Organization: MCAA

Sloan Deploys Mobile Restrooms to Support Communities in Need

MCAA members are committed to supporting their communities. For example, Sloan recently dispatched one of its Mobile Restrooms to assist when a Denver, Colorado-based Catholic Charities chapter lost access to the restroom and handwashing facilities it relied on to serve the area’s homeless population.

The Sloan Mobile Restrooms provided a quick solution to an immediate need. “In the midst of frantic searching for alternative resources, a colleague in Denver alerted us to an opportunity for a mobile restroom unit from Sloan, which we gratefully accepted,” said Joe Domko, Regional Director Larimer County, Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Denver. “Sloan’s team was gracious, accommodating, kind, and quickly delivered an immaculate mobile restroom to support our most vulnerable and marginalized citizens. This, to us, is the very definition of charity and solidarity.”

The fully-equipped Mobile Restrooms were developed specifically to support communities affected by natural disasters, emergencies, and catastrophic incidents like the COVID-19 pandemic.

The facilities combine comfortable and customizable hardware with easy-to-maintain design to deliver a hygienic, clean, and welcoming experience. The ADA-compliant facilities are designed for universal accessibility, with each unit split into men’s and women’s areas.

“Portable restrooms often come along with the stigma of being unsanitary and uncomfortable,” said Parthiv Amin, Sloan’s Chief Sales and Marketing Officer. “Sloan’s new Mobile Restrooms offer first responders, healthcare facilities, FEMA workers in natural disaster recovery areas, and communities in need with a restroom environment that is clean, comfortable, safe, and hygienic.”

The restrooms are outfitted with Sloan vitreous china floor-mounted pressure-assisted water closets and vitreous china water-free urinals (in the men’s unit only), along with vitreous china drop-in lavatories, Optima® faucets, and Sloan deck-mounted foam soap dispensers. All water closets are powered by Flushmate technology for energy-efficient, single flush performance.

For more information, or to bring a Sloan Mobile Restroom to your community, visit Sloan’s website.

8/10 Alston & Bird Coronavirus Flash Update

Alston & Bird have released their August 10 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.

Register Now for Coffee with Koontz Episode 11: Spotlight on Service – Changing Perspectives on Essential Work

Episode 11: Spotlight on Service – Changing Perspectives on Essential Work
Friday, August 14 at 2:00 p.m. EDT

‘I didn’t start out in construction. I went to college.’ How many times have you heard that from someone in the mechanical industry? Whether it’s pressure from parents or an uncertainty about what to do after high school, college often seems to be the default option. 

Kip Bagley (Senior VP of Service, EMCOR Services – Mesa Energy Systems; Co-Chair, MSCA Board of Managers) had himself graduated with a degree in Physical Education and was on his way towards a Master’s degree, when one of his professors wrote down on the chalkboard what a PE teacher with a Master’s could earn. Well, Kip’s dad was earning twice that as an air conditioning tech, and the phone call home that took place shortly after basically went “I changed my mind. I want to do what you do.”

When COVID-19 hit and the world was divided up into essential and non-essential workers, it shone a new light on the mechanical industry, and specifically the service sector. These folks were keeping hospitals running and grocery stores functioning. Mechanical techs were going to work, bringing home a paycheck, and serving the nation. As Kip observes, if anything good has come out of the pandemic – besides there being less traffic in LA – it may be that more people are realizing that the trades are a viable alternative to college: one where they can succeed, make money, and have stability. Join John and Kip as they discuss how the circumstances of 2020 have impacted recruitment, perception of the industry, and what it means to be of service.

REGISTER TODAY

Jon Danuser Has Retired from Johnson Controls

After a career spent overseeing the transformation of an industry, Jon Danuser retired from MCAA member Johnson Controls in June 2020. During his career, Jon was an active member of the Mechanical Contractors Association of Eastern Missouri (MCA-EMO), where he served in various leadership positions including board president. As Jon embarks on this new chapter in his life, he said, “What I am going to miss the most is all of the people I have had the privilege to work with and the customers we served over the years.”

