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PIPM Class 31, April-July 2025, Afternoons

The PIPM is designed to provide a strong foundation in mechanical project management education. This program is delivered online, with weekly 90-minute sessions on topics fundamental to successful project management that are applicable regardless of company size. Our team of contractor-instructors provide an introductory education on everything from planning to scheduling; from cost control to time management. Lectures are live, never recorded, and students are regularly called upon to come onscreen and contribute. Lessons learned in class are reenforced through quizzes and homework assignments.

Classes will take place 2:30pm-4pm EDT (11:30am-1pm PDT).

Foundations of Field Leadership Course 9

WHAT IS IT?

A new online program for new or aspiring field leaders.
An 8-week course made up of live lectures, short assignments, quizzes, and video segments.
An overview of concepts and practices essential to running a successful mechanical jobsite.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND?

Field leaders who have relatively little (0-2 years) experience running work.
Anyone who has been identified as a potential future field leader.
Journeyworkers and apprentices interested in becoming field leaders.

WHAT DO PARTICIPANTS NEED TO ENROLL IN THIS PROGRAM?

The support of their MCAA contractor.
The consent of their direct supervisor to step away from their work area for 90 minutes each week to participate in the live online lecture.
An additional hour per week for completing weekly course requirements (assignments & quizzes).
Access to a laptop or tablet and a stable internet connection fast enough to allow for video streaming.
An email address to receive course information and reminders; a web browser to access the online course portal; and a Zoom account to join the lectures.
A desire to learn and an interest in field leadership!

HOW WAS THIS PROGRAM DEVELOPED?

The FFL is taught by senior field leaders with extensive experience running mechanical jobs.
The curriculum is built from the input of 42 mechanical field leaders from MCAA member companies across the country. The topics covered in this course were identified by these 42 experts as being the most important things for new field leaders to learn.
Each lecture is a combination of best practices, lessons learned, and tips and tricks.
Upon completion of all course requirements (weekly lecture attendance, video assignments, and quizzes), participants will receive an MCAA Foundations of Field Leadership diploma.

CURRICULUM OVERVIEW BY TOPIC

The Field Leader’s Role
Productivity & Goal Setting
Documentation & Communication
Planning & Scheduling
Relationships
Safety & Compliance
Technology As A Tool
Leadership

WHAT DO OUR RECENT GRADUATES HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THEIR FFL EXPERIENCE?

About the course overall:

“This program gave me confidence by letting me by letting me know someone above saw my work ethic and thought I could become a leader. Also helping me take steps to become a good one.”
“Very informative on the basics of field leadership. And the tips on how to be a good leader.”
“I really enjoyed everything about it.”

About the instructors:

“I liked the [instructors] because they gave a lot of great stories/examples to better understand the material.”
“It was nice to hear from people who know the trade and have been in our situations.”
“I liked the personal stories they would tell that were relatable; making the information stick easier.”

About the course content:

“The class was very informative and provided plenty of information I could use to help myself in the future.”
“I enjoyed the pointers followed with examples to help paint the picture for me to understand the topic.”
“Informative and easy to understand.”

PARTICIPATION REQUIREMENTS

Show up on time to lecture and attend all eight lectures in the program.
- We understand that due to the nature of jobsite work, participants may not be able to make it to all 8 live lectures. Participants may watch lecture recordings of up to two of the eight lectures, provided they attend a minimum of 6 live lectures.
Watch a weekly video clip and answer a few short questions about it.
Participate in lectures, including the polls and short-answer chat questions during class.
Complete all eight weekly quizzes by their deadlines.
On-time completion of all requirements is required for participants to receive an FFL Diploma.

2025 COURSE DATES & TIME COMMITMENTS

An FFL course is 8 weeks long. Lectures take place once a week, always on the same day of the week.
Lectures are 90-minutes long.
- This includes 15 minutes for participants to put down their tools, leave their worksite, and log in via their laptop/tablet in a quiet place. Lecture begins 15min. after the hour.

MCAA 2029 Annual Convention

The MCAA Annual Convention is the highlight of the association’s year. With a reputation as the industry’s premier educational event, the MCAA Convention offers something for all members. Attendees will experience a first class trade show featuring the members of MCAA’s Manufacturer/Supplier Council, social functions that never cease to amaze and delight, exceptional education seminars and the chance to network and connect with industry peers. Don’t miss the opportunity to see what your trade association can do for you.

MSCA Chiller Fundamentals 1, Spring 2025

For the first time, MSCA is proud to partner with the EMCOR Training Center in Phoenix, AZ, to provide members with top-tier fundamental technical classes designed to strengthen their expertise in mechanical systems. Chiller Fundamentals 1 is a lecture-based course tailored for those looking to deepen their understanding of chiller components, operations, and maintenance. Participants will explore the foundational principles of water chillers and their critical role in HVAC systems.

