Organization: MCAA

Build Your Service Company’s Relationships & Success With Skills from NEI Instructor Nancy Bandy

MCAA’s National Education Initiative (NEI) Seminars bring our best programs to your local association or your company thanks to instructors like Nancy Bandy, Managing Director of TRAINSITIONS Consulting Group LLC. Nancy provides service contractors and employees with the skills they need to build on the company’s relationships and success.

Nancy draws on many years of experience in training and management consulting to develop and deliver highly effective custom training programs using proven experiential learning methods.

She is well known among MSCA members and has been responsible for developing and delivering many of the MSCA courses, webinars, and other resources highly popular with MSCA members. Prior to starting her own company, Nancy’s previous experience included executive positions with Coldwell Banker, Koll Real Estate Services, CB Richard Ellis and Strategic HR Services.

She offers four NEI seminar series designed specifically for service.

The Sales Development Series (SDS) Seminars for Service series is designed for your service sales team to excel by successfully prospecting, building presentation skills and fostering strong relationships with the customer.

Employee Development Series (EDS) Seminars for Service are geared towards all team members as they focus on developing and building the skills necessary to perform their best in and out of the office.

The Management Development Series (MDS) Seminars for Service are designed for managers to hone their coaching skills through positive feedback, motivation and recognition. The seminars teach how to build accountable teams and manage the dynamic of change. Fostering the idea of team success is key.

The Customer Service Series (CSS) Seminars for Service are designed for service professionals to enhance their service skills and create a culture of service starting at the top, with emphasis on customer loyalty and managing their most valuable assets.

Like our other NEI instructors, Nancy brings her unique blend of industry and teaching experience to virtual courses, a 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 Nancy’s Classes

Sales Development Series (SDS) Seminars for Service

Employee Development Series (EDS) Seminars for Service

Management Development Series (MDS) Seminars for Service

Customer Service Series (CSS) Seminars for Service

*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.

ASSC Rapidly Improves Efficiency, Customer Experience With ServiceTrade Software

When Sacramento-based Air Systems Service & Construction (ASSC) began shopping for new software, their main priority was improving customer experience. Within eight months of adopting ServiceTrade’s commercial service software in 2021, ASSC was already seeing significant improvements in customer communication and increasing efficiency.

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

Find the Latest from SLOAN and Penta Technologies, LLC 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
Sloan products and expertise is helping make sports and entertainment venue restrooms more hygienic, more water-efficient, and easier to maintain. Learn how these facilities achieved these results.

Penta Technologies, LLC
From maintenance contracts to mobile field data collection, PENTA empowers contractors with the information they need to optimize service operations from the field to the office. Save time and increase efficiency, with PENTA.

Need Something Else?

Find many more smart solutions in MCAA’s 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!

Resource Highlight: MCAA’s Articulating Weld Boom

Faced with limited space in a new fabrication shop, Shinn Mechanical workers designed an articulating weld boom. MCAA’s Articulating Weld Boom provides details about this innovative device that lets fabricators perform any type of welding, including TIG, without any cords or hoses on the floor. 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 articulating weld boom is and how it was built
  • Benefits of the boom, including improved safety, ergonomics, and air quality

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 CNA and Morris Group International 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:

CNA
CNA’s Driver Selection Guide – Mitigate risk and enhance safety with a well-designed process.

Morris Group International
Wash Your Hands One More Time outlines proper handwashing techniques for healthcare and food preparation; explains sanitation problems with sinks; and describes how to select appropriate sinks.

Interested in More Training from Our Supplier Partners?

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

Deliver Less Problem Prone Projects with Practices & Procedures from NEI Instructor Kathryn Crosby

MCAA’s National Education Initiative (NEI) Seminars bring our best programs to your local association or your company thanks to instructors like Kathryn Crosby, owner and founder of C2 Consulting, Inc. Kathryn gives field and office leadership teams the good operational practices and solid procedures they need to deliver less problem prone projects, reduce duplication of effort, and allow your company to measure tangible results.

