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Celebrate MCAA’s 20 Years of Safety Excellence Each Month of 2023 With a Safety Resource Kit

To celebrate MCAA’s 20 Years of Safety Excellence, MCAA is offering monthly safety kits to benefit our contractors around the country and the mechanical industry workers they support. Each kit will include videos, webinars, trainings, and additional resources on each monthly topic.

July 2023: Heat Stress

Each year, thousands of workers suffer from heat illness while working in high temperatures, direct sun, and humid conditions; dozens even die. Many mechanical contractors spend part of their working day in hot environments, both indoors and outdoors. Workers performing physical labor are often exposed to hazardous heat conditions that can have severe safety and health outcomes. This month’s kit includes information and posters from MCAA, OSHA, CNA and Milwaukee Tool. We will also be partnering with Tyfoom on a free heat stress webinar on July 27th at 3:00 pm ET.

CNA Resources

Milwaukee Tool Resources

MCAA Toolbox Talks

Tyfoom Webinar

DOWNLOAD RESOURCE SUMMARY

Find the Latest from Morris Group International and Craftmark Pipe Markers 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
The ConTrolsÂŽ Hi-Low Master Mixing Valve mixes hot water from the heater with cold water to the right temperature for the distribution system. ConTrols is a member of Morris Group International.

Learn More

Craftmark Pipe Markers
CraftMark DuraMark Self-Stick Pipe Markers Durable indoor/outdoor pipe marking system meets ASME/ANSI A13.1 2020 Scheme for the Identification of Piping Systems. MCAA members receive a 30% discount and free shipping on all pipe markers!

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

A. O. Smith Water Heaters Provide Reliable Hot Water at Any Hour for Hotel Guests

A hospitality industry veteran opted for A.O. Smith for a dependable water heating solution for a new four-story Hampton Inn in Ashland City, TN. “Hampton Inns thrive on being local,” said hotel general manager Sammy Naquin, “so it made sense to turn to A. O. Smith, who is right here in Ashland City, for a solution.” Naquin worked closely with A. O. Smith, which specified two 750,000 Btu/hr CycloneÂŽ XL commercial gas water heaters, recommended for the hotel’s size and water heating demands.

LEARN MORE

Looking for More Smart Solutions?

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.

VISIT SMART SOLUTIONS

The Preparatory Institute for Project Management Online: Registration Now Open for the Last Class of 2023!

Registration is now open for the final Preparatory Institute for Project Management of the year. Classes will take place Mondays and alternate Wednesdays from August 21st to October 18th. Register your Assistant Project Managers, Project Engineers, new hires, or people transitioning to the office from the field or estimating today, before spaces fill up.

This online introductory course covers topics fundamental to successful project management that are applicable regardless of company size. Our team of contractor-instructors have a broad range of work experience and many of them have spent time in small and medium-sized family-owned businesses. Classes are live – never recorded – and student interaction is a critical component of the program.

The Pre-IPM will provide value whether a member contractor’s operation is small medium or large. From Planning & Time Management, to Scheduling and Close-Out, the lessons learned in Pre-IPM are applicable across the board. As our students have told us:

“The Pre-IPM course was a great course to take.  It did a fantastic job of covering common topics/issues that PMs face every day and gave many tools to manage these things as a beginning PM.”

“I love that it was a road map for what it means to be a PM, with a clear path to being successful. PM has always felt like the wild west, fake it till you make it. This class showed me there is a standard. I also am excited to be implementing many of the things I learned.”

Because attendance at all lectures is required for certification, all potential students should review the schedule of dates on the Pre-IPM webpage before enrolling to ensure they have no conflicting commitments. Registration takes place on a first-come, first-served basis – and classes fill quickly. Visit the Pre-IPM webpage to sign up your APMs, PEs, and new hires today!

LEARN MORE & REGISTER

Learn Essential Strategies for Keeping Your Workers Safe from Heat Illness in MCAA & Tyfoom’s Webinar

Heat Illness poses a serious concern for worker safety and health in the mechanical construction and service industries. Join MCAA and Tyfoom as we review strategies to keep workers safe against heat illness during a 30-minute webinar on Thursday, July 27, at 3:00 PM EDT. The webinar will emphasize the importance of awareness, best practices, and effective communication in ensuring worker safety. It will also address strategies for doing so, including planning awareness and training, best practices, and consistent communication into the daily work routine. Register today!