Course highlights:

Understanding what a water chiller is and how it functions
Exploring basic components and various types of water chillers
Learning the refrigeration cycle and principles of heat exchange
Examining types of heat exchangers, including tube design
Discussing refrigerants and the role of purge units
Introduction to basic hydronic systems
Fundamentals of trouble analysis and chiller maintenance
Overview of starters and essential maintenance practices

Whether you’re new to the industry or looking to refresh your knowledge, this course offers valuable insights into the essential aspects of chiller systems. Join us to gain the skills needed to maintain and troubleshoot these critical systems effectively.

Schedule (subject to change):

2027 MCAA GreatFutures Forum

During the annual GreatFutures Forum, students from nearly 50 student chapters and MCAA member companies are invited to gather for three days of student-focused education sessions that highlight the mechanical contracting industry, fun peer-to-peer relationship building and most importantly, a chance to network during the Friday morning job fair. Don’t miss your chance to meet your next great hire!

MSCA Field Supervisors, Spring 2025

MSCA’s  Field Supervisors is focused training designed specifically for improving the performance of service field supervisors. Using proven methods, this program will advance skills in leadership, coaching, planning, time management, communication, and motivational techniques, all of which will give the field supervisor an edge and the confidence to deal with the workplace challenges of today.

Schedule (subject to change):

MSCA Sales Basecamp, Spring 2025

Sales Basecamp is where it begins for entry-level service sales personnel. In this competitive and uncertain business landscape, the rules of sales and customer engagement have changed. This two-day program will prepare this recent hire with relevant skills for time management and confidently selling HVACR services. Closing the deal is demystified with this course.

Topics include:

Building trust with potential customers and dimensions for building relationships
Successfully maneuvering through the prospecting process and accurately profiling customers
Avoiding traps in proposal development, and effectively linking features with needs

*Prerequisites:

For those new to the industry, completing MSCA’s HVAC 101 online course is a must! This will catch you up on HVACR basics and increase your sales strengths!
Completion of your company’s onboarding activities so that you understand your company’s value proposition and core competencies will set you up for success in bringing your new sales skills back to the office.
Virtual Introduction to the class scheduled for February 25 at 1:00 p.m. Eastern – The link will be provided after registration is complete.

Schedule (subject to change):

MSCA Dispatcher Training Program, Spring 2025

This two-day program will provide dispatchers with all the skills they need to improve job performance dramatically. Custom-designed especially for MSCA members, this program goes beyond traditional technical training to cover such critical dispatcher skills as leading technicians rather than letting technicians lead them, becoming the service manager’s partner, prioritizing customer emergencies, evaluating technician abilities, and managing their careers in dispatching. After attending this program, dispatchers will be able to improve their job performance by learning how to: identify the service life cycle and the critical contact points that impact service success; recognize the importance of the dispatcher’s job and its impact on the organization’s profitability; communicate effectively with technicians and customers; and use good decision-making approaches for optimum priority setting and effective resource allocation.

Schedule (subject to change):

2025 Collective Bargaining Conference

The Collective Bargaining Conference is designed to highlight MCAA’s 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.

2025 CEA National Issues Conference

MCAA, SMACNA and TAUC invite you to participate in the National Issues Conference focusing on key regulatory and legislative issues affecting the union construction industry today. The conference will host both regulators and representatives from Congress for their expertise and insight on a variety of topics. Don’t miss this opportunity to get the latest information that impacts your business from the nation’s capital!

Tentative Schedule:

Monday, May 5
1:00 p.m. NEW THIS YEAR: Inside the Issues – Open Government Affairs Committee Meeting

This half-day session offers MCAA members a unique opportunity to discuss legislative and regulatory priorities, advocate for the interests of mechanical contractors, and shape the future of our industry. Attendees will leave with a deeper understanding of the advocacy work that drives MCAA’s mission and have the chance to explore how government affairs committee impact their businesses directly. Open to MCAA members only.

5:00 p.m. Evening Reception

Tuesday, May 6
7:00 a.m. Breakfast
8:00 a.m. Program & Lunch
1:00 p.m. Hill Appointments
6:00 p.m. MCAA Member Dinner

Wrap up the day with a relaxing evening among fellow MCAA members. Enjoy great food, conversation, and camaraderie as we celebrate the conclusion of a successful event.

Wednesday, May 7
7:00 a.m. Breakfast
8:00 a.m. Program

2025 Industry Funds Conference

This conference covers proper use of industry improvement funds and explores ideas for beneficial programs they can subsidize. Hear from economic futurists, relations specialists, attorneys, and authorities on labor-related trends in the industry. Learn the many ways that industry funds can be used in educational classes, industry promotions, cyber security, industry research, advertising & marketing, subsidize MCAA registration fees, legislative expenses (including consultants), administrative expenses for your association, PAC fundraising events, student chapter expenses, industry legal expenses, collective bargaining, and more! Roundtable and panel discussions allow participants to share information on existing programs around the country that are supported by industry improvement funds.

