Archives: News Items

Department of Defense Updates Cybersecurity Protocols for Contractors

In 2021, the Department of Defense announced a new strategic effort to provide enhanced cyber security efforts for their building projects going forward. The Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) will ensure accountability for companies to implement cybersecurity standards to protect sensitive data during the design, build and operations of DoD facilities. Recently, the DoD has simplified and revised the CMMC to make it more streamlined and faster in what they are calling, “CMMC 2.0”. 

Join us at MCAA’s 2022 GreatFutures Forum and Get a Head Start on Hiring Your 2023 Interns and New Hires

Join us September 29-October 1 at the Boston Marriott Newton for MCAA’s GreatFutures Forum! We’re getting back to the basics this year and focusing on all the things that make mechanical contracting such an exciting career choice. What is mechanical contracting anyway?

Registration is complimentary for all students, faculty, local affiliates, and MCAA members! We want to see a ton of new contractor faces at GFF22, and especially at our reimagined job fair. The fall is the best time to hire for both summer internships and full-time employment and MCAA can’t wait to see the employment connections materialize throughout the conference.  

REGISTER NOW

Our New Membership Directory & Buyer’s Guide Is Available Online

The full-featured digital version of MCAA’s Membership Directory & Buyer’s Guide enhances the look and feel of our printed directory. Download your copy for digital-only benefits that help you stay connected throughout the year. Printed copies will mail in the next few weeks.

The digital version of the directory helps you:

  • Network from anywhere with linked email addresses.
  • Connect with the companies, products and services that interest you using linked web addresses.
  • Get where you’re going…fast…with bookmarks and a linked table of contents.
  • Find advertisers instantly with a linked advertiser index.

Download Your Copy

Have updates? Please share! Contact Jan Grillo for assistance updating your member record at any time.

Hiring an Intern for the Summer? Apply for an Internship Grant.

Having interns working at MCAA member companies is a win-win for the mechanical contracting industry.  Employers get top talent and build a pipeline for future employees. Students gain experience, create connections, develop skills and further their interest in mechanical contracting. Internship grants funded by the John R. Gentille Foundation (JRGF) reward both the hiring company and the student.

Each MCAA member company may submit up to two internship grant applications per year.  Once the grant application is reviewed and accepted, MCAA will mail both a $500 student gift card and a $1,000 check to the company. 

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.  

Learn More & Apply

Michele Hoffman Will Join the MCAA Staff

MCAA extends a warm welcome to Michele Hoffman, who will be joining the staff starting January 1, 2022. She will be MCAA’s new Director, Career Development as Megan Walsh moves back to full time responsibilities in the Events Department. Michele comes to us from MCA-Omaha, where she spent 13 years working with their local board and committees, and in event management and communications roles. During that time, she served as the Industry Advisor for the University of Nebraska Student Chapter, which was named MCAA Student Chapter of the Year in 2015, 2019, and 2020. She has been a member of MCAA’s Career Development Committee since 2018. Michele is originally from central Illinois, a graduate from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln (Advertising Major), and currently resides in Omaha. MCAA is pleased to welcome Michele to the staff, and her husband Eric and their two children to the MCAA staff family.

NECA Recognizes MCAA with the 2021 NECA Industry Partner Award

Since 1996, the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) has presented their annual Industry Partner Award to individuals or organizations who are allied with the electrical construction industry. This year, NECA presented and recognized MCAA with the 2021 NECA Industry Partner Award at their annual Convention in Nashville.

In early 2021, MCAA, NECA and The Association of Union Constructors (TAUC) joined forces in a strategic alliance agreement to collaborate on issues impacting the construction and maintenance industry on a national and regional level. Through this alliance, the associations conduct joint meetings and share information of mutual interest relating to environmental health and safety, industrial relations, government affairs, innovation and technology. The associations work to develop products and practices to jointly benefit their respective memberships, increase membership awareness of industry issues and more.

Earlier this year, MCAA and NECA also partnered together to put on the 2021 MEP Innovation Conference, held virtually this past April. Registration is already open for the 2022 MEP Innovation Conference held jointly with MCAA, NECA and the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors’ National Association (SMACNA) for January 24-26, 2022. This annual event will be held in-person, showcasing the industry-defining innovations being seen across the mechanical, electrical and plumbing contracting industries.

