The Career Development Committee chose the Student Chapter at Iowa State University as its Student Chapter of the Year. The chapter was selected based on how well it promotes an understanding of the mechanical industry and the career opportunities we offer. In addition to a trophy, Student Chapter representatives Brittany Gronewold, Riley McLaren, Stephanie Shah, and Paige Taylor accepted a $3,000 check.
This year’s Educator of the Year award went to Brad Perkins of Iowa State University. The award, which included a check for $5,000, honored his mentoring ability, industry knowledge and involvement, as well as his active participation in MCAA’s Student Chapter program activities.
Four new student chapters received their charters during MCAA18, bringing the total number of student chapters to 57. Jon Finch, Chair of MCAA’s Career Development Committee, was on hand to present the charters to the Robert Morris University Chapter of the MCAA, Indiana State University Student Chapter of the MCAA, MCAA Student Chapter at Auburn University, and CPMCA Student Chapter at the University of Southern California.
The Robert Morris University Chapter of the MCAA charter was accepted by Dr. Tony Kerzmann, Associate Professor at Robert Morris University, and Rege Claus, Executive Director of the MCA of Western Pennsylvania, the chapter’s sponsor.
The charter for the Indiana State University Student Chapter of the MCAA was accepted by Student Chapter President Brenden Cox, Faculty Advisor Daniel Bawinkel, and John Rayburn, Executive Vice President of the MCA of Indiana, the chapter’s sponsor.
The MCAA Student Chapter at Auburn University charter was accepted by students Eric Brazell, Randall Porterfield, and Chase Lowden, along with Faculty Advisor Keith Rahn and MCA of Georgia representatives Ken Harbour (MCAA Board Member) and Gary Fowler. The MCA of Georgia sponsors the chapter.
The charter for the CPMCA Student Chapter at the University of Southern California was accepted by Student Chapter President Steve Yemeli, Vice President Felipe Hernandez, students Alexander Huerta, Alfredo Leal, Julia Lind, Kathy Deng, Nicole Wong, Professor Henry Koffman, and CPMCA representatives Harry Bederian and Chip Martin. CPMCA is the chapter’s sponsor.
Anna Rowe, a junior from the Milwaukee School of Engineering, and Sarah Drummey, a senior from the University of Nebraska – Lincoln, each received a $5,000 Women in the Mechanical Industry scholarship. The scholarships, which were presented by Women in the Mechanical Industry Co-Chair Jaimi Lomas, who is also Chair of MSCA, recognize the students’ exceptional scholastic achievement and leadership skills. Women in the Mechanical Industry is a new forum to further enrich the careers of women in the industry through networking, educational, mentoring and career development opportunities beyond those already offered through membership in MCAA and MSCA.
MCERF announced the recipients of four MCERF Scholarships created to honor the industry leaders they are named after. The students receiving these scholarships were selected by our Career Development Committee for their exceptional academic performance, leadership skills, interest in developing a career in the mechanical industry, work ethic and technical abilities.
Jared Kirkland, a senior at Kansas State University, took home the Foster J. McCarl, Jr. Memorial Scholarship. Shawn McCarl of S.P. McCarl & Company, the scholarship sponsor, presented the check for $2,500.
Ben Pikus, a senior at Kent State University, took home The William A. Bianco, Jr. Memorial Scholarship sponsored by Kinetics. Kinetics Executive Vice President Global Operations Michael Cables, an MCAA past president, was on hand to present the $5,000 check.
Zachary Queen, a junior at Kansas State University, received The Reilly Family Memorial Scholarship. Robert Beck and Nick Optis of John W. Danforth Company, the scholarship’s sponsor, presented the check for $5,000.
Ruth Edgar and Nate Snyder, both juniors at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln, took home The Alan O’Shea Memorial Scholarship, marking the first time two scholarships were awarded. Kevin Armistead and Marty Drobny, representing MCA of New Jersey, the scholarship’s sponsor, were on hand to present the $2,500 checks.
MCERF inducted Sloan Valve Company as a Partnership Enterprise member of the Mechanical Contracting Education and Research Foundation. The Partnership Enterprise consists of those who have contributed over $100,000 to the foundation. In recognition of their very generous investment in MCERF, Sloan received a crystal commemorative plate. Parthiv Amin, Chief of Sales and Marketing Officer for Sloan accepted the honor on behalf of company President and CEO Jim Allen.
MCAA presented a charter to its 86th local affiliated association at MCAA18. The charter for the Association of Contracting Plumbers of the City of New York was accepted by ACP President Reed Rickman, Member Salih Alti, and Executive V.P. Terry O’Brien.
Close coordination with Carrier on a “just-in-time” delivery schedule is helping CFI Mechanical keep a Houston school renovation project on track while saving the contractor installation time and costs. By using Carrier HVAC systems, CFI mechanical is also meeting the school’s energy-efficiency goals.
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 MCAA-sponsored 2017 Construction Technology Report by JBKnowledge took an in-depth look at how the construction industry utilizes technology, software and IT. This week, MCAA released an “MCAA Focused” Report that analyzed the responses of MCAA and MSCA members. It looked at how MCAA members use and estimate BIM costs, track productivity, and emerging tech tools.
