This annual conference is designed to connect future professionals with MCAA members and future internship and full-time employment opportunities. The Forum will give MCAA Student Chapter members the opportunity to safely network with industry leaders and learn about the ongoing changes in the field and the advantages of working in mechanical contracting.
MCAA’s Career Development Initiative helps MCAA members connect with students for internships or full-time employment. During the annual GreatFutures Forum, students from 40 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!
Registration is open from 12:30 PM – 2:15 PM on Thursday, September 26th and then promptly at 2:30 PM the Welcome Session will begin. The conference will conclude by 11:00 AM on Saturday, September 28th.
The Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SeaTac) is approximately 14 miles from the hotel, or roughly 20 minutes without traffic by car.
Program Highlights
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Friday
Saturday
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.
In 2020, the Department of Defense announced a new strategic effort to provide enhanced cybersecurity efforts for their building projects going forward. The Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) will ensure accountability for companies to implement cybersecurity standards to protect sensitive data during the design, build and operations of DoD facilities. Through research grants by the John R. Gentille Foundation and ELECTRI International, a video series, along with official DoD CMMC documentation, has been produced by MCAA’s Chief Security Fanatic, Nick Espinosa to provide ongoing updates on CMMC changes as the standard evolves and in-depth tutorials on all 110 CMMC Level 2 security controls.
Interns working at MCAA member companies are a win-win for our industry. Employers secure top talent and build a pipeline of future employees and students gain hands on experience, create connections and develop the skills needed to further their interest in mechanical contracting. Snap a picture of your summer intern by a company sign, on the jobsite or in company apparel and upload it with your Internship Grant Application. Interns and sponsoring companies will be featured on the virtual Intern Wall at MCAA24 before the Awards of Excellence Breakfast.
The MCAA company must first ensure the prospective intern is in good standing with an accredited two- or four-year college, university or technical school. While MCAA encourages its members to give priority to students from MCAA student chapters, this is not a requirement for a grant.
Please contact MCAA Director of Career Development, Michele Hoffman.
Building Information Modeling (BIM) is a standard requirement in many project specifications. MCAA’s BIM – What Is It and Is It Right for My Company? explains what BIM is and offers tips to help companies reap the greatest benefit from this technology. It’s just one of MCAA’s educational resources that are free to MCAA members as a benefit of membership.
The bulletin covers:
The Achieving Spatial Coordination through BIM – A Guide for Specialty Contractors resource mentioned in the bulletin can be found here.
For a full list of available Management Methods Bulletins, visit the Management Methods Bulletins page.
Contact MCAA’s Frank Wall.
MCAA members can quickly post an entry-level, full-time job or internship to a network of close to 50 student chapters as a benefit of membership. These student members are enrolled in programs such as construction management, mechanical engineering, construction engineering, architectural engineering, HVAC, and other similar courses of study that are designed to prepare them for careers in the mechanical contracting industry.
Many of these students are looking to explore the world outside of their own backyard and need assistance with connecting to internship and full-time employment opportunities. Post your job on the MCAA GreatFutures Job Board today to easily start the process of finding your next great hire!
How it works:
MCAA wants to hear about all of your mechanical contracting interns and has revised the internship grant application process to ensure program success is being rewarded and celebrated.
Part 1: MCAA members with one intern are eligible for a $1,000 grant. Companies with two or more interns may receive a $2,000 grant. One form should be filled out for each intern (even beyond two).
Part 1 applications will continue to be accepted on a rolling basis and may be submitted once per calendar year, per intern.
Part 2: For companies successfully converting an intern (from their part 1 list) to a full-time new hire, a $500 gift card will be mailed to the company to present to their new hire. These new hire conversions are now unlimited, but the name of the new hire must be included on a part 1 list from an MCAA member company to be eligible.
Part 2 applications may not be submitted until after their full-time start date.
Safety is the top priority for MCAA contractors, and attendance at the 2023 MCAA Safety Conference proved it. The 2023 conference was the largest safety event in MCAA history, bringing together over 350 professionals to focus on safety and health in San Diego, CA.
The conference featured 50 hours of education and training including keynotes on safety leadership, mental health, and safety management. It included 20 breakout sessions on current safety issues and priorities.
“This has been one of the best conferences I’ve ever been a part of.”
Tracy Haus, MCAA Safety & Health Committee Chairman and Baker Group Safety Director
The conference celebrated its 20th anniversary at PETCO Park at an event hosted by the MCAA Board of Directors.
Feedback from attendees was exceptional and highlighted the new expert panel discussion and presentation from Jen Massey, the UA’s Safety, Health, and Environmental Administrator.
