Organization: MCAA

Ryan Hoggatt: MCAA’s MEP Innovator of the Year Is Leading Innovation in Construction

MCAA congratulates Ryan Hoggatt, UMC, Inc.’s Director of Manufacturing, on being our MEP Innovator of the Year. The award recognizes his outstanding contributions to the construction industry in the areas of efficiency, productivity, and innovation. His efforts have improved UMC, Inc.’s operations and encouraged others to adopt innovative practices.

Hoggatt plays a crucial role at UMC, Inc., overseeing areas such as corporate manufacturing, virtual construction, construction technology adoption, prefabrication, and modular construction. His work focuses on making processes more straightforward and efficient, cutting waste, and ensuring high standards of quality and safety.

Beyond his work at UMC, Inc., Hoggatt is known for sharing his insights on innovation with the wider construction community. This commitment to innovation was on display at the 2024 MEP Innovation Conference. During the Dear Software Vendor session, Hoggart and co-presenters Darren Young of UMC and Mark Lotspeich from Dynaletric, shared the contractor perspective on integrating new software tools with both contractors and industry developers.

Looking forward, Hoggatt advocates for collaboration, embracing change, and continuous improvement in the construction industry. His approach serves as an inspiration for future innovation, aiming to make the industry more sustainable and successful.

MCAA congratulates Hoggatt on the award and thanks him for sharing his knowledge with us.

Pre-IPM Registration Now Open for 2024 Classes Starting May 21st!

Registration for this year’s Pre-IPM classes is now open! These introductory-level project management programs begin the week of May 20th, and space is limited. If you have Assistant Project Managers, Project Engineers, new hires, or people transitioning to the office from the field or Estimating, this online course is for them!

MCAA’s newest project management program, the Preparatory Institute for Project Management, was developed by the same team that oversees the Institute for Project Management (IPM) and Advanced Institute for Project Management (AIPM). This course provides an introductory education on everything from planning to scheduling, from cost control to professionalism.

The 12-week online curriculum is intended for those with 0-3 years of experience and is designed to help flatten the learning curve for those new to the world of mechanical project management. In a series of 90-minute weekly classes, professional instructors and current mechanical contractors will explore topics essential to project management.

Registration takes place on a first-come, first-served basis – and classes tend to fill quickly. Visit the Pre-IPM webpage to learn what you need to do to prepare for registration. The Pre-IPM team looks forward to welcoming your participants to the program this spring!

LEARN MORE & REGISTER

MSCA Sales Basecamp Registration is Open – Register Now! 

May 20-21, 2024 | Phoenix, AZ

Sales Basecamp is where it begins for entry-level service sales personnel. In this competitive and uncertain business landscape, the rules of sales and customer engagement have changed. 

Please note: In addition to the in person class May 20-21, 2024, there will be a mandatory virtual session on Thursday, May 9, 2024, at 1pm ET. If you can attend the in person portion, but cannot make the virtual session time, please reach out to Teresa Pezzi for next steps: tpezzi@mcaa.org.

LEARN MORE & REGISTER

Connect With the Latest Training from Victaulic and Watts Water Technologies 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:

Victaulic
From one-hour seminars to full-day events, Victaulic University Continuing Education courses provide training on key industry concepts, including piping movement design, grooving and installation fundamentals, and gasket technology, as well as Victaulic HVAC and fire protection solutions. Request an instructor-led course or enroll in an online course today!

Learn More

Watts Water Technologies
Watts eLearning system provides access to a wide selection of products and solutions from our family of brands. Courses can be accessed anytime, anywhere; perfect for your busy schedule!

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

Learn How to Deliver an Outstanding Customer Experience from NEI Instructor Frank Favaro

MCAA’s National Education Initiative (NEI) Seminars bring our best programs to your local association or your company thanks to instructors like Frank Favaro, founder and President of ServeCentric Coaching in Cleveland, OH. Frank teaches sales employees where other companies drop the ball when it comes to customer interactions, relationships, and service and how to avoid those same mistakes.

Frank is the first certified CX (customer experience) Coach specializing in our industry. He is licensed and trained by the world’s customer service authority, The DiJulius Group and John DiJulius. He is also a master coach in the Go-Giver Methodology, licensed by Hall of Fame speaker and author Bob Burg to teach the 5 Laws of Stratospheric Success. 

Frank believes the best sales and marketing strategy is a great customer experience based on authentic relationships.

His coaching track record and his experience as one of the mechanical service industry’s top account executives make him a natural fit to teach the Customer Experience Seminars (CES). Designed for sales employees, these seminars focus on customer interactions, relationships, and service. Those who attend will learn where other companies drop the ball, and how to avoid those same mistakes.

