Looking to gain efficiencies, the BP Group undertook a high-level process reengineering process that resulted in the development of an online tool. MCAA’s PIPES (PROCESS INFORMATION PORTAL ENABLING SUCCESS) provides details of the solution to inspire others looking to undertake a similar project. It’s just one of MCAA’s educational resources that are free to MCAA members as a benefit of membership.
The MEP Innovation Conference is renowned for selling out every year, and with good reason – it’s co-produced by three industry pillars: MCAA, NECA, and SMACNA. Join us in sunny Orlando, Florida, from January 29 – 31, as we bring together the best innovators in the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing industry. Our sessions are peer-focused, offering real-world case studies from contractors just like you. Explore multiple learning opportunities through sessions, workshops, breakouts, facility tours, networking, and exhibits. Don’t let this opportunity slip away. Secure your spot now and stay ahead of the game in the ever-evolving MEP industry. Register today!
Harris saw an immediate return on investment (ROI) from their Watts Specialties automated pipe cutter, with improved efficiency in cutting and handling and no need for hand-cutting for olets or saddles. Based in St. Paul, MN, Harris has 15 regional offices with more than 300,000 square feet of fabrication shops.
Visit the Smart Solutions Case Studies area of our website! You’ll see how other mechanical contractors found their win-win with productivity-enhancing and cost-saving applications from members of MCAA’s Manufacturer/Supplier Council.
Plus, you’ll find tips and ideas on other ways you and your company can save money and enhance your productivity.
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:
SLOAN Watch a live demo of diaphragm assembly replacement for Sloan’s top mount G2, ECOS, SOLIS and Sloan flushometers. This training video makes it easy.
Ridge Tool Company RIDGID product experts provide a detailed overview of RIDGID’s full line of Drum Machines, highlighting the K-15, K-45, K-50, K-3200, K-6200, and K-7500.
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:
Total Service Our software powers your business ecosystem.
Morris Group International The BF12 matches the rough-ins and hole configurations of many existing bottle fillers and is compatible with numerous water cooler models. Murdock® is a division of Morris Group International.
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!
It is clear that artificial intelligence (AI) is advancing fast and coming into everyday use. In the near-future, AI systems will be paired with established technology, such as 3D laser scanning for mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) applications. What many do not appreciate is that AI is still largely only as good as the quality of data fed into the system, either by human operators or through technology that gathers and organizes information, such as 3D laser scanners and cloud-based data platforms.
Visit the Smart Solutions Case Studies area of our website! You’ll see how other mechanical contractors found their win-win with productivity-enhancing and cost-saving applications from members of MCAA’s Manufacturer/Supplier Council.
Plus, you’ll find tips and ideas on other ways you and your company can save money and enhance your productivity.
MCAA’s National Education Initiative (NEI) Seminars bring our best programs to your local association or your company thanks to instructors like Leah Gutmann, owner of First Forward Consulting, LLC. Leah teaches instructors to enhance their skills, managers to build leadership skills, and finance teams to meet company objectives. Her newest classes focus on building the fundamental leadership skills of our industry’s field leaders, service leaders, and project managers.
Leah is certified to deliver training on a wide variety of leadership and financial topics. She has over 12 years of experience in the design, implementation and facilitation of educational programs, classes and seminars. Her 20-year career as a CFO and Finance Manager in the mechanical construction industry has given Leah the unique ability to offer training and consulting from a hands-on, in the trenches perspective.
Leah offers six course series, each tailored for a specific audience and purpose.
The Field Leadership Series (FLS) builds the fundamental leadership skills every field leader must know, believe in, and be able to apply in practical and consistent ways to drive long term success for individuals, crews, projects, and organizations.
The Service Leadership Series (SLS) teaches participants to apply critical leadership skills to real service team problems, building confidence at both the individual and team level. Everyone participating will leave with tools and strategies that can be applied immediately to improve results at all levels.
In the Project Manager Leadership Series (PML), project managers will learn the essential tools needed to gain respect, get noticed, and be the project leader others follow because they want to, not because they have to.
The Instructor Training Series (ITS) Seminarstrain JATC instructors, association instructors, and organization subject matter experts to increase retention of material, connect with students, and transfer critical industry knowledge to the next generation, thus enhancing their organization’s competitive advantage. All classes are adapted to fit the needs of each instructor group and their application to the mechanical construction industry.
The Financial Development Series (FDS) Seminars for Service and Construction offer customized coursework to address foundational, intermediate, or advanced topics for your identified group and will include direct application and practice to relevant projects, service work, and company financials.
