Archives: News Items

ASHRAE Epidemic Task Force Releases Updated Reopening Guide for Schools, Universities

As schools prepare to reopen for the fall academic year, the ASHRAE Epidemic Task Force has developed HVAC systems operation guidance to help mitigate the airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2. The guidance includes checklists such as starting up HVAC systems prior to occupancy and checks and verifications to maintain during the academic year. The guidance addresses determining building readiness, filtration upgrades, facility design recommendations and controlling infection outbreak in school facilities.

Link to more information and guidelines:  https://www.ashrae.org/about/news/2020/ashrae-introduces-updated-reopening-guide-for-schools-and-universities

The Next Qualified Level Arc Flash Safety Training Webinars Scheduled for August 20, 2020

Make sure your service techs have the up-to-date safety training they need to protect themselves from arc flash and electrical shock hazards while working on equipment pushing 480 volts or less. The session covers all applicable OSHA requirements, NFPA 70E provisions, best practices, and real-world accident information.

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The next two webinars will be presented on August 20, 2020. The first webinar will take place from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. EST, and the second is from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. EST.

REGISTER TODAY

Take advantage of the MCAA/MSCA member discounted webinar prices below.

PRICING:

# of Trainees (per company)Cost (per person)
1-5$200/person
6-10$175/person
11-25$150/person
26-50$125/person
51-100$ 100/person
101+Email for Pricing

If you can’t make it in August, the webinar will be taught again twice on September 17, 2020. Questions? Contact Pete Chaney.

Tim Brink Highlighted on The NEWSMakers Podcast

MCAA Chief Executive Officer Tim Brink joined Kyle Gargaro for The NEWSMakers podcast this week. Listen to learn how Tim’s experiences as an MCAA member and local association executive are shaping his vision for a more collaborative organization that delivers more services to its members.

Withum COVID-19 Bill Update – 7/20/2020

Automatic Forgiveness?: Treasury Secretary Mnuchin recently suggested publicly that the SBA should consider forgiving all PPP loans and forgoing the process of the forgiveness application. This would, of course, be a stunning change in direction with respect to the mechanics of loan forgiveness. There has been chatter for a while that the SBA may seek to forgo applications on “small” loans as a vast majority of the loans issued were below $150k. This would substantially reduce the workload of the lenders and SBA when it comes to processing applications, and is appearing more and more likely as the days roll on, though the actual dollar threshold is a moving target. 

EIDL Loans: As we all know, the EIDL loan program was funded and gained a lot of traction/interest at the same time as the PPP roll out. Many companies clamored to gain access to the loan product as a result of its favorable terms (30 year repayment, 4% max rate, no personal guarantee for small loans). Withum is starting to see clients identify onerous covenants and reporting requirements (e.g., quarterly financial reports and year-end reviewed financials). There does not appear to be uniformity among all EIDL loan agreements, if you received an EIDL loan, it is important to review your agreement to ensure you have clearly identified all reporting requirements that are connected with the loan.

Reminder Section:  (what should I be doing):

  • 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).
  • Consider speaking with your lender to discuss changes to terms of existing debt facilities.
  • If you have already received a PPP loan, start forecasting how you intend to spend the funds and how you can qualify for the highest amount of loan forgiveness possible.  If you are not forecasting 100% loan forgiveness, then most likely you should seek assistance regarding your particular situation.  Withum believes the vast majority of borrowers should expect and plan to receive 100% loan forgiveness.

U.S. Department Of Labor Publishes Additional Guidance on Wage And Hour Rules, Family and Medical Leave As Workplaces Reopen

WASHINGTON, DC – On Monday, July 20, the U.S. Department of Labor published additional guidance for workers and employers on how the protections and requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), and the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) affect the workplace as workplaces reopen amid the coronavirus pandemic. The guidance from the Department’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) includes commonly asked questions and answers that address critical issues in all three laws. 

