Organization: MCAA

Raffi Elchemmas Will Join the MCAA Staff

MCAA extends a warm welcome to Raffi Elchemmas, who will be joining the staff starting August 2, 2021. He will be MCAA’s new Executive Director of Safety, Health and Risk Management, learning the ropes before Pete’s upcoming retirement. Raffi comes to us from Milwaukee Tool, where he was the National Manager, Health & Safety. He is a board-certified ergonomist with an MBA in Sales Leadership & Health Sector Management from DePaul University. He has been a member of MCAA’s Safety and Health Committee since 2019. MCAA is pleased to welcome Raffi to the staff, and his wife Martha, daughter, and son to the MCAA staff family.

Find the Latest from Carrier Corporation and nVent 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:

Carrier Corporation
Carrier’s new Ecoblue technology is the industry’s first beltless direct-drive vane axial fan system for select rooftop models designed to improve performance and efficiencies while decreasing maintenance and installation costs.

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nVent
The nVent CADDY Rod Lock Strut allows for the quick creation and installation of trapeze assemblies. The pre-cut strut is ready to use out of the box and allows for quick prefab and easy installation.

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

MCAA’s Sponsor Spotlight #25 Welcomes Chris Peppler from Trimble

In the 25^th 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.

Learn How to Grow Your Business, Attend the PCA Plumbing Service Conference

While the construction industry has bounced back from the lows of 2020, the pandemic has helped teach contractors a valuable lesson –growing your business can help you ride out the low times. Plumbing service presents a perfect opportunity for plumbing, mechanical and mechanical service members to grow their business into new sectors. The ideal time to start the process is now when backlogs are full. The PCA Plumbing Service Conference presents a great opportunity to learn how to add service to your business.

As Neptune Plumbing CEO and PCA Chair Scott Wallenstein puts it, “We started getting into plumbing service a couple of years before The Great Recession. When times were low in 2007 and 2008, plumbing service was a great way to compensate for the slowdown in our construction department. Now we see it as a cornerstone of our business because of the higher margins, cash flow and regular business through maintenance agreements.”

The PCA’s new Plumbing Service Conference is a great way to learn how contractors have added plumbing service operations. While attending the conference, you can see it in action. Join a tour of Neptune Plumbing’s Cleveland facility to see how they perform their plumbing service operations. They will demonstrate how they handle inventory, dispatch, stock a plumbing service truck and perform comprehensive plumbing service operations.

The conference will be held September 20-21 in Cleveland, Ohio and limited to only 50 participants.

Resource Highlight: 2021 MCAA 3D Scanning Technology Research Report

Each week, MCAA will highlight one or more of the educational resources that are free to MCAA members as a benefit of membership. This week, we focus on MCAA’s 2021 3D Scanning Technology Research Report. The report assesses various laser, non-laser scanning and photogrammetric hardware and software tools used by mechanical contractors. MCAA members stand to benefit from these and other rapidly evolving technologies that can expedite work, increase precision and prevent mistakes.

In addition to scanning, the MCAA’s Construction Technology Research Series explores tracking, layout, design and fabrication technologies using BIM and other tools.

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You Might Also Like These Resources

MCAA’s Innovative Technologies Initiative offers a wealth of resources and information for those interested in exploring new technologies. Visit the initiative’s web page to explore them all.

Have Questions or Need Personal Assistance?

Contact MCAA’s Sean McGuire.

Connect With the Latest Training from DEWALT Industrial Tool Company and Viega at MCAA.org

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

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

DEWALT Industrial Tool Company
The DEWALT PERFORM & PROTECT™ line of tools and accessories is YOUR FIRST LINE OF DEFENSE™ on the job. They are designed to provide a high level of one or more of the following: dust containment, control, or low vibration, without sacrificing performance. These quick and easy product guides from DEWALT® will help get you started using your tools.

Learn More

Viega
Check out this educational video on how to use a MegaPress press tool & jaws.

Learn More

Interested in More Training from Our Supplier Partners?

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

Learn More

STIHL Cut-Off Machines Safety Recall

STIHL is recalling to repair certain TS 410 and TS 420 cut-off machines manufactured between January 2021 and April 2021. In some of these machines the flywheel can break apart while the engine is running, posing a projectile hazard to the users or bystanders. If you have any of these machines, immediately discontinue use and take them to an authorized STIHL dealer for free repair.

