Archives: News Items

Week 5 of MCAA’s GreatFutures Virtual Fall Program – Fabrication

The GreatFutures Virtual Fall Program has completed the fourth week with two presentations on project management. This past week, we heard from MCAA’s Director of Project Management Education, John Koontz, on project organization charts, and Project Executive for Holmberg Mechanical, Troy Aichele, on scheduling 101.

Next week, we will focus on fabrication, and hear from Jeff Miller, Director of Virtual Construction at Harrell-Fish, Chris Summers, Senior Project Manager at Harrell-Fish and Sean McGuire, MCAA’s Director of Innovative Technologies. Together we will learn about the importance of how and why fabrication is used and understanding the importance of a fabrication plan as a specialty contractor. Our three speakers will give a glimpse of the technology MCAA members are currently using and how it is evolving the use of fabrication.

The information in these presentations is not only for the competition project, but for you and your future. The real-world insight and advice from some of the industry’s best to meant to help you succeed. If you haven’t been able to watch live weekly, know you have helpful presentations waiting for you. You may access these presentations at anytime on the GreatFutures Fall Virtual Program website under the “Video Library” tab after logging in.

Here’s a look at the full Fall schedule!

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How Most Contractors Build Plumbing Service Business

PCA’s fourth module in their Virtual Education Series on Plumbing Service focuses on water heater service and installation, the entry point for most contractors trying to build a commercial plumbing business.

Although most contractors get started in commercial plumbing through warranty, repair and servicing new construction work, the most common way that most contractors build their commercial plumbing service division is through water heater repair and installation. Most manufacturers are in constant search of reliable contractors to help repair and install their products after the point of sale. By becoming a certified repair and installation contractor for water heaters, it not only drives reliable work, but gets you in the door with potential new customers.

In the fourth module of the PCA’s Virtual Education Series on Plumbing Service, attendees will get a first-hand look at how the host company, JPG Plumbing and Mechanical Services, perform water heater service, repair and training. The module will feature a video taken with JPG President, John Geiling discussing their progression into commercial water heating and the pros and cons of it. The video continues with an overview from JPG Vice President, Marc Gluck on how they teach technical skills for plumbing service and the tools required.

In addition to the JPG case study, Dustin Bowerman from Bradford White, discusses how manufacturers work with contractors and JATC’s to provide training on all of their products in order to develop a mastery of the processes, software and equipment.

Following the video, the PCA’s Sean McGuire will lead a virtual discussion with John Geiling, Marc Gluck and Dustin Bowerman on some of the commercial plumbing service. They will discuss the corporate benefits, technical skills and strategies that are needed in order to be successful.

The PCA Virtual Education Series is a seven-module case study with weekly sessions focusing on JPG Plumbing & Mechanical Services. Each module includes a video, an online discussion and handouts. The series is limited to MCAA, PCA and MSCA members and costs $400. Prior sessions can still be accessed after their live broadcast.

For more information, contact Sean McGuire.

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MCAA Members Featured in ACHR News

Bob Dills of Western Allied Mechanical and Julie Wolfington of Boland, both MCAA members who are active in MSCA, are featured in an ACHR News article. The article on current trends impacting HVACR contractors in the high performance building sector includes insights from manufacturer Emerson, also an MCAA member.

Confront Your Unconscious Biases to Better Understand Your Decisions and Relationships

November 10, 2020 from 12:00 PM–1:00 PM Eastern

Did you know your brain can process 400 billion bits of information per second? Pretty impressive, right? Our brain’s super-computing powers are essential to making quick decisions for everyday life and general survival, and a majority of that processing happens without us even being aware of it. Welcome to the world of unconscious bias!

On November 10 at 12:00 PM EST MCAA’s WiMI will be sponsoring “Confront Your Unconscious Biases to Better Understand Your Decisions and Relationships.” In this highly engaging workshop, members of MCAA will be challenged to confront their own unconscious biases (don’t worry, we all have them) and understand how those biases impact how humans think, communicate, and act in the workplace. They participate in a series of “Bias Busters” that use multimedia content and experiential exercises to uncover their biases and learn how their brains works. Participants have countless “aha” moments, and they discover how bias impacts all kinds of decisions ranging from who is hired and promoted to who you sit next to in the break room. The program culminates with easy-to-use strategies to mitigate bias and build a positive and inclusive workplace culture.