“The U.S. Department of Labor understands how critically American workers and employers need this information as they return to work. Continuing to provide it remains a top priority for the Wage and Hour Division,” said Wage and Hour Division Administrator Cheryl Stanton. “With so many workers and employers committed to the greatest comeback the American workforce has ever seen, we are providing ongoing guidance to help them better understand their rights and responsibilities to protect workers and help ensure a level playing field for employers as our economy recovers.” 

Today’s guidance is the latest addition to compliance assistance materials the WHD has published. These materials include a Fact Sheet for Employees, a Fact Sheet for Employers and a Questions and Answers resource about paid sick and expanded family and medical leave under the FFCRA. WHD has also produced two guidance posters, one for federal workers and one for all other employees, that fulfill notice requirements for employers obligated to inform employees of their FFCRA rights; Questions and Answers about posting requirements; and simple Quick Benefits Tips to determine how much paid leave the FFCRA allows workers to take.

FFCRA will help the U.S. combat and defeat the coronavirus by reimbursing, through tax credits, American businesses with fewer than 500 employees for the cost of providing employees with paid leave taken for specified reasons related to the coronavirus. The legislation enables employers to provide such paid leave, while at the same time ensuring that workers are not forced to choose between their paychecks and the public health measures needed to combat the virus.

WHD provides additional information on common issues employers and employees face when responding to the coronavirus and its effects on wages and hours worked under the Fair Labor Standards Act and job-protected leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act at https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/pandemic

For more information about the laws enforced by the WHD, call 866-4US-WAGE, or visit www.dol.gov/agencies/whd

HVACR Basic Electricity Review Course for Technicians

Recently MSCA conducted a survey of all members to determine which training topics would be most beneficial for service technicians. Based on the results of the survey, the UA will be developing several on-line courses available at no cost to all UA technicians. 

Beginning August 3, an HVACR Basic Electricity Course will be available on Blackboard. This is a self-paced course which will provide a review of electrical theory to enhance understanding of voltage, amperage and resistance. There will be a specific emphasis on the safe use of troubleshooting tools and HVACR control circuits will be covered in detail.

Although there is no registration fee, technicians must register in advance through their local UA training director. The course will run from August 3 – August 28, but attendees will be able to participate in the course any time at their convenience during that timeframe. A $30 Basic Electricity manual is required. Additional details on the program can be found on the flyer below.

Questions should be directed to Rich Benkowski, UA Training Specialist, at richb@uanet.org. This is an excellent opportunity to provide your technicians with a valuable review program at no cost to you that is available on-line. Attendance is limited so be sure to contact your local UA training coordinator today!

Find the Latest from Key2Act and Metraflex Company 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:

Key2Act
Key2Act is the construction and field service technology leader, focused on mechanical and non-mechanical specialty trades, facilities maintenance and other large asset or equipment-centric industries.

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Metraflex LPD-Y Strainer

Metraflex Company
Metraflex energy-saving LPD-Y-Strainer dramatically reduces pressure drops. ROI within 1 year. Larger screen with more holes. Re-engineered to reduce turbulence.

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

7/20 Alston & Bird Coronavirus Flash Update

Alston & Bird have released their July 20 COVID-19 update, including the latest news on emergency funding, administrative and regulatory actions, workplace and home issues, and many other topics, as well as to links to all their past updates.

Brian Helm Featured on The NEWSMakers Podcast

MCAA President Brian Helm spoke with Kyle Gargaro for this week’s episode of The NEWSMakers podcast. The two discussed MCAA’s quick response to the COVID-19 pandemic. They talked about what the industry can expect to see for the rest of 2020 and beyond, and the best practices that will help MCAA members succeed.