When Jon joined Johnson Controls in 1978 as construction sales engineer, his job was estimating pneumatic thermostats, valves and copper tubing. At the time of his retirement as market director for the company in June 2020, he was overseeing the work of more than 250 people in Eastern Missouri and Southern Illinois designing, maintaining and installing highly sophisticated building controls, fire alarm/suppression and security systems.

Digital Age Changes Everything

“The digital age changed everything,” Jon said. “I remember when they first introduced computers to manage just the HVAC systems; they were 32K and the size of a refrigerator and cost $50,000. Today they can operate a total building out of one panel. Also, technology and remote monitoring have totally altered energy management and maintenance. Technology is increasingly rapidly and has transformed everything.”

Association Reaps Benefits

A mechanical engineering graduate of the University of Missouri-Rolla (now Missouri University of Science & Technology), Jon enjoyed his association with the MCA of Eastern Missouri (MCA-EMO). He served as a member of the board from 2006 through March of 2020. He held various leadership positions over the years, including a stint as MCA-EMO board president from 2009 to 2011, and as treasurer before that.

“MCA-EMO is a great organization of industry peers,” Jon said. “I learned a lot about all aspects of our industry by being on the board. It was a great advantage to be able to interact with our leaders and future leaders over the years.”

According to Jeff Rush, P.E., president of Icon Mechanical Construction & Engineering, LLC and current president of MCA-EMO, “It’s been a privilege to work with Jon, both in the construction marketplace and as a board member of the MCA. Few people in our industry have been as involved or given more freely of their time to support the construction industry as he has. Jon always brings a depth of knowledge, friendly personality and positive approach that will be missed by all. Congratulations Jon on behalf of the MCA and thank you for the support you’ve shown the organization over the years.”

Labor Relationship Evolves

Jon also truly enjoyed working with members of the Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 562 and seeing the dynamic growth of their relationship with management over the years. “Everyone has worked hard to improve relations between Local 562 and management, and to improve our industry as a whole. Working together we’ve also improved overall perceptions with our owners/customers.”

Jon served on the Joint Apprenticeship Committee for 10 years. “It was a very valuable experience,” he said. “Developing the labor force has been a source of pride for the whole organization, as evidenced through Local 562’s new training center.”

“What Jon did best was to look out for the entire industry,” said John O’Mara, business manager, secretary-treasurer for Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 562. “He approached our relationship like a true partnership and the communications he brought to it was phenomenal. We didn’t always agree on everything, but we could always find some common ground. Jon was always about fixing the situation and making it right for both sides. He treated our members with respect and always made sure the workforce had what they needed. When you walk into a room, he’s one of those people you want to see. He always brings a breath of fresh air to the conversation.”

Expertise Yields Top Installations

“The whole industry has upped its game,” Jon added. “Our region has some of the highest technical and management levels in the country. The St. Louis region has a very high level of technical expertise and skilled labor ability that’s simply not available in other regions. Combined with a strong Midwestern work ethic, our industry is producing some of the top mechanical installations in the country.”

Investing in the Future

MCA-EMO also has benefitted from investing in the future. “I think the organization has done a great job of managing its finances and its business to improve its financial standing which allows it to invest in the future. “A prime example is the success of our student chapter at the University of Missouri-Columbia,” Jon said. “They have placed first in the national competition and consistently rank within the top Final Four teams in the nation. Sometimes our members get to recruit among these top students. It’s a win/win for everyone.”

Additionally, the MCA-EMO has raised its level of training, offering advanced courses for project managers, estimators and other professionals. “It’s been a 15-year work in progress, but I feel we’ve really turned the corner,” Jon added. “I believe our chapter’s training is now among the best in the country. The MCA-EMO board, committee members, leadership and staff have done a superior job of continuous improvement to better its membership.”

Beginning a New Chapter

Now that he’s retired Jon is enjoying time with his family and the “no stress” era he recently entered, although his blood pressure hasn’t dropped! “As soon as we can lock down this COVID-19 virus, I want to do some traveling. It’s the beginning of a new chapter in my life. What I am going to miss the most is all of the people I have had the privilege to work with and the customers we served over the years.”

