Archives: News Items

Resource Highlight: MCAA’s Employee Reviews

Employee reviews are powerful tools in the performance improvement process. MCAA’s Employee Reviews provides guidelines and samples to help ensure a productive and beneficial review process for employees and their managers. It’s just one of MCAA’s educational resources that are free to MCAA members as a benefit of membership.

The bulletin covers:

  • Benefits of the review process
  • Preparing for the review
  • The two types of reviews
  • Conducting the review
  • Guidelines to help ensure productive and beneficial reviews
  • Legal considerations

It includes examples of:

  • Open-ended questions
  • A management driven rater review
  • A management driven exploratory review
  • An employee self-evaluation questionnaire
DOWNLOAD

To learn more about MCAA’s Advanced Leadership Institute mentioned in this bulletin, visit the Advanced Leadership Institute page.

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.

Withum Explains Why PPP Loan Forgiveness May Not Be Tax-Free

National accounting firm Withum shares information to help you understand the tax implications of the recent Internal Revenue Service (IRS) ruling addressing the proper treatment of improperly forgiven paycheck protection program (PPP) loans. The IRS ruled that the PPP loan forgiveness amount is not tax-free, even if the Small Business Administration (SBA) and the lender granted the borrower full loan forgiveness, if the taxpayer did not satisfy the factual requirements for loan forgiveness.

MCA of Chicago Starts WiMI of MCA of Chicago

The Mechanical Contractors Association of Chicago hosted its first Women in the Mechanical Industry (WiMI) meeting on August 29, 2022. The Mechanical Contractors Association of Chicago is proud to host its own WiMI committee and provide these resources to the women in its membership, such as professional, networking, and educational events. MCA of Chicago looks forward to better supporting women involved in the organization. The Chicago WiMI committee will ensure women in the MCA of Chicago always have a seat at the table.

VIEW PRESS RELEASE

MCA of Chicago Starts WiMI of MCA of Chicago

The Mechanical Contractors Association of Chicago hosted its first Women in the Mechanical Industry (WiMI) meeting on August 29, 2022. The Mechanical Contractors Association of Chicago is proud to host its own WiMI committee and provide these resources to the women in its membership, such as professional, networking, and educational events. MCA of Chicago looks forward to better supporting women involved in the organization. The Chicago WiMI committee will ensure women in the MCA of Chicago always have a seat at the table.

VIEW PRESS RELEASE

2023 MEP Innovation Conference Tours Are Selling Out – More to Come!

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

2023 might seem like a far way off, but early registrants are not only taking advantage of the early-bird rate, but also spots in the facility tours. After a week of registrations, contractors have nearly filled the first release of tours at MCAA and SMACNA member Dynamic Systems Inc. The tour will include an explanation of DSI’s VDC operations and its integration to its sheet metal, plumbing and piping fabrication. 

Our facility tours are a new feature of the MEP Innovation Conference scheduled for January 11-13 in Austin, Texas. Attendees have the option to go offsite before the Opening General Session, or to participate in a set of optional pre-conference sessions at the hotel including product demonstrations, case studies, and hands-on workshops. Once the conference begins, it will bring together approximately 500 of the most innovative MEP contractors from around the country for the next two days. If you missed out on the initial release of the tours, don’t worry. More are being developed as we get closer to the conference and will take place at manufacturers, software developers, training centers and other contractor facilities.

VIEW AVAILABLE TOURS

Register now to network with peers from multiple trades across the country and learn about industry advancements for the future of the MEP trades. Secure early bird pricing and register today!

MORE INFORMATION
REGISTER NOW

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

Thank you to our conference sponsors:

MCAA’s 2022 Fabrication Conference Offers a Look Into the Network of Shops Approach

As fabrication progresses towards manufacturing, a new approach is being taken that mirrors industrial manufacturing. The approach is known as distributed manufacturing for many industrial producers. For mechanical and plumbing contractors, it involves a network of fabrication facilities, VDC resources and jobsite construction crews that work together to design and build projects as efficiently as possible.