Kathryn has more than 30 years of industry experience, including time as the Vice President and CFO for a mechanical contractor. A past member of the MCAA Board of Directors, Kathryn now focuses on education and training. She serves on the faculty of MCAA’s  Institute for Project Management (IPM), the Construction Education Institute, and the UA’s Instructor Training Program.

Her Job & Company Operations (JCO) Seminars give field and office leadership teams the good operational practices and solid procedures they need to deliver less problem prone projects, reduce duplication of effort, and allow your company to measure tangible results.

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

*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 Raken 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 Controls® Omega® Thermostatic Tempering Valve is ideal for both hot water distribution and point-of-use applications. It can exceed temperature control accuracy requirements of ASSE 1070 and 1017.

Raken
Crews in the field can record quantities of materials with cost codes from any mobile device. They can also add photos and notes to track progress in the field while the office sees the data in real-time.

Need Something Else?

Find many more smart solutions in MCAA’s 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!

The Benefits of Nontraditional DWV Testing – RWC’s TestRite System Offers Faster, Safer Option

For decades, plumbing contractors have used inflatable or plumbing test balls to perform drain, waste, and vent (DWV) testing for new pipe installations, as required by plumbing code. But those traditional DWV testing systems often slow the plumber’s job down and can put them at risk of physical harm. In today’s world of labor shortages, plumbers and contractors need the best technologies available to get the job done efficiently and safely.

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 Records Retention

Retention of company records is critical for many reasons, especially the potential for litigation involving a construction project. MCAA’s Records Retention provides guidelines for establishing or refining a company’s records retention policy. It’s just one of MCAA’s educational resources that are free to MCAA members as a benefit of membership.

The bulletin covers:

  • Records retention policies
  • Records retention/destruction schedules
  • Records storage
  • Litigation

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.

F+F Mechanical Enterprises Named a Top Workplace

F+F Mechanical Enterprises, an MCAA member, has been recognized as one of Connecticut’s Top Workplaces by the Hearst Connecticut Media Group. This is the company’s first year on the list, which includes 59 employers in a variety of sectors. Recognition is based on employee feedback. The survey results determine whether an organization makes the list and where it ranks on the list. “We are honored to receive this recognition and want to thank all our employees for their continued support and dedication to our mission of customer satisfaction,” said John Ferrucci, LEED AP, the company’s Vice President and MCAA board member. MCAA congratulates the entire F+F team.

Find the Latest from MSUITE and QuoteSoft by ConstructConnect 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:

FabPro - MCAA Virtual Trade Show

MSUITE
Track. Manage. Share. FabPro is the fabrication industry’s first cloud-based software created by mechanical contractors and proven to meet the needs of the fast-paced, ever-changing construction environment.

QuoteSoft by ConstructConnect
QuoteSoft BIM and Estimating Solutions – Increase Takeoff speed and bottom line with cost and labor estimating software for mechanical and HVAC contractors. Call for web demo today!

Need Something Else?

Find many more smart solutions in MCAA’s 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!

Withum’s Business and Finance Symposium Offers Education to Help You Future-Proof Your Business

National accounting firm Withum’s thought leaders will explore relevant topics to help your business stay agile and dynamic in the fast-changing business world during Withum’s Business and Finance Symposium: Future-Proofing your Business in an Era of Unknowns (November 9 and 16, 2022, from 1:00 – 5:00 PM ET). The online program will cover trending Tax and A&A concepts and discuss cryptocurrency, supply chain, transaction readiness, navigating turnover, and more.

Har-Con Saves Time and Materials With MIFAB’s Quick Hub Couplings

Since the beginning of 2022, Har-Con has played a crucial part in a school expansion project, using MIFAB’s Quick Hub couplings and fixture carriers to stay on track. “The quick coupling is a great product that has saved Har-Con time and money through material cost and labor savings,” said Travis Welch, Har-Con project estimator.