New Hand & Power Tool Safety Video Provides Training to Help Prevent Worker Injuries

MCAA’s new safety training video, Master the Mechanics: Hand & Power Tool Safety for the Mechanical Trades, provides trainees with information on the most common hand and power tool injuries in the mechanical construction and service trades. It highlights the tools most likely to be involved in an injury incident, and teaches proper use of the tools to help prevent injuries.

The video comes with a pocket guide that highlights key training points, a training documentation sheet, a 20-question multiple choice test, and a test answer key.

VIDEO

POCKET GUIDE

TRAINING DOCUMENTATION SHEET

TEST

TEST ANSWER KEY

Resource Highlight: MCAA’s Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) Overview

Each week, MCAA will highlight one or more of the educational resources that are free to MCAA members as a benefit of membership. This week, we focus on MCAA’s Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) Overview. The United States Department of Defense has created the new CMMC standard that will soon be required for corporations and entities that want to bid as a contractor, or act as a subcontractor, for DoD projects. This whitepaper is designed to give electrical and mechanical contractor corporate leadership and their IT Directors an overview of the CMMC standard.

Find the Latest from Winsupply and Mueller Industries, 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:

Winsupply
Because we bring national buying strength to local support directly to you.

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Mueller Streamline PRS MCAA Virtual Trade Show

Mueller Industries, Inc.
Mueller Industries’ Streamline PRS press fittings are the trusted, quality solution to flameless copper joining.

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

Neptune Plumbing to Host PCA’s First Plumbing Service Conference

The PCA has partnered with Neptune Plumbing of Cleveland, Ohio to host the first PCA Plumbing Service Conference from September 20 -21, 2021. Similar to MCAA’s successful Fabrication Conference, the centerpiece of the Plumbing Service Conference will be a hosted facility tour of Neptune Plumbing’s commercial plumbing service operations. In addition, there will be plenty of education geared towards building and optimizing a plumbing service operation through a series of roundtable discussions and presentations. Attendees will learn the differences between different service operations lines, building their business, recruiting, and training.

“We know that as plumbing contractors, it’s essential that we balance our operations and build out plumbing service divisions in our companies, but not enough of us do it,” explains Scott Wallenstein, PCA Chairman and Neptune President. “We thought it would be easier to show how we address plumbing service to help others jumpstart the process. Now contractors can ask questions of our leadership, our service technicians and the staff in charge of each part of our business and gain their insight.”

Registration is NOW OPEN for PCA, MCAA and MSCA members to attend.

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REGISTER TODAY

Resource Highlight: MCAA’s Revised Management Methods Bulletin on The Next Generation of Data Security

Each week, MCAA will highlight one or more of the educational resources that are free to MCAA members as a benefit of membership. This week, we focus on MCAA’s revised Management Methods Bulletin on The Next Generation of Data Security. This bulletin is intended to provide guidance and insight of current tools and techniques to protect your data and operations.

The revised bulletin includes:

Updates to reflect more modern terms or solutions (for example, “Antivirus” is now “Endpoint Detection Response”)
Updates recommendations on products as new players have started outclassing a few of the old ones
Adds five new sections on the areas of “Digital Rights Management,” “Identity Management,” “Dark Web Monitoring,” “Password Management,” and “Penetration Testing.” All of these are now critical to defense.

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

Have Questions or Need Personal Assistance?

Contact MCAA’s Frank Wall.

Sponsor Spotlight 24 with Matt McGrath from Parker Hannifin

In the 24^th 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.

OSHA Releases COVID-19 ETS Inspection Procedures & Enforcement Policies

OSHA recently released a compliance directive titled Inspection Procedures for the COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standard. The directive is a guide for compliance officers implementing inspections and issuing citations involving:

Employer COVID-19 Plans;
Screening and Management;
Standard and Transmission Based Precautions;
Personal Protective Equipment;
Aerosol-Generating Procedures;
Physical Distancing;
Cleaning and Disinfecting;
Ventilation;
Employee Health Screening and Medical Management;
Vaccinations;
Training;
Anti-Retaliation;
Requirements at No Cost;
Recordkeeping; and
Reporting to OSHA.

If OSHA’s new Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) on COVID-19 applies to your company, it may be helpful to understand what the agency’s compliance officers are looking for when they are inspecting affected workplaces, and how they are directed to issue citations for violations of the standard.