MCAA wishes Jon all the best. We’ll miss you, too.

Auburn Mechanical Uses Innovative Techniques to Approach its Largest & Most Complex Project to Date

MCAA members are constantly innovating and trying new techniques on their projects. Auburn Mechanical is just one example. The MCA of Western Washington member has been building through the COVID-19 pandemic, using a lean approach and specialty systems to meet the Washington State Convention Center Addition Project’s sustainability goals.

Planning and constructing a massive civic project like Seattle’s Washington State Convention Center Addition (WSSC) is no small feat. After nearly 10 years of design and planning and 2 years of preconstruction, the $1.6 billion project is in the middle of construction. Once complete, the new convention center will include a 150,000-square-foot exhibit hall, 100,000-square-foot flex hall, meeting rooms, a ballroom, an outdoor terrace and three levels of garage parking.

The project, a joint venture between Clark Construction Group and Seattle-based contractor Lease Crutcher Lewis, is the largest project in Auburn Mechanical’s 42-year history. It is also one of the most complex.

A Lean Approach

When Auburn Mechanical was selected as the plumbing contractor for the 570,290-square-foot addition in 2016, team members immediately implemented lean principles, including co-locating with the engineering team to support design, constructability review, and to explore opportunities for pre-fabrication. Auburn Mechanical’s detailers contributed to building the project’s massive federated model, which was completely designed in Revit.

With a plumbing contract worth over $40 million, Auburn Mechanical’s team will have installed 36 miles of plumbing, including six miles of underground piping, on the eight-acre site by the time the project is complete.

Focus on Sustainability

The project, which focuses on sustainability and long-term functionality, involves several specialty systems, including a heat traced and insulated stainless-steel Blucher grease waste piping system. Two 24,000-pound grease interceptors were successfully flown, landed, and installed on site. Additionally, stormwater recycling and reclamation systems will be used for the restroom toilets, reducing water consumption.

A Somewhat Unique Methodology

The convention center is being erected using “billboard construction” methodologies, a technique that is somewhat unique to Seattle-area construction. This technique involves building vertical sections simultaneously instead of floor-by-floor and creates greater efficiencies on sites with limited laydown area.

For their part, Auburn Mechanical is executing layout for systems on the slab-on-metal decks with a fast two-day turnaround between each deck. For added efficiency, Auburn Mechanical’s pre-fabrication shop has built almost 500 toilet and urinal carrier banks and prefabbed additional components to support just-in-time deliveries to the congested site.

Essential Status Requires Exhaustive Safety Protocols

Deemed an essential project at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, construction never stopped as a result of Washington State’s Stay Home, Stay Healthy order. With over 2,000 construction workers on the project, exhaustive safety protocols were put in place, including custom portable handwash stations designed and fabricated by Auburn Mechanical.

Project Completion Schedule

Construction is scheduled to complete in early 2022, nearly doubling the capacity of the current convention center.

Renderings courtesy of LMN Architects.

2020 Construction Technology Report Challenges Contractors Innovation

In 2020, the construction industry has been forced into dramatic changes in operations and workflow. More people are working remotely and thus, more projects are being handled in a distributed manner. To help MCAA members better understand what processes are gaining wide implementation across the industry and how their companies measure against these benchmarks, MCAA has sponsored the JBKnowledge Construction Technology Report.

The 2019 report, released in December, has an accurate look at where companies began the year. MCAA has worked with JBKnowledge to make sure that the 2020 report will take into account new practices and challenges that contractors face with the COVID-19 pandemic. Simply taking the 2020 survey can force you to ask questions about your own operations and if your company is operating at pace with innovation in the industry.

To learn more, download the 2019 report:

DOWNLOAD REPORT

Or participate in the 2020 ConTech Report Survey:

TAKE THE SURVEY

Meet our WiMI Mentors/Mentees

MCAA’s WiMI Committee continued conversations this month with mentees and mentors participating in the WiMI Mentor Program. We are excited to introduce Ali and Wendy!