GreatFutures Virtual Education Fall Program Coming Soon

In light of COVID-19-related restrictions and with the safety of our members and students in mind, MCAA has made the difficult decision to cancel this year’s in-person GreatFutures Forum, scheduled for October 1–3 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

To continue providing the top-of-the-line education that MCAA is known for, our Career Development Committee has come together to develop the GreatFutures Virtual Education Fall Program! The program is aimed to help give the next generation of mechanical contracting leaders a deeper understanding of the industry and the ins and outs of creating a construction bid. The program will start September 15 and continue through November 16, 2020.

Included in this program will be the annual MCAA Student Chapter Competition, which will be released virtually to student chapters this September. The competition gives students the opportunity to apply what they’ve learned in the classroom by creating a bid for a real-life mechanical construction project.

The GreatFutures education program will navigate students through the competition project with online instructional sessions focused on components of a real-world contracting bid. MCAA will be launching live sessions each week, available to all students, faculty advisors and MCAA members.  The topics of the sessions include estimating, scheduling, construction technology, safety and service, all taught by industry leaders.

Stay tuned for schedule and registration information in the coming weeks!

Please contact Megan Walsh if you have questions about the GreatFutures Virtual Education program or any of our student activities.

Register for Coffee with Koontz Episode 8: The Unique, The Innovative, and The Unusual – Mechanical Contracting in the City by The Bay

Episode 8: The Unique, The Innovative, and The Unusual – Mechanical Contracting in the City by The Bay
Friday, July 24 at 2:00 p.m. EDT

As Past Chair of the PCA and President-Elect of the MCAA, Armand Kilijian (President, O’Brien Mechanical Inc.) has had a lot of exposure to how the industry can differ from place to place across the nation. This gives him a good basis for comparison when it comes to describing the oddities and unique attributes that shape the nature of mechanical work in his backyard. While most would agree that our industry is all about relationships, you might be surprised to learn that in a booming metropolis like San Francisco, one of the first questions you are likely to be asked when working with a new business partner is ‘where did you go to high school?’ Join John and Armand as they discuss all that makes mechanical contracting unique in San Francisco – from the people to the geography to the history – and learn a bit about how culture shapes contracting in the City by The Bay.

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DeWALT COVID Tool Cleaning Guides

The way DeWALT works is changing, but their commitment to service isn’t. DeWALT is here to support MCAA members through evolving situations, rules, and safety requirements. They have you covered with the informative materials that will guide you through the proper way to clean and sanitize tools on the jobsite. Watch this short tutorial and review the guidelines below for the proper way to sanitize your tools.

DOWNLOAD INSTRUCTIONS

WATCH TUTORIAL

MCA of Chicago Hosts Summer Interns

The mechanical contracting industry provides many career paths, and that includes the opportunity to work for an MCA local affiliated association. This summer, MCA of Chicago has two interns, Judie Prophete and Ervin Prophete. They are learning about how an association is managed and how the MCA of Chicago provides resources and education to its members.

MCA of Chicago Director of Communications Abby Baughan said, “It’s been great having Judie and Ervin working with us this summer. They’re bright, hard-working and make great additions to our team. When I was in college, I knew very little about association work and mechanical contracting. Like most people, I sort of fell into it. I think it’s great that, as college students, Judie and Ervin are being introduced to this world filled with so much opportunity. I hope this internship opens their eyes to all of the possible career paths that are available to them.”

Meet Judie Prophete

Judie is an incoming senior at DePaul University, studying accounting and business management.

“As the accounting intern and administrative assistant for the MCA of Chicago, I spend the majority of my time helping our Director of Finance, Susan Rocque, with various tasks and projects. The other part of my time is spent doing administrative work around the office and helping where I am needed. I am learning a lot about accounting and finance, gaining a lot of new experience and learning a lot about what it is like to work in an office setting.”

During her internship, Judie hopes to continue learning more about the professional workplace and about programs and tools that are specific to her field of study. She also hopes to gain more confidence so she is prepared to enter the business world.