The webinar, which will be led by Tyfoom’s Jason Cuskelly and facilitated by MCAA’s Raffi Elchemmas, will provide attendees with an understanding of:

  • The urgency of implementing these strategies
  • The importance of planning to ensure employees are safe from heat illness
  • How intentional communication helps to educate employees about the risks associated with heat and best practices for staying safe
  • The role of microlearning techniques as an effective method for knowledge retention, enabling employees to stay informed and vigilant

By implementing these best practices, MCAA members can mitigate the risks of heat-illness, safeguard their workforces, and promote an overall culture of safety.

Register

Resource Highlight: MCAA’s Five S’s: The Road to Improvement

Seeking to improve shop productivity, Kinetics adopted the 5 S’s, a variation of lean thinking. By applying these actions, Kinetics’ employees were able to reduce wasted time, materials and information, thereby increasing their productivity. MCAA’s Five S’s: The Road to Improvement shares the process and the results the company was able to achieve. It’s just one of MCAA’s educational resources that are free to MCAA members as a benefit of membership.

The bulletin covers:

  • What the 5S’s are and how they work
  • Kinetics’ 5S’s implementation guidelines
  • The results
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.

The Preparatory Institute for Project Management Online: Registration Now Open for Classes Starting August 21st!

While the Pre-IPM is generally a ‘summer series’ course, thanks to the dedication of our incredible volunteer and professional instructors, MCAA is offering one more Preparatory Institute for Project Management this year. These Preparatory Institute for Project Management (PIPM) courses begin August 21st, 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!

This 12-session 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. Classes will take place Mondays and alternate Wednesdays from August 21st to October 18th. Because attendance at all lectures is required for certification, all potential students should review the schedule of dates on the Pre-IPM webpage before enrolling to ensure they have no conflicting commitments.

Registration takes place on a first-come, first-served basis – and classes 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!

LEARN MORE & REGISTER

2024 Safety & Health Conference: Call for Proposals – Submissions Are Due July 14th

Calling all Safety Professionals. Have you ever wanted to present at a national Safety & Health Conference?

Now is your chance to share your knowledge and expertise with hundreds of attendees from all over the country at the 2024 Safety & Health Conference in Tucson, AZ, January 16-18, 2024.

Submissions are due July 14th, 2023. Proposals must be submitted using the link below.

Please email raffi@mcaa.org for any questions about presenting.

SUBMIT PROPOSAL

Silicon Valley Mechanical Improves Productivity, Efficiency With PypeServer Enterprise Software

Silicon Valley Mechanical, a full-service mechanical contractor in San Jose, CA, rapidly improved productivity and increased efficiency by putting PypeServer software into place. Here, Jamie Garza, detail manager, and Dean Garza, piping shop general foreman at Silicon Valley Mechanical, describe how they achieved those gains.

LEARN MORE

Looking for More Smart Solutions?

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.

VISIT SMART SOLUTIONS

Resource Highlight: MCAA’s Business Transition Options for the Mechanical Contractor

One of the classic mistakes that owners of mechanical contracting firms often make when transferring ownership of their company is not fully exploring all their options. MCAA’s Business Transition Options for the Mechanical Contractor reviews the various options for transferring ownership of a company and showcases the advance planning and analysis needed for a successful transfer. It’s just one of MCAA’s educational resources that are free to MCAA members as a benefit of membership.

The bulletin covers:

  • How owner motives drive decisions
  • Understanding the tradeoffs necessary to meet the owner’s objectives
  • Transfer channels available
  • The valuation and liquidity issues associated with external vs. internal transfers
DOWNLOAD
WEBBOOK

In the related podcast, host Bob Lindbloom and co-host Rob Armistead discuss Exit Strategy Planning with Mario Vicari, business advisor to privately-held companies at Kreisher Miller. Play the podcast directly from the WebBook, or listen and subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or Google Play.