With the increased focus on health, from mental health to worker health, MCAA will expand the conference moving forward. Mark your calendar and plan to join us for the 2024 MCAA Safety & Health Conference January 16-18, 2024 in Tucson, AZ.
3M has notified the industry of a potential issue that could result in some construction and vest style harnesses not performing properly. This condition results in the adjuster not being able to be adjusted or not locking in place after adjustments have been made. This manufacturing issue will result in the harness not performing properly in the event of a fall, which could result in severe injury or death. Protect your workers – read the inspection notice below.
MCAA wants to hear about all of your mechanical contracting interns and has revised the internship grant application process to ensure program success is being rewarded and celebrated.
Part 1: MCAA members with one intern are eligible for a $1,000 grant. Companies with two or more interns may receive a $2,000 grant. One form should be filled out for each intern.
Part 2: For companies successfully converting an intern (from their part 1 list) to a full-time new hire, a $500 gift card will be mailed to the company to present to their new hire. These new hire conversations are now unlimited, but the name of the new hire must be included on a part 1 list from an MCAA member company to be eligible.
Applications will continue to be accepted on a rolling basis and may be submitted once per calendar year, per intern.
Congratulations to the 88 MCAA member companies that were awarded 2022 Internship Grants!
Having MCAA interns working at member companies is a win-win for the mechanical contracting industry. Employers get top talent and build a pipeline of future employees. Students gain experience create connections, develop skills and further their interest in mechanical contracting.
Be on the lookout for the new Intern Wall to highlight the 2022 Internship Grant recipients at MCAA23 in Phoenix!
College students across the country are finishing up finals and heading home for winter break. Following a few days of post-finals rest, their #1 priority will be to secure a summer internship or full-time position. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to put your company in the spotlight during the golden weeks between semesters! Post your entry level, full-time job or internship today and ring in the new year to successfully growing your workforce.
How it works:
A student from Ball State University was recently hired by U.S. Engineering after using the new GreatFutures job board to find a summer internship. Congratulations to Reece Manning and U.S. Engineering! Read the article.
If you already employed an intern in 2022, remember to submit an application for an Internship Grant. MCAA members may submit up to two applications per year for a $1,000 grant (to your company) and an accompanying $500 gift card (to the intern).
In 2021, the Department of Defense announced a new strategic effort to provide enhanced cyber security efforts for their building projects going forward. The Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) will ensure accountability for companies to implement cybersecurity standards to protect sensitive data during the design, build and operations of DoD facilities. Recently, the DoD has simplified and revised the CMMC to make it more streamlined and faster in what they are calling, “CMMC 2.0”.
The full-featured digital version of MCAA’s Membership Directory & Buyer’s Guide enhances the look and feel of our printed directory. Download your copy for digital-only benefits that help you stay connected throughout the year. Printed copies will mail in the next few weeks.
The digital version of the directory helps you:
Have updates? Please share! Contact Jan Grillo for assistance updating your member record at any time.
MCAA’s Career Development Initiative helps MCAA members connect with students for internships or full-time employment. 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!
Registration is open from 12:30 p.m. – 2:15 p.m. on Thursday, September 28 and then promptly at 2:30 p.m. the Welcome Session will begin. Likewise, chapters should remain until 11:00 a.m. when the conference concludes on Saturday, September 30.
Please note that one of our special speakers (MCAA President, Robert Beck) will be on Saturday morning.
The Milwaukee Airport (MKE) is approximately 10 miles from the hotel, or roughly 15 minutes without traffic.
MCAA extends a warm welcome to Michele Hoffman, who will be joining the staff starting January 1, 2022. She will be MCAA’s new Director, Career Development as Megan Walsh moves back to full time responsibilities in the Events Department. Michele comes to us from MCA-Omaha, where she spent 13 years working with their local board and committees, and in event management and communications roles. During that time, she served as the Industry Advisor for the University of Nebraska Student Chapter, which was named MCAA Student Chapter of the Year in 2015, 2019, and 2020. She has been a member of MCAA’s Career Development Committee since 2018. Michele is originally from central Illinois, a graduate from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln (Advertising Major), and currently resides in Omaha. MCAA is pleased to welcome Michele to the staff, and her husband Eric and their two children to the MCAA staff family.
Since 1996, the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) has presented their annual Industry Partner Award to individuals or organizations who are allied with the electrical construction industry. This year, NECA presented and recognized MCAA with the 2021 NECA Industry Partner Award at their annual Convention in Nashville.