Ali Brown, a Senior Human Resources Major at The University of Nebraska, joined this program in hopes of meeting an industry professional that could share her journey and experience and help guide her on her newfound path. Ali has changed her major three times throughout her time at U of NE, starting as an architectural engineer major, switching to study construction management, and then recently transitioning to focus on HR. Ali was pleasantly surprised to be paired with Wendy, someone who is doing exactly what, she recently discovered, she would like to pursue in the future.

Wendy Glauber, has years of experience in human resources and compliance management, and is currently the General Counsel & Human Resources Director at John W. Danforth Company in Tonawanda, NY, where she has worked for the past three years and also serves on the WiMI Committee. Wendy has made it part of her mentoring mission to connect Ali with other female HR professionals in the industry, noting it is imperative that women have a supportive professional network.

Ali is grateful for the connections she has been able to make through this program, and for the continual encouragement she has received. Wendy has introduced Ali to other HR professionals to learn more about the field and has invited Ali to virtually shadow Wendy and Danforth’s HR Manager so that Ali can be exposed to the various facets of HR.  Ali is excited about the opportunity to observe what she has learned in school and see it put into action.

Wendy has also inspired Ali in a number of other ways. At last year’s WiMI Committee meeting, Wendy first heard about Women in Construction Week, which occurs every March. After learning about this recognition week, Wendy felt compelled to celebrate the women of Danforth.  She and her team planned a luncheon for all the women within the John W. Danforth Company team – both in the office and in the field. A prominent woman from their community, whose company is valued partner and customer of Danforth, spoke at the lunch and shared insights about being a women in a male dominated industry.  This was the first time the women of Danforth had celebrated together and they were incredibly grateful for this opportunity to connect. Wendy says many of them are still talking about it and continue to thank Danforth  for hosting. This is an event Danforth  plans to host every March in hopes that by sharing exciting ideas like this with Ali, Ali will implement and host her own similar events one day!

Ali and Wendy were looking forward to meeting in person at MCAA’s Convention in Maui this past March, and then reunite at MCAA’s WiMI Conference in June. Unfortunately, the pandemic altered those plans, but this has not stopped them from communicating, collaborating and continuing their monthly calls and catch-ups. In fact, when asked if they see this partnership extending beyond the six month commitment, they both said; “Absolutely!”

Together they’ve established goals for Ali that extend into the next school year. Ali is looking forward to attending job fairs this fall and is happy to have Wendy by her side to help her prepare her resume, practice interview questions, and just provide encouragement. All things to set Ali up for success!

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

Webinar #26: Using the MCAA’s Publication to Quantify CV-19 Loss of Labor Productivity on Your Project

There is no question the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the construction and service jobsite productivity. In this expanded webinar John McNerney, Paul Stynchcomb, CCM, PSP, CFCC and Professor William Ibbs, Ph.D. of The Ibbs Consulting Group discuss MCAA’s newly updated Change Orders, Productivity, Overtime manual, and how to use the manual to quantify a loss of productivity (LoP) impact caused by COVID-19. Being one of the most difficult processes, our panelists will guide you through the nuts and bolts of how to craft an LoP claim and the need for construction counsel to review contracts, government guidelines and current regulations. This webinar explores the project-specific LoP quantification methods and reviews which of the MCAA Factor categories are potentially applicable to the COVID-19 LoP impacts.

Additional Resources:

Editor’s note: The slides available for download contain the most recent and up-to-date calculations originally released in the MCAA’s Change Orders, Productivity, Overtime manual and corrects slide #40 in this webinar, recorded Tuesday, August 4, 2020.

Don’t Miss MCAA’s October Field Leaders Conference in Toledo

As an attendee at MCAA’s Field Leaders Conference, you will hear from dedicated industry professionals who will share their real-life tips and tools for success on the job site, including ways you can professionally control crucial job site conversations. Additionally, you will have the opportunity to meet other field leaders and share your field challenges and findings during nightly networking events. You will leave with actionable education. Learning from some of the industry’s best, you will be inspired to take this knowledge and apply it to better yourself at work, and in life. We look forward to seeing you in Toledo!

