Program

The MCAA Board of Directors Reception will be held at Sage Court from 5:30pm – 6:15pm.

Dinner will be held at Tia Carmen from 6:30pm – 9:00pm.

The MCAA Board of Directors breakfast will be held in Wildflower Ballroom A from 7:00am – 8:00am.

The meeting will be held in Wildflower Ballrooms B & C from 8:00am – 12:00pm.

Golf Tournament Sponsored by Victaulic & Carrier Corporation

Fun Run/Walk Sponsored by ASC Engineered Solutions

Tennis & Pickleball Sponsored by NIBCO INC.

Stop by the PAC fundraiser to purchase chances to win a guitar autographed by Matchbox Twenty!

Raffle tickets will be sold in the following denominations:
$50/1 ticket
$250/6 tickets
$500/15 tickets.

The winner will be awarded the guitar at the Thursday morning Closing General Session.

6:00 am – Registration

6:00 am – Continental Breakfast

6:30 am – Warm-up Exercises

7:00 am – Shotgun Start

7:00 am – Continental Breakfast

8:00 am – Shotgun Start

Faldo Championship Course
Sponsored by Victaulic

The Faldo Course plays up to 6,846 yards and offers an inspired variation of the typical desert-themed course. The course features generous fairways, large greens and 108 bunkers. The surrounding mountains and cacti become the backdrop for a championship round.

Palmer Signature Course
Sponsored by Carrier Corporation

The Palmer Course plays up to 7,145 yards and provides an unmatched scenic golfing experience. The flashed bunkering on Palmer is superb and the putting greens carry plenty of undulation, like many Arnold Palmer designs.

Both courses are on property at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge and pairings will be available at MCAA’s Sports Desk on Saturday, March 25.

Stop by the PAC fundraiser to purchase chances to win a guitar autographed by Matchbox Twenty!

Raffle tickets will be sold in the following denominations:
$50/1 ticket
$250/6 tickets
$500/15 tickets.

The winner will be awarded the guitar at the Thursday morning Closing General Session.

Tennis Schedule

7:00 am – Check-in and Breakfast

8:00 am – Warm-up Drills

8:45 am – Mixed Doubles/Round Robin

11:00 am – Team Pictures

Pickleball Schedule

7:00 am – Check-in and Breakfast

8:00 am – Rules, Demonstration, Practice

8:45 am – Mixed Doubles/Round Robin

11:00 am – Team Pictures

Students and faculty will have their own registration desk in the same place as Orientation. Schools arriving on Saturday may pop over to the Sports Desk for on-site Fun Run, Tennis and Pickleball registration.

Faculty and industry advisors (local association executives) will discuss MCAA23 policies and recommendations for their student members. Advisors will also learn about plans for the GreatFutures Forum, available scholarships and grants, as well as new resources being developed by the Career Development Committee.

Students and faculty will review program highlights and logistics, as well as hear from Student Chapter alumni (Shaabini Alford, Alexis Brown and Sarabeth Gandara) on tips and tricks to make the most of every minute of the Convention experience. Orientation will conclude with a new peer-to-peer networking game (with prizes).

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.

Did you know our first student chapter was chartered in 1993? MCAA Student Chapter alumni from the past 30 years (1993-2023) are invited to grab a beverage, strike up a conversation about ways to support current students in your local area and meet fellow alumni during the inaugural MCAA Student Chapter Alumni Reception.

Souvenir Photos Sponsored by EVAPCO, Inc.

Beverages Sponsored by SIEMENS

Dinner Sponsored by Uponor

Let MCAA whisk you away to the early 1960s during this year’s Opening Party featuring the sounds of the Rat Pack and the old Hollywood glamour they were famous for. Whether a cold martini, a relaxing cigar or a delectable steak is your vice, you’ll enjoy swaying to the sounds of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis, Jr. in the official kick-off party of MCAA23. Don’t forget to commemorate the evening with a souvenir photo!

You will hear President Robert M. Bolton’s reflections on MCAA’s present and future and enjoy our keynote speaker, Mike Rowe. He is a writer, narrator, producer, recording artist, Emmy-Award-winning TV Host, New York Times best-selling author and the CEO of the mikeroweWORKS Foundation. As the creator and host of Dirty Jobs, Mike is best known as “the dirtiest man on TV.” In his role as a perpetual apprentice, Mike has highlighted hundreds of workers in dozens of essential industries. His foundation has awarded over six million dollars in work ethic scholarships to nearly 1,500 men and women, and his commitment to reinvigorate the skilled trades is unrivaled.

Stop by the PAC fundraiser to purchase chances to win a guitar autographed by Matchbox Twenty!

Raffle tickets will be sold in the following denominations:
$50/1 ticket
$250/6 tickets
$500/15 tickets.

The winner will be awarded the guitar at the Thursday morning Closing General Session.

Support the John R. Gentille Foundation as you swing away on our virtual links. The John R. Gentille Foundation longest drive contest will test your form and your strength, so stop by more than once and give it your best swing.

A $25 contribution will get you four swings in the contest. Winners will be acknowledged at the Thursday Morning Closing General Session with gift cards to Golf Galaxy ($1,000/first place, $500/second place, $250/third place).

Why do we organize the way we do? Why do we run meetings the way we do? Why do we use the words we use when communicating and asking questions? Turns out most of us are using language, meeting formats and organizational design inherited from the industrial age when the leaders were the thinkers, and the workers were the doers.

Based on the Wall Street Journal Bestseller, “Leadership is Language,” David Marquet explores the origins of our language at work, how it was shaped by the industrial age and the language we want to use in its place. This is something your organization needs to hear now more than ever.

Be honest, is your company ready for the next recession? Even if you don’t believe you need to prepare for a global economic downturn, what about a recession that hits only your business? Like losing your biggest client or a superstar employee?

You want to do more than survive a recession. You want to leverage it, profit and grow your business 10 times. In this interactive session, you will learn about the five Recession.com Gears:

• Gear 1: ASSESS – Benchmark your company’s preparedness
• Gear 2: TUNE – Tighten up your business and personal affairs
• Gear 3: ACCELERATE – Plan to pounce in the recession
• Gear 4: RACE – Capitalize on growth opportunities
• Gear 5: PRACTICE – Practice the plan with your team and review it regularly
• EMERGENCY BRAKE: Cut overhead to stay profitable

During the Rock the Recession education seminar, you won’t just listen to a speaker. You will start building an actual plan you can take with you.

In this interactive session about cyber security, you will hear from two experts who will touch on the following topics:

• The current state of cyber security in the world of the crane industry.
• Cyber insurance, false hopes!
• Case studies … what is going on?
• What can you do, what can you afford NOT to do?
• Plan, prepare and stay ahead of the bad guys!
• Pay now or pay later … NOW is cheaper … “but pay you will” … Yoda.

You and your business cannot afford to miss this session!

Join MCAA Executive Committee members Robert Beck and Rick Gopffarth and MCAA Past Presidents Brian Helm and Mark Rogers for an open and in-depth discussion on the productivity, profits and risks that affect our businesses.

From skilled labor shortages and supply chain issues to accelerated project schedules and difficult contractual terms, risk in today’s mechanical industry comes in many forms. Through a combined 135 years of industry experience, Beck, Gopffarth, Helm and Rogers will share the successes and failures they faced while creating profitable and successful mechanical contracting firms.

Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of an open forum and discussion with these industry leaders. Learn the dos and don’ts, get answers to your questions and leave with some fantastic takeaways you can implement to ensure your company’s success.

Two leadership representatives from each chapter are encouraged to attend and share ideas to assist MCAA’s Career Development Committee in planning relevant educational sessions at Convention and the GreatFutures Forum. This is your chance to tell us what you need to elevate both your local and national student chapter experience.