Like our other NEI instructors, Leah brings her unique blend of industry and teaching experience to virtual courses, a new NEI offering. Providing top notch, accessible education for everyone in your organization is what the MCAA’s NEI is all about! Visit the NEI website for more information about these seminars and a full list of the NEI courses available to MCAA members.
Book your courses via the NEI website, then apply for a 20% rebate on the instructor fees, up to $5,000 per class.*
*This benefit is available only to MCAA members and local affiliates in good standing who book courses via the NEI website. Learn more about the rebate program here. Have questions or need personal assistance? Contact MCAA’s Frank Wall or call him at 301-990-2215.
Looking to reduce paperwork costs, H.T. Lyons, Inc. had service mechanics, project managers, and dispatchers work internally to create service software. MCAA’s Serviceeye provides details of the affordable solution to inspire others faced with the need to develop or customize software. It’s just one of MCAA’s educational resources that are free to MCAA members as a benefit of membership.
The bulletin covers:
What Serviceeye is and what it does
How Serviceeye works
Benefits of Serviceeye, including streamlined communication and simplified processes
Nominations are due by close of business on December 8, 2023.
Nominations are open for the 2023 MCAA/MILWAUKEE TOOL Safety Professional of the Year award. This award is presented annually to a mechanical industry safety and health professional who has led his or her company to achieve an exceptionally high degree of safety excellence. Five individuals have received the award since its inception in 2018. Nominate someone today and they could be number six!
To nominate someone from your company, or from another company, please complete the nomination form below and submit it by close of business on December 8, 2023.
The 2023 MCAA/MILWAUKEE TOOL Safety Professional of the Year award will be presented at MCAA’s 2024 Safety & Health Conference on January 18, 2024, in Tucson, AZ. The winner will be asked to participate in an on-stage general session interview after the award announcement.
The winner will also be invited to the MCAA24 convention in Orlando, FL, in March to receive the award onstage during the Awards of Excellence Breakfast. Airfare, lodging, and registration will all be complimentary.
MCAA President Robert Beck, CEO of John W. Danforth Company, recently sat down with Trane’s Kristie Upton and Terry Dugan to discuss what they foresee for the coming year, and how manufacturers and contractors can work together to solve the industry’s most pressing issues, including the ongoing talent crunch.
The 2023 Beacon Economics study, commissioned for MSCA, delves into the critical economic dynamics shaping the mechanical service industry today. This analysis scrutinizes the impact of the real estate market, inflation, and labor shortages, among others, shedding light on how these factors will influence the economy and help MSCA members navigate and thrive in an evolving economic landscape.
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:
EVOLVE EVOLVE is the Southeast’s premier Autodesk software reseller, providing design technology planning, training, mentoring, and solutions to help clients improve project performance and workflows.
Milwaukee Valve Company, LLC INSULATOR/MS® from Milwaukee Valve is the only insulating ball valve handle that does it all – controls condensation, has reliable memory stop, and saves time since there’s no need to disassemble for adjustments.
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!
January 16-18, 2024 | Loews Ventana Canyon – Tuscon, AZ
The safety landscape is evolving. Is your company’s safety and health program keeping pace? Jennifer McNelly, CEO of the American Society of Safety Professionals, and Alex Kopp, Director of Safety for The Association of Union Constructors, will help answer that question and inspire you to evolve your company’s safety and health program during MCAA’s 2024 Safety & Health Conference. Their sessions are just two reasons to attend MCAA’s 2024 Safety & Health Conference (January 16-18, 2024, in Tucson, AZ). Register today!
Jennifer McNelly’s session will:
Explore the evolving landscape of workplace safety and the challenges it brings.
Encourage safety professionals to excel in their roles and help shape the bright future of safety and health through data, stories and practical insights.
Provide data-driven insights highlighting current trends impacting workplace safety and the profession overall.
Empower attendees to evolve their practices and leadership qualities to increase their influence within their organizations.
Alex Kopp’s session will:
Review the how our industry, as a whole, is doing
Explain what we can all do to continue to advance safety and health in each of our businesses
MCAA’s 2024 Safety & Health Conference will offer more than 50 hours of training and education from subject matter experts on safety, health, risk management, and legal issues. Join us for three days of presentations, discussions, and demonstrations with 300+ occupational safety and health professionals, principals, owners, local affiliated executives, UA instructors, industry partners, NECA & SMACNA, and anyone who has safety and health responsibilities.
For the first-time in conference history we are being joined by TAUC’s EHS Committee and welcome all TAUC members to participate in this event.
Registration Pricing
This conference is one of MCAA’s most popular conferences and it sells out quickly. Register today to secure your spot! Member registration is $895 and guests are $295.