Like our other NEI instructors, Frank brings his unique blend of industry and teaching experience to virtual courses, a relatively 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.*

LEARN MORE ABOUT FRANK’S CLASSES
NEI WEBSITE

*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.

Find the Latest from Morris Group International and SLOAN 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
Morris Group International’s Kwik Ship® Brand includes the Golden Triangle: three manufacturing plants replenish local stock weekly, ensuring many products are available for immediate shipment.

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SLOAN
Airports, schools, and eldercare facilities often need commercial restroom faucets that go beyond handwashing. Sloan’s NSF-61 certified faucets guarantee safe drinking water flows out of our most popular faucet designs.

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

CNA Shares Tips to Minimize Winter Driving Risks

Operating a vehicle in any weather condition involves a variety of risks. Winter weather requires extra care and attention to minimize risk to both companies and drivers. CNA, an MCAA member and longtime supporter of MCAA’s Safety Excellence Initiative, shares tips to minimize risk and keep everyone safe on the road.

The Winter Driving Guide prepares companies to manage driving operations based on the National Weather Service categories for winter weather risks.

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The Driver: Tips for Wintertime Driving teaches drivers to handle winter driving hazards to so they arrive safety at their destinations.

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MCAA thanks CNA for sharing these resources, and for their commitment to our members’ safety.

2024 MEP Innovation Conference Expanded Relationships & Skills

Over the last four years, the MEP Innovation Conference’s success and popularity have continued to skyrocket. The 2024 conference drew record-breaking attendance, with more than 725 participants in attendance. Together, MCAA, NECA (National Electrical Contractors Association), and SMACNA (the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors’ National Association) have grown this meeting into one of the premier construction events of the year.

Innovators and industry pioneers from all three associations expanded their comprehension, relationships and skills across all building trades during the January 29–31 gathering in Orlando, Florida. As it does each year, the conference helped registrants better understand new technologies and project trends as well as develop collaboration opportunities.

Attendee demographics are shifting. A live survey revealed that more than half of the attendees were either company executives or department heads. This is a shift from the conference origins when attendees were primarily working within BIM and VDC. 

“This year, I’ve noticed an increase in leadership representation at the conference,” remarked Chris Weaver, Director of Technology at Andy J. Egan. “This trend reflects both the growing recognition among executives of technology’s pivotal role in business success and the promotion of individuals spearheading technology implementation within their organizations.”

With over 50 educational sessions, all based upon contractor case studies, the conference provides a heavy dose of practical innovation. The breakout sessions proved to be the real work horse of the sessions. Over 70 speakers from the three trades shared their wins and losses when it comes to software, technology, processes, and hardware. 

Plans are already underway for the 2025 conference, to be held January 27-29 in Los Angeles, California. Watch for more information and resources as the date draws nearer.

Resource Highlight: MCAA’s Design-Assist

On a Design-Assist project, specialty contractors participate in a project’s design. They can provide input that maximizes system efficiencies, reduces costs, and potentially limits design errors or omissions. While the process has many benefits, it also presents risks that are not inherent in other forms of delivery. MCAA’s Design-Assist Management Methods bulletin offers tips for mitigating those risks. It’s just one of MCAA’s educational resources that are free to MCAA members as a benefit of membership.

The bulletin includes:

  • An introduction to design-assist
  • The role of a design-assist contractor
  • Why a design-assist project is potentially riskier than a design-bid-build (DBB) project
  • How design-assist affects the Spearin Doctrine
  • Takeaways from Coughlin
  • Risk management recommendations for contractors
  • Contract forms addressing design-assist obligations
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For a full list of available Management Methods Bulletins, visit the Management Methods Bulletins page.

Find all of MCAA’s educational resources in the Resource Center.

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

Sloan Joins Works with WELL Product Licensing Program as Inaugural Member

Sloan, an MCAA member, has joined the International WELL Building Institute’s (IWBI) Works with WELL offering. The move makes Sloan the only commercial restroom manufacturer in the program and one of only 40 early adopting companies. Works with WELL is a new product licensing program designed to help product manufacturers validate and showcase how their products align with WELL strategies based on IWBI licensing criteria.

Launched in 2014, the WELL Building Standard has helped guide the design of thousands of buildings around the world, giving them clear guidelines for creating spaces that keep people healthy and productive.

“It’s so important for a facility to understand how its products impact its tenants, yet it can be a challenge to understand which products to specify in order to achieve sustainability and WELL goals,” said Paul Sambanis, Sloan’s vice president of sustainability. “Sloan’s new partnership with the Works with WELL program will help facilities better understand the benefits they receive when specifying Sloan restroom products. We are proud to be the only commercial restroom manufacturer in this category.”

