Training from SLOAN and LAARS, a Bradford White 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
There are many power supply options available for Sloan touch-free sensor faucets. Learn how to evaluate these choices and determine which power option choice may be best for your facility.

Learn More

LAARS, a Bradford White Company
Laars Academy is our commitment to ensure our industry professionals have the training and knowledge needed to stay on top. Watch a recorded training session on Laars MagnaTherm FT at www.laars.com.

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

2021 WiMI Conference Update

We have regrettably made the decision to reschedule the 2021 WiMI Conference, originally planned for June 21-23, 2021 at the JW Marriott Austin, to June 2022. We tried our best to make WiMI2021 happen, but we were just not powerful enough to fight a pandemic. Even though the state of Texas may be open, there are still some very strict gathering restrictions in place in Austin, TX and too much uncertainly remains as to what it will be like in June. Safety remains our highest priority. So mark your calendars for June 6–8, 2022 at the JW Marriott Austin when, hopefully, we will be able to meet, learn, connect, catch up, gather, kick up our heels and hug for real as we gather together as the amazing women of MCAA/MSCA.

Webinar to Focus on American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 Provisions for Multiemployer Pension Plans

Horizon Actuarial Services, LLC, and the Groom Law Group will be co-sponsoring a complimentary webinar on the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 provisions for multiemployer pension plans. The webinar, which will address how recent law changes will impact multiemployer pension plans in general, will take place Tuesday, March 23 at 12:00PM EDT. A summary of the changes can also be found on Horizon’s website.

Tuesday, March 23, 2021 | 12:00 p.m. EDT

On March 11, 2021, President Biden signed a significant COVID-19 relief package – the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 – into law. Included in this legislation are several provisions that provide temporary funding relief to multiemployer pension plans, as well as a significant amount of special financial assistance that is available to seriously underfunded plans. The temporary funding relief provisions are broadly available to multiemployer plans, and they allow additional time for plan sponsors to address the investment and other losses incurred in recent years. Significantly underfunded plans can demonstrate eligibility for the special financial assistance based on their funded position in 2020, 2021, or 2022. Initial applications for assistance are due by the end of 2025. Financial assistance will be paid to eligible plans as lump sums that do not need to be repaid, and is intended to keep plans solvent through 2051.

The panelists on this webinar will discuss the development and passage of the legislation, the key funding relief and financial assistance provisions, and the various aspects of the legislation that are not fully clear and may be open to multiple interpretations.

REGISTER TODAY

Important Note: You will receive an email from the Groom Law Group on the morning of March 23rd with the link to access the webinar.

Speakers

  • David Pazamickas – Horizon Actuarial
  • Mariah Becker – NCCMP
  • Michael Kreps – Groom Law Group
  • Jason Russell – Segal Consulting
  • Brigen Winters – Groom Law Group

If you have questions on how the law may impact your specific plan, please contact your Horizon Actuarial consultant.

Meet the Final Four Teams in MCAA’s 2020-2021 Student Chapter Competition

MCAA is so excited that our Virtual Education Conference (VEC) | Essential Learning for Unconventional Times, is almost here! Next week starts off with MCAA’s Annual Student Chapter Competition on Monday, March 22nd from 12:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. ET and you will not want to miss it. Get to know the final four teams before the big competition!

Fairleigh Dickinson University

MCAA’s student chapter at Fairleigh Dickinson University was chartered in 2003. Wonjae Choi, Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering, is the current faculty advisor.

The FDU chapter has entered the MCAA Student Chapter Competition every year since 2004. They competed in the Final Four at the 2018 MCAA Convention in San Antonio. In 2010, 2015, 2017 and 2019, the chapter placed in the top 10 and received a Certificate of Merit recognizing their achievement.  

The chapter received Emerging Chapter grants in 2004 and 2007. They also received a Chapter of Excellence Grant in 2005, 2015, 2017, 2018 and 2020.

Meet Fairleigh Dickinson’s competition team: 
(The competition team consisted of all Mechanical Engineering majors)
Francis Castro, Class of 2021
Keion Oglesby, Class of 2021
Andrew Sayad, Class of 2022
Natalie Stanton, Class of 2021
Alejandro Zapata, Class of 2021

Kansas State University 

Kansas State University’s chapter received its charter at the 2010 Convention in San Francisco. The chapter’s current faculty advisors are Paul Karr and Jongchul Song. KSU has consistently participated in the student competition since 2011. Chapter members have attended all of the MCAA Conventions and Student Chapter Summits and GreatFutures Forums since it was chartered. 

The chapter received an Emerging Chapter Grant in 2011, 2014 and again in 2019. They received a Chapter of Excellence Grant in 2018 and 2020.

Meet Kansas State University’s competition team: 
Annie Burnam, Construction Science and Management, Class of 2021
Collin Champagne, Construction Science and Management, Class of 2022
Carlos Espino, Architectural Engineering, Class of 2024
Kayla Huffman, Architectural Engineering, Class of 2022
Trevor Waggoner, Architectural Engineering , Class of 2022
Peyton Winter, Construction Science and Management, Class of 2024

Missouri State University

Missouri State’s student chapter was charted in the Spring of 2017 and the chapter has been incredibly involved in MCAA’s Career Development Initiative, attending every GreatFutures Forum and Convention since. Jacob Nelson is the current faculty advisor. 

