National Education Initiative Old
NEI Seminars Are Ready to Come to You!
MCAA will bring lifelong learning directly to you! The National Education Initiative (NEI) Seminars are our best MCAA programs–brought to your local association or even your company. Our goal is to provide ongoing and advanced education and training in support of individual and association growth across the mechanical contracting industry. We offer standard and custom-designed classes exclusively for your association or company’s unique needs and challenges. If you need training quickly or have a large group, we are here to help!
Read our standard courses below or reach out for a custom-designed class, just for you!
Coffee with Koontz
Join host John Koontz on Friday afternoons, as he welcomes a different guest each week to talk about what’s new and interesting in the world of Mechanical Contracting. Sit back and learn how industry leaders are innovating and adapting to challenges, enjoy a laugh or two, and meet members of the MCAA community from all across the country.
Episode 8: The Unique, The Innovative, and The Unusual – Mechanical Contracting in the City by The Bay
Friday, July 24, 2:00 p.m. - 2:45 p.m.
As Past Chair of the PCA and President-Elect of the MCAA, Armand Kilijian (President, O’Brien Mechanical Inc.) has had a lot of exposure to how the industry can differ from place to place across the nation. This gives him a good basis for comparison when it comes to describing the oddities and unique attributes that shape the nature of mechanical work in his backyard. While most would agree that our industry is all about relationships, you might be surprised to learn that in a booming metropolis like San Francisco, one of the first questions you are likely to be asked when working with a new business partner is ‘where did you go to high school?’ Join John and Armand as they discuss all that makes mechanical contracting unique in San Francisco – from the people to the geography to the history – and learn a bit about how culture shapes contracting in the City by The Bay.
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.
Seminars taught by John Koontz 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
Job & Company Operations (JCO) Seminars for Construction
Every member of your files and office leadership team will benefit from the Job and Company Operations Seminars. Developing highly trained and skilled people with good operational practices and solid procedures will lead to less problem prone projects, reduced duplication of effort, and allow you company to measure tangible results.
Seminars taught by Kathryn Crosby include:
- JCO 100: Introduction to Project Management
- JCO 101: Successful Business Communications–It Begins at the Beginning
- JCO 102: Construction–A People Business
- JCO 103: Contract Language–What You Don’t Know Can Hurt You
- JCO 104: Dealing With Difficult People at Work
- JCO 105: The Art of Being an Effective Manager
- JCO 106: Written Communication Skills
- JCO 107: Managing Your Cash Flow
- JCO 108: Control Your Life by Controlling Your Time
- JCO 109: Understanding and Resolving Conflict
- JCO 110: Interpersonal Skills of the Project Team
- JCO 111: The Business of Contracting: Back to the Basics
- JCO 112: Basic Business Writing for Foremen and Service Technicians
- JCO 113: Managing Project Risk with Solid Documentation
- JCO 114: Financial Statements–What You Always Wanted to Know but Were Afraid to Ask
- JCO 115: Construction Financial Management–It’s More than Accounting
- JCO 116: General Conditions of the Contract
- JCO 117: Knowing the Score
- JCO 118: The Profitability of Safety
- JCO 119: Safety–the Foreman’s Critical Role
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
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.
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
Service Training Series (STS) Seminars for Service
These seminars are designed for service professionals to enhance the company’s strength in providing quality service to their customers. The series covers fundamental principals of effective leadership and communication, the value of customer service and more.
Seminars taught by Kevin Dougherty include:
- STS 100: Thriving as a Service Contractor
- STS 101: Delivering the Ultimate Service Experience: A Guide For
Technicians - STS 102: Multi-day Service Manager Training
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 Construction – The Bigger Financial Picture
- FDS 101: Financial Management for the Mechanical Contractor
- FDS 102: Financial Management for The Project Manager
Leadership Development Series (LDS) Seminars for Service and Construction
These seminars are designed for management level employees or anyone that leads a team. They focus on building strong communication skills and self awareness in order to be a successful leader.
Seminars taught by Leah Gutmann include:
- LDS 100: Conflict Management – Project, Service, and Office Team
Strategies and Skills - LDS 101: Effective Communication in the Workplace
- LDS 102: Emotional Intelligence
- LDS 103: Situation Leadership for the Mechanical Contractor
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.
Seminars taught by John Koontz 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
Strategic Management (SM) Seminars for Construction
Senior management, owners, foremen 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.
Seminars taught by James 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: An Outside Board of Directors...the Missing Link to Your Success
- SM 107: Building a Culture of Safety...More than Numbers
Other Seminars (OS) for Construction
Seminars taught by John Koontz include:
OS 100: Creating Highly Effective Foremen/Project Manager Partnerships
This class is directed to both project managers and foremen/field leaders. Ideally, each class is equally attended by project mangers and foremen.
OS 101: Inside the Great Mechanical Contractors: How do the “Great” Differ from the “Good”?
This class is primarily directed to business owners, principals, upper management, senior leadership, senior personnel, etc.
OS 102: Change Orders, Productivity, Overtime: Understanding and Using the MCAA Management Methods Committee Developed Manual
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.
Customer Service Series (CSS) Seminars for Service
These seminars are designed for service professionals to enhance their service skills and create a culture of service starting at the top, with emphasis on customer loyalty and managing their most valuable assets.
Seminars taught by Nancy Bandy include:
- CSS 100: Service Skills for the Service Professional
- CSS 101: Creating a Culture of Service Starting at the Top
- CSS 102: Customer Loyalty: Managing Your Most Valuable Asset
Management Development Series (MDS) Seminars for Service
These seminars are designed for managers to hone their coaching skills through positive feedback, motivation and recognition. They will teach how to build accountable teams and manage the dynamic of change. Fostering the idea of team success is key.
Seminars taught by Nancy Bandy include:
- MDS 100: Management CPR: Coaching, Positive Feedback and Recognition
- MDS 101: Building the Accountable Service Team: Turning Individual Commitment into Group Success
- MDS 102: Precision Interviewing and Selection: Making the Right Decision
- MDS 103: No Stress Performance Evaluation: Motivating Others through Feedback
- MDS 104: Managing the Dynamics of Change
Employee Development Series (EDS) Seminars for Service
These training series are geared towards all team member as they focus on developing and building the skills necessary to perform your best in and out of the office.
Seminars taught by Nancy Bandy include:
- EDS 101: Word Power: Making E-mails and Other Written Communication Effective
- EDS 102: Positive Negotiating: Turning Opponents into Partners
- EDS 103: Time Management: Moving from Chaos to Control
- EDS 104: Conflict Resolution: Turning Resistance into Productivity
- EDS 105: Verbal Impact: Getting Comfortable with Public Speaking
- EDS 106: Instructor Development: Transferring Experience into
Training - EDS 107: Service Team Accountability: Success through Personal
Actions
Sales Development Series (SDS) Seminars for Service
This seminar series is designed for your service sales team to excel by successfully prospecting, building presentation skills and fostering strong relationships with the customer.
Seminars taught by Nancy Bandy include:
- SDS 100: Going for the Gold: Prospecting Strategies for Getting into the Winner’s Circle
- SDS 101: High Impact Team Presentations: Gaining Confidence in the Board Room
- SDS 102: Customer Connections: Building Positive Sales Relationships