#SafetyWeek is a wrap! But the safety & health of our workers, our teams, and each other continues to be of the utmost importance. You can view all of last week’s video clips below for tips to prevent accidents and ensure the safety of our workers below.
May 1, 2023: We kicked off the week with a message from Mechanical Contractors Association of America (MCAA) Executive Director of Safety, Health & Risk Management Raffi Elchemmas about how workers can stay safe while using ladders and stairs, or when working at heights.
May 2, 2023: On Tuesday, we heard from National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) Executive Director, Outside Line Safety Mike Starner, CUSP, CHST about how workers can protect themselves from line of fire incidents including caught-in, caught-between and struck-by. Lockout/tagout is also covered.
May 3, 2023: The Association of Union Constructors Director of Environmental Health & Safety Alex Kopp shared a message on Wednesday about the importance of mental health and resources that are available to provide support.
May 4, 2023: On Thursday, we heard from SMACNA Director of Safety Justin Crandol, CSP, ARM, CRIS with tips to help workers protect themselves from heat hazards.
Springville, Utah â May 2, 2023 â Tyfoom, an engagement platform for employee communication and training, today announced a partnership with the Mechanical Contractors Association of America (MCAA), which will give MCAA members access to select MCAA-produced training and education material and products via Tyfoomâs video-based microlearning format.
MCAA materials will be made available as short bite-sized microlearning videos that are easy to digest and assist with knowledge transfer. With Tyfoom’s advanced training capabilities and MCAA’s safety training content, members have everything they need to stay competitive and keep their employees safe.
“We are thrilled to partner with MCAA ,” said Mark Nelson, CEO of Tyfoom. “This partnership will enable us to provide MCAA members with access to world-class training content, and we are excited to help support the industry by providing innovative tools for training and communication.”
“We are excited about this partnership and the opportunity to expand our reach and impact through Tyfoom’s platform,” said Raffi Elchemmas, Executive Director, Safety, Health, and Risk Management, MCAA. “We look forward to working closely with Tyfoom to provide our members with the tools and resources they need to succeed.”
MCAA members can take advantage of Tyfoom’s powerful training and communication platform that helps organizations deliver relevant communication and training in the flow of work and as an on-demand resource. With the platform, organizations can also create their own content to ensure standardization of their unique best practices.
MCAA safety training content will be rolled out throughout the second and third quarter of 2023. New users may sign up at www.tyfoom.com/signup.
About Tyfoom
Tyfoom is the #1 engagement platform for employee communication and training. They provide a simple and easy way to connect all employees with leaders everyday to improve culture, productivity and employee engagement. Tyfoom employs non-disruptive, science-based techniques and gamification to facilitate the transfer of knowledge and increase accountability. For more information visit: www.tyfoom.com.
To celebrate MCAAâs 20 Years of Safety Excellence, MCAA is offering monthly safety kits to benefit our contractors around the country and the mechanical industry workers they support. Each kit will include videos, webinars, trainings, and additional resources on each monthly topic.
May 2023: Working at Heights
Working at heights continues to be one of the most dangerous parts of construction and service. Each year falls are the leading cause of workplace fatalities and fall protection is the most cited OSHA violation. MCAA has put together a kit which includes training on Aerial Lift Safety, Fall Prevention and Protection, Ladder Safety, and Scaffold Safety. This kit also includes model programs on fall protection and fall rescue. This could be one of the most important kits of the year.
Worker Safety Training Videos & Accompanying Resources
We are very pleased to announce that registration is now open for MCAAâs Collective Bargaining Conference and the UA/MCAA Labor Relations Conference this September! Through the registration process, you will have the ability to register for both conferences at once, or select an individual conference. After your conference registration is complete, you will be directed to make your own hotel reservations based on your particular travel arrangements.
This workshop is designed to highlight MCAAâs Collective Bargaining Guide. Attendees will learn negotiating techniques and constructive approaches that will improve workforce performance along with contractor and industry competitiveness. The workshop will help members and local association executives improve their understanding of the bargaining process to assist in preparing properly for negotiations and to make bargaining a constructive event for management and labor.