2025 UA/MCAA Labor Relations Conference

The conference, jointly hosted by the United Association (UA) and MCAA, will feature networking opportunities, and panel discussions focused on topics such as the current need for manpower, organizing, workforce development, 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.

2025 PCA Plumbing Service Conference

The PCA Plumbing Service Conference is a two day must-attend event for contractors looking to enhance their service operations, drive profitability, and embrace innovation. To see the full schedule, click the register button and it will show you the speakers, agenda and hotel details.

Highlights of the PCA Plumbing Service Conference:

Tour of Murphy Company and Local 562 – In a PCA first, not only will attendees get to tour the operations, training and sales strategies of Murphy, but see Local 562’s cutting edge plumbing service training facilities. There will be multiple stops at each location, with an opportunity to engage with peers.

Contractor-Led Education Sessions – You will have the opportunity to dive deeper with the team from Murphy as they provide sessions on how to utilize SmartSheets, Sales strategies for plumbing service, and how to create a best-in-class safety culture that addresses mental health issues.

Technology & Innovation – Jonathan Slain, popular “Rock the Recession” speaker from MCAA Convention is back with a brand new keynote on AI and plumbing service. He will work to demystify AI, and give you tools to take back so you are working smarter, not harder.

Roundtable Discussions – Engage in an interactive roundtable session that address the key challenges and opportunities in plumbing service, from attracting and retaining talent, leading a team, and operational excellence.

UA Update – UA Director of Plumbing, Tom Bigley, will be presenting on Plumbing Service focused UA updates.

Peer-to-Peer Networking – Connect with like-minded professionals, exchange ideas, and build relationships that can help you set your business apart.

2026 Safety & Health Conference

MCAA, SMACNA, TAUC have partnered together to host the Safety & Health Conference, the biggest construction safety event of the year. The conference brings together safety professionals from across the construction industry to collaborate and explore the challenges and opportunities within our field. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage in a range of educational programs designed to enhance their professional skills. Subject Matter Experts will cover various aspects of jobsite safety, including discussions on emerging technologies and evolving best practices that can be implemented in their operations. Hands-on workshops will also be available, allowing experts to delve into new safety & health concepts in detail and provide practical guidance to help attendees better understand these innovative ideas. Two summits will also be offered, a pre-conference Construction Mental Health Summit and a post-conference Construction Risk Management Summit.

2025 Fabrication Conference

MCAA Fabrication conference is one of the most popular educational events of the year. The focus of the conference is on off-site manufacturing techniques, processes and strategies. Each year the conference includes an operations tour with a full explanation of how the host contractor performs fabrication. This is paired with practical education sessions that feature contractors showcasing best in class case studies of their own operations from around the country.

2026 MEP Innovation Conference

MCAA, NECA and SMACNA have partnered together to host the MEP Innovations Conference. Known as the best technology conference for mechanical, electrical, plumbing, service and sheet metal contractors, this conference will provide educational sessions led by contractors from all three trade associations. This three day event includes innovative presentations, collaborative roundtable discussions, and hands-on exhibitor demonstrations highlighting the recent technologies that can improve MEP contractors’ productivity and profitability.

2026 WiMI Conference

The annual WiMI conference will feature exceptional speakers, interactive educational sessions, industry related roundtables and opportunities to build lasting relationships with fellow women in the mechanical industry. A full menu of educational offerings will help you discover all the opportunities this industry has to offer. From industry newcomers to executives, and everyone in between, this is the event to attend for all women in the mechanical contracting industry.

MSCA Sales Basecamp, November 2024

MSCA Growing and Developing Field Service Supervisors, November 2024

MSCA’s Growing and Developing Service Supervisors is focused training designed specifically for improving the performance of service field supervisors. Using proven methods, this program will advance skills in leadership, coaching, planning, time management, communication, and motivational techniques, all of which will give the field supervisor an edge and the confidence to deal with the workplace challenges of today.

MSCA Dispatcher Training Program, November 2024

This two-day program will provide dispatchers with all the skills they need to dramatically improve job performance. Custom designed especially for MSCA members, this program goes beyond traditional technical training to cover such critical dispatcher skills as leading technicians rather than letting technicians lead them, becoming the service manager’s partner, prioritizing customer emergencies, evaluating technician abilities, and managing their own careers in dispatching. After attending this program, dispatchers will be able to improve their job performance by learning how to: identify the service life cycle and the critical contact points that impact service success; recognize the importance of the dispatcher’s job and its impact on the organization’s profitability; communicate effectively with technicians and customers; and use good decision-making approaches for optimum priority setting and effective resource allocation.