When choosing which projects to bid on, mechanical construction contractors must evaluate several factors to ensure the project is a good fit for the company and has a high probability of success. MCAA’s new Management Methods Bulletin, How Do I Pick a Project?, explores the factors that go into making an informed decision that will increase your company’s chances of successfully winning the bid and completing the project. It’s just one of MCAA’s educational resources that are free to MCAA members as a benefit of membership.
Don’t miss out on the upcoming PCA Plumbing Service Conference!
May 19-21, 2025, in St. Louis, this event is your best opportunity to learn, share, and grow in your understanding of operational plumbing service. Whether you’re looking to refine your strategies, gain insights from industry leaders, or connect with peers who share your challenges and opportunities, this conference is designed with you in mind.
What’s in Store?
Exclusive Facility Tours – Get an inside look at Murphy Company, a leader in the industry, and Local 562, where innovation meets workforce development.
Engaging Sessions & Discussions – Dive into best practices, emerging trends, and real-world solutions that can transform your business.
Networking & Collaboration – Exchange ideas with fellow professionals who understand the unique demands of the plumbing service industry.
With industry leaders, in depth tours, and invaluable networking, this is a conference you don’t want to miss.
The ripple effect of change begins with one small action – and in the mechanical industry, women are making waves. The WiMI Conference offers an unparalleled opportunity to connect with like-minded professionals, gain valuable knowledge, and be inspired by the journeys of those who have dared to lead. Whether you’re new to the industry or a seasoned executive, the WiMI Conference is a platform for you to find your voice and expand your influence within the industry. Join us at the WiMI Conference – empower yourself, connect with others, and leave ready to make your mark on the industry. Register now!
SESSION HIGHLIGHT: Closing General Session featuring Dominique Dawes
Olympic gold medalist Dominique Dawes knows that success isn’t just about medals—it’s about the dedication, perseverance, and mindset that shape the journey. In this inspiring session, she shares her personal and professional philosophy, D-3: Determination, Dedication, Desire, revealing how these principles helped her overcome obstacles, embrace challenges, and achieve excellence. Through powerful storytelling, Dawes will empower attendees to reframe setbacks as opportunities and recognize that true success is built every day, not just at the finish line.
This is just one example of the powerful stories and lessons you’ll encounter at WiMI 2025.
Inspiring Education for Every Stage of Your Career
At the heart of the WiMI Conference are its diverse and dynamic educational sessions. These captivating talks provide the perfect space for both personal and professional growth. Expect to hear from extraordinary speakers who share their stories of overcoming fear, embracing their cultural identities, and navigating the challenges that women in our industry often face.
This year’s theme invites you to not only learn from experts but also empower yourself to take bold steps in your own career. Whether it’s honing technical skills, sharpening leadership abilities, or learning how to build confidence in your unique voice, the WiMI Conference is designed to equip you with the tools necessary to succeed. You’ll walk away with the skills and insights needed to drive your career forward with confidence.
Interactive Networking and Skill-Building Opportunities
Networking at WiMI is more than just exchanging business cards – it’s about forging meaningful, lasting connections with individuals who share your passion and drive for the industry. The WiMI Conference fosters a supportive community where women can collaborate, share experiences, and discuss strategies for success.
In addition to the education sessions, interactive roundtable discussions provide the perfect environment to translate insights into action. These intimate settings allow for open conversation and knowledge-sharing, enabling attendees to discuss a wide variety of topics, from technical challenges to personal growth. The insights gained here will not only enrich your professional journey but will also empower you to tackle the next wave of challenges head-on.
A Platform for Impactful Change
As the theme suggests, the ripple effect begins with action, and the WiMI Conference is the perfect platform to kick-start that action. Women in our industry are already changing the game – from leading teams and projects to advocating for diversity and inclusivity. By joining this empowering event, you become part of that ripple effect, contributing to a larger movement for positive change.
Whether you’re seeking inspiration, valuable connections, or professional development, the WiMI Conference offers something for everyone. This year, we celebrate the impactful ways women are driving transformation in the mechanical industry, and we invite you to be part of the movement. Together, we can continue creating ripples of positive change, one connection, one conversation, one opportunity at a time.
Join us at the WiMI Conference – empower yourself, connect with others, and leave ready to make your mark on the industry.