Part of the report focused on how MCAA members compare to the rest of the construction industry. It showed that MCAA members have a greater adoption of BIM and have higher use rates for BIM with especially with coordination and fabrication.
The MCAA focused report also explored how MCAA members are tracking BIM hours and estimating their costs. It found that far too many contractors do not track their BIM hours per project and as a result cannot use those hours to estimate the amount of time needed to perform BIM on a project.
The report also looked at emerging trends that contractors are currently testing. While the industry at large favors drones by a wide margin, MCAA members are far ahead of the industry on fabrication and modularization.
MCAA president Greg Fuller, and CNA construction segment director Mark Wilke presented five MCAA/CNA Safety Excellence Awards at MCAA18 in San Antonio. The awards were presented at the March 28 Awards of Excellence Breakfast in front of 1,100 attendees. The awards were presented to:
Southwest Town Mechanical – Size Category 1 – Up to 100,000 Work Hours;
Xcel Mechanical Systems – Size Category 2 – 100,001 to 250,000 Work Hours;
University Mechanical Contractors – Size Category 3 – 250,001 to 400,000 Work Hours;
Winger Contracting Company – Size Category 4 – 400,001 to 1 Million Work Hours; and
The Hill Group – Size Category 5 – More Than 1 Million Work Hours.
Warmest congratulations from MCAA to all the safety award winners.
MCAA’s Heavy Equipment Safety Training Video reminds your workers that awareness is key to accident prevention when they are working around heavy equipment.
The video stresses the importance of:
Download or play the video in English
Download or play the video in Spanish
Accompanying materials are also available to assist you in highlighting key training points, documenting worker training and confirming that workers understand the training concepts:
Download the Documentation Sheet
MCAA has you covered, with a full range of resources to help you protect your workers from injury and comply with applicable safety regulations. Here’s where to find them:
On our Direct Links to MCAA & MSCA Safety Resources page, where they’re listed by category with links.
In the Resource Center, where you can use the blue Refine Your Search bar to pinpoint exactly what you’re looking for.
Contact MCAA’s Pete Chaney.
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:
Viega
Time-consuming piping system repairs can lead to longer downtimes and lost revenue. A Viega MegaPress® Stainless fitting can be installed in 7 seconds or less, to get production back online quickly.
FastEST, Inc.
FastPIPE®, FastDUCT®, and FastWRAP™ — accurate, fast, and easy-to-use mechanical estimating software
Find many more smart solutions in MCAA’s Virtual Trade Show!
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!
When Cannistraro, Boston’s largest mechanical contractor, needed a drain system for their own new fabrication and manufacturing facility, they turned to Jay R. Smith Mfg. Co.® for a solution that was delivered on a just-in-time basis to avoid the need for storage and was easy to install quickly. The level of service Smith provided cemented Cannistraro’s decision to name Smith their supplier of choice.
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.
Nick Espinosa, Chief Security Fanatic and featured speaker at the upcoming MSCA18 Conference, gives a quick update about what happened and how MCAA and MSCA contractors are often targeted as access points for larger corporations. Update and patch your software so that you are not the easy prey for criminal hackers.
MCAA, the Education Association, provided a variety of educational offerings during MCAA18 to advance members’ knowledge about new industry trends, technologies and practices. Whether they needed to develop or hone their leadership abilities, learn new business growth strategies, explore new building technology applications, discover strategies and methods to attract new talent or take a step back and take stock, experts on these topics and much, much more shared their insights and experiences. The goal of all MCAA18 sessions, and everything we do at MCAA, is to help you and your company succeed.
MCAA honored our members’ and future professionals’ achievements throughout the year and at MCAA18 with a variety of awards presented at our annual Awards of Excellence Breakfast. Congratulations to all of the award winners!
Michael A. Brandt became MCAA’s President at the conclusion of MCAA18. He is the President & CEO of The Smith & Oby Company, a full-service mechanical and plumbing contractor located in Walton Hills, Ohio. Michael was elected to the MCAA Board of Directors in 2010. On a personal note, he enjoys spending time with his wife, Tina, and his two grown children, Matthew and Erica. He also enjoys golfing and traveling.
Thank you for joining us in San Antonio for MCAA18! The best MCAA convention ever gave us the best photos ever! You can view, download and share great memories of our time together by visiting our SmugMug site. Best of all, they’re free! Ready to make new memories? See You in Scottsdale! MCAA19 is March 3-7, 2019 at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge.
Here’s how it works:
See You in Scottsdale! MCAA19 is March 3 – 7, 2019 at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge.
Enjoy this recap of Wednesday’s activities at MCAA18!
MCAA members can now access some of our most valuable publications from their desktop computers on our new WebBook platform. You will be able to read Management Methods Bulletins and other resources, take notes, print sections, and share with colleagues. And most importantly, when we have updated content, unlike a downloaded pdf, our WebBooks can be instantly updated behind the scenes while your notes are preserved securely on your computer.
