Archives: News Items

Learn to Inspire Employees with Standout Leadership from 2023 Safety Conference Speaker Connie Podesta

MCAA’s 2023 Safety Conference includes 50+ hours of education from subject matter experts, plus inspiring keynote speakers like Connie Podesta. Connie will take you inside the minds of your most difficult employees and give you the tools to turn negative attitudes into positive, entitlement into accountability, complacency into productivity, complaining into solutions and “that’s not my job” into ownership. Join us January 17-19, 2023, in San Diego, CA. Register today!

IMI TA’s Support Center Cuts Energy Costs at Oklahoma Public Safety Facility

Close collaboration between IMI TA, a branch of IMI Hydronic Engineering, and building designers led to a 23-percent savings in annual energy consumption (equivalent to $19,341) for an Oklahoma public building. The Lawton Public Safety Facility in Clay Coe, OK, is a 100,000-square-foot, four-story building with 350 working stations. The original design strategy for the facility included proportional control valves with no balancing valve on each terminal and a variable speed pump (VSP) differential pressure (DP) sensor.

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Looking for More Smart Solutions?

Visit the Smart Solutions Case Studies area of our website! You’ll see how other mechanical contractors found their win-win with productivity-enhancing and cost-saving applications from members of MCAA’s Manufacturer/Supplier Council.

Plus, you’ll find tips and ideas on other ways you and your company can save money and enhance your productivity.

VISIT SMART SOLUTIONS

New Study Compares Contractor Usage of Best and Worst Language in Contract Clauses

The John R. Gentille Foundation (JRGF) has partnered with ELECTRI International (NECA) and the New Horizons Foundation (SMACNA) to assess and produce a detailed report on construction contracting best practices. Our collaboration is meant to provide industry-wide data that supports our members’ contract negotiations and guidance on better contract language to reduce liability. With better practices in place, risk can be shifted away from trade contractors to the appropriate party, leading to a more profitable industry overall.

First, Document Crunch identified the criteria used to analyze where the provisions at issue were considered Best Practice, Medium Practice, or Deficient Practice. Once those parameters were established, the Document Crunch proprietary platform extracted specific terms from each of the contracts to determine the frequency of each practice. After analyzing the data, Document Crunch has identified the 10 riskiest contract provisions that impact trade contractors.

Download a free copy of the research results below, which includes a description of each provision at issue, the criteria used to identify each issue, and the frequency of occurrence across the sample data.

The John R. Gentille Foundation underwrites the development of practices, tools, methods and materials to advance the mechanical and service trades.

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Resource Highlight: MCAA’s Why Mechanical Contractors Should Furnish Equipment

While direct purchasing appears to offer advantages, hidden pitfalls may increase costs and delay project completion. MCAA’s Why Mechanical Contractors Should Furnish Equipment examines these advantages and pitfalls, giving contractors a well-rounded perspective on owner concerns and how best to address them. It’s just one of MCAA’s educational resources that are free to MCAA members as a benefit of membership.

The bulletin examines these advantages sought by direct purchasing:

  • To permit early purchase of long-delivery items to ensure timely deliveries and to avoid construction delays
  • To save the contractor’s markup for overhead and profit
  • To provide the engineer with closer control of compliance with specifications in equipment bids
  • To incur possible cost savings by beating price increases
  • If the owner is purchasing production equipment, the owner would naturally feel he had the expertise in selection rather than the installing contractor
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For a full list of available Management Methods Bulletins, visit the Management Methods Bulletins page.

Have Questions or Need Personal Assistance?

Contact MCAA’s Frank Wall.

Sloan Wins 2022 WaterSense Excellence Award

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recognized Sloan, an MCAA member, with a 2022 WaterSense® Excellence Award for helping people save water. In recognition of its commitment to promoting WaterSense and water efficiency in 2021, Sloan was honored during the WaterSmart Innovations (WSI) Conference and Exposition October 6 in Las Vegas along with 33 other awardees – utilities, manufacturers, builders, retailers, and other organizations that partner with WaterSense to promote water-efficient products, homes, and programs.