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

Prepare for the Certified Safety Professional Exam with MCAA 2023 Safety Conference Add-On Courses Sponsored by ClickSafety

January 17-19, 2023 | San Diego, California

MCAA is celebrating 20 years of safety excellence with our 20th anniversary safety conference, January 17-19, 2023, in San Diego, CA. New this year, an extended learning (add-on) course will prepare safety professionals for the Board of Certified Safety Professionals’ Certified Safety Professional (CSP) exam. The course, which is limited to 20 students, is sponsored by MCAA’s newest Manufacturer/Supplier Council member, ClickSafety.

Led by SPAN, the course will review hundreds of problems addressing the complete examination blueprint in a question-and-answer format complete with fully developed explanations. It targets the principles and theories required to pass the examination. There is an additional fee to attend the course.

The conference itself will offer over 50 hours of safety training and education, including keynote speeches on safety leadership, mental health, and safety management. Conference registration is open to our partners, the members of the United Association, NECA, SMACNA, and TAUC.

Have questions or need assistance? Contact us at eventregistration@mcaa.org or 301-869-5800.

Connect With the Latest Training from SLOAN and Morris Group International 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:

SLOAN
There are a number of power supply options available to run Sloan touch-free sensor faucets. Explore the options to find the right choice for your facility.

Morris Group International
Advances in Plumbing Design for Healthcare addresses problems healthcare facilities face in construction/renovation with ligature-resistant, infection prevention, and bariatric products.

Interested in More Training from Our Supplier Partners?

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

Learn How to Build a Successful Service Company from NEI Instructor Woody Woodall

MCAA’s National Education Initiative (NEI) Seminars bring our best programs to your local association or your company thanks to instructors like Woody Woodall, the managing principal of Customer Focused Solutions, Inc. Woody focuses on the building blocks of what makes a healthy and successful service company, with an emphasis on customer service, team-building and effective communication.

Woody has had a long and distinguished career in the mechanical contracting industry, where he has seen and experienced the cutting edge processes that truly can make service groups the best in class in their areas.

He started as a Steamfitter with Local 602 in the Washington, D.C. area. After completing his apprenticeship, he went on to become an Instructor for the Union Apprentice Program in Washington, D.C.

Through his passion for teaching, he has since become an integral part of the education offerings of the Mechanical Service Contractors Association (MSCA). He was instrumental in helping develop many of their educational offerings, including the HVAC 101 program and the Sales Institute.

Woody has received many accolades throughout his career including Certified Instructor through the United Association and the D.S. O’Brien Award of Excellence for outstanding contributions to the industry.

His Fundamentals of Service Series (FOS) Seminars focus on the building blocks of what makes a healthy and successful service company, with an emphasis on customer service, team-building and effective communication.

Like our other NEI instructors, Woody brings his unique blend of industry and teaching experience to virtual courses, a new NEI offering. Providing top notch, accessible education for everyone in your organization is what the MCAA’s NEI is all about! Even during the COVID-19 era. 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.

Find the Latest from Morris Group International and Trimble 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
Each and every Controls Command Station® system is factory-assembled and welded to a mounting frame for easy installation—and labor savings—at the job site.

Trimble
The Trimble Ri robotic total station is easy to operate with extended layout capabilities and provides longer laser range, focusable EDM, eye-safe laser pointer and improved target tracking.

Need Something Else?

Find many more smart solutions in MCAA’s 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!

The MSCA 2022 Benchmark Survey is Done… and the Results are in!

MSCA conducted a 2022 comprehensive benchmark survey to obtain current data on key performance indicators (KPIs) in the HVACR and plumbing service industry. The results were very insightful and sure to be beneficial to all MSCA members. The full report is now available, results are presented in two formats, one is overall results and the second is broken down by company size which can provide specific insight relevant to your company. In addition, the findings have been summarized below. 