Suggested Attendees: Affiliated Association Executives and Leadership welcome
Registration Rate: Complimentary
The conference, jointly hosted by the United Association (UA) and MCAA, will feature networking opportunities, panel discussions focused on topics such as the current need for manpower, organizing, workforce develop, and other topics that involve our UA/MCAA partnership. This is a great opportunity for local labor/management teams to attend and develop strategies to help protect our industry.
This yearâs WiMI Conference will be held June 12-14 in Nashville, TN at the Grand Hyatt and is packed with opportunities to learn, grow and discover all that you are capable of and what this industry has to offer.
Keynote Sessions
Our industry’s own, Kathy Crosby will use the personal DISC assessment tool to help attendees uncover valuable information about themselves and others.
Best selling author, Diana Kander will show us how we can level up our simple questions to get significantly better results and drive innovation in the opening keynote presentation; Unleash Your Curiosity. Â
In our Closing General Session, Be Who You Came to Be, through personal experience, stories, and research, Tara Renze, author and thought leader, will walk her audience through a three-step process to âbe who they came to beâ.
Education Sessions
In the Women & Mental Health in Construction session, Sally Spencer-Thomas, Co-Founder & President, United Suicide Survivors International, will dive into why mental health matters for women in construction, why leaders need to attend to risk factors and environmental drivers, and what action steps they can take.
John Koontz, MCAA Director for Project Management Education and Kathryn Crosby, Owner and Founder of C2 Consulting, Inc, have seen hundreds of success stories in this industry, and they will share the traits they all have in common in the Quality, Traits and Characteristics of Successful People in Our Industry session.
Colene Rogers, speaker and Executive Coach, will lead the session, Change the Conversation. Change the Culture, and provide practical tips to help attendees have conversations that address differences of opinion to resolve issues; what Colene calls Tough Talks.
Industry Panels
Keynote speaker, Diana Kander, will moderate an interactive discussion with some of our WiMI Committee members on lessons learned and keys to being successful in our industry.
Discover Your Allies, will be moderated by UA’s Special Representative for Training and Outreach, Laura Ceja and feature Ray Boyd, UA’s Director â Education and Training, Bill Tavenner, Vice President of Sales at Ferguson Enterprises, Tom Bello, Executive Vice President of Mechanical Contractors Association of Metropolitan Washington and MCAA’s Director of Project Management Education, John Koontz. The panel will discuss how men can be allies and support the growth of women in our industry.
Additional Opportunities for Development & Networking
We have two sessions of roundtable discussions that will cover a variety of industry and growth-related topics led by WiMI committee members. Our evening receptions will provide additional time for networking and connecting with peers.
Check out the full line up of this year’s conference. Hotel rooms are filling up fast, so register today and lock in the group rate by May 14!
MCAAâs Virtual Trade Show connects our contractor members with the members of MCAAâs 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:
Morris Group International Learn how vacuum plumbing can assist design professionals in addressing the need for a healthy, safe, and sustainable building design.
Parker Hannifin ZoomLockÂŽ MAX, Press-To-Connect Refrigerant Fittings is the next step in ZoomLockâs evolution. ZoomLock MAX fittings provide better overall value than the original ZoomLock for todayâs contractor.
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 MCAAâs 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!
MCAA’s Women in the Mechanical Industry (WiMI) Conference kicks off on Monday, June 12th with our Opening General Session â DISCover You. In this session led by Kathryn Crosby, attendees will complete a “style analysis” profile to produce a graph of the behavior and personality tendencies for each letter designation used in the popular DISC system specific to the attendee. Attendees will uncover valuable information about themselves and others, including why some relationships work and some don’t, along with why it is essential to adapt. Crosby will also reveal your “secret weapon “and how to use it.
Kathryn Crosby has more than 30 years experience in the construction business. While serving as Vice President and CFO for a mechanical contractor she was elected to the MCAA Board of Directors, nominated as chair for MCAAâs Project Management Education Committee, was active in the AGC, and served on the faculty of the MCAAâs highly acclaimed Institute for Project Management (IPM). Today, as owner and founder of C2 Consulting, Inc, Kathryn continues her dedication and love for the construction industry doing seminars and training throughout the U.S. and Canada. She currently serves on the faculty of IPM, Construction Education Institute, MCAAâs National Education Initiative (NEI) and the UAâs Instructor Training Program. Kathryn has developed custom training programs for several trade organization and construction companies including the UA and Asbestos Workers.