“From what I have seen in the month that I have been interning here, there are a lot of aspects of the professional workplace that school cannot prepare you for. The only way to truly learn these things and succeed is to actually be put in those situations and just do the best you can with what you have. I am fortunate enough to be learning those things surrounded by welcoming, forgiving and patient co-workers in a friendly and positive work environment.”

Meet Ervin Prophete

Ervin Prophete is a senior at DePaul University in Chicago, studying public relations and advertising.

Ervin is a marketing intern. His responsibilities include creating and posting graphics on social media, helping Director of Communications Abby Baughan with compiling the weekly emails, scheduling events on the MCA of Chicago Facebook page and updating the MCA website with future events and classes.

Ervin talked about what he hopes to get out of this internship. “I have learned a lot so far in this internship and feel that every day I step in the office is a day I gain more knowledge about the marketing world. I am hoping to just learn as much as I can and become proficient in the tools I have been introduced to in my time here so far. By the end, I would like to be able to use the knowledge I will have gained to do some freelance work while I finish school.”

MCA of Chicago Career Development

MCA of Chicago members are also focused on getting talented students into the mechanical contracting industry, even if they do not follow the typical academic path.

Brandon Hubner of Premier Mechanical, Inc., shared his company’s unique insight about hiring the right talent:

“The way the Premier has looked at hiring is that a person’s major focus of study or background is less important than the skills that they bring to the table and how well they can help round out our team and add value with other talents that they have. Construction, and mechanical contracting even more so, is a unique industry and every system we install is different. Rarely are two buildings built identically, or with the same team of general contractors and subcontractors. If systems and teams are rarely the same, then why always hire from within the same field of study? In our experience, we can better tackle unique projects with unique individuals. Given the number of variables there are to construction, we would be passing over a lot of really good candidates if we focused just on construction management and mechanical engineering majors.”

Find the Latest from Anaco-Husky and Miller Electric Mfg. Co. 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:

Anaco-Husky
Follow the Leader, choose Husky SD 4000 Heavy Duty Couplings. Visit our website and check out the new members of the Husky family.

Learn More

Miller Electric Mfg. Co.
Simplified and optimized for pipe fabrication shop welding, the PipeWorx 400 Welding System’s streamlined set-up with one touch welding, quick process changeover, and Pulsed and Modified Short-Arc MIG processes, makes training and turn-around times faster than ever before.

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

7/13 Alston & Bird Coronavirus Flash Update

Alston & Bird have released their July 13 COVID-19 update, including the latest news on emergency funding, administrative and regulatory actions, workplace and home issues, and many other topics, as well as to links to all their past updates.

Protect Your Workers From Hand Sanitizers Containing Methanol

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning everyone about hand sanitizers made with methanol. The substance, which is a form of alcohol, is toxic when absorbed through the skin or ingested. Last month the FDA listed a number of hand sanitizers made by Eskbiochem that contain methanol. This month the agency is expanding that list to include sanitizers made by other companies.

LEARN MORE

Don’t Miss Coffee with Koontz Episode 7: The Role of the Local Affiliated Association – Partnership Through Service

Episode 7: The Role of the Regional Association – Partnership Through Service
Friday, July 17, 2:00 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.

If you joined us for Episode 5 you will have heard MCAA CEO Tim Brink mention his good friend Chip Martin, as Tim discussed his west coast days and early involvement with the California Plumbing and Mechanical Contractors Association. This week, we are fortunate enough to be joined by Chip himself, Executive Director of the CPMCA. As a veteran Local Association Executive, Chip has for many years served CPMCA membership through a variety of initiatives, from mechanical education to recruitment to labor relations. Tune in to hear Chip and John chat about the role of a regional association in the mechanical community, and how they dedicate themselves to the continued betterment of the industry.

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Neptune Plumbing & Heating Co. Named a Top Workplace

MCAA Member Neptune Plumbing & Heating Co. has been named a Top Workplace by cleveland.com and the Cleveland Plain Dealer. This is the company’s first year on the list, which includes a record 175 honorees. Neptune is the only full-service plumbing company among them. Company co-Presidents Adam and Michael Wallenstein credit the company’s talent and culture for earning the recognition.

