MCAA President Brian Helm spoke with Kyle Gargaro for this week’s episode of The NEWSMakers podcast. The two discussed MCAA’s quick response to the COVID-19 pandemic. They talked about what the industry can expect to see for the rest of 2020 and beyond, and the best practices that will help MCAA members succeed.
In light of COVID-19-related restrictions and with the safety of our members and students in mind, MCAA has made the difficult decision to cancel this year’s in-person GreatFutures Forum, scheduled for October 1–3 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
To continue providing the top-of-the-line education that MCAA is known for, our Career Development Committee has come together to develop the GreatFutures Virtual Education Fall Program! The program is aimed to help give the next generation of mechanical contracting leaders a deeper understanding of the industry and the ins and outs of creating a construction bid. The program will start September 15 and continue through November 16, 2020.
Included in this program will be the annual MCAA Student Chapter Competition, which will be released virtually to student chapters this September. The competition gives students the opportunity to apply what they’ve learned in the classroom by creating a bid for a real-life mechanical construction project.
The GreatFutures education program will navigate students through the competition project with online instructional sessions focused on components of a real-world contracting bid. MCAA will be launching live sessions each week, available to all students, faculty advisors and MCAA members. The topics of the sessions include estimating, scheduling, construction technology, safety and service, all taught by industry leaders.
Stay tuned for schedule and registration information in the coming weeks!
Please contact Megan Walsh if you have questions about the GreatFutures Virtual Education program or any of our student activities.
Episode 8: The Unique, The Innovative, and The Unusual – Mechanical Contracting in the City by The Bay
Friday, July 24 at 2:00 p.m. EDT
As Past Chair of the PCA and President-Elect of the MCAA, Armand Kilijian (President, O’Brien Mechanical Inc.) has had a lot of exposure to how the industry can differ from place to place across the nation. This gives him a good basis for comparison when it comes to describing the oddities and unique attributes that shape the nature of mechanical work in his backyard. While most would agree that our industry is all about relationships, you might be surprised to learn that in a booming metropolis like San Francisco, one of the first questions you are likely to be asked when working with a new business partner is ‘where did you go to high school?’ Join John and Armand as they discuss all that makes mechanical contracting unique in San Francisco – from the people to the geography to the history – and learn a bit about how culture shapes contracting in the City by The Bay.
DeWALT is committed to supporting MCAA members in the fight against COVID-19. They have supplied a COVID-19 Response with tool cleaning guides, safety product listings, service procedures, on-going training, and several featured stories. DeWALT has you covered with informative materials to help us through these rapidly evolving times.
The way DeWALT works is changing, but their commitment to service isn’t. DeWALT is here to support MCAA members through evolving situations, rules, and safety requirements. They have you covered with the informative materials that will guide you through the proper way to clean and sanitize tools on the jobsite. Watch this short tutorial and review the guidelines below for the proper way to sanitize your tools.
The mechanical contracting industry provides many career paths, and that includes the opportunity to work for an MCA local affiliated association. This summer, MCA of Chicago has two interns, Judie Prophete and Ervin Prophete. They are learning about how an association is managed and how the MCA of Chicago provides resources and education to its members.
MCA of Chicago Director of Communications Abby Baughan said, “It’s been great having Judie and Ervin working with us this summer. They’re bright, hard-working and make great additions to our team. When I was in college, I knew very little about association work and mechanical contracting. Like most people, I sort of fell into it. I think it’s great that, as college students, Judie and Ervin are being introduced to this world filled with so much opportunity. I hope this internship opens their eyes to all of the possible career paths that are available to them.”
Judie is an incoming senior at DePaul University, studying accounting and business management.
“As the accounting intern and administrative assistant for the MCA of Chicago, I spend the majority of my time helping our Director of Finance, Susan Rocque, with various tasks and projects. The other part of my time is spent doing administrative work around the office and helping where I am needed. I am learning a lot about accounting and finance, gaining a lot of new experience and learning a lot about what it is like to work in an office setting.”