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2021 Construction Technology Survey is Open with Need of Additional MCAA Input

MCAA has once again partnered with JBKnowledge to produce the annual Construction Technology Survey. For years, MCAA members participating in the survey have seen value not only in the results, but also in simply taking the survey itself. The 15 minute questionnaire forces respondents to ask themselves if they allocate resources properly, are they staying on top of innovative building trends and if they are using the right tools for their business.

By partnering with JBKnolwedge, MCAA is also able to see specifically how MCAA members measure up with the industry on technolgy and compare and benchmark the results. Following the initial survey release, a separate MCAA focused survey is produced that dissects member responses and focuses in on questions important to our members.

The in-depth survey looks at operations, spending, software usage, mobile strategy, workflow, BIM, and concerns about the future of construction. MCAA’s Director of Innovative Technologies, Sean McGuire adds, “We use this survey to help us position a lot of our education and research for the upcoming year. It gives us the best insight on the concerns and strengths of our members, as well as telling us how mechanical, plumbing and service contractors are performing next to the rest of the industry. It is vital for MCAA members to participate in order for us to get the proper direction for future programs.”

The window to take the 2021 Construction Technology Survey is now through mid-July. To take the survey or see last years results, please follow the links below.

Connect With the Latest Training from Conex Bänninger and XOi Technologies at MCAA.org

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

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

Conex Bänninger
Conex Bänninger offers online training for >B< MaxiPro, the innovative, flame-free press-fit solution specially designed for ACR applications. From training courses to industry updates, you will have all you need to press ahead.

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XOi Technologies Training Resources
XOi’s holistic communication tool changes the way field service companies do business by leveraging photos, videos, and smart technology to bring efficiency, transparency, and expertise to every job. In this microlearning series, you will see examples of how to automate tech checklists, learn the benefits of internal job documentation, and find some helpful preventative maintenance videos to reference.

Learn More

Interested in More Training from Our Supplier Partners?

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

Learn More

Time is Running Out! Nominate Your Everyday Hero Today!

MSCA has been honoring our industry’s heroes for the past seven years during our annual education conference. These unsung heroes, who do extraordinary things every day, simply out of the kindness of their hearts, truly make a difference for the better not only in our industry but in our communities as well. This pandemic has been hard on all of us, but is has also shined a light on so many of our employees and peers that have taken their heroism to the next level – and we want to honor them! Help us recognize these generous and caring individuals at this year’s MSCA21 being held October 14 – 17, 2021 at the JW Marriott Scottsdale Camelback Inn, Scottsdale, AZ by nominating a hero today!

Deadline for nominations is August 1, 2021

NOMINATION FORM

Find the Latest from EVAPCO, Inc. 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:

EVAPCO, Inc.
Using the power of capacitive deionization technology, EVAPCO Water Saver makes it easy to improve your water efficiency, lower your operating costs, and deliver a recovery rate of up to 90 percent. EVAPCO even manages the system’s routine monitoring for you.

Learn More

Lochinvar, LLC
Heating the largest competitive swimming facilities calls for industry-leading efficiency and precision. The AQUAS® Commercial Pool Package was chosen as the heater supplier for the “Dream Designs” issue of Aquatics International trade publication.

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

The Next Qualified Level Arc Flash Safety Training Webinars Scheduled for July 29, 2021

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 July 29, 2021. The first webinar will take place from 7:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. ET, and the second is from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. ET.

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 July, the webinar will be taught again twice on August 26, 2021. Questions? Contact Pete Chaney.

Resource Highlight: MCAA’s New Refrigerant Safety Video for Mechanical Service Technicians & Accompanying Materials

Each week, MCAA will highlight one or more of the educational resources that are free to MCAA members as a benefit of membership. This week, we focus on MCAA’s new safety training video Master the Hazards: Refrigerant Safety for Mechanical Service Technicians and its accompanying materials. This video provides essential information on the potential hazards associated with refrigerants, the ASHRAE refrigerant safety group classification system, proper use of refrigerant safety data sheets to identify the hazards and appropriate protective measures, and how to prepare for unexpected refrigerant releases.

The video comes with a pocket guide that highlights key training points, a training documentation sheet, a 20-question multiple choice test, and a test answer key.

VIDEO

POCKET GUIDE

TRAINING DOCUMENTATION SHEET

TEST

TEST ANSWER KEY

For additional, in-depth coverage of many of the topics in the manual, including training videos and materials, visit the Direct Links to MCAA & MSCA Safety Resources page.

Have Questions or Need Personal Assistance?

Contact MCAA’s Pete Chaney.