Organization: MSCA

OSHA Launches National Emphasis Program to Protect High Risk Workers from COVID-19

The new administration’s January 21, 2021 Executive Order, Protecting Worker Safety and Health, requires OSHA to evaluate it’s COVID-19 enforcement actions and make improvements where necessary. In response, OSHA has launched a national emphasis program focusing enforcement efforts on companies that put the largest number of workers at serious risk of contracting the coronavirus. The program also prioritizes employers that retaliate against workers for complaints about unsafe or unhealthy conditions, or for exercising other rights protected by federal law.

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Resource Highlight: MCAA’s Excavation Safety for Mechanical Construction Safety Training Video

Each week, MCAA will highlight one or more of the educational resources that are free to MCAA members as a benefit of membership. This week, we focus on MCAA’s Excavation Safety Training Video, which teaches workers to use protective systems and safe work practices to ensure their work in excavations will be as safe as any other part of the job.

Workers will learn:

How soil types govern protective system safety requirements
How weather conditions can change soil types
When it’s safe to enter an excavation
Why atmospheric monitoring is so important
When protective systems are needed
The importance of effective access and egress
What to do if they see anything that could be hazardous
What to do in case of an excavation cave-in

Download or play the video

There’s More…

Excavation cave-ins happen so quickly there is literally no time to react, so MCAA offers accompanying materials to assist members in highlighting key training points, documenting worker training and confirming that workers understand the training concepts:

Want Even More Safety Resources?

MCAA has you covered, with a full range of resources to help you protect your workers from injury and comply with applicable safety regulations. Here’s where to find them:

On our Direct Links to MCAA & MSCA Safety Resources page, where they’re listed by category with links.

Go there now

In the Resource Center, where you can use the blue Refine Your Search bar to pinpoint exactly what you’re looking for.

Visit the Resource Center

Have Questions or Need Personal Assistance?

Contact MCAA’s Pete Chaney.

Want to Know What to Expect from OSHA in the New Administration? Don’t Miss Our April 7 Webinar with Adele Abrams!

Wednesday, April 7, 2021 | 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. EDT

Prepare for OSHA’s coming regulatory and enforcement agendas by participating in this 60-minute webinar for mechanical construction and service companies. Our presenter is nationally recognized safety and health expert and attorney Adele Abrams. She is a frequent presenter for MCAA with expertise in legal, occupational safety/health issues, employment law, and mine safety. Adele is also co-author of several books related to occupational safety and health, construction, employment law, and mining. Join us Wednesday, April 7, 2021 from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. EDT. Register now!

What to Expect from OSHA in the New Administration? Webinar

Highlighting 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 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! 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.

Withum COVID-19 Bill Update – 3/9/21

National accounting firm Withum shares some recent developments from the IRS with respect to the ERC and one PPP development.

IRS Issues Notice 2021-20:

On the evening of March 1, the IRS released 102 pages worth of guidance surrounding the 2020 ERC program. While much of the notice was regurgitating the FAQs already on its website, they did provide some notable clarifications:

Self-employed individuals are not entitled to ERC with respect to their own wages, but can claim the credit for their employees’ wages.
Entities subject to aggregation are treated as one employer to determine the following: (i) full or partial shutdown rule, (ii) gross receipts test, (iii) 2019 FTE calculation, and (iv) determining maximum credit per employee.
Rules surrounding full or partial suspension of activities were greatly expanded, installing a definition of ‘nominal’ for businesses who have part of their business shut down while others are able to continue to operate. These rules are fairly facts and circumstances based, so we recommend you reach out to your advisor to discuss on a more detailed level.
Interplay of PPP is discussed with 7 examples provided – in general, the notice reaffirms the flexibility of wages to be allocated in advantageous manner between programs. It further clarifies that borrowers who have already submitted their loan forgiveness application can re-allocate wages to the ERC, provided those wages were not needed to obtain forgiveness within the context of the PPP forgiveness application was filed – any excess wages can be re-allocated as necessary.
IRS confirmed that when claiming the 2020 credit, separate 941-Xs should be filed for each quarter.