During her internship, Judie hopes to continue learning more about the professional workplace and about programs and tools that are specific to her field of study. She also hopes to gain more confidence so she is prepared to enter the business world.
“From what I have seen in the month that I have been interning here, there are a lot of aspects of the professional workplace that school cannot prepare you for. The only way to truly learn these things and succeed is to actually be put in those situations and just do the best you can with what you have. I am fortunate enough to be learning those things surrounded by welcoming, forgiving and patient co-workers in a friendly and positive work environment.”
Ervin Prophete is a senior at DePaul University in Chicago, studying public relations and advertising.
Ervin is a marketing intern. His responsibilities include creating and posting graphics on social media, helping Director of Communications Abby Baughan with compiling the weekly emails, scheduling events on the MCA of Chicago Facebook page and updating the MCA website with future events and classes.
Ervin talked about what he hopes to get out of this internship. “I have learned a lot so far in this internship and feel that every day I step in the office is a day I gain more knowledge about the marketing world. I am hoping to just learn as much as I can and become proficient in the tools I have been introduced to in my time here so far. By the end, I would like to be able to use the knowledge I will have gained to do some freelance work while I finish school.”
MCA of Chicago members are also focused on getting talented students into the mechanical contracting industry, even if they do not follow the typical academic path.
Brandon Hubner of Premier Mechanical, Inc., shared his company’s unique insight about hiring the right talent:
“The way the Premier has looked at hiring is that a person’s major focus of study or background is less important than the skills that they bring to the table and how well they can help round out our team and add value with other talents that they have. Construction, and mechanical contracting even more so, is a unique industry and every system we install is different. Rarely are two buildings built identically, or with the same team of general contractors and subcontractors. If systems and teams are rarely the same, then why always hire from within the same field of study? In our experience, we can better tackle unique projects with unique individuals. Given the number of variables there are to construction, we would be passing over a lot of really good candidates if we focused just on construction management and mechanical engineering majors.”
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:
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.
Miller Electric Mfg. Co.
Simplified and optimized for pipe fabrication shop welding, the PipeWorx 400 Welding System’s streamlined set-up with one touch welding, quick process changeover, and Pulsed and Modified Short-Arc MIG processes, makes training and turn-around times faster than ever before.
Find many more smart solutions in MCAA’s Virtual Trade Show!
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!
Alston & Bird have released their July 13 COVID-19 update, including the latest news on emergency funding, administrative and regulatory actions, workplace and home issues, and many other topics, as well as to links to all their past updates.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning everyone about hand sanitizers made with methanol. The substance, which is a form of alcohol, is toxic when absorbed through the skin or ingested. Last month the FDA listed a number of hand sanitizers made by Eskbiochem that contain methanol. This month the agency is expanding that list to include sanitizers made by other companies.
Episode 7: The Role of the Regional Association – Partnership Through Service
Friday, July 17, 2:00 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.
If you joined us for Episode 5 you will have heard MCAA CEO Tim Brink mention his good friend Chip Martin, as Tim discussed his west coast days and early involvement with the California Plumbing and Mechanical Contractors Association. This week, we are fortunate enough to be joined by Chip himself, Executive Director of the CPMCA. As a veteran Local Association Executive, Chip has for many years served CPMCA membership through a variety of initiatives, from mechanical education to recruitment to labor relations. Tune in to hear Chip and John chat about the role of a regional association in the mechanical community, and how they dedicate themselves to the continued betterment of the industry.
MCAA Member Neptune Plumbing & Heating Co. has been named a Top Workplace by cleveland.com and the Cleveland Plain Dealer. This is the company’s first year on the list, which includes a record 175 honorees. Neptune is the only full-service plumbing company among them. Company co-Presidents Adam and Michael Wallenstein credit the company’s talent and culture for earning the recognition.
Neptune Plumbing relies on its talented, seasoned employees and strong corporate culture to create a work environment that doesn’t follow traditional molds.