REGISTER TODAY

Find the Latest from Ferguson and Jay R. Smith 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:

Ferguson
Ferguson is a market leader dedicated to helping contractors keep projects on schedule and provide custom solutions. Our extensive inventory includes fixtures, faucets, equipment/instrumentation, pipe, valves, fittings, tools, safety and MRO supplies so you can find the products you need when and where you need them.

Learn More

Jay R. Smith Mfg. Co.® a Member of Morris Group International
Dielectric fittings protect the plumbing system with a steel-to-plastic design that interrupts electrical current where dissimilar metals are connected, preventing pipe corrosion and eventual leakage. These fittings are part of our new Smith Fluid Controls ™ line and are available in three models for flexible installations.

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

8/3 Alston & Bird Coronavirus Flash Update

Alston & Bird have released their August 3 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.

Join us for Coffee with Koontz Episode 10: Preconstruction – A Job’s Real Foundation

Episode 10: Preconstruction – A Job’s Real Foundation
Friday, August 7 at 2:00 p.m. EDT

A construction project can be a lot like an iceberg – it’s much bigger than the part you can actually see. While Texan native Rick Gopffarth (Vice President of Preconstruction; Dynamic Systems, Inc.) might not have a lot of experience with icebergs, he is certainly an expert when it comes to the unseen but critical work that takes place before breaking ground on a project. Preconstruction encompasses everything from business development to engineering to estimating – and it all falls under Rick’s umbrella. Join John and Rick as they talk about the ‘front end’ of mechanical construction, a process which in some instances takes longer than it does to actually build the project. While the foundation of an iceberg is, well, just more ice, the foundation of Rick’s work is relationships. He will talk about the many components of preconstruction, and how relationships drive and shape each one of them as a job moves from quote to actual build. As a member of MCAA’s Executive Committee and Chair of the national Education Committee, Rick also demonstrates that a relationship isn’t something that concludes when a job is done, but rather is something that has long term impact upon one’s career and place in a community.

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Murphy Company’s Rick Reams Promoted to Vice President – Safety and Quality

MCAA member Murphy Company recently promoted Rick Reams to Vice President – Safety and Quality. Tom Skaggs, Executive Vice President, made the announcement, saying, “Rick’s work ethic, professionalism and genuine concern for our workforce are assets to the organization. We are confident that under Rick’s leadership we will further strengthen our safety and quality programs.”

Tom commended Rick’s work, noting, “Since rejoining Murphy Company as our Corporate Safety Director, Rick has demonstrated exceptional leadership and has contributed significantly to our improved safety performance.”

Rick has over 25 years of experience as a safety professional and consultant in a variety of industries. His work has focused primarily on heavy industrial and large commercial projects in both the public and private sectors.

In addition to serving as President of the American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP), Rick is an active member of several other local and national safety and construction boards, including the MCA of Eastern Missouri’s Safety Committee, the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC), the American Subcontractors Association (ASA), the St. Louis Council of Construction Consumers (SLCCC), the National Demolition Association (NDA) and the American Allied Safety Council (AASC).

Train Your COVID-19 Symptom Screeners with MCAA’s New Screener Training Resource

Are your company’s COVID-19 temperature and symptom screeners properly trained? To protect your company as much as possible from complaints, lawsuits, local labor issues, etc., it is critically important to:

  • Establish a consistent process for conducting such screening and excluding symptomatic individuals to promote workplace
    safety;
  • Adopt measures to mitigate the risk of claims under laws related to discrimination and medical privacy; and
  • Be mindful of employee relations considerations.

Temperature and symptom screeners play an important role in accomplishing these objectives, so it’s a good idea to ensure that they are properly trained to take temperatures and screen for symptoms. MCAA’s new training resource, COVID-19 Temperature and Symptom Screener Training, will help you provide the proper training.

DOWNLOAD

Withum COVID-19 Bill Update – 7/29/2020

Second Round of PPP Loans:  There has been a lot of news swirling online that new legislation will open the door for borrowers to get a second PPP loan.  Also there is more chatter that automatic forgiveness for certain loans is on the horizon. It appears as though early August may be the target for new legislation if it comes. Details on this are fluid to say the least, but it looks like both Republicans and Democrats are on the same page that the PPP is an effective tool that they want to use as part of upcoming stimulus programs.

