Career Stage: Project Manager

Fundamentals of Service (FOS) Seminars for Service

These seminars are designed to focus on the building blocks of what makes a healthy and successful service company, with an emphasis on customer service, team-building and effective communication.

These courses are eligible for a 20% rebate on instructor fees, up to $5,000 per class. This benefit is available only to MCAA members and local affiliates in good standing who book courses via the NEI Initiative portal.

Seminars taught by Woody Woodall include:

FOS 100: Customer Service Class Outline
FOS 101: Project Management for Service Outline
FOS 102: Transition from Field Tech to Office Professional

Financial Development Series (FDS) Seminars for Service and Construction

Through a series of questions about the audience, area of focus, market, organizational structure, and depth of required knowledge, Leah will create a workshop or series of workshops specifically addressing desired objectives and application of construction and service financial knowledge. Target audiences can range from service teams and technicians to project managers and support staff and to field crews and supervision. Workshops address foundational, intermediate, or advanced topics for your identified group and will include direct application and practice to relevant projects, service work, and company financials.

Seminars taught by Leah Gutmann include:

FDS 100: Mechanical Service Financial Management
FDS 101: Financial Management for The Project Manager – The Basics
FDS 102: Construction Foundations for Foremen
FDS 103: Financial Management for the Mechanical Contractor
FDS 104: Mechanical Construction: The Bigger Financial Picture

Project Profitability (PP) Seminars for Construction

Company principals, top executives, foremen and key project management staff will learn to improve jobsite and office productivity, while enhancing the value delivered to customers. These seminars will help one better understand the construction process, the keys to productivity, and what can be done to maximize jobsite profitability.

Seminars taught by Tom Williams include:

PP 100: Changing Behavior on a Problem Job
PP 101: Jobsite Productivity: How to Protect It…How to Improve It
PP 102: Six Habits of the Highly Productive Foreman
PP 103: Six Habits of the Highly Productive Project Manager
PP 104: Managing Change Orders and Documenting Construction Disputes
PP 105: Developing a Competitive Edge Through Planning
PP 106: Communication for Foremen and Project Managers

Other Seminars (OS) for Construction

This seminar is directed towards individuals with at least 5-10 years of experience in managing mechanical construction projects. Company leadership and experienced project management personnel will find great value in the class.

These courses are subsidized by MCAA. No rebate is available.

Seminars taught by John Koontz, MCAA Director, Project Management Education, include:

OS 100: Creating Highly Effective Foremen/Project Manager Partnerships
OS 101: Inside the Great Mechanical Contractors: How do the “Great” Differ from the “Good”?
OS 102: Change Orders, Productivity, Overtime: Understanding and Using the MCAA Management Methods Committee Developed Manual

Strategic Management (SM) Seminars for Construction

Owners, management team and project managers will benefit from these seminars built to help you strategically manage risk. You will gain insights into proven methods for developing effective strategic plans and key factors to implement and maintain them. Best of Class focus on key areas like” cash, risk, profit and family dynamics give participants great “take-home” value that can be implemented at once.

Seminars taught by Jim McCarl include:

SM 100: Strategic Planning–Your Springboard To Success
SM 101: Advanced Strategic Planning Workshop
SM 102: Risk Management for the Savvy Mechanical Contractor
SM 103: Succession Planning…or Else
SM 104: Profit Is Not a Dirty Word
SM 105: Cash is King
SM 106: How to Build a “Best of Class” Company
– Session One: A Different DEJA-VU
– Session Two: Proactive Planning
SM 107: The forgotten heroes….our support team.

Fundamentals of Project Management (FPM) Seminars

These seminars are specifically directed to junior and senior level project management personnel such as field engineers, project engineers, assistant project managers, project managers, senior project managers, estimators, senior estimators, etc.

These courses are subsidized by MCAA. No rebate is available.

Seminars taught by John Koontz, MCAA Director, Project Management Education, include:

FPM 100: Planning Skills for the Project Team
FPM 101: Productivity Improvement for Mechanical Projects
FPM 102: Using the Contract as a Tool for Project Management
FPM 103: Fundamentals of Job Cost Control
FPM 104: Time Management Skills and Managing Multiple Projects
FPM 105: Effective Project Documentation
FPM 106: Change Order Management: Best Practices for Success
FPM 107: Project Billings and Maintaining Positive Cash Flow
FPM 108: Essential Management Skills for the Project Manager
FPM 109: Basic Negotiating Skills for Project Managers
FPM 110: Mechanical Scheduling: Project Leader vs. Project Follower–Understanding the Basics
FPM 111: Critical Leadership Skills for Project Managers
FPM 112: Profitability Managing Your Subcontractors
FPM 113: Successful Survival of Project Closeout
FPM 114: Best Practices of Blue Chip Mechanical Project Managers

Field Leaders Education (FLE) Seminars for Construction

Field leaders of all experience levels will find great value in these seminars. They are specifically directed to junior and senior level field leadership personnel such as “future” foremen, foremen, general foremen, project superintendents, general superintendents, etc.

These courses are subsidized by MCAA. No rebate is available.

Seminars taught by John Koontz, MCAA Director, Project Management Education, include:

FLE 100: Planning Skills for Foremen
FLE 101: Productivity Improvement for Mechanical Projects
FLE 102: The Foreman’s Role in Project Documentation
FLE 103: Managing Labor: Coding, Tracking, and Forecasting
FLE 104: Essential Management Skills for the Project Foreman
FLE 105: Managing Change at the Jobsite
FLE 106: Successful Survival of Project Closeout
FLE 107: Critical Leadership Skills for Project Foremen
FLE 108: Everyday Negotiating Skills for Jobsite Supervisors
FLE 109: Managing Your Subcontractors
FLE 110: Practical Time Management Skills for Project Foremen
FLE 111: Qualities, Characteristics, and Habits of the Industry’s Best Field Leaders

2025 MCAA Annual Convention

The MCAA Annual Convention is the highlight of the association’s year. With a reputation as the industry’s premier educational event, the MCAA Convention offers something for all members. Attendees will experience a first class trade show featuring the members of MCAA’s Manufacturer/Supplier Council, social functions that never cease to amaze and delight, exceptional education seminars and the chance to network and connect with industry peers. Don’t miss the opportunity to see what your trade association can do for you.

2026 NCPWB Annual Technical Conference/Committee Meeting

The NCPWB Technical Committee Conference is held annually to provide a forum for exchanging technical information among attendees and to offer presentations on topics related to pipe welding. The committee meeting portion of the event covers topics such as policy and producers regarding the joint UA/NCPWB welder certification program and addresses chapter inquiries. In addition to the annual event, chapter operation seminars are held every other year to educate chapter administrators about the policies/procedures associated with maintaining welder qualification records.