By combining tradesmen best practices with cutting-edge technology for the field, Neptune Plumbing created a working environment – and employee experience – that uses plumbing innovations to build employee engagement, customer trust, and a professional advantage in a competitive market.
“This recognition is first and foremost because of our employees. Ever since this company started in my grandparents’ basement, we have values that we hoped our employees not only embraced, but believed in. Being named a Top Workplace in Northeast Ohio validates that,” said Neptune co-President Adam Wallenstein.
Neptune has served its community for over 60 years. The company uses plumbing innovation like CAD-design plumbing systems to meet the needs of its customers.
“I believe the way we embrace industry trends deserves a little bit of credit toward us making the list too. To have a 24/7 service department is crucial to our business. Having a Prefabrication Division makes us efficient when those calls come, but also gives our employees an added sense of pride in their work. Not a lot of businesses in our sector do what we do, the way we do it,” Wallenstein said.
“Our TRIDENT Core Values have shown through for quite some time now. This recognition – and the only one from the plumbing sector on the list – is proof our people are some of the best in the trade. And they prove it every single day with their attitudes, effort and integrity,” said Neptune co-President Michael Wallenstein.
Through values that have lasted three generations and employee opportunities to heighten capabilities in the industry, the Neptune Plumbing presidents credit the company’s talent and culture for making the list.
MCAA’s WiMI Committee recently launched a Mentor Program. Mentors and mentees signed-up to be a part of this program in hopes of gaining new perspectives on the industry, building connections, developing a support network, and more. Committee members recently took some time to speak with mentees and mentors participating in the program to find out how things are going. Meet our first pair, Hannah and Kristin!
Hannah Leslie, an Assistant Project Manager at The Brandt Companies in Carrollton, Texas enrolled in the program as a mentee, hoping to be paired with a mentor who could share the do’s and don’ts of business, tips and tricks to success in the industry, and overall life advice. Little did Hannah know she would be paired with her perfect match!
Kristin Blundell, a Senior Preconstruction Manager at U.S. Engineering in Westminster, Colorado was recommended to be a mentor in this program from a fellow colleague, a young Preconstruction Engineer who had previously been mentored by Kristin herself. Kristin, who has always taken young professionals under her wing, has proven to be the ideal mentor.
Hannah and Kristin first connected at the beginning of this year. Their bond formed very naturally during their first phone call. Hannah had entered this program with a small handful of personal and professional goals she hoped her mentor would guide her in working towards. Through open conversations, Kristin helped Hannah expand her goals and identify her strengths to be successful. Also, from the very beginning, Kristin has reminded Hannah of valuable life lessons – stay true to herself, believe in hard work, and believe in herself.
Kristin’s advice may seem simple, but it has been incredibly empowering for Hannah. Hannah, who is one of two females comprising a close-knit team of 10 individuals in her job site office, has recognized qualities in herself during the course of the mentorship that she now feels empowered to share with the team. Hannah has learned from Kristin to take pride in being a contributing female on the team.
While Hannah and Kristin have a relaxed approach to their communication structure, they make sure to have a phone conversation at least once a month, every month. They also take comfort in just knowing the other is there for them anytime. An unexpected benefit the current pandemic has provided for both, is knowing they have a contact in a different part of the country to talk through how their respective companies have worked through these challenging times and implemented new work practices.
With several hundred miles between them, with Hannah in Texas and Kristin in Colorado, they are bummed they cannot meet for an occasional cup of coffee or happy hour drink. However, they do look forward to the day they can meet in person, hopefully at MCAA’s WiMI Conference next June, if not sooner!
For more information visit the Women in the Mechanical Industry Initiative Page.
McElroy’s Inc., an MCA of Kansas City member, presented Parker Beal with an MCAA Internship Grant at the start of his 2020 summer internship. The grant is funded by the John R. Gentille Foundation. Parker said, “This grant will help me continue to fund my college degree and expenses. I see this not only as a great learning opportunity, but also as a motivation to tell other interns in the future about what I have learned and experienced in the mechanical industry.”
