Program
The MCAA Education Center will be staffed with MCAA Program Directors throughout the week who will be able to answer your questions about specific programs or simply provide information on MCAA’s many educational offerings. Stop by to find the perfect education solution for you and your company.
The winner will be announced during the Thursday Closing General Session.
- Sponsored by:
- NIBCO INC.
Tennis Schedule
6:30 AM – Shuttle Departs for Lake Cane Tennis Center
7:00 AM – Continental Breakfast & Check-In
8:00 AM – Warm-Up Drills
8:45 AM – Mixed Doubles/Round Robin
11:00 AM – Team Pictures
11:30 AM – Shuttle Returns to the JW Marriott Grande Lakes
Pickleball Schedule
6:30 AM – Shuttle Departs for Lake Cane Tennis Center
7:00 AM – Continental Breakfast & Check-In
8:00 AM – Rules, Demonstration & Practice
8:45 AM – Mixed Doubles/Round Robin
11:00 AM – Team Pictures
11:30 AM – Shuttle Returns to the JW Marriott Grande Lakes
The 47th Annual Round Robin Tennis & 3rd Annual Pickleball Tournament is always a fun convention event for enthusiasts of all ages and skill levels.
Please visit the following link for the Tennis & Pickleball registration.
Shuttle Schedule
6:30 a.m. – Shuttle #1 Arrives at JW Marriott
6:45 a.m. – Shuttle #1 Departs at JW Marriott
6:45 a.m. – Shuttle #1 Arrives at the Ritz-Carlton
7:00 a.m. – Shuttle #2 Arrives at JW Marriott
7:15 a.m. – Shuttle #2 Departs at JW Marriott
7:15 a.m. – Shuttle #1 Arrives at the Ritz-Carlton
Shuttles will be available at the end of the tournament to return to both hotels.
- Sponsored by:
- ASC Engineered Solutions
6:30 a.m. – 7:10 a.m. – Registration
6:30 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. – Continental Breakfast
7:10 a.m. – 7:20 a.m. – Warm Up Exercises
7:30 a.m. – Shot Gun Start
Enjoy the beauty of an Orlando morning as you embark on a competitive 5k run or a less competitive one-mile walk. From the complimentary t-shirt to the warm-up exercises to the continental breakfast, everyone—participants and spectators alike—has fun at this annual event. The race and walk start from the Valencia Lawn on property at the JW Marriott Grande Lakes.
Please visit the following link for the Fun Run & Walk registration.
- Sponsored by:
- Victaulic
- ,
- Carrier Corporation
6:40 a.m. – Shuttle Departs JW Marriott Lobby/Porte-cochere for Shingle Creek
7:00 a.m – Continental Breakfast
8:00 a.m – Shotgun Start
The Annual Golf Tournament will be held Sunday, March 17, 2024, with an 8:00 a.m. shotgun start. This year we will be playing two beautiful courses, The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club and Shingle Creek Golf Club.
The Central Florida landscape provided inspiration to legendary golf course designer Greg Norman, who worked with nature to create challenging greens, wide fairways and hazards of The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club. The 18-hold championship course is a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary and tests the abilities of every skill level. The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club also hosts the PNC Championship.
It is golf reinvented, legendary and far from typical. Designed by the renowned Arnold Palmer Design Company, strategy and variety are at the front and center of Shingle Creek Golf Club. Elevated greens and strategically placed bunkers are surrounded by enchanting flora and wildlife. Green complexes with fairway-cut surrounds or runoff areas give golfers of all levels more forgiveness and entertaining strategic options.
Please register for the tournament during the convention registration process. You will also have the opportunity to secure rental clubs and indicate your pairing preference.
The MCAA Education Center will be staffed with MCAA Program Directors throughout the week who will be able to answer your questions about specific programs or simply provide information on MCAA’s many educational offerings. Stop by to find the perfect education solution for you and your company.
The winner will be announced during the Thursday Closing General Session.
Students and faculty will have their own registration desk near Orientation. Schools arriving on Saturday may visit the Sports Desk (1:00 PM – 6:00 PM) for onsite Fun Run/Walk and Tennis/Pickleball registration.
- Sponsored by:
- Viega
Students and faculty will review program highlights, logistics and expectations with MCAA Career Development Committee Chair, Andrew Palcan and a panel of student chapter alumni. The Marco Polo matching game will return for a second year (with prizes) – don’t be late! This peer-to-peer networking game is somewhat chaotic, but that’s all part of the fun.
