Archives: News Items

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. 

Registration Now Open for MSCA21 & GreatFutures 2021

Reservations are processed on a first-come-first-serve basis and rooms are limited. Be sure to register early.

At long last, MSCA looks forward to being together this October in Arizona!

It’s been a while, hasn’t it? MSCA invites you to reunite and come together, at the J.W. Marriott Scottsdale Camelback Inn & Resort, to share your experiences, explore new innovations, and reconnect—in person—with your peers. We will mingle, meet, and collaborate on a brighter future. And we will get to do it Together…at last!

October 14-17, 2021
JW Marriott Scottsdale
Camelback Inn Resort & Spa

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And Still More Togetherness…

This year’s MCAA GreatFutures Forum, which brings together the brightest and most ambitious students from our MCA-affiliated student chapters, will be held in conjunction with the MSCA conference. Many students will be seeking jobs and internships and this provides them a unique opportunity to learn more about what the HVACR/plumbing service industry has to offer. Students and contractors can meet, inspire, hire, share ideas, and generally have a great time!

October 17-19, 2021
JW Marriott Scottsdale
Camelback Inn Resort & Spa

LEARN MORE

Recruit Top Talent & Apply for MCAA Internship Grants Today!

In keeping with its commitment to funding the mechanical contracting industry’s most critical human resource needs, the John R. Gentille Foundation (JRGF) underwrites many of the activities of the MCAA Career Development Initiative. Chief among these is an internship program that allows MCAA members to identify and evaluate potential full-time hires for their companies.  

Through a structured internship program, MCAA enables its members to recruit talented students, giving members a flexible, cost-effective labor force without a long-term commitment. And, because students who work for MCAA member companies tend to remain in the mechanical contracting industry, each one captured is another step toward ensuring the industry’s human resource needs are met.  

Each MCAA member company can submit up to two internship grant applications per year. Once an application is reviewed and accepted, MCAA will send a $500 Visa Gift Card to the member company so it can present the Gift Card to the student at the start of their internship. MCAA will follow-up with each company and intern to ensure the process and overall internship was successful.

Please read Building a Successful Internship Program before applying for an internship grant. 

APPLY NOW

Guess What? We’re Back! The 2021 GreatFutures Forum Will Be In-Person & In Scottsdale, Arizona!

We heard you. We know you’re eager to get together with other students and with contractors from around the country. And, honestly, we can’t wait to see you, too!

So, we thought, let’s not wait. Let’s all come together. And what better place than in conjunction with the highly anticipated, in-person MSCA21 Conference this October. Students and contractors can meet, inspire, hire, share ideas, and generally have a great time. 

Here’s where we’ll meet:

JW Marriott Scottsdale Camelback Inn Resort & Spa
October 17-19, 2021

Here’s what you’ll get to do:

  • Meet with contractors at general sessions, receptions, and pretty much everywhere you go.
  • Get to know the industry and its people, and start forging relationships.
  • Let the industry know you and your talents at the GreatFutures Forum Job Fair.
  • Gain further insight and direction regarding this year’s Student Chapter Competition. (Don’t worry, the project will be announced virtually in September!)

As schools reopen, the country reconnects, and the mechanical contracting industry reunites, you can get the jump on building your great future.

Registration will open next month, so keep an eye out for more information. For now, though, start looking ahead…It’ll be great to be together, at last! 

If you have any questions, please reach out to Megan Walsh.

Beyond the Classroom Video Series: The Endless Opportunities of Mechanical Contracting

As we wrap up our Beyond the Classroom series, we wanted to highlight the endless opportunities the mechanical contracting industry has to offer. Scott Hinton, Vice President of Harrell-Fish, Inc. and a member of MCAA’s Career Development Committee and MCAA’s Board of Directors, describes the unique nature of mechanical contracting saying, “People do not seem to get stuck in roles. They get more opportunity to advance and continue advancing throughout their careers.”

A part of advancing within this industry is in surrounding yourself with other professionals. Scott credits MCAA for helping him establish relationships with contractors across the country. These are people he can call with questions, share information and ideas with, and lean on for support. They’re the same type of people, who look forward to welcoming you into this industry and helping you grow.

Take advantage of all MCAA offerings, whether in-person or virtual. Sit next to a contractor at the next in-person MCAA event you attend or send a question directly to a contractor during the next virtual presentation you watch. In short: reach out and get involved! 

Scott, and other MCAA members are ready to help introduce you to the endless opportunities within the industry!

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 are in the mail. Whichever version you choose to use, the directory is free as a benefit of membership.

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.