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 Morris Group International and Autodesk, 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
Meet the Maintenance Advantage® key tool from Murdock Mfg., a division of MGI. This all-in-one tool unlocks all the maintenance features on the Water Cooler and Bottle Filler with EZ Door™ filter.

Learn More

Autodesk, Inc.
Success in a changing market comes from your ability to adapt while doing more with less. With improved collaboration throughout the project lifecycle, savings in time and money, and new capabilities like precision prefabrication, BIM makes the difference between surviving and thriving. Learn how the integrated tools in the AEC Collection can help you achieve better business outcomes.

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

The Preparatory Institute for Project Management Online: One More 2023 Course Added – Registration Will Open at 12:00 pm EDT on June 28th!

While the Pre-IPM is generally a ‘summer series’ course, thanks to the dedication of our incredible volunteer and professional instructors, MCAA is offering one more Preparatory Institute for Project Management this year. Mark your calendars: registration will open at 12:00 pm EDT on Wednesday, June 28th for Pre-IPM Class 25.

This 12-session 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. Classes will take place Mondays and alternate Wednesdays from August 21st to October 18th. Because attendance at all lectures is required for certification, all potential students should review the schedule of dates on the Pre-IPM webpage before enrolling to ensure they have no conflicting commitments.

Registration takes place on a first-come, first-served basis – and classes 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!

LEARN MORE & REGISTER

MCAA President Robert Beck Rolls Out MCAA’s 2023-2024 Initiatives

MCAA President Robert Beck rolled out the association’s 2023-2024 initiatives in a series of conference calls with MCAA committee chairs, local association executives, and MCAA staff. MCAA has been working towards these goals already, and now we are going to show how it all ties together and is being supported by MCAA leadership.

The initiatives are:

Member Engagement – We are a member-driven organization. We are going to motivate more of you, our world-class members, to engage by getting involved with local and national committees and boards.

  • Energize committees & boards
  • Align staff, chairs and Local Association Execs
  • Recruit and motivate member participation
  • Formalize the mission, time commitment expectations, and term expectations for each committee

Resource Awareness – We will find more avenues to connect our member companies with our vast resources available to assist with every aspect of business. Our mission is to be a partner, and help our member companies to improve, reduce risk, and maximize profitability.

Industry Improvement – We must work together to find new and better ways to stay ahead of the curve by reinventing how we provide value and conduct business in an industry that no longer looks like it did yesterday – and that will undoubtedly look very different tomorrow.

Watch for changes as MCAA implements these initiatives. We look forward to your continued involvement.

Resource Highlight: MCAA’s Developing Improved Labor-Management Relations

Intense competition requires the parties to the collective bargaining process to jointly find a path to create wealth and build relationships that allow them to be more competitive in their markets. MCAA’s Developing Improved Labor-Management Relations provides a look back at past practices as well as a road map for improving your company’s relationship with labor. It’s just one of MCAA’s educational resources that are free to MCAA members as a benefit of membership.

The bulletin covers:

  • Inherited collective bargaining characteristics
  • An alternative to the traditional distributive negotiation model
  • Lessons learned from the past
  • Cornerstones for change
DOWNLOAD

For a full list of available Management Methods Bulletins, including several on the topic of purchasing, visit the Management Methods Bulletins page.

Have Questions or Need Personal Assistance?

Contact MCAA’s Frank Wall.

Ridge Tool Company Offers Tips for Selecting Ergonomic Tools to Minimize Strain, Increase Productivity

Not long ago, the impact of a tool on its user was not given much thought when it came to tool design. Today, thanks to advancements in technology and a better awareness of how repetitive use of a tool can contribute to injury, ergonomic tool design is becoming the norm. To help ensure you are making the best equipment investment for your team, here are basic ergonomic tool features to look for.

LEARN MORE

Looking for More Smart Solutions?

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.

VISIT SMART SOLUTIONS

Resource Highlight: MCAA’s Guidelines to Using Social Media in Your Business

Social media allows people to communicate with one another like never before, creating new opportunities for businesses to reach their target audiences. MCAA’s Guidelines to Using Social Media in Your Business offers advice and insight to help your business establish or benchmark social media and manage its social media presence. It’s just one of MCAA’s educational resources that are free to MCAA members as a benefit of membership.