MCAA MEMBERS LEAVE THIS PROGRAM WITH THE ABILITY TO:

Understand how unconscious bias impacts decision-making and relationship-building
Design decision-making processes that mitigate the impact of unconscious bias
Build diverse teams and relationships that reach across lines of difference

Bias busters, unconscious bias hacks, and virtual activities make this an unforgettable and powerful program.

Webinar #30: Navigating the PPP Loan Forgiveness Process

As the 24-week period finishes up for many borrowers, the time is now to start putting together that application for loan forgiveness. Join Withum Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) leaders Daniel Mayo and Matthew Walsh as they discuss the application process and what your lenders will be looking for when applying for forgiveness.

Additional Resources:

Navigating the PPP Loan Forgiveness slides (PDF)
Questions for Withum? Contact Matthew Walsh

This webinar was recorded Tuesday, October 20, 2020.

Find the Latest from MILWAUKEE TOOL and Lochinvar, 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:

MILWAUKEE TOOL
MILWAUKEE® continues to drive layout innovation with the introduction of two laser solutions on the M12™ System and three Lasers powered by REDLITHIUM™ USB. M12™ Lasers deliver all-day run-time, best visibility*, and faster set-up. The USB Rechargeable solutions are designed to tackle frustrations with current alkaline-powered solutions, eliminating the dependency on disposable batteries. All of the MILWAUKEE® lasers are engineered with a focus on power, visibility, and set-up in order to increase productivity on the jobsite.

*When compared to 12V Multi-Plane Lasers With All Green Diodes or 12V Cross Line & Point Laser With All Green Diodes

Learn More

Lochinvar, LLC
The SHIELD™ commercial water heater features an advanced water heating system beautifully packaged for the smallest possible footprint. The SHIELD is available in ten models in standard and ASME construction.

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

2020 MSCA Extraordinary Everyday Hero Award

MSCA has been honoring our industry’s very own everyday heroes for the past five years at the annual education conference. This year, we were certain that every contractor operating in today’s environment has employees that have gone above and beyond to satisfy customer requests, assist in community efforts or unselfishly support their company. Our expectations were blown away by just how many heroes we have within our industry. This year we received nineteen nominations! There are so many peers among us who do extraordinary things every day, simply out of the kindness of their hearts with a passion to make a difference for the better.

MSCA is proud to recognize all these heroes in our industry and distinguish them as an MSCA Extraordinary Everyday Hero. We will be spotlighting each of these heroes over the next few months.

Ralph Caba, Donnelly Mechanical, Queens Village, NY

Jeremy Carty, Warwick Mechanical Group, Newport News, VA

Brad Chittum, Warwick Mechanical Group, Newport News, VA

Chuck Cholke, American Combustion Service, Road Mokena, IL

Montavia Deloatch, Warwick Mechanical Group, Newport News, VA

Kevin Johnson, Johnson Controls, Sparks, MD

Chris LaBarre, McKinstry Co LLC, Seattle, WA

Shaun McCann, Atomatic, Arlington Heights, IL

Erik Miles, EMCOR Services Nevada, Las Vegas, NV

Leeann Reece, Welch and Rushe, Inc., Upper Marlboro, MD

Josh Reith, Warwick Mechanical Group, Newport News, VA

Kyle Seaman, Warwick Mechanical Group, Newport News, VA

Debbie Sells, American Combustion Service, Road Mokena, IL

Tom Skowronski, CT Mechanical, LLC., Addison, IL

Leigh Smith, UMCI, Mukilteo, WA

Matt Smith, Mollenberg-Betz, Buffalo, NY

Matt Stortz, American Combustion Service, Road Mokena, IL

Bob Warren, Standard Plumbing and Heating, Canton, OH

Sonny Webb, Tozour Energy Systems, King of Prussia, PA

Protect Your Business from Risky Drivers

“Negligent entrustment” can stem from employees driving company-owned vehicles, their personal vehicles, or other vehicles on company business. Employers have a responsibility to know if an employee has something in his or her driving background that creates a risk to others. Negligent entrustment implies a company knew or should have known that it put an unsafe driver behind the wheel of a vehicle and allowed that employee to drive on behalf of the company. (CNA is an MCAA benefactor sponsor.)

