Your News for May 2, 2016
MCAA Construction Technology Conference
MCAA Construction Technology Conference to Feature Real Solutions from Innovations

Contractors who are trying to compete in 2016 face challenges with technologies that were not even around five years ago. Mobile technology, total stations, project management software, cloud storage, BIM software, apps and software security have changed the way that competitive contractors are doing business today. To stay abreast of all the changes facing our industry, attend the 2016 Construction Technology Conference in Indianapolis, IN, on June 6-7. MCAA has brought together some of the industry's best experts - James Benham, Rob McKinney, and BuiltWorlds - to give your business a reality check. Case studies from such innovative contractors as Chris Weaver from Andy J. Egan Company (Grand Rapids, MI) and Britton Langdon from Modern Piping (Cedar Rapids, IA) will also showcase how leading edge contractors are developing internal solutions to earn a competitive advantage. Registration for the conference has not yet sold out, but space is limited. Click on the link below to learn more.
Safety Week 2016 Logo
MCAA Celebrates Safety Week Year-Round with Safety Resources

Safety Week, a celebration of safe work practices by national and global construction firms, takes place this week. While MCAA applauds the focus on safe work practices that this special week brings to all construction firms, safety is a top priority for MCAA and its members throughout the year. And, since MCAA launched its Safety Excellence Initiative in 1997, the association has developed, produced, and provided to members for free as a benefit of membership more than 100 mechanical industry-specific safety and health resources, such as safety training videos, model programs, toolbox safety talks, safety manuals, and safety and health guides. Our library of safety resources continues to grow as health and safety issues arise that require attention by our members and their employees. During this week, take time to emphasize the critical importance of safety on the job to your employees using these tools. Need a safety resource to enhance your talks with employees? Check the link below for our listing of safety resources.
Boost Your Safety Leadership Skills

As part of the 2016 Safety Week celebration, MCAA is presenting a webinar on Building Safety Engagement: How to Get Everything You Want at Work (and in Life) on May 5 at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Led by Dr. John Austin, an internationally recognized coach of business leaders on safety and human performance, the webinar will address common causes of low attention and interest in safety. You will learn about the primary drivers of behavior and which of those you may be able to influence, proven ways to change behavior and actionable ideas that will help you enhance your employees' engagement in safe work practices. This webinar is free to MCAA/MSCA members as a benefit of membership. Click on the link below to register.
PCA Plumbing Pod Tackles Service Truck Inventory

If keeping your plumbing service trucks stocked with the right equipment for the right jobs has proven to be more challenging than it should, then check out this week's Plumbing Pod. Ed Gormley of Gormley Plumbing & Heating (McMinnville, OR) shares tips for inventory management, standardized tools, and software that can be used to help service calls run more smoothly. Click on the link below to download this episode.
MCAA President Tom Stone Addressed UA's Tripartite Conference, Honored General President Bill Hite

During the United Association's Eighth Annual Tripartite Conference last week, MCAA President Tom Stone highlighted the best-value proposition MCAA employers and UA labor present for construction owners nationwide. President Stone's remarks also included a video of the MCAA Lifetime Achievement Award presentation to General President Hite at the association's 2016 convention. U.S. Labor Secretary Tom Perez also addressed the group and lauded the labor/management collaboration between MCAA and the UA nationally and locally as a model for widespread deployment in other U.S. industries. Secretary Perez also commended the UA for its leadership in helping address and remedy the water contamination crisis in Flint, MI. He expressed strong support for prevailing wage law enforcement efforts and the Department of Labor's efforts to crack down on widespread wage fraud nationally perpetrated by worker misclassification. North America Building Trades Union (NABTU) President Sean McGarvey also addressed the conference, highlighting a new NABTU initiative to promote the deployment of pension plan investment policies that would yield high returns in projects using union labor.
Nominate Your Management Innovation for the Next E. Robert Kent Award

Great ideas, like BP PIPES, this year's E. Robert Kent Award winner, deserve recognition and, even more important, should be shared so others may benefit. That's the reasoning behind the E. Robert Kent Award for Management Innovation. Named for an industry leader who believed strongly that innovative ideas, when shared, drive industry growth and advancement, the award shines a spotlight on a unique management technique, procedure, system or process that helps a company overcome a challenge or issue in the office or in the field. If your company has devised such an innovation, nominate it for the next E. Robert Kent Award. The winner of this distinguished honor not only receives industry accolades, but also benefits from the publicity that results. Commercial products are not eligible for this award. Nominations are due to MCAA by October 3. Click on the link below for more information and the nomination form.
Arc Flash Safety
Arc Flash Training Webinar is a Life-Saver

Knowing how to avoid accidents with electricity could save the life of an employee. Make sure all your employees who work with or around electricity take the safety training offered by the Arc Flash Training Webinar. The next webinar, on May 19, 8:00 a.m. or 1:00 p.m. Eastern time, is specifically designed for 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. Employees who manage or supervise electrical workers and safety/engineering professionals who manage the company's Electrical Safe Work Practices program will also benefit from this training. The session covers all applicable OSHA and NFPA requirements, best practices and real-world accident information. It's one of the best investments you can make all year. Click on the link below to sign up.
MCAA Great Futures Logo
Hiring a Student Intern is a Great Investment

Hiring a student intern will benefit your company in many ways. First, a student intern is comfortable using new technologies that can help your business. He or she may offer different ideas about how to manage tough office or field challenges. Students are eager to learn and put to work what they've learned in school about our industry. Most important, you may discover a potential full-time future employee. And, MCAA members who hire student interns also qualify for an Internship Grant from the Mechanical Contracting Education & Research Foundation, $1,200 each for up to two interns hired. Click below to go to the MCERF website and the internship grant application link. And, if you're looking for a great candidate to fill an intern position, click on the link below for the resume postings on our MCAAGreatFutures.org website.
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Mid-Atlantic MCA Contributes to MCERF

The Mechanical Contracting Education & Research Foundation (MCERF) recently received a $5,000 donation from the Mid-Atlantic MCA, raising its total contributions to $41,000. The Foundation's Board of Trustees greatly appreciates the contribution and the support of its ongoing education and research programs. Find out more about MCERF's programs by clicking on the link below.
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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