Archives: News Items

Resource Highlight: MCAA’s Cash Flow

Effective cash management can mean the difference between success and failure for the mechanical contractor. MCAA’s Cash Flow explains how contractors can manage their cash flow to maximize profits and growth. It’s just one of MCAA’s educational resources that are free to MCAA members as a benefit of membership.

The bulletin covers:

  • Cash management functions
  • Key components of an effective cash management program
  • How to maintain as much cash as possible by speeding the billing process, slowing the disbursement process and managing bank float
  • How contracts can impact cash flow
  • Cash management organization
DOWNLOAD

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

Have Questions or Need Personal Assistance?

Contact MCAA’s Frank Wall.

Find the Latest from EVAPCO, Inc. and Carrier Corporation in MCAA’s Virtual Trade Show

MCAA’s Virtual Trade Show connects our contractor members with the members of MCAA’s Manufacturer/Supplier Council.

Participating companies highlight and link to new products, product lines, services, solutions or web pages of particular interest. Here are just a few of the recent additions:

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

Learn More

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

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

Help Your Field Personnel Become Leaders – Register them for the Field Leaders Conference this Fall

The MCAA Field Leaders Conference provides those working in the field with the skills needed to be business and results oriented leaders who focus on growing company culture, brand and profits. During this intensive conference, attendees will learn from industry experts including facilitators who have been in their shoes and worked their way through the ranks to become successful business owners and from their peers from around the country as members of breakout session teams. The conference will be offered in both Indianapolis, IN (October 12-14, 2022) and Kansas City, MO (November 2-4, 2022) this fall. Register your field leaders today!

During each of these conferences, field leaders will learn to:

  • View themselves as professionals
  • Understand how their performance is critical to the bottom line
  • Establish tangible goals
  • Appreciate the importance of customer relationships and their role as the face of the company

They will also learn what it really means to be a great foreman.

Field Leaders Detroit 2019

This is a conference your lead field personnel cannot afford to miss! Play the video above to hear what previous attendees have to say about their Field Leaders Conference experience then use the buttons below to learn more and register for this fall’s conferences.

Learn More & Register for the Indianapolis Conference
Learn More & Register for the Kansas City Conference

Resource Highlight: MCAA’s Temporary Usage of HVAC Equipment

The use of permanent HVAC systems to provide temporary heat during construction introduces the possibility of indoor air quality (IAQ) issues down the line. MCAA’s Temporary Usage of HVAC Equipment explains why temporary heating, cooling and dehumidification equipment specifically designed for use during construction is preferable. It’s just one of MCAA’s educational resources that are free to MCAA members as a benefit of membership.

The bulletin explains:

  • Indoor air quality (IAQ) guidelines and issues
  • LEED considerations
  • Impacts on the mechanical contractor
DOWNLOAD

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

Have Questions or Need Personal Assistance?

Contact MCAA’s Frank Wall.

Connect With the Latest Training from Mueller Industries, Inc. and Xylem Inc. – Bell & Gossett at MCAA.org

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

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

Mueller Industries, Inc.
Streamline® PRS Copper Press Fittings | Instrucciones de instalación Instrucciones de instalación de conexiones prensadas de cobre PRS. English version also available under supplier training.

Learn More

Xylem Inc. – Bell & Gossett
Bell & Gossett offers free training/education opportunities for plumbing and hydronic HVAC industry professionals. The Little Red Schoolhouse and Remote Learning Hub host a wide range of seminars tailored to different occupations within the industry.

Learn More

Interested in More Training from Our Supplier Partners?

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

Learn More

Find the Latest from Morris Group International and LENOX 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:

Morris Group International
Acorn Control® thermostatic valves deliver safe, tempered water with no need to make adjustments to the plumbing fixture. Learn about our ASSE-compliant valves online!

Learn More

LENOX®
LENOX has over a century of cutting expertise, delivering solutions that make our tradesmen more productive. LENOX is now redefining performance levels with the introduction of the LAZER CT™ Carbide Tipped Reciprocating Saw Blades.