The bulletin covers:

  • Social media platforms
  • What to do with social media
  • Engagement
  • How to make your business easy to find
  • Creating your social media team
  • Social media as an employment tool
  • Social media policies for employees
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 SLOAN and Delta Cooling Towers, 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:

SLOAN
As more businesses strive to reduce their environmental impact, they are partnering with companies that can provide carbon-neutral products. Sloan offers hundreds of products that are carbon neutral. Learn more about this certification.

Learn More
Delta Cooling Towers - TM Series

Delta Cooling Towers, Inc.
TM Series – capacity from 250 to 2000 cooling tons – Engineered plastic tower provides longer life – Low Maintenance – CTI Certified.

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

Find the Latest from Apollo Valves and Jonas Construction Software 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:

Apollo Valves
Apollo Valves manufactures the best valve and connection technologies in the Industry, providing customers with a Total Piping System. Our goal is to make it an easier and better buying experience by being the only organization to offer a complete line of flow control devices and piping systems solutions. We feature a full range of connections, including push, press, thread, groove, sweat, and crimp to fit your Commercial, Industrial, and Backflow Prevention needs.

Learn More

Jonas Construction Software
JONAS ENTERPRISE CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE – A fully integrated and automated construction management software solution for everyday 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

Join MSCA and ServiceTrade’s May 23rd Webinar on Adapting to the Skilled Labor Shortage

Tuesday, May 23, 2023 at 1:00 p.m. ET

The technician shortage is daunting. How can your business grow, let alone keep up with demand? You know that your technicians’ time is precious, however, many spend valuable hours each week performing work that could be done by other team members or eliminated altogether.

It’s time to optimize your mechanical business by unburdening technicians of work that can be done elsewhere. Industry expert Billy Marshall will share insights on three areas for improvement during this busy season: reducing the chaos of unpredictable demand work, empowering your office staff to take on more responsibility, and optimizing your technicians’ workflow.

You will learn to:

  • Minimize the demand work that causes chaos for you and your customers;
  • Unburden your technicians of optional work to increase their productivity and improve your bottom line; and
  • Improve customer satisfaction by focusing on tasks that directly impact service quality.

Whether you’re struggling to keep up with demand or looking to scale your business, this webinar will provide you with techniques you need to succeed.

REGISTER NOW

MCAA Partners with Tyfoom to Provide Safety Training Resources to Members

Springville, Utah — May 2, 2023 — Tyfoom, an engagement platform for employee communication and training, today announced a partnership with the Mechanical Contractors Association of America (MCAA), which will give MCAA members access to select MCAA-produced training and education material and products via Tyfoom’s video-based microlearning format.

MCAA materials will be made available as short bite-sized microlearning videos that are easy to digest and assist with knowledge transfer. With Tyfoom’s advanced training capabilities and MCAA’s safety training content, members have everything they need to stay competitive and keep their employees safe.

“We are thrilled to partner with MCAA ,” said Mark Nelson, CEO of Tyfoom. “This partnership will enable us to provide MCAA members with access to world-class training content, and we are excited to help support the industry by providing innovative tools for training and communication.”

“We are excited about this partnership and the opportunity to expand our reach and impact through Tyfoom’s platform,” said Raffi Elchemmas, Executive Director, Safety, Health, and Risk Management, MCAA. “We look forward to working closely with Tyfoom to provide our members with the tools and resources they need to succeed.”

MCAA members can take advantage of Tyfoom’s powerful training and communication platform that helps organizations deliver relevant communication and training in the flow of work and as an on-demand resource. With the platform, organizations can also create their own content to ensure standardization of their unique best practices.

MCAA safety training content will be rolled out throughout the second and third quarter of 2023. New users may sign up at www.tyfoom.com/signup.

About Tyfoom

Tyfoom is the #1 engagement platform for employee communication and training. They provide a simple and easy way to connect all employees with leaders everyday to improve culture, productivity and employee engagement. Tyfoom employs non-disruptive, science-based techniques and gamification to facilitate the transfer of knowledge and increase accountability. For more information visit: www.tyfoom.com.