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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

How Do You Find & Train Skilled Service Technicians?

PCA’s Third Module in their Virtual Education Series on Plumbing Service Focuses on Recruiting and Training Service Technicians

Being able to find and develop plumbing service technicians is one of the biggest challenges that plumbing contractors face. While apprentice training is widely available for plumbing skills, service training requires additional soft skills training and sometimes licenses. The number and quality of service technicians that you have at your company is the single biggest limitation to business growth in the sector. While you can buy trucks, tools, heavy equipment and service software, if you can’t find the people to work them, you are always going to be limited by the number of hours they are able to work.

In the third module of the PCA’s Virtual Education Series on Plumbing Service, attendees will get a first-hand look at how the host company, JPG Plumbing & Mechanical Services, train and recruit service technicians. The module will feature a video taken from the JPG skills training lab with an overview from JPG Vice President, Marc Gluck and Service Director, Katina Blodgett on how they teach technical skills, soft skills and reinforce company culture through training.

Following the video, JPG President, John Geiling will lead a discussion with attendees on how they approach recruiting new service technicians, where they find them and what they do to train and retain their employees. Marc Gluck and Katina Blodgett will also detail how they approach soft skills training and external training for necessary licenses and operations.

For more information, contact Sean McGuire.

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AB&I Celebrates Women in Industry

MCAA member AB&I Foundry is celebrating women in engineering, manufacturing, and the skilled trades with an iron woman character named “Rose.” The foundry, which has had a long history with their iron man character, felt it was time to feature a female character. The new Iron Woman pays tribute to the iconic Rosie the Riveter representing the women civilians who built the warplanes during the WWII effort.

“There is a huge gap in our historical narrative about women in the trades and that is quickly changing as they are starting to fill the void in skilled trades as many baby boomers retire out of industry. While women are stepping into these roles they are still underrepresented,” said Francesca Venezia Dunbar, Vice President of Group Marketing for McWane. “We hope that the new Iron Woman will pay tribute to the vast opportunities for women in industry.”

According to The Institute for Women’s Policy Research (IWPR), Between 2017 and 2018, the number of women working in construction trades increased by 17.6 percent, rising to well over a quarter of a million women (276,000), according to a recent analysis from IWPR. The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) shows that women make up about 47 percent of the overall workforce but are still underrepresented in science and engineering occupations. Only 14 percent of engineers are women. Despite these increases, women still only represent 10% of the construction workforce. According to the U.S. Department of Labor Statistics, jobs in the skilled trades are expected to grow by at least 11 percent by 2026, while three out of every four tradespeople are set to retire. This brings opportunity for women seeking employment in engineering, manufacturing and the skilled trades.

“The plumbing industry, as well as other industries, are chock full of women breaking barriers with their actions. At AB&I we celebrate those individual women who are pushing through to achieve greatness, no matter the obstacles or tasks,” said Shannon Hooper, National Sales Manager of AB&I Foundry. “I feel that Rose is an embodiment of the changes happening in the construction industry and the world. I look forward to seeing Rose and other women meet the future head on and all the great things they will accomplish.”

Sloan Products Deliver Hygienic Solutions for First ‘Post-COVID-19’ Office Building

Thanks to Sloan’s integrated lineup of touch-free commercial plumbing systems, Chicago’s new Fulton East office and retail building is the nation’s first office building designed specifically to address employee health, safety, and wellness in the post-COVID-19 environment.

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Looking for More Smart Solutions?

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

VISIT SMART SOLUTIONS

JPG Plumbing Offers a Case Study in Cash Flow

On the surface, it might not seem like accounting platforms are a core part of your service business. What is a core part of your business is cash flow. In order to reduce your billing cycle, how well your accounting system integrates with your service and dispatch software is fundamental in your business operations.

In the second module of the PCA’s Virtual Education Series on Plumbing Service, attendees will get a first-hand look at how the host company, JPG Plumbing and Mechanical Services, handle dispatch, fleet management and service tech operations with their software. A video demonstration of their process in both the office and the field will be included as they perform a normal job and close their ticket.