This yearâs WiMI Conference will be held June 12-14 in Nashville, TN. See you there!
MCAAâs Virtual Trade Show connects our contractor members with the members of MCAAâs 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:
Viega Pressed for time? No Sweat. ProPress copper fittings make secure, flameless connections in 7 seconds or less. Approved for more applications than any other copper press fitting system, itâs what the pros use.
McGuire Manufacturing Co., Inc. McGuire is proud to announce the addition of the BV2Press stop valve to their Convertible II Ball Valve series. Designed to save labor cost and manufactured to McGuireâs high-quality standards.
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 MCAAâs 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!
Curtis Harbour has been named Brandt, a Southland Industries Companyâs Vice President of Labor Relations. Curtis, who became MCAAâs Vice President/Assistant Treasurer at MCAA23, will transition to his new role effective June 1, 2023, eventually expanding that role to the enterprise level.
Curtis has played a significant role in building Brandt’s business in all the companyâs markets. He was instrumental in the companyâs recent conversion to the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW).
His long-time connections with national trade associations and labor unions make him well-suited for this role. As Vice President of Labor Relations, Curtis will make sure that Brandt has consistent coverage and representation with all their local labor unions and their respective contractors (e.g., MCAA, NECA, etc.). He will also oversee the management and organization of all the labor contracts and renewal timeframes.
As Curtis transitions to his new role, Brian Walsh will step into his current role of Senior Vice President and General Manager of the companyâs Houston, TX, region.
Since joining Brandt in 2011, Brian has significantly impacted the development of Brandtâs North Texas Industrial business, both from an operational and preconstruction perspective. He is well-positioned to continue to develop the companyâs presence in Houston and grow their project business in the local market, especially with Life Science and Industrial clients.
MCAA congratulates Curtis and Brian on their new roles and wishes them both continued success.
By installing antimicrobial cooling towers from Delta Cooling, Bluegrass Hydronics and Pump helped a rural Kentucky school district qualify for a federal grant to replace a failed tower and another nearing the end of its life. The units solved the two biggest issues the school district was facing: budget constraints and the need for durable solutions.
Visit the Smart Solutions Case Studies area of our website! Youâll see how other mechanical contractors found their win-win with productivity-enhancing and cost-saving applications from members of MCAAâs Manufacturer/Supplier Council.
Plus, youâll find tips and ideas on other ways you and your company can save money and enhance your productivity.
The use of permanent HVAC systems to provide temporary heat during construction introduces the possibility of indoor air quality (IAQ) issues down the line. MCAAâs Temporary Usage of HVAC Equipment explains why temporary heating, cooling and dehumidification equipment specifically designed for use during construction is preferable. Itâs just one of MCAAâs educational resources that are free to MCAA members as a benefit of membership.
A recent MCA of Kansas City WiMI Committee (WiMI-KC) event inspired Tiffany Oldham, a digital media specialist with P1 Group, Inc., to write an article for her companyâs newsletter. Learn more about the event and how WiMI-KC is engaging, empowering, inspiring and mentoring women in Kansas City’s mechanical industry.
There are unsung heroes among us who use their time, gifts, and generosity to propel their communities forward. They do the things that are truly needed out of the kindness of their hearts and with a passion for making a difference. Whether it is helping the needy, aiding the elderly, volunteering for a charitable organization, or fostering children, they are truly heroes in every sense of the word.
With a tradition that started in 2014 MSCA wants to honor our very own everyday hero and we need your help! MSCAâs Everyday Hero Award has become a favorite recognition award for employees, peers, employers, and the community. Who do you know who has stepped up and propelled their community into a better place?
Submit your nomination by completing the brief survey below. MSCA will recognize them onstage at the MSCA23 Conference Propel this October 22-25, 2023 in Marco Island, Florida, as well as make a very generous donation to the winner’s charity of choice. Help us honor these generous and caring individuals today by nominating them for the MSCA Everyday Hero Award. Every year we have wonderful nominees, so if you have nominated someone before and they havenât won, you can always nominate them again.