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

Faculty Share Lessons Learned & Tools for Success at MCAA’s Field Leaders Conference

At MCAA’s Field Leaders Conferences, you will hear from the best of the best. 

Greg Fuller and Mark Rogers, two MCAA Past Presidents who started their careers in the trades and now own their own mechanical contracting companies, share their experiences and lessons learned from being on both sides of the fence. 

Chris Haslinger, UA Administrative Assistant to the General President, focuses his presentation on the latest equipment and technology that is changing the way jobsite projects are managed. 

Kevin Dougherty, leading construction industry consultant, discusses successful ways to build and maintain relationships with focus on being a better listener and how to be the most effective communicator possible.

Finally, Mark Breslin, President of Breslin Strategies, conducts a presentation on leadership, how to promote positive change and how to effectively achieve it.

MCAA will be holding two 2022 Field Leaders Conferences: Indianapolis, IN (October 12-14) and Kansas City, MO (November 2-4). It’s a conference your lead field personnel cannot afford to miss and we hope to see them there!

LEARN MORE & REGISTER FOR THE INDIANAPOLIS CONFERENCE
LEARN MORE & REGISTER FOR THE KANSAS CITY CONFERENCE

MCAA Member Companies Are Some of the Best Places to Work

Congratulations to Autodesk Inc., MILWAUKEE TOOL and Hilti for making Glassdoor’s list of 100 Best Places to Work in 2022.

In recent years we have seen a huge shift in how companies and their employees function, thanks in part to the COVID-19 pandemic. As employees reexamine their priorities, many companies have adapted by offering better benefits, a better work-life balance and more.

Glassdoor used more than 100 million employee reviews to determine which companies made the list of 100 Best Places to Work in 2022. Analysts looked at nine workplace attributes, including: career opportunities, compensation, benefits, culture, diversity and work-life balance. Three of MCAA’s Manufacturer/Supplier members made the cut:

#21

Autodesk makes software used in construction as well as engineering, manufacturing, product design and more. Glassdoor specifically noted that Andrew Anagnost, Autodesk CEO, is mentioned frequently in employee reviews, with 94% of workers saying they approve of their CEO.

#25

MILWAUKEE TOOL is one of the top manufacturers of power tools used on jobsites across the country. They were recognized by employees for having “great opportunities for advancement” and a “wonderful employee recognition program.”

#35

Hilti is another top manufacturer of power tools that also creates software used in the construction industry. Hilti employees repeatedly mentioned a “great culture” in their reviews.

See the Full List

Resource Highlight: MCAA’s Protecting Lien Rights

Lien laws protect subcontractors and suppliers by securing payment for work performed on privately-owned real property, even in the absence of a direct contract with the property owner. MCAA’s Protecting Lien Rights provides an overview of lien laws and how to protect against loss of lien rights. It’s just one of MCAA’s educational resources that are free to MCAA members as a benefit of membership.

The bulletin explains:

  • Key differences among state lien laws
  • How liens and bonds protect subcontractors and suppliers
  • Commonalities among lien laws
  • How to protect against loss of lien rights
DOWNLOAD

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

Have Questions or Need Personal Assistance?

Contact MCAA’s Frank Wall.

Heat Stress Resources from MCAA Partners in Safety, CNA & MILWAUKEE TOOL

MCAA and its partners in safety, CNA & MILWAUKEE TOOL, offer resources to help protect workers from heat stress.

CNA Resources

Many workers spend part of their working day in hot environments, both indoors and outdoors. Workers performing physical labor, including mechanical construction and service contractors, are often exposed to hazardous heat conditions that can have severe safety and health outcomes. Please review the below information on heat stress and sun exposure.