The 2022 MCAA Fabrication Conference, powered by MSUITE will be hosted by McKinstry Company, who will share insight into their network of shops approach. It involves coordination and balance of both fabrication and VDC resources across their multiple locations. In order to do this, it takes ample resources in software, VDC personnel and fabrication tools & equipment. 

It begins with the people. VDC operators need to be able to not only have expert knowledge in drawing, but codes for multiple jurisdictions. They also need to be able to coordinate between offices and remote workers to allocate portions of the job and track progress. Once drawn and approved for fabrication, manufacturing and supply chain operations takes center stage and a determination must be made for where to fabricate based on final location and specialized equipment for each fabrication facility. Final installation is then performed by construction crews distributed over a wide geographical area around multiple office locations. 

While this technique might be seen as only approachable by large contractors with multiple locations, it can actually be used by small contractors that are looking to outsource parts of their operations. Many contractors use multiple VDC resources outside of their operations when coordinating and designing. The same goes for outsourcing parts of their fabrication from other trades or specialty firms.

To learn more, attend the 2022 MCAA Fabrication Conference, November 2-4 in Seattle, Washington. 

UPDATE: Registration is temporarily sold out while we secure additional hotel rooms. If interested, please fill out the waitlist registration form below and submit it to MCAA.

JOIN WAITLIST

Find the Latest from Tyler Pipe & Coupling and Anaco-Husky 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:

Tyler Pipe & Coupling
Tyler Pipe & Coupling produces quality cast iron soil pipe and fittings and no-hub couplings in the heartland of America. Visit our website to see how quality cast iron is made right here in the USA.

Learn More

Anaco-Husky
Follow the Leader, choose Husky SD 4000 Heavy Duty Couplings. Visit our website and check out the new members of the Husky family.

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

Now More Than Ever, Women Are Standing Out in This Industry

MCAA’s Women in the Mechanical Industry (WiMI) Initiative wants to give a big shout out to WiMI Vice Chair Wendy Glauber! She was recently named a 2022 Women of Influence Honoree in the Executive Category through Buffalo Business First.

Glauber is the General Counsel and Vice President of Human Resources for MCAA Member John W. Danforth Company, and one of 27 women recognized through the publication for her contributions to the Western New York community.

“Wendy has been a great asset to Danforth and truly exemplifies our organization’s mission and vision. Her recognition as a Women of Influence Honoree is a true testament to that,” said Patrick W. McParlane, President and COO of the John W. Danforth Company.

Glauber became Vice Chair of the WiMI Committee in 2022 at the Annual WiMI Education Conference. We are looking forward to celebrating more of the accomplishments of women in our industry, like Wendy Glauber.

MCAA’s Women in the Mechanical Industry (WiMI) initiative was launched in 2018 to enable women in the industry to further enrich their careers. Over the years the initiative has given these women an opportunity for networking, career development, mentoring and education. If you’d like to learn more, you can find information here.

General Piping Flies Through Installation With NIBCO’s Grooved Butterfly Valves

General Piping, Inc. counted on NIBCO grooved butterfly valves to meet the strict deadlines of a high school renovation project. “NIBCO’s grooved butterfly valves were easy and fast to install, and they’ve performed well,” said Justin Richardson, project manager, who led the renovation of Lawrence Central High School in Indianapolis, IN.

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 Unit Pricing

Unit prices are difficult to establish and even more difficult to utilize to establish a fair and equitable price for changes to contract work. MCAA’s Unit Pricing highlights the pitfalls of this pricing method and provides guidelines to help you avoid them. It’s just one of MCAA’s educational resources that are free to MCAA members as a benefit of membership.

The bulletin covers:

  • The inequities of unit pricing
  • Guidelines for the preparation of a base unit price schedule
  • The importance of contract stipulations
  • What to consider when establishing correction factors
DOWNLOAD

Find the bulletins referenced in the Foreward in MCAA’s Change Orders, Productivity, Overtime—A Primer for the Construction Industry.

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 Victaulic and A.O. Smith 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

A.O. Smith
We offer top notch training, available 24/7. You can learn about our Residential, Commercial, and even Tankless. Training includes items like How it Works, Installation, Application, & Service tips.