WaterSense, a voluntary partnership program sponsored by EPA, is both a label for water-efficient products, programs, and homes and a resource for helping consumers learn ways to save water. Since 2006, more than 2,100 WaterSense partners and over 40,000 models of certified water-efficient plumbing and irrigation products have helped consumers and businesses save 6.4 trillion gallons of water—enough water to supply all households in the United States with water for eight months. In addition to water savings, WaterSense has helped reduce the amount of energy needed to pump, treat, and heat water by 754 billion kilowatt hours and helped consumers save $135 billion in water and energy bills. These savings also helped prevent 288 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions, which is equivalent to planting 4.8 billion trees.

“Throughout 2021, our award-winning partners helped people protect this precious resource by promoting WaterSense labeled products and water-efficient behaviors,” said Veronica Blette, Chief, WaterSense Branch. “Saving water is particularly critical in areas impacted by drought but is also a path to helping consumers stretch dollars by reducing their water and energy bills.”

WaterSense honored Sloan as a 2022 Excellence Award winner for promoting WaterSense labeled products in the marketplace. As the only manufacturer of exclusively commercial products, Sloan’s award was distinguished for its extensive offerings of WaterSense labeled flushometers, toilets, urinals, commercial showerheads, and faucets.

“For over a century, Sloan has provided safe, reliable, water-efficient products for the commercial marketplace,” said Parthiv Amin, Sloan Chief Sales and Marketing Officer. “Water Connects Us is more than just our tagline. Sloan understands the dynamic relationship between the world’s water management systems and its ecosystems. The WaterSense Award for Excellence highlights our commitment to protecting the earth’s most vital natural resource: water.”

For more information about WaterSense, visit www.epa.gov/watersense.

Build Your Service Company’s Relationships & Success With Skills from NEI Instructor Nancy Bandy

MCAA’s National Education Initiative (NEI) Seminars bring our best programs to your local association or your company thanks to instructors like Nancy Bandy, Managing Director of TRAINSITIONS Consulting Group LLC. Nancy provides service contractors and employees with the skills they need to build on the company’s relationships and success.

Nancy draws on many years of experience in training and management consulting to develop and deliver highly effective custom training programs using proven experiential learning methods.

She is well known among MSCA members and has been responsible for developing and delivering many of the MSCA courses, webinars, and other resources highly popular with MSCA members. Prior to starting her own company, Nancy’s previous experience included executive positions with Coldwell Banker, Koll Real Estate Services, CB Richard Ellis and Strategic HR Services.

She offers four NEI seminar series designed specifically for service.

The Sales Development Series (SDS) Seminars for Service series is designed for your service sales team to excel by successfully prospecting, building presentation skills and fostering strong relationships with the customer.

Employee Development Series (EDS) Seminars for Service are geared towards all team members as they focus on developing and building the skills necessary to perform their best in and out of the office.

The Management Development Series (MDS) Seminars for Service are designed for managers to hone their coaching skills through positive feedback, motivation and recognition. The seminars teach how to build accountable teams and manage the dynamic of change. Fostering the idea of team success is key.

The Customer Service Series (CSS) Seminars for Service 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.

Like our other NEI instructors, Nancy brings her unique blend of industry and teaching experience to virtual courses, a new NEI offering. Providing top notch, accessible education for everyone in your organization is what the MCAA’s NEI is all about! Visit the NEI website for more information about these seminars and a full list of the NEI courses available to MCAA members.

Book your courses via the NEI website, then apply for a 20% rebate on the instructor fees, up to $5,000 per class.*

Learn More About Nancy’s Classes

Sales Development Series (SDS) Seminars for Service

Employee Development Series (EDS) Seminars for Service

Management Development Series (MDS) Seminars for Service

Customer Service Series (CSS) Seminars for Service

NEI WEBSITE

*This benefit is available only to MCAA members and local affiliates in good standing who book courses via the NEI website. Learn more about the rebate program here. Have questions or need personal assistance? Contact MCAA’s Frank Wall or call him at 301-990-2215.

ASSC Rapidly Improves Efficiency, Customer Experience With ServiceTrade Software

When Sacramento-based Air Systems Service & Construction (ASSC) began shopping for new software, their main priority was improving customer experience. Within eight months of adopting ServiceTrade’s commercial service software in 2021, ASSC was already seeing significant improvements in customer communication and increasing efficiency.