*Upon completing your registration, a link to book your hotel room will be emailed to you. If you encounter any issues while booking with the hotel please contact events@mcaa.org and we are happy to assist.
Over the last several years, MCAA members have increasingly requested our safety videos in Spanish, and that comes as no surprise. Data show that 34% of construction workers are Spanish speakers, the largest of any industry in the U.S. The fatality rate for Hispanic construction workers remains higher than that for non-Hispanics, but with resources like these MCAA is working to bridge that gap.
MCAA is committed to being a leader in safety and health, and that means making sure that all of our industry’s workers remain safe. We are doing this by incorporating diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in safety training.
Enjoy these Spanish-language training videos, or their English-language counterparts, now:
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:
LAARS, a Bradford White Company Laars Academy is our commitment to ensure our industry professionals have the training and knowledge needed to stay on top. Watch a recorded training session on Laars MagnaTherm FT at www.laars.com.
Aquatherm LP As the leader in polypropylene piping systems, Aquatherm offers comprehensive heat-fusion installation training at our Utah HQ, at partner sites and jobsites across North America, and virtually upon request.
Enhance your strategic supply chain with the seven newest members of MCAA’s Manufacturer/Supplier Council.
Allow them to introduce themselves:
IPEX USA, LLC offers pipe, valve, and fitting (PVF) products that are engineered to satisfy the demands of the harshest industrial applications. Our products are suitable for many industrial applications whether it be aggressive acids conveyance, specialist drainage, or auxiliary services requirements, our piping systems can easily overcome some of the problems associated with more traditional materials. The IPEX Industrial piping solutions offer superior chemical resistance, easier installation, longer plant life, and cost-effectiveness whether from original installation or maintenance.
Kojo Technologies, Inc. is the industry’s leading material procurement solution, providing contractors with a digital solution to streamline materials management from pre-con to payment. With Kojo, you can issue requests for quotes and POs, compare prices and availability across vendors, update the field on order status, and share cost data with the accounting team, all with fewer clicks and manual data entry. Work smarter, not harder with Kojo.
Little Giant Ladder Systems, LLC is a designer, marketer and manufacturer of ladder systems intended for do-it-yourself and professional customers sold through retailers and distributors. The company offers products including multi-position, combination, step stools, step ladders, safety cages and other related accessories, helping businesses to prevent injuries and save lives.
Merit Brass Company has a rich history of offering the most comprehensive flow control and piping connection technology. Our goal is to make the Merit Experience for our customers seamless by bundling a complete line of consistent, high quality piping products, flow control devices and piping system solutions. Merit features a full range of stainless steel and brass fittings, nipples, pipe, valves, flanges; stainless steel butt weld fittings, tubing, tube fittings and valves; forged carbon steel fittings and press technology, which includes stainless steel (StainlessPress®), carbon (CarbonPress®) and copper (CopperPress®).
NEFCO is a family owned and operated construction supply company providing a broad range of products and services to the mechanical industry. We offer large local inventory of our S.H.A.R.P. products and tools, with next day jobsite delivery available from our locations. We have engineering divisions and broad fabrication capabilities under one roof, giving NEFCO the complete in-house solution.
Sunbelt Rentals, a leader in the tools and equipment rental industry, provides solutions and expertise for professionals in the industrial, manufacturing, construction and municipal markets as well as do-it-yourself customers. A highly-diversified equipment fleet includes extensive options for small tools and general construction equipment, plus a wide array of specialty applications for power, HVAC, climate control, pump, scaffold, and film production. We OWN the future of rental.
T&S Brass and Bronze Works, Inc. is an innovative manufacturer specializing in solutions for the commercial plumbing industry. Renowned for its commitment to quality and durability, T&S continues to lead the industry in award-winning water- and energy-conserving products.
The members of MCAA’s Manufacturer/Supplier Council stand ready to help you enhance your productivity and profitability and retain your competitive edge. Meet them in person during many MCAA events and virtually through Smart Solutions, Manufacturer/Supplier Training, and the 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:
SLOAN Sink installations often demand custom sizes and features for which the right expertise is necessary to avoid project delays. Streamline your next sink project.
Morris Group International The ConTrols® Alpha® Mixing Valve protects against dangerously hot water in any commercial sink, lavatory, tub, and/or shower application. ConTrols is a member of Morris Group International.
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!
Thank you to everyone who attended MSCA23 Propel… it was a resounding success! We heard from inspiring keynote speakers, dove deep on education with topics of leadership and personal growth, along with recession proofing, refrigerants, electrification, and more. We celebrated a new award, announced a new scholarship, welcomed new leaders, explored the latest products and services, and gave back to the community all while having a lot of fun in the San Marco sun.