Following the video, JPG President John Geiling will lead a virtual discussion with attendees on cash flow operations and its importance to the health of the company. JPG Vice President, Marc Gluck and Service Director, Katina Blodgett will also present a case study on how they chose their accounting and service platforms and what optional add-ons and customizations they made to fit their operations.

The PCA Virtual Education Series is a seven-module case study with weekly sessions focusing on JPG Plumbing & Mechanical Services. Each module includes a video, an online discussion and handouts. The series is limited to MCAA, PCA and MSCA members and costs $400. Prior sessions can still be accessed after their live broadcast.

For more information, contact Sean McGuire.

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New Tailgate Safety Talks for Refrigerant Work

MCAA/MSCA is pleased to announce a new set of Tailgate Safety Talks on refrigerant safety. Recent changes to ASHRAE’s refrigerant Safety Group Classification System, along with toxicity and flammability characteristics associated with some of the newer refrigerants, prompted production of the new resource. There a total of five new Tailgate Safety Talks addressing:

ASHRAE’s Refrigerant Safety Group Classification System
Safety Data Sheets (SDS) for Refrigerants
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for Work with Refrigerants
Protection from Refrigerant Toxicity & Flammability Hazards
Some Common Symptoms of Overexposure to Refrigerants

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Find the Latest from Jay R. Smith Mfg. Co.® and MIFAB, Inc. 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:

Jay R. Smith Mfg. Co.® a Member of Morris Group International
An air gap is a vertical break between the supply pipe and the receiving source to provide backflow protection into the potable water system. This is required by code to prevent contamination of the potable water system. Optional finishes are chrome-plated brass (-CP) and nickel-plated brass (-NP).

Learn More

MIFAB, Inc.
MIFAB’s revolutionary Quick Hub No Hub Couplings are now NSF approved! Quick Hub Couplings are much faster than traditional couplings, yet they are still held to the same high standards.

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

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

New Refrigerant Safety Training Resource

MCAA/MSCA is pleased to announce the release of a new refrigerant safety training resource for members. The resource, which includes a PowerPoint safety training presentation and accompanying notes for the instructors will help you bring your service technicians and other affected workers up to speed on the most current ASHRAE refrigerant designations and safety classifications, safety concerns for new and existing refrigerants, and appropriate protective measures. Trainees will learn about the potential hazards, the potential effects of the various refrigerants on the human body, ASHRAE’s refrigerant Safety Group Classification System, classifications of the new and existing refrigerants that are used most frequently in our industry, where and how to find safety information about the refrigerants they’re using, how to protect themselves from related toxicity, flammability, and physical hazards, common symptoms of overexposure, how to respond to the symptoms, proper refrigerant storage, and more.

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Guy’s Mechanical Systems Saves Steps, Time with Viega’s Branch Connectors

Guy’s Mechanical Systems discovered that the Viega MegaPress Press-In Branch Connector saved them time by reducing the steps for installation in the process of remodeling a 20-story high-rise in downtown Pittsburgh. Renovating the aged building—constructed in 1902—into a hotel has been a complicated process, and Foreman Josh Mitchell said MegaPress has made it simpler. Viega is an MCAA benefactor sponsor.

LEARN MORE

Looking for More Smart Solutions?

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

VISIT SMART SOLUTIONS

MCAA Welcomes Frank Wall as Executive Director, Operations

Frank Wall has joined the MCAA staff as the association’s Executive Director, Operations. Frank is no stranger to MCAA. He was the Executive Director of the Plumbing and Mechanical Contractors Association of Oregon for 12 years, followed by two years as the Executive Vice President of the M&SCA of Eastern Pennsylvania. During that time, he was also Chair of MCAA’s Association Executives Council. “I am personally excited to work with such a professional staff,” Frank said.

In his new role, Frank serves as Executive Director of the John R. Gentille Foundation (JRGF). He also focuses his attentions on MCAA’s National Education Initiative (NEI) and Management Methods Committee.

Frank’s extensive experience in leadership development will serve him well in another aspect of his job, handling the human resources function for MCAA.

Frank and his wife, Colleen, have two sons and are expecting their first grandchild in January.