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Looking for More Smart Solutions?

Visit the Smart Solutions Case Studies area of our website! You’ll see how other mechanical contractors found their win-win with productivity-enhancing and cost-saving applications from members of MCAA’s Manufacturer/Supplier Council.

Plus, you’ll find tips and ideas on other ways you and your company can save money and enhance your productivity.

VISIT SMART SOLUTIONS

Find the Latest from SLOAN and Penta Technologies, LLC in MCAA’s Virtual Trade Show

MCAA’s Virtual Trade Show connects our contractor members with the members of MCAA’s 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:

SLOAN
Sloan products and expertise is helping make sports and entertainment venue restrooms more hygienic, more water-efficient, and easier to maintain. Learn how these facilities achieved these results.

Learn More

Penta Technologies, LLC
From maintenance contracts to mobile field data collection, PENTA empowers contractors with the information they need to optimize service operations from the field to the office. Save time and increase efficiency, with PENTA.

Learn More

Need Something Else?

Find many more smart solutions in MCAA’s Virtual Trade Show!

Visit the Virtual Trade Show

Speaking of Smart Solutions

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 MCAA’s 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!

Visit Smart Solutions

Learn How to Add Plumbing to Your Company’s Service Offerings with Plumbing Service 101

HVACR service companies that are thinking about adding plumbing to their company’s service offerings will benefit from MSCA’s new Plumbing Service 101 resource. In a series of five modules, Plumbing Service 101 highlights the benefits of offering plumbing service and investment challenges to consider before taking the leap. It also provides tips and resources that may be of interest to those with existing plumbing service operations.

The new resource, which made its debut at MSCA22, was developed in partnership with ATP Learning Solutions (ATP), an MCAA member that is part of the association’s Manufacturer/Supplier Council. It includes:

Plumbing Service 101 Workbook Module 1 – Plumbing Service Business Basics

This module reviews the pros and cons of plumbing service, how to make a sound business decision regarding starting plumbing services, and types of services that can be offered based on commitment level.

DOWNLOAD | WEBBOOK

Plumbing Service 101 Workbook Module 2 – Markets for Plumbing Services

This module provides a closer look at the type of research that is needed before making a final business decision along with presenting ten specific target markets that create possibilities for the HVACR contractor looking to add plumbing services.

DOWNLOAD | WEBBOOK

Plumbing Service 101 Workbook Module 3 – Finding and Developing Great Plumbing Technicians

This module addresses the difficult and challenging task of finding suitable plumbing service technicians. It identifies possible recruitment sources, outlines recommended training, and offers suggestions on how to fit new technicians into an existing work environment.

DOWNLOAD | WEBBOOK

Plumbing Service 101 Workbook Module 4 – Financial Tools and Profitability

This module is designed to give service contractors an understanding of key financial concepts and factors in planning a successful startup of a plumbing service operation and methods to ensure profitable business.

DOWNLOAD | WEBBOOK

Plumbing Service 101 Workbook Module 5 – Operations

This module covers many factors that must be considered, such as determining which existing HVACR service department resources might be utilized in an effective organizational structure with key personnel roles defined. Moreover, information is presented on establishing an operating philosophy which integrates plumbing service into the existing company’s corporate culture, including effectively communicating plumbing service details to employees, vendors, and customers.

DOWNLOAD | WEBBOOK

Find other service-related resources in the Resource Center. Learn more about the WebBook Library, which is also home to the HVACR 101 Workbooks and videos, on the MSCA WebBook Library page.

Last Call to Recognize Your Company’s Safety Professional and Nominate Them for the 2022 MILWAUKEE TOOL Safety Professional of the Year Award Today

Nominations are open for 2022 MCAA/MILWAUKEE TOOL Safety Professional of the Year award, which is presented annually to a mechanical industry safety and health professional who helps their company achieve an exceptionally high degree of safety excellence.