To achieve this verification, companies must submit their products for the Works with WELL trademark before undergoing a third-party document review to validate that their products meet the licensing criteria.

A wide range of Sloan products—from flushometers to soap dispensers and hand dryers—now feature the Works with WELL licensing mark and appear in the Works with WELL registry to enable customers to see which products help them meet their WELL and LEED goals.

Since 2014, the demand for WELL has impacted over 17 million people in 37,000 locations across 125 countries.

Visit Sloan’s WELL Building Standard Calculator to learn more about the value of WELL-eligible Sloan products, and check the Works with WELL Directory for more information on Sloan products with the WELL licensing mark.

For more information on Sloan’s Works with WELL partnership, visit Sloan’s website. Follow Sloan on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, X, and blog for additional updates.

2024 Membership Dues Packets Sent

On February 2, membership dues packets were emailed to the primary contact at each member company that pays its own dues. The email contains the 2024 dues reporting form and instructions, which may also be downloaded below. The 2024 dues rates for construction and service hours remain unchanged at $.09 per labor hour. The minimum dues assessment is based upon 12,000 hours ($1,080) per branch office, and the maximum assessment is 300,000 hours ($27,000) per branch office. The next dues increase will be January 1, 2025. At that time, dues will increase to $.10 per labor hour.

This years dues materials can also be downloaded here:

Instructions
2024 Dues Reporting Form

If you have any dues-related questions, please contact Jocelyn Jackson at jjackson@mcaa.org or 1-800-556-3653. 

Dues should be submitted monthly by the 15th of the following month until you reach the maximum of $27,000 in 2024.

MCAA24 – Where Education Meets Expectation

One highlight of the MCAA Annual Convention is always outstanding education seminars. MCAA24 is on point to continue the tradition of superior education for its members to create a well-rounded and memorable convention experience.

Esteemed MCAA Volunteer Leaders, Robert Bolton (MCAA Immediate Past President), Rick Gopffarth (MCAA President-Elect), Brian Helm (MCAA Past President) and Mark Rogers (MCAA Past President) will lead a Monday morning seminar Today’s Mechanical Industry: Navigating The Risks of the Mechanical and Service Contractor where they will discuss the daily surprises, controversies and obstacles that affect our industry.

Christopher Thornberg, Founder of Beacon Economics LLC, will facilitate The Economy Through Our Eyes. During this seminar Thornberg will touch on how economic trends shape the future and the nuances found between the construction industry and the broader economy.

If insurance is on your interest list, Michael McLin’s How to Convert Your Second Largest Overhead Item (Insurance) Into an Investment vs. a Sunk Cost is an absolute must to attend.

And these seminars are just the tip of the iceberg!

Education Seminars will be held Monday, March 18 from 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. and Wednesday, March 20 from 9:15 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Don’t forget to visit the convention website to view all educational offerings and map out your schedule.

CONVENTION WEBSITE

We can’t wait to see you in Orlando!

Journey into the Forefront of Welding at NCPWB24

April 21 – 23, 2024 | Scottsdale, Arizona

Get ready for an exhilarating journey into the forefront of welding technology! Join us at the NCPWB Technical Conference/Committee Meeting for a showcase of cutting-edge presentations that delve into the latest innovations and challenges in the welding industry. Register today!

Topics to be covered include:

Orbital Welding Technology for Med Gas: CSI’s breakthroughs in universal power supply and copper orbital welding machines take center stage. Uncover the struggles and triumphs as they overcome hurdles in temperatures, materials, and code requirements to bring this technology to the commercial market.

Adaptive Welding â€“ Case Study and Recent Advancements: Experience a first-of-a-kind welding system designed for spent nuclear fuel encapsulation. Witness the evolution of autonomous technology with minimal operator input, showcasing active path compensation, adaptive welding parameters, and the use of Artificial Intelligence for joint geometry characterization.

Advancements in Pipe Welding: Dive into Miller welding educational resources and the latest in pipe welding technologies. From RMD for root passes to Pulse for fill and cap passes, explore the innovations shaping the future of pipe welding.

Closing the Welder Gap – Education and Automation for Future Success: Addressing the critical shortage of welders, this presentation advocates for a paradigm shift. Embrace education and automation solutions, from Augmented Reality to Cobots and Additive Manufacturing, to secure the industry’s future.

High-Purity Tube Welding: Discover the intricacies of building piping systems that prevent contamination, navigating ASME piping codes, and the ASME BPE Standard. Learn about weld acceptance criteria ensuring the safety of drug products in pharmaceutical systems.