In early 2021, MCAA, NECA and The Association of Union Constructors (TAUC) joined forces in a strategic alliance agreement to collaborate on issues impacting the construction and maintenance industry on a national and regional level. Through this alliance, the associations conduct joint meetings and share information of mutual interest relating to environmental health and safety, industrial relations, government affairs, innovation and technology. The associations work to develop products and practices to jointly benefit their respective memberships, increase membership awareness of industry issues and more.
Earlier this year, MCAA and NECA also partnered together to put on the 2021 MEP Innovation Conference, held virtually this past April. Registration is already open for the 2022 MEP Innovation Conference held jointly with MCAA, NECA and the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors’ National Association (SMACNA) for January 24-26, 2022. This annual event will be held in-person, showcasing the industry-defining innovations being seen across the mechanical, electrical and plumbing contracting industries.
MCAA thanks NECA for this recognition and looks forward to many more years of joint collaboration in order to advance the unionized construction industry.
The project was released this afternoon to the student chapters participating in MCAA’s 2021-2022 Student Chapter Competition. The project this year, provided by Mollenberg-Betz, Inc. in Buffalo, NY, will require students to work through a lot of logistical challenges as they contribute to a Lake Placid Olympic Center Revitalization job.
Once again this competition will be run through MCAA’s member company, Procore. Additionally, for the second year in a row, MCAA’s Career Development Committee partnered with Trimble, one of MCAA’s Manufacturer and Supplier Member Companies, offering students the use of Trimble’s new estimating software, Trimble Estimation MEP, for the Student Chapter Competition.
Trimble Estimation MEP is an easy-to-use, web-based estimating software that combines document storage, graphical takeoff, Trade Service material pricing and MCAA labor into one solution. Trimble Estimation MEP is straightforward and intuitive as it walks users through the process of creating an estimate step-by-step, making it the perfect tool for the students to use. While using Trimble Estimation MEP is not a requirement for the project, Trimble has generously made the software available to all MCAA student chapters for free.
MCAA would like to thank all partnering member companies for their support in this year’s competition. If your student chapter would like access to the project in Procore or access to Trimble Estimation MEP, please email Megan Walsh at mwalsh@mcaa.org.
In the 26th episode of MCAA’s Sponsor Spotlight series, Brian Helm, MCAA’s Immediate Past President is joined by Mark Wilke, AVP – Construction Segment for CNA. The Sponsor Spotlight Series is a new way for MCAA contractor members to learn more about the Manufacturer/Supplier Council (M/SC) Governing Board members, their products, their relationship with MCAA, and what being a member means to them.
Mark Wilke is an insurance professional with an emphasis in program management, construction field underwriting and specialty lines underwriting. He is responsible for the underwriting and development of CNA’s professional liability products geared towards specialty and general contractors. As well, he manages external association relationships with electrical and mechanical contractors nationwide, manages various complex alternative risk placements including captive business, and is an industry leader in the construction middle markets. Mark has been at CNA for ten years where his primary focus has been in the construction segment.
In the 25th episode of MCAA’s Sponsor Spotlight series, Brian Helm, MCAA’s Immediate Past President is joined by Chris Peppler, Sr. Director, Marketing and Product, MEP Division for Trimble. The Sponsor Spotlight Series is a new way for MCAA contractor members to learn more about the Manufacturer/Supplier Council (M/SC) Governing Board members, their products, their relationship with MCAA, and what being a member means to them.
In his role as Senior Director of Product Management and Marketing, Chris leads the global product strategy and go-to-market for Trimble MEP. In his four years with Trimble, he has transformed the strategy to focus on cloud and providing more value to MEP contractors. Prior to Trimble, Chris held a number of leadership roles at software technology companies, making positive impacts in the areas of product management, business development, customer success, and implementation.
In the 24th episode of MCAA’s Sponsor Spotlight series, Timothy Brink, MCAA’s CEO is joined by Matt McGrath, Global Channel & Distribution Manager, Sporlan Division for Parker Hannifin. The Sponsor Spotlight Series is a new way for MCAA contractor members to learn more about the Manufacturer/Supplier Council (M/SC) Governing Board members, their products, their relationship with MCAA, and what being a member means to them.
In his role as Global Channel & Distribution Manager, Matt has overall responsibility for global distribution in the Americas for the Sporlan Division of Parker Hannifin. Matt started his near 30 year career with Sporlan and Parker in 1992 as a sales engineer and has taken increasing roles of responsibility including Regional Sales Manager, Commercial OEM Sales Manager and now has lead the distribution & aftermarket segments for 12 years. Matt has been involved with the MCAA and MSCA since the launch of ZoomLock in 2016 and has been involved on the MS/C supplier council for the past 2 years. Matt has a degree in Engineering Management from Southern Methodist University and resides in St. Louis, MO.