Learn More

Interested in More Training from Our Supplier Partners?

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

Learn More

Find the Latest from Morris Group International and AB&I Foundry in MCAA’s Virtual Trade Show

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

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

Morris Group International
Smith Labor Saver® fixture supports for water closets, lavatories, and urinals help you complete jobs faster and more efficiently—saves 15-20 minutes on installation time per support!

Learn More

AB&I Foundry
AB&I Foundry manufactures cast iron soil pipe & fittings for DWV Plumbing Systems. Visit the website to see how cast iron is made right here in America.

Learn More

Need Something Else?

Find many more smart solutions in MCAA’s Virtual Trade Show!

Visit the Virtual Trade Show

Speaking of Smart Solutions

Visit the Smart Solutions Case Studies area of our website to learn how other mechanical contractors found their win-win with cost-saving and productivity-enhancing applications from members of MCAA’s Manufacturer/Supplier Council.

This section of our website also includes tips and ideas to help your company save money and enhance your productivity. Don’t miss it!

Visit Smart Solutions

Resource Highlight: MCAA’s Business Writing for Success

Effective written communication is focused, clear and aims to accomplish a purpose. MCAA’s Business Writing for Success provides guidelines to help you consider and deliver messages that achieve the desired result. It’s just one of MCAA’s educational resources that are free to MCAA members as a benefit of membership.

The bulletin covers:

  • The basics of good business writing
  • Choosing the right message format for the job
  • The importance of beginning with the positive
  • Building a logical argument
  • Special considerations regarding email and texting
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.

Registration is Now Open for the 2023 MEP Innovation Conference

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

Once again, MCAA has partnered with NECA and SMACNA to host the MEP 2023 Innovation Conference. Known as the best technology conference for mechanical, electrical, plumbing, service and sheet metal contractors, this year’s conference will provide educational sessions led by contractors from all three trade associations. This three-day event will include innovative presentations, collaborative roundtable discussions and hands-on exhibitor demonstrations highlighting the recent technologies that can improve MEP contractors’ productivity and profitability. The most cutting-edge contractors from the industry will be there to share their solutions, learn from thought leaders and position their companies for future success.

As part of the joint partnership, conference attendance is open to all members of MCAA, NECA and SMACNA and their union counterparts. Register now to network with peers from multiple trades across the country, and to learn about industry advancements and the future of the MEP trades, January 11-13 in Austin, Texas!

MORE INFORMATION
REGISTER NOW

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

Thank you to our conference sponsors:

MCAA, NECA, SMACNA and TAUC Join Forces to Recognize September as National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month with #988 Chip

Construction is a hard and high-stress profession and has one of the highest rates of suicide in the nation. For the month of September, MCAA has joined forces with TAUC, NECA and SMACNA to acknowledge those affected by suicide, help raise awareness about mental health and connect individuals with treatment services. Our four trade associations are uniting behind fixing this problem and shining a light on the importance of your mental health. Together we have released a chip with the new suicide and crisis prevention number; #988. 

Our goal is to provide our members or someone they know, with a resource of where they can get help, if needed. We want to spread the message of “It’s okay to not be okay.” It’s time for the construction industry to step up and change the culture of not speaking up when you have a problem. Not all injuries are visible. Not all trauma is evident. Your mental health matters.

To get a set of chips, please email your mailing address and your chip quantity request to Raffi Elchemmas.

MCAA, NECA, SMACNA and TAUC Join Forces to Recognize September as National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month with #988 Chip

Construction is a hard and high-stress profession and has one of the highest rates of suicide in the nation. For the month of September, MCAA has joined forces with NECA, SMACNA and TAUC to acknowledge those affected by suicide, help raise awareness about mental health and connect individuals with treatment services. Our four trade associations are uniting behind fixing this problem and shining a light on the importance of your mental health. Together we have released a chip with the new suicide and crisis prevention number; #988. 

Our goal is to provide our members OR someone they know, with a resource where they can get help. We want to spread the message of “It’s okay to not be okay.” It’s time for the construction industry to step up and change the culture of not speaking up when you have a problem. Not all injuries are visible. Not all trauma is evident. Your mental health matters.