Withum COVID-19 Bill Update – 9/17/2020

PPP Loans – Disallowance of Expense Deductions: Withum is getting a lot of questions regarding the denial of tax deductions relating to PPP loan forgiveness. As you may recall, cancellation of debt relating to the PPP loan is not taxable income. While that is the case for the loan itself, the amount forgiven actually ends up being fully taxable because the IRS issued Notice 2020-32 to disallow the tax deductions (expenses) that gave rise to the loan forgiveness. Here is a link to a Withum article on the Taxation of PPP Loans and Loan Forgiveness. Thus, taxpayers should expect more taxable income as they will have less deductible expenses in 2020 than are reflected on their internal books and records.

This also has caused some fiscal year-end borrowers to consider whether they can choose which deductions to disallow so they can defer the taxation of the loan forgiveness amount until a later tax year.

Consider this example: a borrower obtained a PPP loan 8 weeks before the end of its 2020 FYE. If it obtains loan forgiveness based on the first 8 weeks of covered expenses, then those expenses would be disallowed and the loan forgiveness amount would be taxable in 2020. If, however, the borrower can disregard the first 8 weeks of expenses and rely only on the last 16 weeks of covered expenses paid or incurred during the covered period, then it could defer the expense disallowance, and therefore the taxation of the loan forgiveness amount until 2021. There is no guidance on this issue from the IRS or from the SBA, and while there are reasonable arguments to be made both ways, we cannot recommend borrowers take this position because eligibility for loan forgiveness is based on “the sum of” the covered expenses paid and incurred during the covered period, according to section 1106(b) of the CARES Act.

Could Deductibility of PPP Expenses Change? Many have speculated that denying tax deductions for PPP loan recipients was not the intent of the program. Several members of Congress have indicated that they intend to pursue legislation that would allow for all PPP related expenses to be deductible in order to avoid having small businesses deal with an unexpected tax bill after such a difficult year. Even though at least one bill to restore the deductions has been proposed, at this point no agreement has been reached, so taxpayers need to proceed assuming that no change is coming. That said, it is possible that we could see this addressed in an upcoming stimulus bill ….stay tuned.

Reminder Section: (what should I be doing):

Talk to your lender to find out when its PPP loan forgiveness application portal will be ready.
Talk to your payroll company about claiming the employer payroll tax deferral and employee retention credits (ERC) that were made available in the CARES Act.
Talk to your payroll company about claiming the qualified sick/family leave refundable tax credits (from FFCRA, passed prior to the CARES Act).

Sloan Partners with Kansas State University To Sponsor Two Courses

Sloan, an MCAA member, has partnered with Kansas State University to sponsor two courses in the Department of Interior Architecture and Industrial Design (IAID). The sponsorship builds on Sloan’s relationship with the university, which is also home to an MCAA Student Chapter.

Partnership Provides Students with Studio, Research, and Design Experience Across Two Courses

Created to equip students with a background in product research, design, and development, the courses—an undergraduate class for third-year students and a masters-level class for fifth-year students—provide opportunities to learn and innovate the future of interior restroom design as students enter into the workforce.

“Having established this relationship in 2019 we have found this partnership to be mutually beneficial in combining our 100 years of expertise in the plumbing industry with K-State’s amazing creativity in design,” said Jim Allen, Sloan co-president and CEO. “One of my favorite times of year is when we visit K-State and get to interact with the students. I always leave energized and inspired by the students’ work and the potential of innovation in the plumbing industry.”

“At Sloan, we’re always looking to advance the future of the commercial restroom, and that innovation starts with the next generation of architects and designers,” said Gary Peterson, Sloan vice president of engineering and innovation. “We are proud to partner with Kansas State to provide its students with an outlet for creativity in design. In fact, one of our current interns is a graduate of the program.”

The undergraduate course sponsored by Sloan is IAID Product Design Studio III taught by Assistant Professor Dr. Mekin Elcioglu, a one-semester class focused on product semantics, design research, problem solving methodologies, conceptualization of ideas, and aesthetic sensibility based in design thinking and human-centered design. Students conduct an in-depth investigation and research an existing restroom product of their own choosing and use their research and analysis within a spectrum of affordable to desirable high-end design solutions to create their own design proposal. Students then design the product in an effort to improve what is currently on the market by solving consumer problems and addressing their needs.