New Award & New Scholarship
MSCA is proud to introduce a new scholarship in honor of a trailblazing individual who played a pivotal role in nurturing the Mechanical Service industry, Barbara Dolim. Each year, two exceptional students will have the opportunity to receive a $2,500 scholarship, ensuring that we continue to inspire and support the next generation of mechanical service professionals. The first recipients of the MSCA Barbara Dolim Scholarship were Gonzalo Ceja from Riverside City College and Kolten Plekes from Ferris State University.
MSCA also announced a brand-new award in recognition of the outstanding contributions made by our members: the MSCA Distinguished Service Award. With a vast community of incredible individuals, this award was established to pay homage to those who have consistently reshaped and improved our industry while exhibiting unwavering dedication to MSCA.
Our first recipient of this award is Jaimi Lomas, a person who has created an incredible legacy within the industry and MSCA.
Beginning by Giving Back
MSCA has partnered with Convoy of Hope to help local charities in the communities where we have held our annual conferences. On Friday, October 20, numerous MSCA Board and member volunteers delivered a tractor trailer of needed supplies to Our Daily Bread Food Pantry Charity office, an organization working to wipe out hunger and provide critical food assistance to the over 152,000 individuals. MSCA also put in some hard work to make needed repairs at Wesley United Methodist Church.
Education, Annual Convoy of Hope Packing Party & Social Activities
Erik Qualman kicked off our conference discussing how technology is revolutionizing the way we live and work and how your organization can harness it to drive innovation. On Tuesday morning, we heard from MCAA President Robert Beck followed by Aimee Copeland who touched our hearts as she taught us about overcoming adversity. Later that morning, spouses and students continued the commitment to service by participating in the 13th Annual Convoy of Hope Packing Party, packing thousands of hygiene kits to be distributed to those in need worldwide. And to end our conference we learned about the skills needed to adapt to change, lead with courage, and build trusting relationships from Lieutenant Colonel Waldo Waldman.
We had outstanding educational sessions and peer-led roundtable discussions each day. And of course, there were plenty of social events to help us enjoy our time together.
Everyday Hero Award
Eight years ago, MSCA introduced the Everyday Hero Award as a way to recognize an employee from one of our member companies who, in his or her own extraordinary way, quietly gives of their time and skills to benefit others while seeking no recognition or compensation. Congratulations to this year’s recipient, Service Manager for L.J. Kruse Company, Will Kruse! MSCA has made a contribution in Will Kruse’s name for the amount of $2,500 to the Berkeley Humane Society which has operated as a no-kill animal shelter for dogs and cats for the past 125 years.
Recognizing Outgoing Leaders & Welcoming New Ones
Rich Happel concluded his year as Chair of the MSCA Board of Managers and introduced the new chair, Renee Fiorelli. Renee Fiorelli is the President of Peterson Service Company, Immediate Past President of the MCA of NJ and Co-Chair of the ITF. She is the past recipient of the Contracting Business HVACR Women of the Year award and a graduate of the MCAA ALI program. In partnership with the MCANJ, Renee spearheaded the creation of the local New Jersey WiMI chapter. She holds a BS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Delaware.
The 2023-2024 MSCA Board of Managers was introduced as well. These members work tirelessly to provide MSCA members with resources and educational programming to help grow their companies and prepare them for future success.
They are:
Adam Wallenstein, Vice Chair Neptune Plumbing and Heating Co.
David Geith, Treasurer EMCOR Services Mesa Energy Systems, Inc.
Rich Happel, Immediate Past Chair EMCOR Services Mesa Energy Systems, Inc.
Lindsey Grilec PremiStar
Drew Harrison Harrison Energy Partners
Mike Hupp Harrell-Fish, Inc.
Al May North Mechanical Services, Inc.
Michael McHenry Ainsworth
Michael Rosone Arista Air Conditioning Corporation
The next MSCA conference is shaping up to be just as exciting, so mark your calendar for September 22 – 25, 2024, and plan to join us at the member favorite Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Details will be announced on mcaa.org and in the weekly National Update as we get closer to the meeting date.
Heightened competition has spurred mechanical contractors to share their impressive story of accomplishment, capabilities and convictions to bolster their image and competitive advantage. MCAA’s Public Relations: An Important Marketing Tool for the Mechanical Contractor highlights the need for regular promotion as a business development tool and offers tips for selecting a public relations consultant. It’s just one of MCAA’s educational resources that are free to MCAA members as a benefit of membership.
The bulletin explores:
Why contractors need to invest in public relations
How to select a public relations consultant
The role of management’s commitment to public relations
