This Week

2014 MID-YEAR CONFERENCE WILL EXPLORE THE COMPANY OF THE FUTURE - PEOPLE, COMMUNICATION AND PRODUCTIVITY

WELDBEND CORPORATION CONTRIBUTES $100,000 TO MCERF

LUNCH-AND-LEARN WEBINAR - HELP YOUR TEAM IDENTIFY POTENTIAL POINTS OF CYBER VULNERABILITY IN YOUR WORKFLOW AND MAKE PLANS BEFORE SOMETHING HAPPENS

EFFICIENCY = COMPETITIVE EDGE IS FOCUS OF SMART SOLUTIONS' LATEST ISSUE

2014 NCPWB ANNUAL TECHNICAL COMMITTEE MEETING IS YOUR BEST SOURCE FOR THE LATEST IN WELDING

LEARN HOW TO MOTIVATE EMPLOYEES TO INCREASE SALES - REGISTER FOR MSCA'S NEXT WEBINAR

PENSION REFORM - SOLUTIONS, NOT BAILOUTS - IS THE NO. 1 ISSUE AT THE 2014 NATIONAL ISSUES CONFERENCE

PREPARE FOR THE "BATTLE OF THE BUILDINGS" AT MSCA'S ENERGY SUMMIT

HIRE A STUDENT INTERN AND APPLY FOR A 2014 STUDENT INTERNSHIP GRANT

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MCAA National Update for March 24, 2014

2014 MID-YEAR CONFERENCE WILL EXPLORE THE COMPANY OF THE FUTURE - PEOPLE, COMMUNICATION AND PRODUCTIVITY

Plan now to attend MCAA's 2014 Mid-Year Conference in Indianapolis, IN (June 23-25), a highly interactive program focused on helping you find ways to achieve and maintain your company's future success using a wide variety of technologies, more efficient communications methods and more effective management strategies. The highly interactive conference format will enable you to: explore communications techniques and devices that will maximize productivity; discover the latest in construction technologies and business practices that will move you out ahead of your competition; make the most of fabrication to reduce project costs and increase productivity; and learn how to leverage existing projects into future new business opportunities. Leading the conference sessions are our industry's top contractors, educators and specialty consultants. Watch for the program brochure in MCAA's monthly mailing and the opening of online registration on www.mcaa.org/education.

WELDBEND CORPORATION CONTRIBUTES $100,000 TO MCERF

The work of the Mechanical Contracting Education & Research Foundation (MCERF) has been significantly furthered by a member of MCAA's Manufacturer/Supplier Council, Weldbend Corporation. James J. Coulas, III of Weldbend Corporation (Argo, IL), presented a $100,000 check to outgoing MCERF President Bob Armistead and incoming President Mark Rogers during a Board of Trustees meeting that took place during MCAA 2014 in Scottsdale, AZ. The contribution was recognized at the Annual Awards of Excellence program on March 12, and earned Weldbend induction as the Foundation's newest Partnership Enterprise member. Speaking on behalf of the MCERF Board of Trustees, Rogers said, "We are very grateful for the generous contribution which will help the Foundation continue its support of industry education program and research." Find out more about MCERF and its program by visiting www.mcerf.org or contacting Dennis Langley (dlangley@mcaa.org).

LUNCH-AND-LEARN WEBINAR - HELP YOUR TEAM IDENTIFY POTENTIAL POINTS OF CYBER VULNERABILITY IN YOUR WORKFLOW AND MAKE PLANS BEFORE SOMETHING HAPPENS
Get your top management, IT and Accounting department heads together for a learning lunch with MCAA's webinar Protecting You, Your Business Partners and Your Clients...Today's Cyber Security Challenge on Friday, April 25 at 1pm EDT. Steve Dawson of Harrell-Fish, Inc. (Bloomington, IN) will moderate this important session featuring Jim Wenninger, CEO of WennSoft and Paul Gouge, Risk Control Consultant for CNA Insurance, who will make the implications of recent news stories real...and tell you how to start a proactive conversation within your company and with your business partners to make electronic interactions safer for all concerned. Sign up online for the webinar at www.mcaa.org/education.

EFFICIENCY = COMPETITIVE EDGE IS FOCUS OF SMART SOLUTIONS' LATEST ISSUE

Efficiency is key to maintaining your competitive edge. In this issue of Smart Solutions, read how contractors are using a wide variety of products offered by members of MCAA's Manufacturer/Supplier Council to enhance the efficiency of their performance on a wide variety of projects. You'll discover how FW Spencer and Son, Inc. (Brisbane, CA), Braconier Plumbing & Heating Company, Inc. (Englewood, CO) and Palmer-Christiansen Company, Inc. (Salt Lake City, UT) are using prefabrication to speed installation. Others are employing advanced technology to make the most of every job. U.S. Engineering (Kansas City, MO) for example, located thousands of field points in a fraction of the time of traditional methods, and MMC Contractors (Kansas City, MO) shaved weeks off a hospital construction schedule using the latest technology solutions. This issue also includes articles on how a Modern Piping, Inc. (Cedar Rapids, IA) job involving welding hun�dreds of feet in the air saved time and enhanced safety. And, John E. Green Company (Highland Park, MI) met a rush deadline by using the unique heat fusion process offered by a council member. You'll also find examples of how contractors are using the latest computer software in the office and in the field to simplify their operations. Read about tips on how to plan ahead for new energy efficiency mandates and what to look for in GPS tracking systems. The manufacturers and suppliers featured are just a few of the 126 members providing you with the latest ideas on how to gain a competitive advantage. A complete listing can be found in MCAA's Supplier Partners...A Buyer's Guide distributed in your March monthly mailing.