SBA Issues Procedural Notice on Forgiveness Process:  The SBA released a notice that provides clarification to lenders on how they should submit applications to the SBA for “final approval” after the lender has reviewed and approved a borrower’s forgiveness application. The highlight in this document is that the SBA indicated it will be using a third party software vendor to develop its portal, which will not be up and running until August 10th, so lenders will need to hold any applications until that time.  

The SBA further clarified that it may delay the opening of its portal further if any new legislation impacts the forgiveness process.  Withum has long believed Congress or the SBA would choose a loan threshold (e.g., loans of $250,000 or less) and grant “automatic” forgiveness to those borrowers, requiring only a signed certification that the funds were used properly. This would drastically reduce the amount of applications that the SBA and lenders would need to review. 

Withum does not have any official guidance or information on the legislative proposals reported in the press in past day or two (as noted above), but they think it may be prudent to wait to submit your application to your lender until a legislative consensus emerges. As a reminder, lenders have 60 days to process your loan forgiveness application and submit their decision to the SBA, and the SBA has 90 days to authorize the forgiveness amount.

PPP and M&A:  Withum often gets questions regarding how the sale of a business or the acquisition of another entity may impact a borrowers PPP loan and ability to obtain forgiveness. Withum put together an article addressing some of the complexity that may arise from these transactions, as well as how they impact the employee retention tax credit.

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.

Evaluate Your Company’s Pressure Testing Safety Practices with MCAA’s Updated Guide

Evaluate your company’s work practices on pressure testing safety with MCAA’s recently revised Guide to Steel and Copper Piping System Pressure Testing Safety. The guide includes information on pressure testing hazards, associated injuries, primary causes of pressure testing failures, general pressure testing safety, safe work practices for hydrostatic testing, and safe work practices for pneumatic testing. The guide also provides direction on pre-test safety planning, and sample checklists to help improve safety during your company’s hydrostatic and pneumatic pressure testing operations.

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Revised CDC Guidelines for Discontinuing COVID-19 Isolation and Precautions

CDC Guidelines for Discontinuing COVID-19 Isolation & Precautions – For Non-Healthcare Settings – July 2020

Recent research indicates that individuals with mild to moderate cases of COVID-19 remain infectious no longer than 10 days after symptoms began; and individuals with severe illness or those who are severely immunocompromised remain infectious no longer than 20 days after symptoms began.

Based on these findings, the CDC has made changes to their guidelines regarding discontinuing COVID-19 isolation and precautions for non-healthcare settings. The highlights of these changes include the following:

  • Decision makers should use a symptom-based strategy for decision making. Using a test-based strategy is no longer recommended, except to discontinue isolation or other precautions earlier than would occur under the symptom-based strategy that follows.
  • Persons with COVID-19 who have symptoms and were directed to care for themselves at home may discontinue isolation under the following conditions:
    • At least 10 days have passed since symptom onset; and
    • At least 24 hours have passed since resolution of fever without the use of fever-reducing medications; and
    • Other symptoms have improved.
  • Infected individuals who never develop COVID-19 symptoms may discontinue isolation and other precautions 10 days after the date of their first positive real-time qualitative test for the virus.
  • The test-based strategy may still be appropriate for severely immunocompromised individuals. Consult with infectious disease experts for more information.

These recommendations will prevent most, but cannot prevent all, instances of secondary spread. 

VIEW GUIDELINES

Modern Piping Inc. Intern Receives MCAA Internship Grant

Modern Piping, Inc, an MCA of Iowa member, presented Matt HermsenWhite with an MCAA Internship Grant at the start of his 2020 summer internship. The grant is funded by the John R. Gentille Foundation. Matt says, “I would like to express my gratitude to all of the members at MCAA for the grant. I have felt great reception from the mechanical contracting community, both at Modern Piping Inc and from MCAA. I am definitely considering a career in mechanical contracting and would like to say thank you again to MCAA for supporting engineering students with their education.”