Learn about federal procurement policy directly from U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) Administrator Robin Carnahan during the 2023 CEA National Issues Conference. If you want to stay informed and involved in the legislative and regulatory policy issues that impact your business, you canât afford to miss this conference! Join us May 2-4 in Washington, D.C. to hear about U.S. Department of Labor regulations from Jessica Looman, Wage and Hour Division Principal Deputy Administrator. Get the latest on federal construction procurement rules from Northern Virginia Congressman Gerry Connolly. And learn about new pension and healthcare plan regulations from Mariah Becker of the NCCMP. Only a few spots remain. Register today!
MCAAâs Virtual Trade Show connects our contractor members with the members of MCAAâs 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:
Morris Group International The Kwik ShipÂŽ Brands program is a collection of popular specifiable products and many ready-to-ship inventory from across seven different Morris Group InternationalÂŽ divisions.
Reliance Worldwide Corporation Just launched, SharkBite Max⢠fittings usher in the next generation of the brandâs industry-leading push-to-connect technology with key design enhancements for stronger and faster connections.
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 MCAAâs 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!
A new, state-of-the-art hospital in New York required that John W. Danforth Company use solder connections for mechanical piping and press fittings for the plumbing, so they looked to a trusted and reliable partner, Mueller Streamline Co., a primary subsidiary of Mueller Industries, that could provide both. That decision has paid off with a smooth construction process to date, supported by building information modeling (BIM) technology that ensured accuracy for prefabrication. Mueller Industries, Inc. is a major sponsor of MCAA23.
Visit the Smart Solutions Case Studies area of our website! Youâll see how other mechanical contractors found their win-win with productivity-enhancing and cost-saving applications from members of MCAAâs Manufacturer/Supplier Council.
Plus, youâll find tips and ideas on other ways you and your company can save money and enhance your productivity.
Building Information Modeling (BIM) is a standard requirement in many project specifications. MCAAâs BIM – What Is It and Is It Right for My Company? explains what BIM is and offers tips to help companies reap the greatest benefit from this technology. Itâs just one of MCAAâs educational resources that are free to MCAA members as a benefit of membership.
MCAA23 concluded a week of many moments and final thoughts from MCAA President Robert Bolton. UA General President Mark McManus joined us to talk about the strength of the UA/MCAA partnership. MCAA’s two fundraisers concluded and President Bolton awarded the prizes before recognizing MCAA’s retiring Board members and turning over the presidential gavel to new MCAA President Robert Beck. President Beck thanked Bolton for his commitment and passion over the last year and announced MCAAâs funding of the Robert H. and Alda Bolton Memorial Scholarship in the amount of $20,000. The new Executive Committee and new Board members were introduced to the membership.
UA General President Mark McManusChris Catania and MCAA President BoltonMichael Gallagher and MCAA President BoltonPat Lynch and MCAA President BoltonArmand Kilijian and MCAA President BoltonImmediate Past President Robert Bolton and President Robert Beck
Fundraisers Concluded
MCAAâs Political Action Committee raffled off a signed Matchbox 20 guitar to John Geiling after raising $21,900. The John R. Gentille Foundation raised $29,020 that will go strictly towards projects and research conducted by leading experts and consultants and addresses our industryâs largest challenges.
Retiring Board Members Recognized
President Bolton thanked the members of the MCAA Board of Directors whose terms expired at MCAA23 saying, âEach of these Board members has contributed tremendously to strengthening this industry, and we want to recognize their service and thank them this morning.â They are:
Chris Catania from LAARS, a Bradford White Company
Michael Gallagher from The John F. Gallagher Company
Pat Lynch from CCI Mechanical, Inc.
Armand Kilijian from OâBrien Mechanical, Inc. II
President Bolton Offers Closing Thoughts
Before passing the gavel, President Bolton thanked everyone who made the trip to make their moment saying, âyour attendance and engagement is what made the convention such an incredible experience for everyone.â
He noted that member participation makes MCAA what it is and thanked those who have volunteered, taught our programs, developed our resources, spoken at our events or on our webinars, and serve on national committees, task forces, our Board of Directors, and the Executive Committee for all they have done and will do for MCAA.