Taxation of the ERC:

We have received many questions around this, so we thought it appropriate to include a point of emphasis. Unfortunately, the ERC carries with it a disallowance of otherwise deductible costs in the amount of the credit. Because the amount of the credit will reduce otherwise deductible expenses, this means that taxable income for recipients will increase. Generally, this taxable income increase would occur in the year to which the credit relates. This is an important note, as companies applying now for the 2020 credit will have to adjust their 2020 taxable income and 2020 tax returns. This treatment seems particularly inequitable, especially because the actual credit amount for borrowers not receiving the amounts is not likely to be received until well after the tax deadline. We are working on a more detailed discussion of this issue, which will be posted in our resource center in short order.

Federal Reserve Board Extends PPP Facility to June 30, 2021:

We also have one piece of news regarding the PPP to share. The Federal Reserve Board announced yesterday that it will extend the expiration date of the PPP servicing from March 31, 2021 to June 30, 2021. It is unclear whether this will also be followed by Congress and/or the SBA. The deadline of March 31, 2021 was set by the CAA, which would need to be updated in order to allow applications to be approved after March 31, 2021. If extended to June 30, 2021, this would provide businesses, including those with more than 20 employees who have not been able to apply for the PPP over the last two weeks, some comfort that they will not be up against a March 31 deadline to be approved. In theory, an extension also would provide the ability of a borrower who received PPP1 funding during 2021 to use the funds within the rules of the program and then apply for PPP2 funding prior to the cutoff date of June 30, 2021.

These last two weeks have been busy from the IRS and SBA – with Congress in the final phases of stimulus package negotiations, we are sure to have further updates for you in the coming week. As always, we welcome you to follow along our Stimulus Package Headquarters resource center, where we will continue to publish information as notable guidance becomes available. If you have questions on the above information, please reach out to your Withum advisor.

Robin Cowper Becomes First Woman JATC Chair

Ed Kommers, Executive Director of the MCA of Western Washington (MCAWW) announced that MCAWW Associate Director Robin Cowper was elected Chair of the local union-management apprenticeship (JATC) committee. She is the first woman chair and the first association executive to hold that position locally.

The apprenticeship committee is one of the most critical, important, and visible labor-management entities in our industry.

Robin’s election is also significant in that it was suggested by the employer members on the committee and fully supported by the local union business manager.

In addition to serving on the committee for a number of years, Robin has shown her dedication to apprenticeship by teaching soft skills classes to apprentices, participating in interviews, and conducting “mock interviews.”

Ed Kommers said, “Our ever-increasing number of female apprentices will see an apprenticeship committee that reflects the demographics of the 500 apprentices in the program. Robin will do well on the committee and Good Luck to her!”

MCAA’s Innovative Technologies Initiative Upgrades the Tech Conference to the 2021 MEP Innovation Conference – Join Us April 26-28!

One of the hardest challenges with technology is looking to improve on something that is already working and effective. Since 2016, MCAA has been producing a successful Technology Conference that focuses on sharing new ideas, processes and solutions with its members. But just because it was the leading technology conference in the industry doesn’t mean it can’t be improved.

The MCAA 2021 MEP Innovation Conference looks to build on its previous success by inviting more union affiliated sub-contractors to participate. The conference has been rebuilt to include content for mechanical, plumbing, service, electrical and sheet metal contractors. MCAA has partnered with NECA and SMACNA to provide trade-specific content for electrical and sheet metal trades, as well as extended MCAA member pricing to their membership.

“We perform work for multiple trades like many other MCAA members, so hearing about the latest tools and processes on sheet metal is just as valuable to us as are topics on mechanical.” Stacy Zerr, Director of Pre-Construction at Waldinger noted. “In addition, most of the content in our technology education is going to be directly relevant to any MEP contractor participating. Having electricians and sheet metal participants in roundtables and breakouts just makes the discussions more valuable because we are getting better perspective and making connections.”

The three-day conference has been moved from its typical January dates to April 26-28 in order to accommodate its transition to virtual. While there are challenges in moving this conference to a virtual structure, the format has some distinct advantages for the Innovation Conference when paired with corporate pricing. Individuals can attend for $200 a person, or up to 10 people from the same company can attend for a $400 corporate registration. This creates an opportunity for a wider range of attendees based on job type than might normally attend an in-person conference.

“It’s hard to replace an in-person meeting but being able to deliver technology training beyond BIM and VDC allows for us to reach more job types like project managers, estimators and even safety personnel, who might not normally attend this conference,” Sean McGuire, MCAA’s Director of Innovative Technologies noted. “For companies looking to utilize a corporate registration, now you might assign a safety director to a few classes or an estimator and we have the space to provide a breakout session on it.”