Matt is currently studying Mechanical Engineering at Iowa State University with plans to graduate in December of 2020. This is Matt’s second year with Modern Piping as Project Manager Intern. He previously worked on piping in the summer of 2018 and this year’s focus was in HVAC work.

“I am very grateful to be with Modern Piping for a second summer. They have given me ample opportunities to participate in team meetings, bidding, productivity tracking, and project manager tasks. All of the people at Modern Piping have been friendly, welcoming, and willing to teach me practical and technical skills.”

Due to the impacts of COVID-19, Matt’s internship experience was completely virtual. Throughout his work, Matt has been supervised by Bob Brown, the President of Modern Sheet Metal.   

Matt’s main summer projects consist of the following:

  • Project bidding for commercial and medical buildings
  • Duct fabrication productivity tracking
  • Creating weekly report system to help Project Managers better understand costs hitting projects on a weekly basis
  • Project administrative tasks: startup, permits, close out documents, etc.

Matt says “although the virtual format came with challenges, it was an opportunity to learn how to collaborate with coworkers and accomplish tasks in an online setting which will be a valuable skill for a 21st century workplace.”

About the MCAA Internship Grants

Having MCAA interns working at member companies is a win-win for both the students and the mechanical contracting industry. Employers get fresh talent and build a pipeline of future employees, while students gain experience, create connections, develop skills and further their interest in mechanical contracting. In paying the student instead of the employer, MCAA’s goal is to increase the overall number of interns and drive the overall number of talented employees accepting full-time positions with MCAA members post-graduation.

How the Grant Application Process Works

Prospective interns must be in good standing at an accredited two- or four-year college, university or technical school. While MCAA encourages its members to give priority to students from the MCAA Student Chapter Program, this is not a requirement to receive a grant.

Each MCAA member company can submit up to two internship grant applications per year. Once an application is reviewed and accepted, MCAA will send a $500 gift card to the member company so they can present it to the student at the start of their internship.

MCAA will follow-up with each company and intern to ensure the process and overall internship experience was successful.

Start Your Search for Top Talent Today

MCAAGreatFutures.org gives members access to student profiles and resumes. The profiles are searchable by university, desired location, and even a specific skill set, like BIM or AutoCAD. A keyword filter allows users to zero in on students who fit the bill.

Not finding a match? Try reaching out to our 61 MCAA Student Chapters. The chapter advisors are a great resource to help find the right person. And, MCAA members have exclusive access to post job openings on our job board.

Help build our industry’s GreatFuture – apply for a grant!

Joint Response to Critique of Groom Law Group’s Paper on Composite Plans

In a joint letter to the Congress, the national labor/management coalition responded to the Western Council of Teamsters rebuttal of the Groom Law Group paper of Composite Plans. Coalition partners include the Associated General Contractors of America, FCA International, International Council of Employers of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers, International Union of Operating Engineers, Laborers’ International Union of North America (LiUNA!), Mechanical Contractors Association of America, National Electrical Contractors Association, Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors’ National Association, The Association of Union Constructors, The International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers, The Signatory Wall and Ceiling Contractors Alliance, United Association of Plumbers and Fitters, and United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America. This July 31, 2020 version of the letter contains update analysis of the 5500 filings of the median critical and declining status plans.

GreatFutures Virtual Education Program Coming this September!

MCAA plans are underway to host 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 through Procore. 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 will be taught by current MCAA industry leaders. Topics that will be covered include:

  • Student Chapter Competition Overview
  • Procore Overview: Learning about Construction Management Software
  • Young Professionals Panel: Kickstarting Your Student Competition Project
  • Basics of Estimating
  • Fundamentals of Scheduling
  • Project Organization: Staffing Your Project
  • Identifying Risks in a Construction Project
  • Digital Process of BIM
  • Understanding the HVAC/R Industry
  • The Importance of Planned Maintenance
  • How Companies Use Fabrication
  • The Business Side of Safety
  • Identifying Project Risks
  • Understanding the Finances of a Job
  • Organizing Your Proposal

Stay tuned for additional schedule and registration information!

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