Neptune Plumbing relies on its talented, seasoned employees and strong corporate culture to create a work environment that doesn’t follow traditional molds.

By combining tradesmen best practices with cutting-edge technology for the field, Neptune Plumbing created a working environment – and employee experience – that uses plumbing innovations to build employee engagement, customer trust, and a professional advantage in a competitive market.

“This recognition is first and foremost because of our employees. Ever since this company started in my grandparents’ basement, we have values that we hoped our employees not only embraced, but believed in. Being named a Top Workplace in Northeast Ohio validates that,” said Neptune co-President Adam Wallenstein.

Neptune has served its community for over 60 years. The company uses plumbing innovation like CAD-design plumbing systems to meet the needs of its customers.

“I believe the way we embrace industry trends deserves a little bit of credit toward us making the list too. To have a 24/7 service department is crucial to our business. Having a Prefabrication Division makes us efficient when those calls come, but also gives our employees an added sense of pride in their work. Not a lot of businesses in our sector do what we do, the way we do it,” Wallenstein said.

“Our TRIDENT Core Values have shown through for quite some time now. This recognition – and the only one from the plumbing sector on the list – is proof our people are some of the best in the trade. And they prove it every single day with their attitudes, effort and integrity,” said Neptune co-President Michael Wallenstein.

Through values that have lasted three generations and employee opportunities to heighten capabilities in the industry, the Neptune Plumbing presidents credit the company’s talent and culture for making the list.

Meet our WiMI Mentors/Mentees

 MCAA’s WiMI Committee recently launched a Mentor Program. Mentors and mentees signed-up to be a part of this program in hopes of gaining new perspectives on the industry, building connections, developing a support network, and more. Committee members recently took some time to speak with mentees and mentors participating in the program to find out how things are going. Meet our first pair, Hannah and Kristin! 

Hannah Leslie, an Assistant Project Manager at The Brandt Companies in Carrollton, Texas enrolled in the program as a mentee, hoping to be paired with a mentor who could share the do’s and don’ts of business, tips and tricks to success in the industry, and overall life advice. Little did Hannah know she would be paired with her perfect match! 

Kristin Blundell, a Senior Preconstruction Manager at U.S. Engineering in Westminster, Colorado was recommended to be a mentor in this program from a fellow colleague, a young Preconstruction Engineer who had previously been mentored by Kristin herself. Kristin, who has always taken young professionals under her wing, has proven to be the ideal mentor. 

Hannah and Kristin first connected at the beginning of this year. Their bond formed very naturally during their first phone call. Hannah had entered this program with a small handful of personal and professional goals she hoped her mentor would guide her in working towards. Through open conversations, Kristin helped Hannah expand her goals and identify her strengths to be successful. Also, from the very beginning, Kristin has reminded Hannah of valuable life lessons – stay true to herself, believe in hard work, and believe in herself. 

Kristin’s advice may seem simple, but it has been incredibly empowering for Hannah. Hannah, who is one of two females comprising a close-knit team of 10 individuals in her job site office, has recognized qualities in herself during the course of the mentorship that she now feels empowered to share with the team. Hannah has learned from Kristin to take pride in being a contributing female on the team. 

While Hannah and Kristin have a relaxed approach to their communication structure, they make sure to have a phone conversation at least once a month, every month. They also take comfort in just knowing the other is there for them anytime. An unexpected benefit the current pandemic has provided for both, is knowing they have a contact in a different part of the country to talk through how their respective companies have worked through these challenging times and implemented new work practices. 

With several hundred miles between them, with Hannah in Texas and Kristin in Colorado, they are bummed they cannot meet for an occasional cup of coffee or happy hour drink. However, they do look forward to the day they can meet in person, hopefully at MCAA’s WiMI Conference next June, if not sooner! 

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