This is Parker’s third consecutive internship with McElroy’s Inc. The Architectural Engineering student has a particular interest in MEP. After he graduates from the University of Kansas in the spring of 2022, he intends to pursue a master’s degree in Business Administration.
This summer, Parker is using BIM software and other programs to aid in design and load calculations for the mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) systems in both commercial and industrial buildings. He will be shadowing Vice President Wade Jueneman, head of commercial construction for McElroy’s Inc.
“McElroy’s has given me valuable opportunities to help further my understanding and knowledge in the mechanical industry,” Parker said of his experiences. “I’m looking forward to developing my skills to transform ideas into design solutions and then see my work in action.”
Having MCAA interns working at member companies is a win-win for the mechanical contracting industry. Employers get top talent and build a pipeline of future employees. Students gain experience, create connections, develop skills and further their interest in mechanical contracting. In paying the student instead of the employer, MCAA’s goal is to increase the overall number of interns and drive the overall number of talented employees accepting full-time positions with MCAA members after graduation.
The MCAA member company will first ensure a prospective intern is in good standing at an accredited two- or four-year college, university or technical school. While MCAA encourages its members to give priority to students from the MCAA Student Chapter Program, this is not a requirement to receive a grant.
Each MCAA member company can submit up to two internship grant applications per year. Once an application is reviewed and accepted, MCAA will send a $500 gift card to the member company so it can present the Gift Card to the student at the start of their internship.
MCAA will follow-up with each company and intern to ensure the process and overall internship was successful.
MCAAGreatFutures.org gives members access to student profiles and resumes. The profiles are searchable by university, desired location, and even a specific skill set, like BIM or AutoCAD. A keyword filter allows users to zero in on students who fit the bill.
Not finding a match? Try reaching out to our 60 MCAA Student Chapters. The chapter advisors are a great resource to help find the right person. And, MCAA members have exclusive access to post job openings on our job board.
Help build our industry’s GreatFuture – apply for a grant!
In March, as a majority of the country slowed down, the MCAA Government Affairs Committee continued to work tirelessly meeting with countless Congressional and Senate office’s remotely to push our agenda forward. The committee has been working on COVID-19 cost increases on Federal projects, change orders in the NDAA, pension issues, and the PBGC just to mention a few.
What has helped the committee through this period has been PAC donations. The reality we face during today’s political time is the need for donations. MCAA’s PAC fund has been hit hard as many political fundraisers have been cancelled and political leaders have requested help.
Today, we ask for your help.
I, Jim Gaffney, am making a donation to the MCAA PAC fund, and have asked the M&SCA of Eastern PA to match my donation. If each association and member contractor could make a donation to the PAC we can continue to fight for the political needs of our association. I know times are hard for many, but please realize the organizations against our issues are not letting up and many have deep pockets. For those who have and continue to support the PAC, I want to personally thank you for your help. The PAC makes a difference for all of us and our industry.
MCAA’s 2020 advocacy efforts need your help. Donate to the MCAA PAC, a critical factor to our success in moving forward legislation that positively affects your business.
(Note: In order to comply with campaign finance laws, you will need to complete a solicitation authorization form before making a contribution. Find additional details and both the solicitation authorization and contribution forms via the button below.)
Main Street Lending Program is Now Open: The MSLP has been “baking” for over 3 months and is finally ready for primetime. Withum has a new article with more details on terms and eligibility here. The program has garnered some controversy as some have taken the view that it was overly restrictive and not borrower friendly. Some banks have also indicated they will not participate in the program. That said, it is now available to borrowers and can be a new source of working capital.
Reminder Section: (what should I be doing):
All contractors must know how to respond to harassment allegations and how to ensure a safe and inclusive environment for all employees. In this fast-paced and interactive webinar, Cohen Seglias Labor & Employment co-chair Jonathan Landesman shares advice on handling harassment issues in the workplace utilizing real-life examples. Landesman also reviews how to encourage and enforce appropriate workplace culture, establish a confidential, multichannel complaint procedure, and respond to and investigate complaints. Jon is joined by his colleague, Dan Fierstein, who is an associate in the Cohen Seglias Construction practice group.