MCAA thanks NECA for this recognition and looks forward to many more years of joint collaboration in order to advance the unionized construction industry.

MCAA’s 2021-2022 Student Chapter Competition is Underway!

The project was released this afternoon to the student chapters participating in MCAA’s 2021-2022 Student Chapter Competition. The project this year, provided by Mollenberg-Betz, Inc. in Buffalo, NY, will require students to work through a lot of logistical challenges as they contribute to a Lake Placid Olympic Center Revitalization job.

Once again this competition will be run through MCAA’s member company, Procore. Additionally, for the second year in a row, MCAA’s Career Development Committee partnered with Trimble, one of MCAA’s Manufacturer and Supplier Member Companies, offering students the use of Trimble’s new estimating software, Trimble Estimation MEP, for the Student Chapter Competition. 

Trimble Estimation MEP is an easy-to-use, web-based estimating software that combines document storage, graphical takeoff, Trade Service material pricing and MCAA labor into one solution. Trimble Estimation MEP is straightforward and intuitive as it walks users through the process of creating an estimate step-by-step, making it the perfect tool for the students to use. While using Trimble Estimation MEP is not a requirement for the project, Trimble has generously made the software available to all MCAA student chapters for free.  

MCAA would like to thank all partnering member companies for their support in this year’s competition. If your student chapter would like access to the project in Procore or access to Trimble Estimation MEP, please email Megan Walsh at mwalsh@mcaa.org.

MCAA’s Sponsor Spotlight 26 Welcomes Mark Wilke from CNA

In the 26th episode of MCAA’s Sponsor Spotlight series, Brian Helm, MCAA’s Immediate Past President is joined by Mark Wilke, AVP – Construction Segment for CNA. The Sponsor Spotlight Series is a new way for MCAA contractor members to learn more about the Manufacturer/Supplier Council (M/SC) Governing Board members, their products, their relationship with MCAA, and what being a member means to them.

Mark Wilke is an insurance professional with an emphasis in program management, construction field underwriting and specialty lines underwriting. He is responsible for the underwriting and development of CNA’s professional liability products geared towards specialty and general contractors. As well, he manages external association relationships with electrical and mechanical contractors nationwide, manages various complex alternative risk placements including captive business, and is an industry leader in the construction middle markets. Mark has been at CNA for ten years where his primary focus has been in the construction segment. 

MCAA’s Sponsor Spotlight #25 Welcomes Chris Peppler from Trimble

In the 25th episode of MCAA’s Sponsor Spotlight series, Brian Helm, MCAA’s Immediate Past President is joined by Chris Peppler, Sr. Director, Marketing and Product, MEP Division for Trimble. The Sponsor Spotlight Series is a new way for MCAA contractor members to learn more about the Manufacturer/Supplier Council (M/SC) Governing Board members, their products, their relationship with MCAA, and what being a member means to them.

In his role as Senior Director of Product Management and Marketing, Chris leads the global product strategy and go-to-market for Trimble MEP.  In his four years with Trimble, he has transformed the strategy to focus on cloud and providing more value to MEP contractors.  Prior to Trimble, Chris held a number of leadership roles at software technology companies, making positive impacts in the areas of product management, business development, customer success, and implementation.

Sponsor Spotlight 24 with Matt McGrath from Parker Hannifin

In the 24th episode of MCAA’s Sponsor Spotlight series, Timothy Brink, MCAA’s CEO is joined by Matt McGrath, Global Channel & Distribution Manager, Sporlan Division for Parker Hannifin. The Sponsor Spotlight Series is a new way for MCAA contractor members to learn more about the Manufacturer/Supplier Council (M/SC) Governing Board members, their products, their relationship with MCAA, and what being a member means to them.

In his role as Global Channel & Distribution Manager, Matt has overall responsibility for global distribution in the Americas for the Sporlan Division of Parker Hannifin.  Matt started his near 30 year career with Sporlan and Parker in 1992 as a sales engineer and has taken increasing roles of responsibility including Regional Sales Manager, Commercial OEM Sales Manager and now has lead the distribution & aftermarket segments for 12 years.  Matt has been involved with the MCAA and MSCA since the launch of ZoomLock in 2016 and has been involved on the MS/C supplier council for the past 2 years. Matt has a degree in Engineering Management from Southern Methodist University and resides in St. Louis, MO.