The two-semester masters-level course (Product Design Research and Product Market Design), also taught by Dr. Elcioglu, focuses on market research trend analysis and ideation during the fall semester before moving on to design development in the spring term.

“We are proud of our relationship with Sloan. This partnership has afforded our students a real-world application of their education,” said IAID Department Head Nathan Howe. “The team that Sloan has put together to work with our students has made this experience challenging, educational, and nurturing as they develop into professionals. Our students have thrived in this environment. I am excited to see how Sloan and K-State can build upon the foundation we have already established.”

“Benefiting from both academia’s and industry’s experiences, the research and resources could give the young designers, engineers, and everyone who is involved in this collaboration, an upper hand in the development of new concepts and solutions; generating added-value in tackling the issues brought up by global challenges,” added Dr. Elcioglu. “We, the educators, and our industry partners are becoming more adaptable to the swiftly changing local and global needs and paradigms through these partnerships that demand healthier, safer, and innovative applications.

Adopting new ways of design thinking and integrating multiple disciplines through holistic and empowering design processes will be a crucial part of design education and hopefully set higher standards that will also benefit the industry.”

Due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, the most recent spring semester course for fifth-year students was held online. While students were unable to partake in hands-on prototyping, many of their product concepts are directly applicable to the post-COVID-19 commercial restroom environment.

Related Resource

Learn how Sloan’s integrated lineup of touch-free commercial plumbing systems are being used at Chicago’s new Fulton East office and retail building, the nation’s first office building designed specifically to address employee health, safety, and wellness in the post-COVID-19 environment.

MCAA’s WiMI Mentor/Mentee Program Continues to Go Strong – Introducing Kathy and Paige!

Paige Taylor has been a Project Engineer at MMC Contractors in Des Moines, IA for the past two and a half years and was formerly a member of the Iowa State Student Chapter. While Paige has always felt very supported in her career and came into this program with goals already set, she’s found it beneficial to have Kathy to bounce ideas and goals off of, as well as learn about her experiences in the industry .

Kathy McCauley is President of McCauley Mechanical Construction Inc. in Bridgeview, IL, a member of the MCAA Board of Directors and also serves on the WiMI Committee. She has been in the industry for 36 years and 29 years with MCA of Chicago. In 2004, Kathy was elected President of MCA of Chicago. That marked her as the 4^th generation in her family to take on that role and the first female president. Kathy shared that yes she did wear a pink suit coat to the inauguration! Kathy was inspired to help create this WiMI mentor/mentee program as an opportunity to give back due to a lack of such program when she came up in the industry.

Kathy and Paige started their relationship with phone calls every three weeks. Kathy shared; ‘I loved the momentum we had going before the world turned upside down”. Like many of the pairs, Kathy and Paige were planning on meeting in person in 2020 but both planned trips were cancelled due to the pandemic. They are looking forward to getting that opportunity again in 2021 and plan to continue the mentorship beyond the initial six month commitment. Both agree that they’d love to see more opportunities to be able to network with other mentor/mentee pairs which has been a challenge.

Paige shared that even though there are so many women she looks up to in her own company being a part of WiMI has been a nice opportunity to have outside options for advice. She’s always on the lookout for the chance to connect with women her own age and to learn from them first-hand. The pair loves sharing interesting reads, opportunities or resources to check out. Kathy shared the Brilliant Balance podcast and invitations to virtual professional development seminars through the WiMi group in Chicago and Paige recommended the book How Women Rise and brought up the twelve habits for discussion. Paige has been inspired by Kathy’s dedication to the industry through her teaching and her involvement in not only MCAA but other leadership organizations as well.

For Kathy, this program has been a reminder to get out of her world and remember what it’s like to be new in the industry. “It’s hard for me to remember what is was like when I started.” Although things have come a long way since she entered the industry, there’s still room for growth and improvement.

When asked what her best piece of advice for Paige and all other young females in this industry at this time, Kathy replied; “Listen to everything that anyone wants to teach you. And don’t take anything too seriously! You need a sense of humor to get through this industry.”

For more information visit the Women in the Mechanical Industry Initiative Page.