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| MCAA National Update for January 13, 2014 |
LEARN WHY PROJECT MANAGER/FOREMAN PARTNERSHIPS ARE CRITICAL TO BUSINESS SUCCESSAt MCAA 2014 (March 9-13, Scottsdale, AZ), John Koontz, MCAA's National Director of Project Management Education, will share his insights about why great companies value highly effective partnerships among their project managers and foremen. As market conditions become more competitive and project budgets and profits tighten, the need for close cooperation between the project manager and foreman from the beginning of the project is more critical than ever to avoid costly mistakes. In his session, Koontz will identify and explain the top 10 components of great partnerships and how those components apply to planning, scheduling, cost control, productivity, fabrication, contract management, documentation, change order management and customer relations. This is just one of several highly informative and valuable business-oriented sessions planned for MCAA 2014 that can help you achieve even higher levels of success for your company. Go to www.mcaa.org/mcaa2014 for more program details and convenient online registration.
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2014 PRE-FAB CONFERENCE REGISTRATION OPENS JANUARY 15
One of MCAA's most popular educational offerings - the Pre-Fabrication Conference - will open for registration January 15. The 2014 conference will take place in the Washington, D.C. area April 30 - May 2, and will include facility tours of two large, full-service companies. W E Bowers in Beltsville, MD has two adjacent fabrication facilities-one for copper and the other for steel piping. A unique component of this tour will be to observe Bowers' 120-foot, multi-trade coordinated rack assemblies. Kirlin Mid-Atlantic in Rockville, MD has one of the largest fabrication capabilities in the industry. Its manufacturing equipment and processes fabricate steel, copper, glass pipe, valve assemblies, pipe specialties, and equipment hook-ups. There will be ample opportunity for discussion on the latest trends and issues in fabrication, including modularization. MCAA thanks Gary Grandchamp of Kirlin Mid-Atlantic, Kenny Coburn of W E Bowers and Jeanne Lee of the MCA of Metropolitan Washington, Inc. for their support in developing this conference. This always sold-out conference is limited to 120 par�ticipants with a maximum of two people per company or branch office. The program fills quickly, so register today. For more information, please contact Cynthia Buffington ([email protected]).
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2014 STUDENT INTERNSHIP GRANTS ARE AVAILABLE
MCAA's Career Development Committee is announcing the availability of 2014 Student Internship Grants. The grants are made possible with funding provided by the Mechanical Contracting Education & Research Foundation (MCERF). All MCAA members who hire student interns to work in their operations this year are eligible to apply. The committee can issue only one grant per member company. Each grant is $1,200 and is intended to help members defray the intern's salary. The benefits are many; the intern gains valuable practical experience, knowledge and skills for his/her long-term career development and the employer gains the fresh perspective and technology prowess of a rising young professional. It's a win-win for everyone! Go to www.mcaa.org/careers for information and the link to the online application form. Need help? Contact Ann Mattheis ([email protected]).