The 2022 award winner will be announced during MCAA’s Safety Conference in San Diego, California, January 17-19, 2023. The recipient will also be invited to the MCAA23 Annual Convention in Phoenix, AZ, March 26-30, 2023, to receive the award onstage during the Wednesday Awards of Excellence Breakfast (airfare, lodging and registration to be provided). 

To nominate someone for the 2022 MCAA/MILWAUKEE TOOL Safety Professional of the Year, please complete the nomination form below and submit it by close of business on December 9, 2022. 

NOMINATION FORM
SAFETY CONFERENCE

Nominate Your Company Today for the 2022 MILWAUKEE TOOL Safety Professional of the Year Award

MCAA has opened nominations for 2022 MCAA/MILWAUKEE TOOL Safety Professional of the Year award, which is presented annually to a mechanical industry safety and health professional who helps their company achieve an exceptionally high degree of safety excellence.

The 2022 award winner will be announced during MCAA’s Safety Conference in San Diego, California, January 17-19, 2023. The recipient will also be invited to the MCAA23 Annual Convention in Phoenix, AZ, March 26-30, 2023 to receive the award onstage during the Wednesday Awards of Excellence Breakfast (airfare, lodging and registration to be provided). 

To nominate someone for the 2022 MCAA/MILWAUKEE TOOL Safety Professional of the Year, please complete the nomination form below and submit it by close of business on December 9, 2022. 

Connect With the Latest Training from CNA and Morris Group International at MCAA.org

The Manufacturer/Supplier Training area of MCAA’s website connects our contractor members with training opportunities available from the members of MCAA’s Manufacturer/Supplier Council.

Participating companies highlight and link to new webinars and training opportunities across their product lines, services, solutions or web pages. Here are just a few of the recent additions:

CNA
CNA’s Driver Selection Guide – Mitigate risk and enhance safety with a well-designed process.

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Morris Group International
Wash Your Hands One More Time outlines proper handwashing techniques for healthcare and food preparation; explains sanitation problems with sinks; and describes how to select appropriate sinks.

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Interested in More Training from Our Supplier Partners?

Be sure to visit the Manufacturer/Supplier Training area for all the latest offerings.

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Limbach Company LLC of Eastern PA Named One of Philadelphia’s Top Workplaces

Limbach Company LLC of Eastern PA, an MCAA and MSCA member, has been recognized as one of Philadelphia’s Top Workplaces by the Philadelphia Inquirer. This is the company’s fourth year in a row on the list. This year’s list recognizes 178 companies and organizations in Philadelphia and the Delaware Valley. “We are being recognized for something I have always known about this branch: we really do live out our core value of ‘we care’ – collectively and individually. We care about the work we do, the people we are, and those that we serve. This award goes to each of you for caring so deeply about our family here at Limbach,” Andy Wiegand, the company’s Vice President & Branch Manager, said to the team. MCAA congratulates everyone at Limbach.

Find the Latest from Morris Group International and Raken in MCAA’s Virtual Trade Show

MCAA’s Virtual Trade Show connects our contractor members with the members of MCAA’s 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 Controls® Omega® Thermostatic Tempering Valve is ideal for both hot water distribution and point-of-use applications. It can exceed temperature control accuracy requirements of ASSE 1070 and 1017.

Learn More

Raken
Crews in the field can record quantities of materials with cost codes from any mobile device. They can also add photos and notes to track progress in the field while the office sees the data in real-time.

Learn More

Need Something Else?

Find many more smart solutions in MCAA’s Virtual Trade Show!

Visit the Virtual Trade Show

Speaking of Smart Solutions

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 MCAA’s 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!

Visit Smart Solutions

The Benefits of Nontraditional DWV Testing – RWC’s TestRite System Offers Faster, Safer Option

For decades, plumbing contractors have used inflatable or plumbing test balls to perform drain, waste, and vent (DWV) testing for new pipe installations, as required by plumbing code. But those traditional DWV testing systems often slow the plumber’s job down and can put them at risk of physical harm. In today’s world of labor shortages, plumbers and contractors need the best technologies available to get the job done efficiently and safely.

LEARN MORE

Looking for More Smart Solutions?