Meet Missouri State University’s competition team: 
(The competition team consisted of all Construction Management majors)
Nathan Bextermueller, Class of 2022
Cole Eiler, Class of 2021
Tanner Hartman, Class of 2021
Cabriah Hillman, Class of December 2021
Keagan Hosman, Class of 2022
Ryan Sweeny, Class of 2023

Virginia Tech, Blacksburg Campus

MCAA’s student chapter at Virginia Tech, Blacksburg Campus was chartered in 2007. The chapter has consistently participated in MCAA events, and their local MCA of Metro Washington hosted MCAA’s last GreatFutures Forum in Washington, D.C. in 2019. 

Most recently, their student chapter was awarded an Emerging Chapter Grant in 2020. 

Georg Reichard, PhD, PE has been the faculty advisor of this student chapter from the start and still stands as the faculty advisor today. 

Meet the Virginia Tech Blacksburg Campus competition team: 
(The competition team consisted of all Building Construction majors)
Ke’Aja (KJ) Jefferson, Class of 2021
Andrew Nguyen, Class of 2021
Justin Zeigmont, Class of December 2021

MCAA and the John R. Gentille Foundation (JRGF) congratulate all of the finalists and recognize their commitment and dedication to this year’s project. 

Find the Latest from ATP Learning Solutions (ATP) and ServiceTrade 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:

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
ServiceTrade Virtual Trade Show

ServiceTrade
ServiceTrade is customer service, sales, and service management software for mechanical service companies.

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

What to Look for in OSHA’s COVID-19 NEP

There may be some good news regarding OSHA’s new National Emphasis Program (NEP) on enforcing worker protections against COVID-19. Despite the Office of the Inspector General’s February 2021 recommendation that OSHA promulgate an Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) on COVID-19, it appears that the agency will postpone development of an ETS in favor of the NEP. Here’s what you should know about the NEP to protect your company from OSHA citations.

NEP INSPECTION TYPES

Unprogrammed Inspections

  • OSHA’s primary emphasis will be on unprogrammed inspections triggered by

1st Fatalities;

2nd Complaints; and/or

3rd Referrals.

Programmed Inspections

  • OSHA’s secondary emphasis will be on programmed inspections.
  • There are two tiers of “high risk” employers being targeted by OSHA, Primary Target Industries and Secondary Target Industries.
  • The agency’s emphasis concerning programmed inspections first will be on Primary Target Industries, such as dental care, hospitals, health care, nursing homes, ambulance services, etc.
  • Construction falls into the Secondary Target Industries category along with agriculture, manufacturing, and certain types of transportation.

Programmed Inspections in Construction

Programmed inspection locations will be selected randomly from a list of construction worksites (F.W. Dodge Reports). The emphasis will be on larger projects that are 30% to 60% complete.

What Compliance Officers Will be Looking to Find

OSHA compliance officers will be looking for obvious signs of non-compliance with the agency’s February 2021 COVID-19 Guidance to Prevent the Spread in the Workplace (MCAA Summary). MCAA urges you to pay close attention to your:

  • Prevention Programs;
  • Return to Work Criteria;
  • Social Distancing Measures;
  • Engineering Controls;
  • Face Coverings and PPE; and
  • Sanitization, Cleaning, and Disinfecting Practices.

Probable Citations

  • General Duty Clause
  • Respiratory Protection Standard
  • Personal Protective Equipment Standards

LEARN MORE

Join Us & Learn About the Latest Technology Systems and Emerging Trends Impacting Our Roles in the Mechanical Industry. Don’t Miss MCAA’s Virtual Education Conference, March 22–25.

As part of our Virtual Education Conference (VEC) Essential Learning for Unconventional Times, you will have the opportunity to hear from a group of industry leaders on technology systems and the emerging trends impacting how buildings are designed, constructed and operated in the future.

The session “New Automation Systems Are Changing How We Design, Build and Operate Buildings” will identify new technologies and applications that are impacting our roles in how building systems are installed, commissioned and operated to improve first costs, lifecycle costs and the overall user experience. There will also be an interactive discussion with Manufacturer members and MCAA contractors to address audience questions, explore the impacts on our roles in the building lifecycle and provide feedback and insights with leaders from three of the largest building system manufacturers in the industry.

James Plotz is HVAC Controls Business Performance Leader for Johnson Controls. Brian Estill is Director of Controls Marketing and Strategy for Johnson Controls. Andrew Krenning is Solutions Director for Smart Buildings & Pre-Construction for SIEMENS. Richard Nowak is Head of Automation & Smart Buildings for SIEMENS. Gene Shedivy is Controls Business Development Leader for Trane. Armand Kilijian is President of O’Brien Mechanical, Inc. II.  

Register today and join your MCAA friends and colleagues online at MCAA’s first Virtual Education Conference (VEC) Essential Learning for Unconventional Times, March 22 – 25, 2021. 

Registration is available for individuals and for companies (up to 10 registrants per company registration). Questions can be directed to eventregistration@mcaa.org. We look forward to seeing you in March! 

Thank you, EVAPCO for sponsoring this session and your continued support of MCAA. 

REGISTER NOW