MCAA National Update for November 18, 2014

This Week

Learn What's Ahead in Construction Technology from James Benham at MCAA 2015

ALI Course 14 Graduates 36

Registered Yet for NFPA Arc Flash Safety Training Webinar?

Learn about New Business Opportunities with MSCA's Last Path to Higher Margins Webinar

MCA of Rockford Contributes to MCERF

Help Your Entry-Level Service Sales Personnel Excel with MSCA's Sales Basecamp

UA Congratulates First Graduates of Newest VIP Program

Learn What's Ahead in Construction Technology from James Benham at MCAA 2015

If your thoughts about making changes to your company's technology have been in the "cloud" lately, then plan to attend James Benham's sessionat MCAA 2015 (March 8-12, Wailea, Maui, HI). During that forum, he will share what's new and trending in construction technology and help you sort out the fads that will fade away from the long-term game changers that will affect how you operate far into the future. He'll address the issues raised recently with cloud computing and data security and adapting platforms, devices and applications to augmented reality and virtual BIM. And, he'll tell you about the latest construction solutions, including free web-based services and mobile applications that you can put into use immediately. Learn more about Benham and his session and the other business-building programs that will make MCAA 2015 our best convention ever at www.mcaa.org/mcaa2015 and then register. Time is running out to enjoy Early Bird savings of $300 per couple - November 26 is just around the corner. Great rooms are still available too!

ALI Course 14 Graduates 36

Last week, the Advanced Leadership Institute (ALI), MCAA's renowned educational offering for industry executives, celebrated the graduation of 36 industry leaders. With this latest group of graduates, 450 top industry executives have acquired the leadership and strategic planning skills that will help their companies reach even higher levels of success. A featured speaker at the graduation ceremony was MCAA 2011 President Mark Rogers (the first ALI graduate to become MCAA president) who shared his experience of establishing and building a contracting business and the importance of giving back to the industry by volunteering on association committees. Rogers, who started his rise to MCAA's top leadership position by serving on association committees and the Board of Directors, stressed the importance of volunteering at the local and national levels, the building blocks of current and future industry growth and development. If you are interested in finding out more about ALI and applying for a space in Course 15 (September 27-October 2 and November 8-13), please contact Dennis Langley (dlangley@mcaa.org).

Registered Yet for NFPA Arc Flash Safety Training Webinar?

It's just days away, but there's still time to sign up for the NFPA 70E Qualified-Level Arc Flash Safety Training Webinar; the next ones are scheduled for November 20 at 8:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. Eastern time. The webinar is designed for technicians and other employees who are potentially exposed to live conductors of 50 volts of electricity or more during their workday, and especially mechanical service technicians who work on units that generate up to 480 volts. Knowing about the hazards associated with exposure to electricity and how to avoid them could prevent injuries or worse. Presented by the Hilgeman Group, the session covers all applicable OSHA and NFPA requirements, best practices, NFPA's most recent changes to the 70E requirements and provides participants with accident prevention information to reinforce the training. Contact the Hilgeman Group (ahilgeman@frontier.com) to register.

Learn about New Business Opportunities with MSCA's Last Path to Higher Margins Webinar

In MSCA's final Path to Higher Margins is Not Business as Usual webinar (December 3 at 1:00 p.m. Eastern time), presenters Jaimi Lomas of A.O. Reed & Co. (San Diego, CA) and Adam Wallenstein of Neptune Plumbing & Heating Co. (Cleveland, OH) will teach participants how to stay relevant in an evolving industry as well as explore new technologies to integrate into their businesses. Developing new services to sell to current clients, such as energy and plumbing services, and building a loyalty program will also be discussed. This webinar is free for MCAA/MSCA members as a benefit. Please register at https://msca.webex.com.

MCA of Rockford Contributes to MCERF

The Mechanical Contracting Education & Research Foundation (MCERF) recently received $1,250 from the MCA of Rockford, with 50 percent of its donation going to MCERF Scholarships. The association's total donations are $21,250. The Foundation's Board of Trustees is very grateful for the contribution and the scholarship support which will enable MCERF industry-oriented education and research programs to continue. If you would like to learn more about MCERF and its activities, please visit www.mcerf.org.

Help Your Entry-Level Service Sales Personnel Excel with MSCA's Sales Basecamp

In this competitive and uncertain business landscape, the rules of sales and customer engagement have changed. Sales Basecamp (an MSCA Sales Institute program) was developed to prepare staff who are new to service sales and/or the HVACR industry with the skills necessary to confidently sell services while creating added value for the customer. Topics include understanding career path success, dimensions for building relationships and preparing for and managing the first meeting with a potential customer. Space is limited, so visit www.msca.org/salesinstitute/basecamp to sign-up today. Learn more information about this and other MSCA Sales Institute programs at www.msca.org/salesinstitute. Contact Barbara Dolim at bdolim@mcaa.org with any questions.

UA Congratulates First Graduates of Newest VIP Program

Last week, the United Association's Veterans in Piping (VIP) program congratulated the first eight graduates of the skills training course at Camp Lejeune, NC, the newest training facility for the program. All the graduates, who are U.S. Marines in transition to civilian life, received accelerated training for 18 weeks in either welding or HVACR and earned certified qualifications and college credit. Entrance to the accelerated training program is earned in a competitive application program. After finishing the course, the graduates will enter the UA's apprenticeship program. The UA started the VIP program in 2008 to help veterans find high paying jobs in the mechanical construction industry. Each VIP class has achieved a 100% post training job placement record for those completing the rigorous program. The VIP program is also offered at Camp Pendleton, CA, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WA, Fort Carson, CO, Fort Hood, TX and Fort Campbell, KY.

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Questions? Contact Ann Mattheis, Editor, Phone: 301-869-5800; Fax: 301-990-9690