This thinking extends to sessions that are specific to sheet metal, electrical, service and plumbing. A wider range of courses are available this year on topics that might be relatively narrow. The common thread to all of these is that every breakout and roundtable is being driven by contractor case studies. This peer-to-peer instruction provides directly relevant experience and guidance in each session.

To learn more and register, visit the MCAA 2021 MEP Innovation Conference Website. The conference is only open to MCAA, NECA, SMACNA members and their union partners.

MCAA MEMBER REGISTRATION

NECA and SMACNA REGISTRATION

For more information or questions, please contact Sean McGuire.

2021 MEP Innovation Conference

To learn, visit the MCAA 2021 MEP Innovation Conference Website. The conference is only open to MCAA, NECA, SMACNA members and their union partners.

MCAA Welcomes Jon Howland, Marketing Director for DEWALT Industrial Tool Company in Sponsor Spotlight 15

In the fifteenth episode of MCAA’s Sponsor Spotlight series, MCAA CEO, Tim Brink welcomes Jon Howland, Marketing Director, Stanley Black & Decker, Inc. The Sponsor Spotlight Series is a new way for MCAA contractor members to learn more about the Manufacturer/Supplier Council (M/SC) Governing Board members, their products, their relationship with MCAA, and what being a member means to them.

An innovative and highly-effective strategist with a track record of delivering multimillion-dollar sales increases through the implementation of astute marketing initiatives focused on the Commercial and Industrial End User, Jon Howland serves as a Marketing Director for the Industrial and Commercial Division of the North America Commercial Team within Stanley Black & Decker’s Global Tools & Storage Division. A twenty-six-year veteran of Stanley Black & Decker, in his current role, Jon’s main charge is developing and executing a relevant approach for the division’s commercial and digital implementation of its Total Trade Solutions offering through their Enterprise Solutions Teams by working closely with Trade Organizations, Associations, and Companies articulating the Corporation’s Innovation, Safety, Productivity, and Profitability message. Jon is a veteran of the United States Navy; chairman of Stanley Black & Decker’s Global Tools & Storage Veterans Network Employee Resource Group; Member of the National Board of Directors of the ToolBank USA; and representative on the MCAA Manufacturer/Supplier Council. He and his wife, Erin, reside in Towson, MD with their twins, Mac & Livi.

The bold portfolio of Stanley Black & Decker’s brands, products, and services, inclusive of their Total Trade Solutions, is anchored by Dewalt, Dewalt Anchors & Fasteners, Lenox Tools, and Proto Industrial Tools from which Howland drives End User acquisition and fidelity.

MCAA Sponsor Spotlight 20: Greg Lowman, Baltimore Aircoil Company

In the twentieth episode of MCAA’s Sponsor Spotlight series, Robert Beck, MCAA’s Senior Vice President/Treasurer welcomes Greg Lowman, Vice President and Managing Director, North America for Baltimore Aircoil Company. The Sponsor Spotlight Series is a new way for MCAA contractor members to learn more about the Manufacturer/Supplier Council (M/SC) Governing Board members, their products, their relationship with MCAA, and what being a member means to them.

Greg Lowman is the Vice President and Managing Director, North America for Baltimore Aircoil Company (BAC). Greg started his career with BAC in 1997 as a Manufacturing Engineer after completing his undergraduate degree. Throughout the past 24 years Greg has held various roles within the organization across several disciplines. This includes Manufacturing Engineering, Supply Chain, Plant Management, Product Development, Product Engineering & Operations. Prior to Greg’s current role, he was Vice President, Global Engineering and responsible for development of BAC’s technology and product roadmaps. Greg has been active with MCAA since 2014. Greg has a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Maryland and a Master of Finance from Loyola University. In his current role, Greg is responsible for BAC’s business in the Americas.

Friday, May 14, 2021 | 2:00 p.m. EST

MCAA Sponsor Spotlight 16: Gary Moore, Victaulic

In the sixteenth episode of MCAA’s Sponsor Spotlight series, Brian Helm, MCAA President is joined by Gary Moore, Victaulic Executive Vice President. The Sponsor Spotlight Series is a new way for MCAA contractor members to learn more about the Manufacturer/Supplier Council (M/SC) Governing Board members, their products, their relationship with MCAA, and what being a member means to them.