To get a set of chips, please email your mailing address and your chip quantity request to Raffi Elchemmas.

Webinar: Are You Prepared for the Upcoming R-22 Phaseout?

The R-22 phaseout is fast-approaching. Are you prepared? Are your customers? The key is to start planning now.

Watch MSCA’s R-22 phaseout webinar, hosted by BuildOps. This webinar was led by experienced service contractor and instructor Woody Woodall of Customer Focused Solutions. In this informative webinar Woodall addresses the upcoming phaseouts including R-22, 410A, as well as other refrigerants, and covers practical ways to prepare your company and your customers.

This webinar was recorded on Thursday, September 8, 2022.

Watch Webinar and View PowerPoint

Attention Contractors: Enhance Your Competitive Advantage with MCAA Converge

The MCAA Converge is a unique and intimate event that offers customized executive-to-executive meetings tailored to meet the specific needs of your company. The approach brings together top decision-makers from participating MCAA contractors and MCAA Manufacturer/Supplier Council members, engaging in strategic and innovation-based topics. See the attached for more details regarding the agenda, participating companies, costs, and more.

When: November 14 – 16, 2022
Host Hotel: Live! by Loews, Arlington, TX
Meeting Venue: Globe Life Field Stadium, home of the Texas Rangers

If you are interested in learning more about the MCAA Converge please contact:

Lesley Ravas, Director, Manufacturer/Supplier & Associate Executives
lravas@mcaa.org
410-746-4277

OR

Tim Speno, E2E Summit, President & CEO
timspeno@e2esummit.com
785-200-3936

Begin the registration process by booking a meeting with Tim Speno Here.

Welcome New Manufacturer/Supplier Members!

Enhance your strategic supply chain with the five newest members of MCAA’s Manufacturer/Supplier Council.

Allow them to introduce themselves:

ClickSafety is a supplier of online safety training. Our online learning management, compliance and documentation solutions help organizations execute their training objectives and build world-class safety cultures. Our parent company is Ascend Learning. Ascend Learning is the leading provider of technology-based educational, curriculum and assessment solutions for healthcare and other vocational industries, and specializes in delivering higher-performance results for students and professionals.

Liberty Pumps is a leading U.S. manufacturer of pumping products for ground water and wastewater removal in residential and commercial applications. We are a family and employee owned company, proudly producing over 90% of our products in the U.S.A. utilizing US and globally sourced components.

OpenSpace provides next-generation 360º construction photo documentation and mapping software. We are the fastest, simplest, and most advanced tool out there, and we can prove it.

Novarc Technologies is a Vancouver-based full-stack robotics company specializing in the design and commercialization of cobots and AI systems for robotic welding applications. Novarc’s Spool Welding Robot (SWR) is the world’s first-of-its-kind in pipe welding applications. As a proven pioneer in the field, Novarc has dedicated a team of engineers and scientists to solve challenging welding automation problems that improve customers’ bottom line.

ServiceTitan is the operating system that powers the trades. Trusted by over 12,000 of the most successful contractors in the industry, our platform’s comprehensive capabilities CRM, ERP, FSM, Fintech, Accounting Integrations, and more) enable complete control of your entire business from one place. By optimizing workflows, improving cash flow, and maximizing profits, we empower commercial contractors to modernize and elevate their businesses.

The members of MCAA’s Manufacturer/Supplier Council stand ready to help you enhance your productivity and profitability and retain your competitive edge. Meet them in person during many MCAA events and virtually through Smart Solutions, Manufacturer/Supplier Training, and the Virtual Trade Show.

Find the Latest from Xylem Inc. – Bell & Gossett and Galloup Company 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:

Xylem Inc. – Bell & Gossett
The next generation of variable speed ECM smart circulators is here. The ecocirc+ 20-18 replaces up to 70 pumps for heating, cooling and potable water applications and is the most reliable, efficient and easy-to-install smart circulator available today.

Learn More

Galloup Company
Galloup is a premier industrial distributor of pipe, valves and fittings, dedicated to service and support. Serving Michigan, Indiana and Ohio with nine facilities, including two distribution centers.

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