2014 NCPWB ANNUAL TECHNICAL COMMITTEE MEETING IS YOUR BEST SOURCE FOR THE LATEST IN WELDING

Find out what's the latest in welding, brazing and welder qualifications while you catch up with old friends, colleagues and make new acquaintances at the NCPWB Annual Technical Committee Meeting (Marco Island Beach Resort, FL, April 27-29). The program covers new developments in codes, technical issues, safety techniques, testing, certification and qualification methods and requirements presented by experts from all sectors of the industry. You can't afford to miss this important meeting, so don't! The full program and online registration is at www.mcaa.org/education/ncpwb.

LEARN HOW TO MOTIVATE EMPLOYEES TO INCREASE SALES - REGISTER FOR MSCA'S NEXT WEBINAR

Are you looking for ways to motivate your sales staff to increase service sales to new levels? In the third installment of MSCA's webinar series, The Path to Higher Margins Is Not Business as Usual, Wayne Turchetta of HMC Service Company (Louisville, KY) and Dave Bavisotto of Illingworth-Kilgust Mechanical (Madison, WI) will share proven techniques for success. The webinar will take place on April 9 at 1:00 p.m. Eastern time. There is no fee for MSCA and MCAA members as a benefit of membership. Please register at https://msca.webex.com.

PENSION REFORM - SOLUTIONS, NOT BAILOUTS - IS THE NO. 1 ISSUE AT THE 2014 NATIONAL ISSUES CONFERENCE

Make an important difference for your industry and its concerted effort to win multiemployer pension reform this year at the MCAA/Quality Construction Alliance National Issues Conference scheduled for April 30 - May 2 in Washington D.C. Pressing our industry's Solutions, Not Bailouts measure through this Congress by the end of the year is imperative. With a broad and effective labor/management coalition agreeing on a need for fundamental rebalancing of risk in the industry's multiemployer pension system for the first time, the chance for reform of the industry's multiemployer pension system hangs in the balance. Register at www.mcaa.org/education so you can learn more about this issue, the legislative solutions and how we can be successful in this important effort.

PREPARE FOR THE "BATTLE OF THE BUILDINGS" AT MSCA'S ENERGY SUMMIT

Benchmark an existing building, participate in a building walk-through, learn how to effectively identify energy conservation measures and prepare an energy service agreement at MSCA's Energy Summit (May 5-7, Pittsburgh, PA).The program includes a special presentation on the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) new Portfolio Manager and a demonstration of MSCA's Energy Solutions Profile (ESP) for creating custom energy reports. Taught by a team of seasoned mechanical service contractors and energy experts, you will learn about practical and proven techniques that can be used every day to successfully capture energy services business for your company. The program will provide you with skills you need to ensure a competitive advantage in the lucrative energy services market. This excellent program is one that you should not miss. Find out more and then register at www.mcaa.org/education/msca/energysummit.

HIRE A STUDENT INTERN AND APPLY FOR A 2014 STUDENT INTERNSHIP GRANT

You can make an important difference in the life of a college student who's seeking a rewarding career. By hiring a well-qualified student to work as an intern to help with estimating, project management or other professional tasks, you are providing that young person with an experience that could prove life-changing for you, your company and the intern. The intern gains valuable practical experience, knowledge and skills for his/her long-term career development and your company gains the fresh perspective and technology prowess of a rising young professional. And, after you hire the intern, apply for a 2014 Student Internship Grant. Made possible with funding provided by the Mechanical Contracting Education & Research Foundation (MCERF), the grants are administered by the MCAA Career Development Committee. Each grant is $1,200 and is intended to help MCAA members cover the intern's salary. Go to www.mcaa.org/careers for information and the link to the online application form. For more information, contact Ann Mattheis (amattheis@mcaa.org).

MCAA's next Green Building Webinar (April 17, 1:00 p.m. Eastern time) will focus on a LEED Platinum (pending) case study of a 110,000 square-foot new construction project performed by McKinstry Company (Seattle, WA). It included a dedicated outdoor air system (DOAS), active chilled beams, phase change thermal storage, rainwater treatment and performance guarantees for both water and energy performance. McKinstry's Matt Gregg will lead the webinar and share insights about how the technologies will improve the building's energy efficiency and environmental performance. This webinar is free to MCAA members as a benefit of membership; please register at https://mcaa.webex.com. For more information, please contact Sean McGuire (smcguire@mcaa.org).

The MCAA National Update is is a weekly publication of the
Mechanical Contractors Association of America
1385 Piccard Drive, Rockville, MD 20850.
Questions? Contact Ann Mattheis, Editor, Phone: 301-869-5800; Fax: 301-990-9690