Gary began his career with Victaulic in June 1988 as a sales representative in Canada. Within ten years, he was made the President of Victaulic Canada. When he moved to the United States in 2003, he was first the Vice President of Sales in North America, followed by North and South America, and finally, the Americas and EMEAI. He took on his current role as the company’s Global Executive Vice President of Sales in 2009. Gary was the National Director of the Mechanical Contractors Association of Canada’s Supplier Council, and he has been involved with the MCAA Manufacturer/Supplier Council in the U.S. for the last 18 years, including three years on the Board of Directors.

Friday, March 12 | 2:00 p.m. EST

Resource Highlight: MCAA’s Project Manager’s Manual

Each week, MCAA will highlight one or more of the educational resources that are free to MCAA members as a benefit of membership. This week, we focus on MCAA’s Project Manager’s Manual. This manual covers all aspects of mechanical industry project management, including key topics like managing change orders and claims, job cost and labor control, productivity, scheduling, safety and much more. In addition to guidance, explanation, and best practices, it includes templates and examples of commonly used forms and documents like a Short Interval Schedule.

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You might also like these related resources:

And don’t miss these educational opportunities:

Ashley Martin Named NIBCO Executive Vice President

NIBCO INC., an MCAA member, announced that its Board of Directors appointed Ashley Martin as executive vice president effective immediately. Reporting to Steve Malm, president and CEO, Martin continues in her role as corporate officer and Executive Leadership Team member; and serves as member of the Board of Directors, a position she has held since 2018. She is responsible for maximizing the company’s operating performance and achieving its financial goals.

“Ashley’s business acumen, industry connections and experience have prepared her well,” said Steve Malm in announcing Martin’s appointment. “Her innate leadership qualities and strategic vision will successfully propel NIBCO forward into its fifth generation.”

Since joining NIBCO in 2012, Martin has held a variety of positions including senior vice president, sales; vice president of wholesale sales; general manager of PEX; and director of distribution and transportation.

Martin co-founded the American Supply Association Women in Industry group in 2013. She served a two-year term as chairperson, beginning in 2016.

In addition to these activities, Martin serves on MCAA’s Manufacturer/Supplier Governing Board.

Martin received her bachelor’s degree in marketing from the University of Notre Dame in Notre Dame, Ind. She holds a master’s degree in business administration with a concentration in strategy and operations management from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas.

Founded in 1904, NIBCO INC. is a leading provider of valves, fittings, and flow control products for commercial, industrial and institutional construction, Navy marine markets, as well as residential and irrigation markets. NIBCO is headquartered in Elkhart, Ind., and has 13 manufacturing plants located throughout the United States and globally.

Visit NIBCO.com for information on the complete line of NIBCO products.

Highlighting 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 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.

Paul Christensen Named to In Business Magazine 40 Under 40

Madison Association of Plumbing Contractors (MAPC) Executive Director Julie Walsh announced that MAPC Board President Paul Christensen was named a member of In Business magazine’s 40 Under 40 Class of 2021. Christensen is Owner/CEO/Project Executive of 1901 Inc., an MCAA member company.

“Annually, the 40 Under 40 is a celebration of some of the brightest and most driven young professionals within the Greater Madison business community, and we are thrilled to recognize our 21st class here in 2021 as they will now join a group of over 800 distinguished 40 Under 40 alumni,” said In Business magazine Publisher Jon Konarske. “This is yet another group that has already made a huge impact—both in their careers and within the community, and there is no doubt that they will be helping to lead the way as we slowly work our way out of the pandemic.”

Christensen began working for 1901 Inc. when he was in high school before completing a five-year steamfitter apprenticeship as a member of Steamfitters Local 601. He went on to become a foreman, advanced to project manager in 2010, and purchased the company in 2011.

In addition to leading the MAPC Board, Christensen is the President of the Mechanical Contractors Association of Wisconsin (MCAW) and the Treasurer of the National Certified Pipe Welding Bureau’s Wisconsin Chapter. He continues to give to the next generation of steamfitters by serving on the Madison Area Steamfitters Joint Apprenticeship Committee and Wisconsin’s Steamfitters Apprenticeship Advisory Committee.

Christensen is highly involved in the Madison community through the annual Kids Building Wisconsin event, and he is currently the co-chair of the American Heart Association’s Heart Walk.

“Paul is a leader in the mechanical and plumbing industries in Madison and throughout Wisconsin,” said Walsh. “We are thrilled to see him honored by In Business and join so many distinguished individuals with this achievement.”