Anne Finerfrock – Panel Moderator
W.E. Bowers – Vice President
Justin Blackledge
The Waldinger Corporation – Project Manager
(University of Nebraska Alumni)
Andrew Palcan
Helm Group – Project Manager
(Milwaukee School of Engineering Alumni)
Sabrina Pavlova
Springfield Engineering Company – Project Manager / Estimator
(Missouri State University Alumni)
Student chapter members and advisors are encouraged to stick around following orientation to continue building their peer-to-peer relationships. Anyone involved with a student chapter or who wants to be involved is welcome to attend. This includes:
- Alumni – participated in a student chapter
- Industry Advisors – local association executives
- Student Chapter Ambassadors – contractors who mentor student chapters
- Student Chapter Competition Advisors – contractors specifically tasked with being a competition resource for a chapter
If this is your first MCAA Convention, then this is the place to be! You will have the opportunity to network with other first timers as well as MCAA’s Board of Directors, Past Presidents and National Staff. The overall convention schedule will be discussed, highlighting the things you absolutely do not want to miss throughout the week.
- Sponsored by:
- EVAPCO, Inc.
- ,
- SIEMENS
- ,
- Uponor
Souvenir Photos Sponsored by EVAPCO, Inc.
Beverages Sponsored by SIEMENS
Dinner Sponsored by Uponor
- Sponsored by:
- SIEMENS
- ,
- Uponor
Immediately following the Opening Party, we will continue the festivities on the Valencia Lawn for an assortment of Carnival themed desserts and a special fireworks show to honor President Beck, held exclusively for MCAA attendees.
- Sponsored by:
- Viega
Curious which chapters are at MCAA24? Stop by the Connection Corner lounge to network with students during session breaks and note the “We’re Here” banner for a listing of represented universities.
New to MCAA24, this space is perfect for both contractor/student casual employment conversations as well as student peer-to-peer meetups for chapters looking to discuss best practices and share ideas. Blank business cards will be available as an easy way to share contact information.
The MCAA Education Center will be staffed with MCAA Program Directors throughout the week who will be able to answer your questions about specific programs or simply provide information on MCAA’s many educational offerings. Stop by to find the perfect education solution for you and your company.
Start the week off with President Robert Beck’s reflections on the past year and what he envisions for MCAA’s future, followed by remarks from United Association General President Mark McManus on the UA’s initiatives.
Jocko Willink is a retired U.S. Navy SEAL officer, co-author of the #1 New York Times bestseller Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win and The Dichotomy of Leadership, host of the top-rated Jocko Podcast and co-founder of Echelon Front, where he serves as Chief Executive Officer, leadership instructor, speaker and strategic advisor. He spent 20 years in the SEAL Teams, starting as an enlisted SEAL and rising through the ranks to become a SEAL officer and commander of SEAL Team Three’s Task Unit Bruiser. Task Unit Bruiser became the most highly decorated Special Operations Unit of the Iraq War. Willink returned from Iraq to serve as Officer-in-Charge of training for all West Coast SEAL Teams. There, he spearheaded the development of leadership training and personally instructed and mentored the next generation of SEAL leaders.
The Ritz Kids Club is currently full. Any parent wishing to enroll their child should stop by the MCAA Registration & Information Center to check for last minute openings.
- Sponsored by:
- Apollo Valves
We all have times in our personal and professional relationships when we’re disappointed in the way people interact with us or treat us. Times when the reality of a situation doesn’t align with the version or outcome we expected, and that’s very frustrating. Unfortunately, many of these cases occur when we have unknowingly handed over the power we have within us to manage our emotions and fail to align our expectations with reality. In this enlightening presentation, Dr. Conte shows how we can use that power we all have within us to build strong relationships, smooth over conflict and maintain a sense of self-worth.
We are all endowed with gifts, talents and abilities that are uniquely ours. Unfortunately, we don’t always recognize our value or understand the positive impact we can make on the world. Stop resisting, ignoring and hiding your gifts. Learn the mindset and the skills to embrace your inner light and be the STAR you were born to be.
Learn to:
- Embrace your natural talents and unique gifts
- Understand how working on your strengths instead of your weaknesses can explode your impact
- Find the freedom to explore your true capacity
- Sponsored by:
- Baltimore Aircoil Company
In today’s world, contractual risk shifting provisions are one of the biggest challenges to the successful completion of every commercial contract. What you don’t know can and will hurt you! This seminar will focus on how to find the risk shifting provisions buried in the hundreds of pages of contract documents, how to negotiate reasonable modifications and how to manage those risks during the construction process.
No business is without risk, but the mechanical and service contractor industry takes on a new level of daily surprises, controversies and obstacles. We can all relate to any of the following: industry-wide staffing shortages, supply chain issues, crazy schedules and difficult clients. A workday can be drastically upended in a moment’s notice.
By attending this seminar, you will become part of a peer driven interactive discussion on how to navigate the risks we all face daily. Led by a panel of industry leaders who have collectively navigated many industry challenges, we will share experiences and gained insight into successfully managing our daily risks and maybe even discover a few best practices to implement.
The winner will be announced during the Thursday Closing General Session.
- Sponsored by:
- SLOAN
This program is designed to help participants:
- Achieve greater results by eliminating “ordinary” thinking and mastering the habit of excellence.
- Own the moments that matter (and they all matter) by taking responsibility for their attitude, their actions and their results.
- Create meaningful relationships and deliver an extraordinary experience for every “customer” at work and at home.
Lunch will be served.
- Sponsored by:
- Apollo Valves
We all have times in our personal and professional relationships when we’re disappointed in the way people interact with us or treat us. Times when the reality of a situation doesn’t align with the version or outcome we expected, and that’s very frustrating. Unfortunately, many of these cases occur when we have unknowingly handed over the power we have within us to manage our emotions and fail to align our expectations with reality. In this enlightening presentation, Dr. Conte shows how we can use that power we all have within us to build strong relationships, smooth over conflict and maintain a sense of self-worth.
Decide, Believe, Take Action is about finding strength and clarity amid chaos, facing obstacles head-on and turning them into advantages. It offers inspiration and practical tools to remain resilient against any obstacles.
Audiences will acquire tools to:
- View challenging situations differently
- Move past their fears and doubts to accomplish goals
- Renew determination toward ambitions
- Be more successful in any area of life
Join us as Dr. Christopher Thornberg navigates the nuanced intersections between the construction industry and the broader economy, offering his expert (and often irreverent) analysis on how economic trends will shape the future of these sectors. Thornberg—with his legacy of correct calls and expertise in forecasting, policy, labor and real estate markets—will engage in conversation with top industry leaders for a lively and data-packed session. This is an opportunity to glean actionable perspectives and strategic foresight that will empower your business through 2024 and beyond.
Chat GPT. LLM. Generative AI. AI/ML. Bard. LLaMA. We have seen an explosion of new tools leveraging various forms of artificial intelligence entering the construction industry. AI experts and evangelists have painted both doomsday and transcendent pictures of how AI will change human life in the upcoming years. While Generative AI may not directly take your job anytime soon, a Project Manager using AI just might.
Join this session to get an overview of AI, learn how this technology is being incorporated into construction projects and most importantly, learn some practical tools and applications for AI that you can start leveraging today during estimating, design, Project Management and construction. Whether you’re an AI novice still stuck on the concept of a Smart Watch or a tech enthusiast who is already living in the construction VR/AR Matrix, this session is for you. Join us, and let’s turn this impending AI-pocalypse into a career opportunity. After all, if you can’t beat ’em, confuse ’em and then control ’em! This is the session that everyone will be talking about.
All graduates of the Advanced Leadership Institute are encouraged to attend this reception, where they can reconnect with classmates and network with grads from other years. This is a chance reminisce, to meet the committee who oversee the program and to learn more about how we are continuing the ALI tradition with our new home at the University of North Carolina.
Come learn more about MCAA’s Women in the Mechanical Industry (WiMI) initiative, our local WiMI committees and our annual WiMI conference. This is a great opportunity for all attendees to visit with and meet new MCAA peers and show support for WiMI’s mission of bringing more women into the industry and fostering growth of the talented women currently part of the MCAA family.
The winner will be announced during the Thursday Closing General Session.
The MCAA Education Center will be staffed with MCAA Program Directors throughout the week who will be able to answer your questions about specific programs or simply provide information on MCAA’s many educational offerings. Stop by to find the perfect education solution for you and your company.
Come see the latest products and services emerging in our industry. Representatives of MCAA’s Manufacturer/Supplier Council will be available to meet and discuss experiences with their products and services.
This is your opportunity to gain new insights and knowledge about how your business can grow with products and services that cut costs, save time and reduce errors. You’ll learn how innovation could move you ahead of your competition and onto new levels of success. You may even discover a new approach to using software or a device in the office, or in the field, that will significantly increase productivity and bottom-line results.
It’s all about relationship building. At MCAA, our Manufacturer/Supplier Council members are equal members of our association and participate in many events. Their executives build deep and lasting relationships with many of our contractor members. Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with them!
A continental breakfast will be available.
Students looking for internships, co-ops or full-time positions will be wearing “Hire Me” pins throughout MCAA24. Three tables will be set up outside the M/SC Exhibit with students eager to learn about employment opportunities at your company. The tables will be geographically split by west, central and east. Make your way over to the area that best represents your company and find your next great hire!
The Ritz Kids Club is currently full. Any parent wishing to enroll their child should stop by the MCAA Registration & Information Center to check for last minute openings.
- Sponsored by:
- Viega
Curious which chapters are at MCAA24? Stop by the Connection Corner lounge to network with students during session breaks and note the “We’re Here” banner for a listing of represented universities.
New to MCAA24, this space is perfect for both contractor/student casual employment conversations as well as student peer-to-peer meetups for chapters looking to discuss best practices and share ideas. Blank business cards will be available as an easy way to share contact information.
- Sponsored by:
- Ferguson
Doors Open at 9:45 AM
Brunch Served 10:00 AM – 10:30 AM
- Sponsored by:
- Women in the Mechanical Industry
In today’s ever-changing business climate, your attendees’ roles have evolved far past their job descriptions. They face a volatile external environment, encounter pressure to stay relevant to customers, experience challenging workforce issues and are being asked to do a lot more with a lot less. All of this is asking them to be innovators. The big question is, are they doing it the hard way or the easy way?
Diana will share the key skills and habits that make innovation easier and a lot more fun. And she’ll empower attendees to harness the power of curiosity to unlock new possibilities and drive business growth. Attendees will leave this keynote identifying as innovators and seeking opportunities to use their new skills.
Attendees will learn:
- How to institutionalize curiosity, asking better questions to stay competitive and relevant to your customers
- How to determine blind spots within your organization and avoid falling into the “expert trap”
- How to create a more innovative culture that leads to results and drives growth
Join us as we talk about the benefits and pitfalls of these four National Agreements: National Service Maintenance (NSM), Pipe Fabrication Agreement (PFA), National Construction Agreement (NCA/General Presidents Agreement) and the National Maintenance Agreement (NMA).
- Sponsored by:
- PCA
Learn the essential steps to grow and expand your plumbing service business in this session led by PCA Board members John Geiling, Kori Gormley-Huppert and Michael Wallenstein.
Attend this session and gain invaluable knowledge to take your service business to new heights. This session includes key factors required for expanding plumbing services, while also sharing insights on:
- The right set up: How to set your business up to expand into plumbing service
- The key to plumbing service sales: How to convert service calls into sales opportunities
- Get your team in place: How to hire the right dispatcher
Witness our industry’s emerging leaders as they compete in the Annual MCAA Student Chapter Competition. Four teams will compete for a total prize package of $26,500, with the first-place team going home with $10,000! These accomplished students secured their Final Four spot by submitting a written proposal that rose to the top of 25+ chapter submissions for a real-world project bid (contributed by MMC Contractors of Kansas City, MO).
Students will display their impressive presentation skills and insightful knowledge of mechanical systems as they take the stage for Round 2 of the competition. Following their 10-minute formal presentation, each team will be put on the spot for a live round of Q&A from the judges.
Don’t miss your opportunity to vote for the MVP – Most Valuable Presenter.
The MCAA Education Center will be staffed with MCAA Program Directors throughout the week who will be able to answer your questions about specific programs or simply provide information on MCAA’s many educational offerings. Stop by to find the perfect education solution for you and your company.
- Sponsored by:
- MILWAUKEE TOOL
Doors Open at 6:45 AM
Breakfast Served 7:00 AM – 7:30 AM
The winner will be announced during the Thursday Closing General Session.
Can micromanagement be effective? Are there better ways to build and manage a team in this rapidly changing world? This session will explore one leader’s journey from looking over everyone’s shoulder to building a purpose-driven team.
Most mechanical contractors have a service element inside the construction focused operation. This may be through a start-up department or warrantee concerns. This session will dive into how to operate a true core service group within a construction focused business. This panel is made up of people who drive service operations in large construction facing organizations.
Discussion topics will include:
- The difference between service and construction
- How these two elements of the business address labor needs, gross profit and burden costs
- Service could be a recession-proof focus for a construction company
- How successful service businesses function in a construction minded world
- The difference between a service and construction customer
- Sponsored by:
- MCAA’s Management Methods
A captive insurance group in the construction industry involves a consortium of construction companies that create their own insurance company to cover their collective risks. This approach allows them to tailor coverage to their specific needs, often resulting in cost savings, better risk management and improved claims handling. By pooling resources, these companies can gain greater control over their insurance, mitigate risks effectively and potentially enjoy financial advantages through reduced premiums and investment income. This approach requires careful management and compliance with regulatory requirements, but it can offer substantial benefits for construction firms.
The Manufacturer/Supplier Council wants MCAA members to grow, compete and thrive. We are building awareness of the emerging Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) regulatory framework that is inevitable in our daily lives. Join subject matter experts, contractors and manufacturer and supplier members to bring awareness, learn of the resources available to you and the next steps you can take.
Can micromanagement be effective? Are there better ways to build and manage a team in this rapidly changing world? This session will explore one leader’s journey from looking over everyone’s shoulder to building a purpose-driven team.
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if there was a simple solution to the current workforce supply issue that could also ensure the next generation has the skills, leadership experience and training your company is looking to translate onto future projects? If you haven’t ever considered an intern, you’re creating roadblocks when you could be revving your company’s engines across the bridge to success.
Panel discussions include:
- Redlight/Greenlight: When to search for/hire an intern? Whatever you do, don’t be stuck ‘ghosting’ them on yellow!
- Tune Up: What does Gen Z really want? Are you offering the right perks and speaking their language in your offers?
- Utilize GPS: Grow your company by Promoting the industry to Students… fellow MCAA Members aren’t the enemy, help make connections.
- Know When to Consult a Map: Utilize available resources such as the new MCAA Internship Guide and don’t be scared to pull out the Hot Sauce Guide as your compass.
Interact with this contractor-led session to educate and share best practices on creating a solid foundation by following standard operating procedures. Creating strong company SOPs, such as the candidate screening process, working with current employees, the preconstruction aspect, operations, specific standards for fabrication, VDC, service, budget development, etc., is what sets successful companies apart from others.
At MCAA24 registered kids (and adults too!) will have the opportunity to participate in an exclusive meet and greet with some of nature’s coolest critters. Join Sid the Sloth, Swampy the Alligator, Blu and Bird and Sonic the Hedgehog for photographs and fun facts about their lives in the wild.
Join this interactive session to learn and discuss the current demographics of trades across the United States. What are you seeing? What are the motivators? Does technology fit into your job? How can we handle the demographic changes? What are the best practices moving forward?
Join your friends and colleagues at the Closing Reception hosted by MILWAUKEE TOOL, the perfect prequel to the Closing Dinner & Concert. Everyone is sure to have a good time watching the sun set on another magical convention.
The Ritz Kids Club is currently full. Any parent wishing to enroll their child should stop by the MCAA Registration & Information Center to check for last minute openings.
- Sponsored by:
- Daikin Group – Beverages
- ,
- Watts Water Technologies – Dinner
- Sponsored by:
- Daikin Group – Beverages
Over the course of 35 years, the Toronto quartet has sold 15 million records worldwide and built up an arsenal of hits such as “If I Had $1,000,000,” “One Week,” “Pinch Me” and “The Big Bang Theory Theme.” Widely acknowledged as one of the best live acts on the planet, Barenaked Ladies has hosted a cruise, had its own ice cream flavor, won eight JUNO Awards and was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 2018. In 2021, the band released their latest album, “Detour de Force.” The band is currently in the studio working on their 17th studio album.
Closing General Session Speaker Sponsored by Zurn Elkay Water Solutions.
MCAA President Robert Beck will pass the gavel to his successor Rick Gopffarth, who will share his vision for the year ahead. We will recognize our outgoing and incoming Board of Directors and our new MCAA officers will be presented to the membership.
Our closing general session continues with one of the most sought-after mentalists in the world. Oz Pearlman amazed the country on TV’s #1 rated show, America’s Got Talent. Week after week, he performed mind blowing mentalism routines never seen before and quickly became a fan favorite, winning third place out of thousands of acts. His client list reads like a who’s who of politicians, professional athletes, A-list celebrities and Fortune 500 companies. Pearlman has appeared on the TODAY Show, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, Harry Connick Jr. Show, Rachael Ray, Dr. Oz, CNBC Squawk Box, ABC World News, ESPN, CNBC, NFL Network, Bravo, Fox Business and many more. In 2018, he had his own TV special on a major national network that won an Emmy Award the following year. Pearlman’s unique blend of mind reading and mentalism creates an interactive experience redefining the very nature of a magic show… one that truly needs to be seen to be believed!