Advances and Challenges in Welding and Additive Manufacturing: Explore recent developments in welding, from pulsed GMAW to laser welding, and delve into the world of additive manufacturing. Uncover the challenges and opportunities presented by demographic trends, diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Welder and Welding Operator Qualification: Delve into the intricacies of qualification tests ensuring welders and operators are prepared for specific job sites. A comparative exploration of various qualification codes promises insights into industry best practices.

Selecting, Adopting, and Submitting NCPWB WPSs: Navigate the extensive world of welding procedure specifications with NCPWB. Gain valuable insights into selecting, adopting, and submitting WPSs and BPSs, ensuring compliance with industry standards.

The committee meeting portion of the event will cover topics such as policy and procedures regarding the joint UA/NCPWB welder certification program and address chapter inquiries. In addition to the annual event, a one-day chapter operations seminar will educate chapter administrators about the policies and procedures associated with maintaining welder qualification records.

Don’t miss the chance to be at the forefront of welding innovation! Join us at the conference for these  groundbreaking presentations and the information you need to stay on top of other welding issues.

Learn More & Register

Resource Highlight: MCAA’s Effects of Job Schedule Delays on Construction Costs

A study of mechanical and electrical projects conducted by MCAA and NECA showed that significant delays in construction and distortions in planned schedules cannot be anticipated in bids. When they occur, they have a devastating effect on construction costs, particularly labor. MCAA’s Effects of Job Schedule Delays on Construction Costs highlights the results of the study to help contractors understand the implications of project and schedule delay. It’s just one of MCAA’s educational resources that are free to MCAA members as a benefit of membership.

The bulletin explores:

  • The nature of disruptions
  • Causes and effects of delays
  • Anticipating delays in bids
  • Recovering overhead
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You may also be interested in MCAA’s Change Orders, Productivity, Overtime—A Primer for the Construction Industry, which provides extensive information on change orders, claim submission, time impact analysis, and concurrent delay, among other topics.

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.

CEA National Issues Conference Will Focus on Key Regulatory & Legislative Issues

The Construction Employers of America (CEA) invites you to participate in the 2024 National Issues Conference, which will take place May 6–8, 2024, at the Royal Sonesta Washington, DC Capitol Hill. This event will focus on key regulatory and legislative issues affecting the union construction industry today. As with previous in-person conferences, the CEA will host both regulators and representatives from Congress for their expertise and insights on a variety of topics. Don’t miss this opportunity to get the latest information that impacts your business from the nation’s capital! Early-bird registration is now available!

MCAA’s NEW Accident Investigation Video Offers Safety Training to Supervisors

An accident on a jobsite is everyone’s worst nightmare, but most accidents are preventable. MCAA’s new video helps supervisors conduct an accident investigation, so it doesn’t happen again. The video reviews the three steps of an accident investigation: Investigate, Find the Cause, and Act. It also teaches supervisors what to look for during the investigation and how to access accident investigation templates.

An accident investigation is one of the most important things a company can do because it:

  1. Helps prevent a similar repeat accident.
  2. Shows workers that the company is committed to safety.
  3. Saves money!

The video is available in both English and Spanish.

MCAA will continue to add Spanish-language safety resources throughout 2024 to help ensure the safety of all our industry’s workers.

For additional safety and health videos and a list of all 700+ mechanical industry safety & health resources available from MCAA, click here.

If you have questions, please contact Raffi Elchemmas, MCAA’s Executive Director of Safety, Health, and Risk Management

Connect With the Latest Training from Parker Hannifin and The Harris Products Group 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:

Parker Hannifin
Learn how ZoomLock MAX press technology for HVAC will improve your efficiency, adding to your bottom line. ZoomLock MAX fittings delivers secure, braze-free connections in a few simple steps while providing a safer environment for your team.

Learn More

The Harris Products Group
Harris Products Group, maker of brazing and soldering equipment and consumables, provides NATE training on the basics of brazing, base and filler metals and fluxes, and torch safety. Includes brazing demonstrations and hands-on practice.

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 Aalberts IPS – Apollo Valves and Morris Group International 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:

Aalberts IPS – Apollo Valves
Aalberts integrated piping systems is where technology matters and progress happens. Connect with us at 704.841.6000 or visit our website at aalberts-ips.us to view our fitting and valve technology.

Learn More

Morris Group International
The Smith Zip-TrenchÂŽ Polypropylene Trench Drain offers a less expensive, labor-saving alternative to a cast-in-place trench drain. Jay R. Smith Mfg. Co is a member of Morris Group International.

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