He went on to thank our partners at the UA for their leadership and partnership, our manufacturer and supplier members for their involvement, and our local associations for their work throughout the year, and for their hospitality when he travelled to meet with many of them. He also thanked his home association, the New England MCA and Stephen Affanato and his staff for the support they gave him during his year as MCAAâs president, and the national staff.
âThis journey has been made possible with support of ALL the employees at Arden Building Companies who have kept the wheels turning back home and the business thriving over the last year. I could not have done it without you.â
â Robert Bolton, MCAA President
Changing of the Guard
President Bolton turned over the MCAA presidential gavel to his successor, MCAA President Robert Beck. Robert said, âIâm beyond thrilled to be joining you here today as the incoming president of MCAA⌠even though it is a bittersweet moment because it means we also say goodbye to Bob.â
He presented Bolton with a token of gratitude for his year as president and let him know that MCAA donated $20,000 to officially establish the Robert H. and Alda Bolton Memorial Scholarship, which will be awarded as a $5,000 scholarship for the next four years.
Association Leaders Recognized
President Robert Beck recognized the national officers who serve as MCAAâs Executive Committee and the new members of MCAAâs Board of Directors.
New Executive Committee
Joining President Beck on the Executive Committee are:
President-Elect Rick Gopffarth from Dynamic Systems
Senior Vice President and Treasurer Brian Hughes from Hughes Environmental Engineering
Vice President and Assistant Treasurer Curtis Harbour from Brandt, a Southland Industries Company
Immediate Past President Robert M. Bolton from Arden Building Companies
New Board of Directors Members
The newest contractor members of MCAAâs Board of Directors, elected to three-year terms, are:
Anne Finerfrock from The Bowers Group
Rod Foley from North Mechanical Contracting, Inc.
James Lowder from All Temperature Service Air Conditioning, Inc.
President Beck’s Remarks
President Beck shared his thoughts on the year ahead, noting that he intends to increase efforts to encourage our industry leaders, to find more avenues to connect our member companies with our vast resources and to work together to find ways to stay ahead of the curve by reinventing how we provide value and conduct business in an industry that no longer looks like it did yesterday â and that will undoubtedly look very different tomorrow.
Following his remarks, President Beck introduced guest speaker Matt Iseman, American Ninja Warrior Host, who covered everything from battling cancer, to overcoming obstacles, to the paramount importance of following your dreams.
Save the Date
Weâre looking forward to making more moments in Orlando for the MCAA24 Annual Convention. Mark your calendars and join us March 17-21, 2024.
Breaking ground on the Rex and Alice A. Martin Softball Training Center at the University of Illinois in April 2021, A&R Mechanical Contractors, Inc., faced the unique challenges of building during the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent supply chain issues. They successfully completed the project on schedule thanks to NIBCO, which manufactures more than 90 percent of its products in the United States. âI would have to say NIBCO was very instrumental in helping A&R Mechanical get this project finished in a timely fashion,â said Chris Asklund, A&R Mechanical project manager. NIBCO is a major sponsor of MCAA23.
Visit the Smart Solutions Case Studies area of our website! Youâll see how other mechanical contractors found their win-win with productivity-enhancing and cost-saving applications from members of MCAAâs Manufacturer/Supplier Council.
Plus, youâll find tips and ideas on other ways you and your company can save money and enhance your productivity.
To celebrate MCAAâs 20 Years of Safety Excellence, MCAA is offering monthly safety kits to benefit our contractors around the country and the mechanical industry workers they support. Each kit will include videos, webinars, trainings, and additional resources on each monthly topic.
April 2023: Worker Health
Worker health is at the heart of all that safety professionals do. This month the MCAA is packaging six worker safety videos and their accompanying materials with eleven worker safety resources and bringing you an infection control recertification webinar with the ASSE, the American Society of Sanitary Engineering. Members can refresh training on subjects such as Asbestos Awareness, Bloodborne Pathogens, Hexavalent Chromium, Silica, Radio Frequency Radiation Safety,Respiratory Protection as well as download guides, bulletins, and programs on each topic.
ASSE 12020 Infection Control Recertification Webinar