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:
Charlotte Pipe & Foundry Charlotte Pipe manufactures cast iron and plastic pipe and fittings for the plumbing industry, all proudly made in the USA.
Belimo Aircontrols Belimo Energy Valve utilizes advanced analytic technology to leverage captured system data to improve coil and system performance for increased energy savings. Energy savings you can see. #SmallDevicesBigImpact
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!
Connect With Additional Manufacturer/Supplier Training
Save yourself time and let MCAA connect you to the latest Manufacturer/Supplier member’s training opportunities. Visit the Manufacturer/Supplier Training area of the Resource Center to get started.
Asked for advice on the Belvidere, IL, School District’s new boilers, the Helm Group’s Service Division recommended Laars Heating Systems Company’s MagnaTherm® FT boilers. The Helm Group was impressed with the product quality as well as Laars’ extended warranty and commitment to supporting customers. Helm Group then competed for and won the contract to install and maintain the Laars systems, successfully installing them in the strict three-month window before the new school year. LAARS, a Bradford White Company, is a benefactor of MCAA25.
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.
May 12 – 14, 2025 | Washington, DC supported by Procore
MCAA’s Field Leaders Conference is where field leaders realize their importance and value as professionals and members of the management team. When your field leaders join us in May, they will learn the skills they need to be business, and results, oriented managers focused on growing company profits and brand. Register them today!
SESSION HIGHLIGHT
Legacy Leadership with Mark Breslin, President of Breslin Strategies
Your field leaders are professionals who build people as much as they do projects. Do they have the skills needed to motivate people, use influence over authority and mentor, coach and empower their crews? Mark Breslin’s presentation at the Field Leaders Conference offers new ideas, strategies and tools to help them enhance crew performance. Your field leaders will leave Mark’s presentation with a new level of energy and vision for their future.
Mark Breslin, President of Breslin Strategies in Alamo, CA, is the fourth generation of his family engaged in the construction industry and he knows its issues first-hand. Mark is known for his straightforward presentation style and as one of the foremost speakers on labor-management relationships, change management and workforce development. He is the author of several books including The Five Minute Foreman—Managing the People Side of Construction and Alpha Dog—Leading, Managing and Motivating in the Construction Industry.
Financial Assistance Opportunities
The United Association’s (UA) International Training Fund (ITF) is offering $5,500 grants for UA/MCAA Foreman Administrators who attend one of the 2025 MCAA Field Leaders Conferences. These are UA members who have completed the UA Education and Training Department’s Foreman Certification Course 2012 and are responsible for proctoring and maintaining the integrity and security of the UA Foreman Certification Examination at their local union training center. Find additional information about these grants and learn how to apply.
Your Lead Field Personnel Cannot Afford to Miss this Conference! Registration is now open for the May 12 – 14, 2025 conference in Washington, DC. Register your field personnel today!
Newly elected MCAA President Brian Hughes discussed his commitment to enhancing member engagement and increasing awareness in a recent Contractor magazine interview. He emphasized his priorities for the year ahead, which include strengthening member resources, navigating economic uncertainty, and preparing contractors for opportunities in data centers, healthcare, energy, and infrastructure. Drawing on years of leadership within MCAA, Hughes aims to guide the association through evolving market conditions and ensure its members remain competitive and future-ready. Hughes became MCAA’s president at the close of MCAA25 on March 6, 2025.
PPE is the last line of defense, and sometimes all you need to prevent and injury or save a life. Preventable injuries impact our safety culture, company morale, and our bottom lines. MCAA’s Personal Protective Equipment Safety & Health Resources include our newest videos on hearing protection, head protection, eye protection, respiratory protection, and hand protection. These videos are a candid look at what happens when you don’t wear PPE, and how easily you can help yourself and others by wearing these lifesaving pieces of personal protection. These are just a few of MCAA’s educational resources that are free to MCAA members as a benefit of membership.
Worker Safety Training Videos & Accompanying Resources
Explore the the full range of resources for mechanical service contractors, including resources that are also of interest to mechanical construction and plumbing contractors, using the blue Find A Resource bar on our website or browse our collection of 700+ safety and health resources.
Have Questions or Need Personal Assistance?
Contact MCAA’s Executive Director for Safety, Health, and Risk Management.
The John R. Gentille Foundation (JRGF) Internship Grant program has been upgraded for 2025 to offer a new level of support for the multiple entities involved with developing the future talent of our industry.
Employer Forms: Due April 1, 2025
These internship grants are intended to offer support to companies that are new to offering internships, small companies, or those that are looking to grow their internship program.
Due April 1, 2025, for 2025 planned internships, notifications in May.
Submitted by the company. One application per company location.
$1,000 grant (25 available)
8-week internship minimum may occur anytime during 2025.
Intern may be from any 2- or 4-year accredited college or university.
Following the internship, a photo must be submitted with the intern on the jobsite, at the office, by a company sign, or in branded swag.
Affiliated Associations Forms: Due April 1, 2025
Grants are intended to offer support for the development and growth of local student chapter programming that creates new employment opportunities or student inclusivity at events with potential employers, mentoring programs, or new student-focused resources.
MCAA welcomed its two newest student chapters by granting charters to Arizona State University and the University of Manitoba during the MCAA25 Awards of Excellence Breakfast on March 5th in Austin, TX.
Arizona State University | Tempe, AZ
Pictured: Andrew Palcan (MCAA Career Development Committee Chair), Bob Felix (ACCO Engineered Systems, Inc.), Gary Lovewell (Southland Industries), Timothy Becker (Faculty Advisor), Arizona State University Students, Michelle Lynn (CPMCA/AMCA), Chip Martin (CPMCA/AMCA), Rick Gopffarth (MCAA President).
Sponsoring Affiliated Association: Arizona Mechanical Contractors Association
Chip Martin, Executive Director
Michelle Lynn, Director of Education/Communications
Faculty Advisor
Timothy Becker, PhD
University of Manitoba | Winnipeg, Manitoba (Canada)
Pictured: Andrew Palcan (MCAA Career Development Committee Chair), University of Manitoba Students, Ramona Coey (MCA of Manitoba), Ryan Mushumanski (ServcoCanada), Rick Gopffarth (MCAA President).
Sponsoring Affiliated Association: Mechanical Contractors Association of Manitoba
Ramona Coey, Executive Director
Faculty Advisor
Dr. Meghan Guyot, P.Eng.
For a full listing of the 42 active MCAA Student Chapters, visit the GreatFutures Universities tab, which can be found under the Career Development Initiative dropdown at www.mcaa.org.
Find Interns & Full-Time Employees at the GreatFutures Forum
Interested in hiring interns or soon to be graduating full-time new hires? Be sure to put October 9-11, 2025 on your calendar and plan on attending the 2025 MCAA GreatFutures Forum in Salt Lake City, UT. This annual student-focused conference includes a Friday morning Job Fair that is timed perfectly to coincide with when students are actively seeking summer employment options.
GFF25 is complimentary to all student chapter members, faculty advisors, affiliated association execs, contractor members, and conference sponsors. Registration will open in July 2025. We look forward to seeing you there!
Have Questions?
Questions regarding student chapter programming, starting a new student chapter, or the GreatFutures Forum can be directed to MCAA’s Director, Career Development – Michele Hoffman (mhoffman@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:
CNA E-TALK SERIES – CNA’s e-Talks provide tips & resources to help your business thrive in an uncertain risk environment.
MCAA’s National Education Initiative (NEI) Seminars bring our best programs to your local association or your company thanks to instructors like Frank Favaro, the founder and President of ServeCentric Coaching in Cleveland, OH. Frank teaches leaders, sales employees, project managers, and others where companies drop the ball and how to avoid those same mistakes while improving customer interactions, relationships and service.
As the first CX Coach certified by the renowned DiJulius Group, Frank has set a high bar in the customer experience domain. His approach, distinguished by impressive credentials and holistic methods, was shaped during his successful tenure as one of MSCA’s top account executives from 2016 to 2020.
“I’ve lived and breathed the challenges and triumphs of this industry. Now, my mission is to empower others with the strategies that led to my success.”
Frank Favaro, Instructor, NEI Customer Experience Seminars (CES)
At the core of Frank’s philosophy is the conviction that the pinnacle of sales and marketing effectiveness lies in delivering exceptional customer experiences.
Frank’s Customer Experience Seminars (CES) offer an immersive and insightful journey, specifically designed for individuals engaged in customer and employee interactions who play a key role in driving profitability.
With a focus on practical strategies and real-world scenarios, the CES courses will explore several pain points that many companies face in maintaining consistent service quality and effective customer communication.
The courses include:
CES 101: Service Excellence Made Simple – Building a strong foundation in customer service.
CES 102: Proven Customer Acquisition Strategies – Effective approaches to attracting new clients.
CES 103: Growth Through Retention – Expanding Business Without Chasing Strangers – Expanding your business by keeping existing customers satisfied.
CES 104: Climbing to the Top of the Relationship Ladder – Techniques for developing deeper client relationships.
CES 105: Effectively Navigating Pricing Conversations – Best practices for discussing pricing with customers.
CES 106: Service Recovery: Turning Mistakes into Wins – How to recover from service failures and turn them into opportunities.
CES 107: The Recognition Advantage: How to Make Work Fun, Competitive & Performance-Driven – Creating a performance-driven, competitive, and fun work environment.
CES 108: The Customer Service Secrets of Industry Leaders – Learning from the best in the business.
CES 109: Coaching Managers to Be Coaches: Developing High-Performing Leaders – Building a high-performance culture through leadership development.
CES 110: Frontline Excellence: Nailing Customer Interactions – Mastering the art of customer-facing interactions.
Like our other NEI instructors, Frank brings his unique blend of industry and teaching experience to virtual courses. 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.
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:
Jonas Construction Software JONAS ENTERPRISE CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE – A fully integrated and automated construction management software solution for everyday life.
Morris Group International Vacuum plumbing systems are an effective alternative to gravity piping systems, with benefits in service, maintenance, health, safety, and welfare. AcornVac is a brand 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!
Connect With Additional Manufacturer/Supplier Training
Save yourself time and let MCAA connect you to the latest Manufacturer/Supplier member’s training opportunities. Visit the Manufacturer/Supplier Training area of the Resource Center to get started.
As a business owner in the mechanical contracting industry, you already juggle enough—projects, workforce management, regulations, and keeping up with an ever-changing market. But what happens in Washington, D.C. directly impacts your bottom line. The CEA National Issues Conference is your chance to influence the policies affecting your business, rather than just reacting to them after they’re set.
This is not just another conference. This is where mechanical contractors shape the future of their businesses and the industry. With exclusive Hill visits, you won’t just hear about policy—you’ll have a seat at the table with lawmakers who make the decisions.
Be Heard – Meet with lawmakers to advocate for policies that support contractors and skilled workers.
Gain Insights – Hear from top industry experts and government officials on the latest regulatory developments.
Expand Your Network – Build relationships with industry peers, policymakers, and business leaders.
Special Events for MCAA Members
New in 2025: Inside the Issues – Open Government Affairs Committee Meeting Monday, May 5 | 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM
This half-day session offers MCAA members a unique opportunity to discuss legislative and regulatory priorities, advocate for the interests of mechanical contractors, and shape the future of our industry. Attendees will leave with a deeper understanding of the advocacy work that drives MCAA’s mission and have the chance to explore how the Government Affairs Committee impacts their businesses directly. Open to MCAA members only. $125 fee invoiced separately by MCAA.
Returning in 2025: MCAA Member Dinner Tuesday, May 6 | 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Wrap up the day with a relaxing evening among fellow MCAA members. Enjoy great food, conversation, and camaraderie as we celebrate the conclusion of a successful event.
This is your chance to shape the future of the mechanical contracting industry. Don’t just watch the change—be part of it. Register today!
Registration is now open for MCAA’s May Field Leaders Conference, being held Monday, May 12 – Wednesday, May 14 at the Hilton Washington DC National Mall The Wharf.
In two and a half days, your field leaders will hear from inspiring industry speakers and participate in powerful collaboration, leaving them inspired and re-energized.
Watch the video to see for yourself why other company owners and managers continue to send field personnel to this conference.
Don’t miss this opportunity to register your field leaders today.
Motor vehicle fatalities are on the rise each year, with most accidents stemming from unsafe driving, substance abuse, insufficient driver training, and poor vehicle maintenance. MCAA’s Fleet Safety for Mechanical Service and Construction Supervisors gives supervisors the tools to address this growing crisis by improving fleet safety through better training programs, stricter maintenance protocols, and enhanced driver monitoring systems. It’s just one of MCAA’s educational resources that are free to MCAA members as a benefit of membership.
This video will help your supervisors understand:
How to properly screen their drivers
The components of effective driver training
How to monitor driver behavior and
How to ensure proper inspection and maintenance of the company’s fleet
MCAA member contractors and local affiliates are encouraged to participate in an upcoming UA organizing blitz. This is a great opportunity to share the benefits of working for a union contractor and enhance the labor/management relationship. Read on to learn more, then register for a blitz near you.
The UA uses organizing blitzes to ensure it is prepared to meet the growing demand for craftspersons. During the blitz, you will visit jobsites, supply houses, gas stations, offices of non-union contractors, and other areas that are frequented by non-union mechanical and plumbing employees.
How Contractors Will Benefit
Organizing blitzes present an opportunity to speak directly to the individuals being organized. These conversations let you share the benefits of working for your company. You also get a sneak preview of upcoming talent.
You will also have a chance to answer questions and dispel any myths non-union contractors may have heard about what it is like to be a union contractor.
How Local Associations Will Benefit
Local association executives who participate in a blitz will better understand how the UA operates. They will enhance the labor/management relationship and be better able to support their contractor members’ participation.
Upcoming Organizing Blitzes
Southern Region: Fayetteville, AR, April 6-11
Western Region: San Jose, CA, June 22-27
Central Region: Bloomington, MN, July 27-August 1
Eastern Region: Syracuse, NY, August 24-29
Don’t miss this opportunity to support the UA, ensure the availability of craftspersons for your upcoming projects, and build your knowledge of UA operations.
MCAA and CNA have recognized companies for their achievements in safety through the MCAA/CNA Safety Excellence Awards. This program, which began in the 1990s, honors member companies that have demonstrated strong safety practices and innovative approaches to achieving high safety and health standards.
The Safety Excellence Awards focus on evaluating safety programs, health initiatives, and the impact of safety innovations within the industry. Companies are divided into five categories based on the number of work hours they report, with winners selected by a committee of industry peers. The awards program provides a platform for companies to showcase their safety efforts and share best practices.
To participate, companies submit detailed descriptions of their safety programs, including the strategies they’ve employed to achieve safety excellence and why they believe they should be recognized. The Safety Awards Selection Taskforce, led by CNA, reviews submissions with an emphasis on safety leadership, a strong safety culture, effective performance indicators, and innovative initiatives that have contributed to the company’s safety achievements.
MCAA congratulates the winners of this year’s MCAA/CNA Safety Excellence Awards:
Verne’s Plumbing | Category 1: 0 – 100,000 Work Hours
Armistead Mechanical | Category 2: 100,001 – 250,000 Work Hours
Mall City Mechanical | Category 3: 250,001 – 450,000 Work Hours
UMC | Category 4: 450,001 – 1,000,000 Work Hours
P1 Group | Category 5: Greater than 1,000,001 Work Hours
Verne’s Plumbing | Category 1Armistead Mechanical | Category 2Mall City Mechanical | Category 3UMC | Category 4P1 Group | Category 5Will Your Company Win Next Year?
These companies have demonstrated a commitment to safety, showcasing their efforts to foster a strong safety culture and create safe working environments for their teams.
MCAA thanks CNA for its continued partnership in the Safety Excellence Awards program. Their collaboration is instrumental in advancing safety standards within the mechanical contracting industry.
The MCAA/CNA Safety Excellence Awards highlight the importance of safety leadership and the ongoing efforts to improve safety and health practices across the industry.
At the MCAA25 Awards of Excellence Breakfast on March 5th, McMaster University was awarded the top prize of $10,000, sponsored by DEWALT Industrial Tool Company, and a trophy for their outstanding work on the 2024-2025 Student Chapter Competition.
ABOUT THE WINNER
Sponsoring Affiliated Association: MCA Hamilton Niagara
Rachael Lolua – Association Manager
Faculty Advisor
Stephen Veldhuis, Ph.D., P.Eng.
Additional Final Four Teams
California State University, Chico was the runner-up, placing second and received a trophy and check for $5,000.
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo and Pittsburg State University rounded out the final four. Both of these Honorable Mention finalists received trophies and $2,500 checks.
Merit Award Recipients
Six teams (out of the 27 submissions) were recognized with Merit Trophies and checks for $1,000. They are, in alphabetical order:
Fairleigh Dickinson University
Indiana State University
Kansas State University
Kent State University
University of Manitoba
University of Wisconsin–Stout
Thank You to Those Who Made the Competition A Success
The project involved submitting a proposal as the prime mechanical contractor for the MCAA Medical Research Project in New York City. This included all piping, HVAC, controls and additional work required by the bid documents.
Special Contributors
Fresh Meadow Mechanical Corporation supplied the competition project, and Chris Milone and Michael F. Russo introduced the project and shared what really happened.
New this year, DEWALT Industrial Tool Company sponsored all prize money for the competition.
Procore let students use their project management software, offering real-world experience using their powerful tool.
Trimble donated use of Trimble Estimation MEP software and provided training sessions to get the students up to speed.
Ferguson provided pricing for pipe valves and fittings, letting students see what it’s really like to obtain and work with that data.
MCAA Career Development Committee Judges
Justin Blackledge, The Waldinger Corporation Omaha
Anne Finerfrock, W.E. Bowers
Sarabeth Gandara, U.S. Engineering Construction, LLC
Scott Hinton, Enerfab Power and Industrial, LLC
Michael F. Russo, Fresh Meadow Mechanical Corporation
Kurt Voss, Integrated Facility Services
John Ziemann, Mollenberg-Betz, Inc.
Competition Emcee
A big thank you also goes to the Chair of the Career Development Committee, Andrew Palcan, Helm Group, for serving as the emcee for the competition in Austin!
Most Valuable Presenter
Pictured: Andrew Palcan (Career Development Committee Chair), Jon Howland (DEWALT Industrial Tool Company), Parker Jenkins (MVP Recipient), and Rick Gopffarth (MCAA President).
Parker Jenkins Pittsburg State University
The Career Development Committee recognized the student who did the best job presenting their proposal, whether or not their team won. The audience members voted live between the presentations and ultimately Parker Jenkins from Pittsburg State University was awarded a trophy, a $500 gift card, a complimentary seat in MCAA’s Preparatory Institute for Project Management (PIPM), and the title of 2024-2025 Most Valuable Presenter.
Parker is majoring in Construction Management at Pittsburg State University. He plans to start at P1 Construction (an MCAA member) following graduation this spring.
Parker’s student chapter is sponsored by the MCA of Kansas City and advised by Shannon Nicklaus, our 2024-2025 Educator of the Year.
Trimble Future Estimator Scholarship
Kavan Limbasiya Pittsburg State University
The Trimble Futures Estimator Scholarship was developed to recognize a student not only interested in mechanical contracting, but specifically to a student with an interest in being a mechanical estimator upon graduation. This $5,000 scholarship is available to a student who participated in the Final Four round of the MCAA Student Chapter Competition.
2024-2025 Student Chapter Competition Video
Looking Ahead to the 2025-2026 Competition
The MCAA Career Development Committee is hard at work planning for the 2025-2026 competition. The project will be announced this fall and a Q&A session is already on the schedule for the GreatFutures Forum in Salt Lake City, UT (October 9-11, 2025). Registration, which opens in July, is complimentary for MCAA contractor members, including the GreatFutures Job Fair on Friday morning. You won’t want to miss it!
Congratulations to McMaster University, all of our runners-up and merit trophy recipients, our MVP and the newest recipient of the Trimble Future Estimator Scholarship. And another huge round of thanks to all of those who made the competition a success. We can’t wait to see what you come up with for next year!
The construction industry is facing unprecedented challenges with ongoing and evolving tariffs on essential materials like steel, aluminum, and copper — and the impacts are rippling through the supply chain. Join our expert panel as we break down our thoughts and forecasts on the real-world implications of these tariffs. From understanding the current tariff landscape to anticipating future increases and how suppliers and manufacturers are responding, this webinar will equip you with the knowledge to manage rising costs and protect your business. Don’t miss this opportunity to stay ahead of the curve and prepare for what’s next in construction industry economics!
This webinar was recorded Thursday, March 20, 2025.