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LEGISLATIVE ACTION NEEDED TO PUSH THROUGH MULTIEMPLOYER PENSION PLAN REFORM
As the second session of the 113th Congress gets underway, it's crunch time for multiemployer pension plan reform - the opportunity for positive action on the national labor/management reform coalition's detailed plan, Solutions Not Bailouts. MCAA members can help tip the balance toward a positive outcome as we work to rebalance the lopsided risks in the current multiemployer system and reset our plans toward greater stability and sustainability. Opposition is most notable from the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP). AARP has not proposed any other solution to restore plan solvency and shore up flagging Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) resources. MCAA members and their labor partners need to reach their lawmakers back home to ensure they understand that the Solutions Not Bailouts reform is crucial for the workers and pensioners who live in their districts. MCAA will be posting sample letters to members of Congress and several sample articles for local newspapers. There is no substitute for personal visits with a lawmaker by local MCAA members. If you can arrange UA participation in those meetings, all the better. And, if you set up a home district meeting, MCAA will provide the back-up. UA General President Bill Hite and MCAA President Cables will be communicating with Congress on this issue in Washington, DC. It will be the top topic for the MCAA National Issues Conference (April 30-May 2, Washington, DC). Also, MCAA is planning a legislative fly-in on this important issue in conjunction with its Collective Bargaining Seminar (September 8-10, Washington, DC). Please contact MCAA Legislative Director John McNerney ([email protected]) for support and back-up for your meetings with U.S. Representatives and Senators. |
TELL US ABOUT YOUR COMPANY'S 2013 SAFETY ACHIEVEMENTS
Start gathering your company's 2013 safety performance information for MCAA's Annual Safety Awards Program. This is your opportunity to receive deserved recognition for your company's exemplary safety accomplishments during 2013. Co-sponsored by MCAA and CNA, the program requires the submission of statistical information from MCAA members' 2013 OSHA 300 log along with other safety program information contained in a five-part application. All participants will receive a confidential statistical benchmarking report. Five first-place safety awards will be presented at the Annual Awards of Excellence Breakfast at MCAA 2014 in Scottsdale, AZ. All participants who receive a zero lost workday cases incidence rate, or one that is 25 percent or more below the BLS industry average, will receive a Certificate of Commendation. Applications are now available online at www.mcaa.org/safetyawards, and completed applications must be received by MCAA no later than January 30. Please contact Pete Chaney ([email protected]) with questions. |
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THERE'S STILL TIME TO REGISTER FOR MCAA'S ANNUAL SAFETY DIRECTORS' CONFERENCE
If your safety directors or those with safety responsibilities are looking for "one-stop shopping" for the latest information on safety issues and networking opportunities with other safety professionals, MCAA's Annual Safety Directors' Conference (January 28-30, 2014, Fort Lauderdale, FL) is still open for registration. Sponsored in part by CNA, the conference will cover such issues as the latest pertinent OSHA regulations and enforcement initiatives, safety ethics, workforce morale, BIM safety, and much more. Attendees will acquire critical information to ensure your company's safety program is on target. The networking opportunities with safety directors and professionals from across our industry add to the value of this conference. Information about the program and registration details are at www.mcaa.org/education.
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APPLY NOW FOR ALI COURSE 14
If you or a member of your executive team have been thinking about applying to MCAA's Advanced Leadership Institute (ALI), now is the time to apply while space is available. Applications are coming in at a fast pace due to ALI's excellent curriculum, leadership development legacy and the wealth of strategic planning techniques it offers for our industry's top executives. The ALI's value has been enhanced with the addition of two new modules, one on "Branding" and the other on "Customer Partnerships." The branding module will include Webex-delivered components during the interim period between Week 1 and Week 2. Dates for ALI's Course 14 are: September 14-19 (Week 1) and November 9-14 (Week 2). To request an application or learn more about the ALI, please contact Dennis Langley ([email protected]). |
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WILLIAM F. LYNCH CO. CONTRIBUTES TO MCERF
The Mechanical Contracting Education & Research Foundation (MCERF) recently received a $2,500 contribution from the William F. Lynch Company, raising its total contributions to $9,700. The company also earmarked $1,000 for the MCERF Scholarship Program. The MCERF Board of Trustees greatly appreciates the financial support which allows the Foundation to continuing funding industry-oriented education and research programs. Find out more about MCERF programs by visiting www.mcerf.org or contacting Dennis Langley ([email protected]). |
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AHERN REPORTS RECORD WORK LEVELS IN 2013
J.F. Ahern Co. (Fond du Lac, WI) logged more employee man-hours than any other year in its 133-year history. The 2.14 million hours was about 5,000 hours more than the previous record set in 2008. Tripp Ahern, president and CEO, said, "What's especially encouraging is that the increase in hours worked was due to an overall increase in activities across the company. The work was spread across our entire range of mechanical, fire protection, and pipe fabrication services, and was also representative of our entire geographic work." |
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