Additional Resources:
This webinar was previously recorded July 21, 2020.
Episode 6: Leading Growth – Pioneering Expansion in Pawtucket
Friday, July 10 at 2:00 p.m. EDT
As CEO and President of Arden Building Companies, LLC, Robert Bolton wears many hats. Or perhaps it would be more accurate to say he oversees many hats; Arden Building Companies is the parent company of several New England contracting and engineering firms that collectively offer mechanical construction, design, and service in higher education, healthcare, manufacturing, industrial, and power markets… not to mention electrical design/construction and co-generation ‘green’ energy services! And Bob’s leadership doesn’t stop at the regional level – as a National Board member and MCAA’s Senior Vice President/Treasurer, he provides association guidance and oversight, and is dedicated to developing alliances with UA partners that help us grow the industry together. Join us as Bob shares insights borne of a career based on collaborations, both within and beyond the traditional scope of mechanical contracting.
Alston & Bird have released their July 6 COVID-19 update, including the latest news on emergency funding, administrative and regulatory actions, workplace and home issues, and many other topics, as well as to links to all their past updates.
New PPP Bill Passed by House and Senate: The Bill that was introduced and passed by the Senate on Tuesday, June 30 has now been passed by the House and is headed to the President’s desk for signature. This Bill extends the application deadline for the PPP an additional 5 weeks (recall that the deadline was June 30, 2020 and they still had about $130 billion in available funds). It is unclear how valuable this additional time will be since most businesses that wanted funds have already received them.
New Stimulus Package in the Works: Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin told a House panel that the administration would support a new stimulus package if it was put forward. He also indicated that he is in discussions with the Senate about revising the PPP to provide additional support to hard hit industries such as restaurants, hotels, etc. We are not sure yet how the P4 Bill that was passed by the House (which allows businesses to obtain a second PPP loan under certain circumstances) will fare if the Senate decides to take it up, but there appears to be bipartisan support to find a solution.
Reminder Section: (what should I be doing):
New PPP Bill Introduced in the Senate: On Tuesday, June 30th, the Senate passed a bill which extends the application deadline for the PPP an additional 5 weeks (recall that the deadline was June 30th and they still had about $130 billion in available funds). The bill still needs to go through the House and would need to be signed by the President to be passed into law. It is unclear how valuable this additional time will be as most believe that those businesses who wanted funds have already received them.
When Will Banks Accept Applications?: Many have inquired regarding when they can apply for forgiveness and when banks will accept applications. Withum has heard that one bank has reached out to its clients to inform them that if they received their PPP loan in April, the bank will accept a forgiveness application in August. If the loan was received after April, the date the bank will accept the application is TBD. This is of course just one bank, but they have generally seen that banks are not in a position to accept applications currently and few have been explicit in how they will manage the process. They also have not seen any mechanism for a borrower to “declare” that they want to keep their eight-week covered period if they want to. At this point, borrowers will just have to be patient, they do not believe that there are any proactive steps required on the borrowers side right now other than being in consistent contact with their lender on the process.
Status of the P4 Bill: The P4 bill that was introduced by the House two weeks ago has not moved since it first came into play. This bill would allow certain borrowers to obtain a second PPP loan if they meet certain criteria (less than 100 employees, 50%+ reduction in revenue). There is not much information on the probability of this passing or how it will interplay with the PPP extension bill noted above.
Main Street Lending Programs: Withum reported on the general parameters of the MSLPs previously, at this point the program is still not available to the public. Anecdotally there have been mixed reviews from banks, many of which have indicated that they do not intend to participate in the program.
New FAQs: It has been rumored for several weeks that a multitude of new FAQs are coming out in the near future to cover current open questions and to provide clarification. Withum believes this is correct but do not have insight as to when they are coming, it could be as soon as this week.
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