Features of BEST in CLASS Contractors:  

  • Provide primarily air conditioning, heating, plumbing & controls services 
  • Focused on growing their service agreement base 
  • 75% have a separate P/L for service and construction 
  • Have dedicated service agreement sales personnel 
  • Bill service agreements in advance 
  • “Auto Increase” service agreements at renewal (1-3% most common) 
  • Service Agreement (PM) retention rate of 93% or greater 
  • Bill quickly – Average is 4–8 days (upon completion of work) 
  • 77% of contractors average $250,000 or more revenue per service vehicle 
  • Allow service technicians to quote work in the field (average limit is approximately $6,000) 
  • Hire salespeople from the field 
  • Annual scheduled preventative maintenance hours per service technician between 300 and 800 
  • Have an average ratio of 2 to 3 field techs to one office staff 
  • Total non-billable technician time between 5-10% annually 
  • Truck inventory tracked using a software system 
  • Replace service vans based on mileage (150K – 200K most common) 
  • 85% have deployed a mobile field solution 

AH-HA Revelations from the 2022 MSCA Benchmark Survey: 

  • 15% of companies have not deployed a mobile solution 
  • 40% of contractors do not have automatic renewal of PMs 
  • 11% of companies auto-renewing at an increase of 1% – 2%  and 50% of companies are auto-renewing at 3% –  are they keeping up with costs? 
  • 31% of companies missing out on a cash flow opportunity by not advance billing their service contracts 
  • 19% of companies do not track truck inventory 
  • 23% of contractors do not have a separate P/L for service – how do they know how they are performing? 
  • Sole proprietorships decreased 7% from 2019 
  • Since 2019, 13% increase in those companies offering plumbing service 
  • Since 2019, 10% decrease in those performing refrigeration work and 2% decrease in residential work 
  • 96% of contractors have less than 16% non-billable time 
  • Contractors replacing vans less frequently than in 2019– 65% replace every five years or less, was 72% in 2019 – makes sense with supply chain shortages on vehicles 
  • 10% decrease of service techs quoting in the field from 2019 – losing out on a possible retention tool 
  • 10% increase of companies employing CRM from 2019 
  • 68% of companies still tracking tools manually or not at all 
  • 55% of contractors do not have a sales training program 
  • 16% of companies take more than 15 days to bill once job complete 
  • 68% of companies do not employ dedicated maintenance sales personnel 
  • 48% of companies outsource fleet management and maintenance 
  • 86% of companies are not using cameras (internal and external) on their vehicles 
  • 84% of companies are not considering Electric Vehicles 

Below, you can view and download the 2022 Benchmark Survey results, as well as compare results to the 2019 Benchmark Survey. 

W.E. Bowers Cuts the Cost of Cutting Pipe with PypeServer

Mark Caudle, shop foreman of W.E. Bowers, estimated saving at least $35,000 per year and 20–­30 hours of labor per week by taking full advantage of the PypeServer software that came with one of its CNC pipe profilers. W.E. Bowers, a mechanical construction, service, and repair firm serving Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC, operates a 42,000-square-foot steel shop with six overhead cranes, CNC pipe profilers from both Watts and Vernon (each running PypeServer Enterprise), and 11 pipe turners and automated welding stations, each with a certified welder and a shared fitter.

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

MEP Innovation Conference Offers Industry’s Scarcest Resource – New Ideas

Event Dates: January 11 – January 13, 2023 | Austin, TX

It is said that imitation is the best form of flattery. In construction, imitation is the best form of profitability. Learning how innovative contractors have applied new technologies, processes and concepts is not only the first step in improving your company, but also an essential time and frustration saver.

The MEP Innovation Conference was developed to find and highlight the newest ideas, then present them to contractors using real life examples. The content is developed by MEP contractors and delivered by MEP contractors. “Case studies that can showcase how contractors are using a new product, software or technology help me out more than just about anything else,” said Travis Voss, Leader of Innovative Technology at Helm Group. “I immediately know it’s not empty promises by salespeople or vaporware because someone like me has used it effectively.”

The 2023 conference will take place January 11 – January 13, 2023 in Austin, TX. It combines three days of presentations, roundtables, tours and exhibits, all built on the same theme – sharing relevant ideas. Solutions for VDC, fabrication, project management, estimating, lean and integration will be featured in over 30 sessions. Registration is limited and open to MCAA, NECA, and SMACNA members as well as labor representatives from their corresponding Unions. 

Event Contact
Have questions or need assistance? Contact us at eventregistration@mcaa.org or 301-869-5800.

Thank you to our conference sponsors: