Your News for October 5, 2015
MCAA Student Chapter Summit
MCAA's 2015 Summit Hit It Out of the Park

From the opening night display of dazzling new construction technologies to the unveiling of the new Student Chapter Competition project and the Mini Competition winners, MCAA's 2015 Student Chapter Summit was an unqualified success. Student chapters from across the U.S. and Canada came to Cleveland, OH, last week for "The Best of Next for Generation Next," two days of learning about the business of mechanical contracting and their career opportunities, networking, and experiencing two of Cleveland's most famous attractions - the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame and the Great Lakes Science Center. The main event was an exhibit of new and emerging technologies that are changing the way projects are designed and managed. Five innovators were on hand to introduce their products and help students "test drive" them. Featured speakers - construction technology futurist James Benham of JBKnowledge Consulting and Jennifer Davis of Davisware - "wowed" students, their chapter faculty advisors, contractors and others with their presentations about the new and emerging high-tech devices that are changing our industry for the better. Our thanks to the MCA of Cleveland for hosting this year's Summit and sponsors CNA, the MCA of Ontario, MMC Contractors, NIBCO, Pipe Fabrication Institute, Viega, Victaulic and Zurn Industries for helping make this Summit the best ever. Denver...here we come for the 2016 Student Chapter Summit.
MCAA-CQC Advocate for Procurement Reforms
MCAA/CQC Advocate for Procurement Reforms

MCAA and our partners in the Campaign for Quality Construction (CQC) are taking the lead in advocating for administrative reforms to make the President's Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces Executive Order (EO 13673) more workable for direct federal construction prime contractors and subcontractors. MCAA Government Affairs Committee Chairman William J. Albanese, Sr., took the lead witness chair at the House Small Business Committee's September 29 hearing. Speaking on behalf of MCAA/CQC, he voiced support for the EO's goal of achieving more careful pre-award screening procedures for direct federal construction primes and subs. He also requested added protections of subcontractor pre-award naming. Further, he noted that additional screening of legal compliance is needed in order to prevent abuses stemming from post-award bid shopping; peddling and mid- or late- project ineligibility determinations; and project changes and delays stemming from the current process, which allows prime contractors to conduct the sub screening process.
NFPA Safety Training Webinars Are Open for Registration
Arc Flash Training Webinar is a Life-Saver

The Qualified Level Arc Flash Safety Training Webinar teaches employees who work with and around electricity to prevent accidents, injuries and worse. The next webinar will take place on October 15, 8:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. Eastern time. The webinar trains and informs mechanical and service employees who are exposed to electricity from HVAC work, electrical maintenance, troubleshooting, voltage testing, fuse testing, verifying a zero energy state, infrared imaging, etc. It is also designed for those employees who manage or supervise electrical workers and safety/engineering professionals who manage the company's Electrical Safe Work Practices program. Presented by the Hilgeman Group, the session covers all applicable OSHA and NFPA requirements, best practices and provides participants with real-world accident information to reinforce the training.
Register for the AIPM Today!
PMs Learn New Tricks and Tips at AIPM

Things have changed a lot since your most experienced project managers starting running projects, and the Advanced Institute for Project Management (AIPM) (January 17-22, 2016, University of Texas in Austin, TX) is the best way for them to get up-to-date on advanced management practices. Graduates of the Institute of Project Management or seasoned project managers with considerable project management experience learn how to take on and address efficiently, effectively and successfully the issues that could otherwise be detrimental to their projects. This is an excellent learning opportunity that your top PMs should not pass up, and the class is offered only once each year.
MCAA-PAC
MCAA-PAC Support Grows with Substantial Contributions from Local Associations

MCAA-PAC support continues to grow with substantial contributions from MCAA local affiliates, members and peer groups. Most recently, the 18 members of the MCA of New Jersey's Board of Directors provided over $7,500 of support for MCAA political activity. They are the third local affiliate to achieve that goal this year. Earlier, the full boards of directors of the MCA of Connecticut and the ARCA/MCA backed MCAA's political action agenda. The members of MCAA's Association Executives Council (AEC) were challenged to provide 100 percent local backing for the PAC at their August meeting.
Political Activity Targets Key Candidates
Political Activity Targets Key House and Senate Candidates

In the lead-up to the 2016 election cycle, MCAA-PAC activity continues its pragmatic, bipartisan focus, providing backing for candidates and incumbents with proven records of supporting sound business policy for the construction industry. The New England MCA's recent support for Congressman Stephen Lynch (D-MA-08) is a prime example. Representative Lynch serves on several key committees with jurisdiction over important industry issues, including the House Financial Services Committee, where member interest in the proposed Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) pension liability disclosure rules were vetted several years ago, and the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, which has jurisdiction over many of MCAA's key procurement reform initiatives. Other key House and Senate candidates on the House Education and Workforce and Ways and Means Committees and Senate Labor and Finance Committees also have been beneficiaries of MCAA-PAC support.
The MCAA National Update is a weekly publication of the 
Mechanical Contractors Association of America.
Questions? Contact Ann Mattheis, Editor, or call 301-869-5800.
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