Visit the Smart Solutions Case Studies area of our website! You’ll see how other mechanical contractors found their win-win with productivity-enhancing and cost-saving applications from members of MCAA’s Manufacturer/Supplier Council.

Plus, you’ll find tips and ideas on other ways you and your company can save money and enhance your productivity.

VISIT SMART SOLUTIONS

Resource Highlight: MCAA’s Records Retention

Retention of company records is critical for many reasons, especially the potential for litigation involving a construction project. MCAA’s Records Retention provides guidelines for establishing or refining a company’s records retention policy. It’s just one of MCAA’s educational resources that are free to MCAA members as a benefit of membership.

The bulletin covers:

  • Records retention policies
  • Records retention/destruction schedules
  • Records storage
  • Litigation
DOWNLOAD

For a full list of available Management Methods Bulletins, visit the Management Methods Bulletins page.

Have Questions or Need Personal Assistance?

Contact MCAA’s Frank Wall.

Find the Latest from MSUITE and QuoteSoft by ConstructConnect in MCAA’s Virtual Trade Show

MCAA’s Virtual Trade Show connects our contractor members with the members of MCAA’s 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:

FabPro - MCAA Virtual Trade Show

MSUITE
Track. Manage. Share. FabPro is the fabrication industry’s first cloud-based software created by mechanical contractors and proven to meet the needs of the fast-paced, ever-changing construction environment.

Learn More

QuoteSoft by ConstructConnect
QuoteSoft BIM and Estimating Solutions – Increase Takeoff speed and bottom line with cost and labor estimating software for mechanical and HVAC contractors. Call for web demo today!

Learn More

Need Something Else?

Find many more smart solutions in MCAA’s Virtual Trade Show!

Visit the Virtual Trade Show

Speaking of Smart Solutions

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 MCAA’s 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!

Visit Smart Solutions

Withum’s Business and Finance Symposium Offers Education to Help You Future-Proof Your Business

National accounting firm Withum’s thought leaders will explore relevant topics to help your business stay agile and dynamic in the fast-changing business world during Withum’s Business and Finance Symposium: Future-Proofing your Business in an Era of Unknowns (November 9 and 16, 2022, from 1:00 – 5:00 PM ET). The online program will cover trending Tax and A&A concepts and discuss cryptocurrency, supply chain, transaction readiness, navigating turnover, and more.

Har-Con Saves Time and Materials With MIFAB’s Quick Hub Couplings

Since the beginning of 2022, Har-Con has played a crucial part in a school expansion project, using MIFAB’s Quick Hub couplings and fixture carriers to stay on track. “The quick coupling is a great product that has saved Har-Con time and money through material cost and labor savings,” said Travis Welch, Har-Con project estimator.

LEARN MORE

Looking for More Smart Solutions?

Visit the Smart Solutions Case Studies area of our website! You’ll see how other mechanical contractors found their win-win with productivity-enhancing and cost-saving applications from members of MCAA’s Manufacturer/Supplier Council.

Plus, you’ll find tips and ideas on other ways you and your company can save money and enhance your productivity.

VISIT SMART SOLUTIONS

Prepare for the Certified Safety Professional Exam with MCAA 2023 Safety Conference Add-On Courses Sponsored by ClickSafety

January 17-19, 2023 | San Diego, California

MCAA is celebrating 20 years of safety excellence with our 20th anniversary safety conference, January 17-19, 2023, in San Diego, CA. New this year, an extended learning (add-on) course will prepare safety professionals for the Board of Certified Safety Professionals’ Certified Safety Professional (CSP) exam. The course, which is limited to 20 students, is sponsored by MCAA’s newest Manufacturer/Supplier Council member, ClickSafety.

Led by SPAN, the course will review hundreds of problems addressing the complete examination blueprint in a question-and-answer format complete with fully developed explanations. It targets the principles and theories required to pass the examination. There is an additional fee to attend the course.

The conference itself will offer over 50 hours of safety training and education, including keynote speeches on safety leadership, mental health, and safety management. Conference registration is open to our partners, the members of the United Association, NECA, SMACNA, and TAUC.

Have questions or need assistance? Contact us at eventregistration@mcaa.org or 301-869-5800.

MORE INFORMATION
REGISTER NOW