Selected from over 100 applications, the members of the 21st annual 40 Under 40 will be recognized in the March 2021 issue of In Business magazine and highlighted in a series of video interviews that month.

To learn more about Christensen or MAPC, contact Julie Walsh.

With Daikin, Olson Plumbing and Heating Stands Up COVID-19 Care Facility in Record Time

Olson Plumbing and Heating partnered with Daikin Applied to retrofit a Colorado medical center to house patients recovering from COVID-19, moving from planning to project completion in just 30 days. In response to the rapid spread of the pandemic, St. Mary-Corwin Medical Center in Pueblo, CO, was redesigned to provide post-COVID-19, non-critical, isolated care, freeing up intensive care isolation units in other facilities. Daikin is a sponsor of MCAA’s 2021 Virtual Education Conference.

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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

Understanding the Different Generations Can be Tricky. Register for MCAA’s Virtual Education Conference, March 22–25, to Learn How to Work Better with Every Generation.

As part of our Virtual Education Conference (VEC) Essential Learning for Unconventional Times, you will enjoy learning from Founder and CEO of JB Training Solutions, Brad Karsh.

For Millennials and Generation Z, understanding your Gen X or Boomer manager can be a tricky proposition. From tackling a first-time project, to asking for feedback, to inquiring about advancement opportunities, there is no syllabus to guide you through these tough topics. As a young professional, you might be comfortable with structure and collaboration but not all generations are ready to integrate those changes in the workplace.

Brad’s session, “OK Boomer: Managing Up in a Multigenerational World” will address the mantra that no generation is better or worse – every generation is just different. The group discovers perceptions of all the generations, including their own, to truly understand what has shaped them. They will recognize what makes their managers tick, and learn how they typically like to work. Importantly, we discuss how Millennials and Generation Z can dispel perceived entitlement, embrace feedback, understand a manager’s style, and display initiative to get ahead. Brad is the author of three business books, including the critically acclaimed Manager 3.0: A Millennial’s Guide to Rewriting the Rules of Management.

Register today and join your MCAA friends and colleagues online at MCAA’s first Virtual Education Conference (VEC) Essential Learning for Unconventional Times, March 22 – 25, 2021.

Registration is available for individuals and for companies (up to 10 registrants per company registration). Questions can be directed to eventregistration@mcaa.org. We look forward to seeing you in March!

Thank you, EVAPCO for sponsoring this session and your continued support of MCAA.

REGISTER NOW

The Next Qualified Level Arc Flash Safety Training Webinars Scheduled for March 18, 2021

Make sure your service techs have the up-to-date safety training they need to protect themselves from arc flash and electrical shock hazards while working on equipment pushing 480 volts or less. The session covers all applicable OSHA requirements, NFPA 70E provisions, best practices, and real-world accident information.

VIEW BROCHURE

The next two webinars will be presented on March 18, 2021. The first webinar will take place from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. EST, and the second is from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. EST.

REGISTER TODAY

Take advantage of the MCAA/MSCA member discounted webinar prices below.

PRICING:

# of Trainees (per company)	Cost (per person)
1-5	$200/person
6-10	$175/person
11-25	$150/person
26-50	$125/person
51-100	$100/person
101+	Email for Pricing

If you can’t make it in March, the webinar will be taught again twice on April 22, 2021. Questions? Contact Pete Chaney.

MCAA’s Sponsor Spotlight Episode 14 Welcomes Dean Taylor, Executive Vice President Sales for Anvil and Smith-Cooper International

In the fourteenth episode of MCAA’s Sponsor Spotlight series MCAA Co-Vice President/Assistant Treasurer, Rick Gopffarth welcomes Dean Taylor, Executive Vice President Sales for Anvil and Smith-Cooper International. The Sponsor Spotlight Series is a new way for MCAA contractor members to learn more about the Manufacturer/Supplier Council (M/SC) Governing Board members, their products, their relationship with MCAA, and what being a member means to them.

Dean joined the company back in 1986 and has over 34 years of experience in the industry. Through the years, Dean has held several roles within the organization (from the ground up), working in the warehouse and inside sales before holding positions such as Warehouse Manager, Inside Sales Manager, Market Manager, and Regional Manager, continuing to work his way up to the Executive level. In his current role, Dean is responsible for global sales across all markets served, implementing and managing strategic sales plans to achieve sales goals.