Protecting Against Heat Stress
Sun Exposures for Contractors

For questions or additional information, please contact:

MILWAUKEE TOOL Resources

MILWAUKEE TOOL has started a monthly safety emphasis program. Below you will find information for July’s Heat Illness Prevention campaign. The information comes from some of the industry’s most credible sources, including the Center for Construction Research and Training (CPWR), the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

Heat Illness Prevention
Additional Heat Illness Prevention Resources

For additional information on the safety emphasis program, please contact:

MCAA Resources

For more information on heat stress from MCAA, review our last post or check out these training talks:

If you have questions, please contact:

  • Raffi Elchemmas, MCAA’s Executive Director of Safety, Health, and Risk Management

Find the Latest from Johnson Controls, Inc. and Charlotte Pipe & Foundry 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:

Johnson Controls MCAA Virtual Trade Show

Johnson Controls, Inc.
Whether you’re building from scratch or retrofitting an existing facility or plant, Johnson Controls has nearly everything you need, with the most comprehensive line card in the industry.

Learn More

Charlotte Pipe & Foundry
Charlotte Pipe and Foundry is the nation’s leading maker of cast iron and plastic pipe and fittings for the plumbing industry.

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

Registration is Now Open for MCAA’s Fall Field Leaders Conferences

MCAA is pleased to be hosting two Field Leaders Conferences this Fall. The same conference is being presented in two different cities to welcome as many field personnel as possible. We will be in Indianapolis, IN (October 12-14) and Kansas City, MO (November 2-4).

Hearing from industry experts who have been in their shoes and networking with peers from around the country, conference attendees can expect to realize their importance and value as professionals and members of their company’s management team. Play the video above and see what previous attendees have to say following their Field Leaders Conference experience.

To learn the details of each conference and register attendees, follow the links below. We look forward to seeing your field leaders this Fall!

Learn More & Register for the Indianapolis Conference
Learn More & Register for the Kansas City Conference

Resource Highlight: MCAA’s Minimizing the Risk of Poor Site Conditions

Site conditions may significantly impact productivity on the job. Poor site conditions can affect material handling as well as the actual time required for installation of pipe and equipment. MCAA’s Minimizing the Risk of Poor Site Conditions provides a site conditions checklist to help mechanical contractors address potential issues early in the project. It’s just one of MCAA’s educational resources that are free to MCAA members as a benefit of membership.

Strategies for addressing unanticipated or changed site conditions are also included.

DOWNLOAD

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

Have Questions or Need Personal Assistance?

Contact MCAA’s Frank Wall.

Connect With the Latest Training from Trimble and Reliance Worldwide Corporation at MCAA.org

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

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

Trimble
Watch our new training course on value engineering to see how the right mechanical estimating software can make value engineering quick and effective.

Learn More

Reliance Worldwide Corporation
The HoldRite training portal enables you to learn about our complete range of solutions, including secondary pipe supports, acoustic noise & vibration, firestopping systems, DWV testing, equipment supports & water heater accessories.

Learn More

Interested in More Training from Our Supplier Partners?

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

Learn More

Enhance Your Company’s Quality of Service with MCAA’s NEI Courses and Kevin Dougherty

MCAA’s National Education Initiative (NEI) Seminars bring our best programs to your local association or your company thanks to instructors like Kevin Dougherty, who uses his industry experience to provide tangible solutions to today’s problems in an easy-to-listen-to style.

Kevin has served as a foreman, journeyman, sales manager, project manager, operations manager, and corporate trainer for a multimillion-dollar mechanical contractor. He has also been a frequent speaker for MCAA, MSCA, the UA and other trade associations. Kevin’s ability to entertain audiences and hold their interest while getting his message across consistently makes him one of the industry’s top speaking and training talents.

He teaches those who attend the Service Training Series (STS) Seminars for Service about the fundamental principles of effective leadership and communication:

  • People Management
  • Sales and Marketing
  • Customer Service
  • Supervisory & People Management
  • Finances
  • Time Management
  • Communication
  • Cost and Pricing
  • Strategy
  • Planning

Like our other NEI instructors, Kevin brings his unique knowledge of the industry and teaching experience to his seminars. 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.

LEARN MORE ABOUT KEVIN’S CLASSES
NEI WEBSITE

Find the Latest from Morris Group International and NIBCO INC. in MCAA’s Virtual Trade Show

MCAA’s Virtual Trade Show connects our contractor members with the members of MCAA’s Manufacturer/Supplier Council.

Participating companies highlight and link to new products, product lines, services, solutions or web pages of particular interest. Here are just a few of the recent additions:

Morris Group International
Smith’s dielectric fittings protect your plumbing system from corrosion and eventual leakage with their steel-to-plastic design, which interrupts the continuity of electrical current. Learn more!

Learn More

NIBCO INC.
NIBCO INC. introduces additional configurations of its 585HP (High Performance) Bronze Ball Valves line. The original 585HP line was introduced earlier this year, representing a giant leap in innovation in the ball valve market. Designed for commercial and industrial applications, the lead-free 585HP ball valve line allows for easier installation, adjustability, and long service life.

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

Resource Highlight: MCAA’s Bring Your Own Device – Is It Right for Your Company?

Many employees are more comfortable using their own mobile devices on the job. MCAA’s Bring Your Own Device – Is It Right for Your Company? explores the advantages and disadvantages of a bring your own device (BYOD) policy to help mechanical contractors decide whether to adopt such a policy. It’s just one of MCAA’s educational resources that are free to MCAA members as a benefit of membership.

  • Topics covered include:
  • Potential advantages of a BYOD policy
  • Potential challenges for employers
  • Financial considerations to review before adopting a BYOD policy
  • Elements of a successful BYOD policy
  • A note about the legal implications of BYOD
DOWNLOAD

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

Have Questions or Need Personal Assistance?

Contact MCAA’s Frank Wall.

Jim Jacobsen, Jr. Is the MCA of Chicago’s New President

The MCA of Chicago elected Jim Jacobsen, Jr., of DePue Mechanical, Inc.as its president during the association’s June 16, 2022, annual meeting. Jim is taking over from past president Charlie Usher of Ideal Heating Company.

Jim has been an active participant and Board Member at the MCA of Chicago since 2013. He grew up in Marseilles, IL, and graduated from Ottawa Township High School in Ottawa, IL. After high school, he attended The University of Chicago. He is a proud United States Navy Veteran and has worked in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, The Pentagon (Washington, D.C.) in the United States Navy Command Center.

MSCA Autumn Class Schedule Announced

From sales to dispatch to service management and supervision, MSCA provides education to build your knowledge and skills to take your career to the next level and help your company succeed. Registration is now open for all classes. Class size is limited, so register today!

2022 MSCA Sales Basecamp

September 12 – 13, 2022 | Linthicum Heights, MD (near Baltimore)

MSCA’s Sales Basecamp is the starting block for your entry-level service sales personnel. This two-day program will transform your recent hires, providing them with relevant skills for time management and the confidence to sell HVACR services.

LEARN MORE

2022 MSCA Dispatchers Professional Development Training Program

September 26 – 27, 2022 | San Jose, CA

Service dispatchers are your company’s first point of contact with the client, and vital to the success of your business. MSCA’s Dispatchers Professional Development Training Program is designed to help new or experienced dispatchers advance their careers, improve satisfaction with their jobs, understand their vital role in the company, and significantly enhance their ability to contribute to their company’s success.

LEARN MORE

2022 MSCA Growing and Developing Service Supervisors

November 10 – 11, 2022 | Orlando, FL

New field supervisors often lack essential management and leadership training. MSCA’s Growing and Developing Service Supervisors fills that gap with the management and leadership training these team members need to confidently tackle today’s business challenges. This program will advance leadership, coaching, planning, time management, communication, and motivation skills, giving supervisors and their companies a competitive edge.

LEARN MORE

2022 MSCA Service Managers Training Program

November 14 – 17, 2022 | Orlando, FL

Your service managers are charged with managing your team of service technicians to provide quality service efficiently and effectively. MSCA’s Service Managers Training Program is designed to hone service managers’ management and leadership skills. This highly interactive, hands-on workshop addresses typical daily challenges that service managers confront. It will give them the fundamental financial and interpersonal knowledge and skills they need for managing all aspects of the service operation.

LEARN MORE

Have Questions or Need Personal Assistance?

Contact Teresa Pezzi.