Why do we organize the way we do? Why do we run meetings the way we do? Why do we use the words we use when communicating and asking questions? Turns out most of us are using language, meeting formats and organizational design inherited from the industrial age when the leaders were the thinkers, and the workers were the doers.

Based on the Wall Street Journal Bestseller, “Leadership is Language,” David Marquet explores the origins of our language at work, how it was shaped by the industrial age and the language we want to use in its place. This is something your organization needs to hear now more than ever.

Be honest, is your company ready for the next recession? Even if you don’t believe you need to prepare for a global economic downturn, what about a recession that hits only your business? Like losing your biggest client or a superstar employee?

You want to do more than survive a recession. You want to leverage it, profit and grow your business 10 times. In this interactive session, you will learn about the five Recession.com Gears:

• Gear 1: ASSESS – Benchmark your company’s preparedness
• Gear 2: TUNE – Tighten up your business and personal affairs
• Gear 3: ACCELERATE – Plan to pounce in the recession
• Gear 4: RACE – Capitalize on growth opportunities
• Gear 5: PRACTICE – Practice the plan with your team and review it regularly
• EMERGENCY BRAKE: Cut overhead to stay profitable

During the Rock the Recession education seminar, you won’t just listen to a speaker. You will start building an actual plan you can take with you.

Rapid digitization of the industry has been providing a lot of opportunities for contractors to realize productivity gains. Unfortunately, with every new product, tool or innovation, reality can take a bit of time to catch up with the potential that we are sold.

This panel will discuss a series of topics, identifying some of the potential, the hype and sharing case studies of implementation and the exasperation contractors face when trying to adapt to new technologies.

In this interactive session about cyber security, you will hear from two experts who will touch on the following topics:

• The current state of cyber security in the world of the crane industry.
• Cyber insurance, false hopes!
• Case studies … what is going on?
• What can you do, what can you afford NOT to do?
• Plan, prepare and stay ahead of the bad guys!
• Pay now or pay later … NOW is cheaper … “but pay you will” … Yoda.

You and your business cannot afford to miss this session!

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.

Student chapter members looking for internships, co-ops or full-time positions will be wearing “Hire Me” pins throughout MCAA23. Three tables will be set up in the Manufacturer/Supplier Council Exhibit with students eager to learn about employment opportunities at your company. The tables will be split geographically: West, Central and East. Make your way over to the area that best represents your company and find your next great hire!

Come see the latest products and services that are emerging in our industry. MCAA Manufacturer/Supplier Council members 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. Explore innovative products that save time and reduce errors. 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. Company executives build deep and lasting relationships with many contractor members. Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with them!

A continental breakfast will be available.

Support the John R. Gentille Foundation as you swing away on our virtual links. The John R. Gentille Foundation longest drive contest will test your form and your strength, so stop by more than once and give it your best swing.

A $25 contribution will get you four swings in the contest. Winners will be acknowledged at the Thursday Morning Closing General Session with gift cards to Golf Galaxy ($1,000/first place, $500/second place, $250/third place).

Stop by the PAC fundraiser to purchase chances to win a guitar autographed by Matchbox Twenty!

Raffle tickets will be sold in the following denominations:
$50/1 ticket
$250/6 tickets
$500/15 tickets.

The winner will be awarded the guitar at the Thursday morning Closing General Session.

Former White House press secretary, political commentator, podcaster and New York Times best-selling author Dana Perino is a well-revered voice on current events, politics and foreign policy. Perino served as White House press secretary, the second woman to hold that position and the first to do so in a Republican administration. She is a mainstay of Fox News programming, previously anchoring The Daily Briefing, now co-hosting The Five as well as co-anchoring America’s Newsroom. Perino is often a featured panelist for election coverage and is known by fans as “the voice of reason.” Born in Wyoming, where her family still ranches, Perino offers unique insights from her time in the White House and as a journalist. Perino frequently speaks about crisis communications, cultivating the qualities of leadership and the key issues facing companies and organizations in today’s political climate.

As a former in-house recruiter, Colene Rogers will take attendees on a journey of learning not just why employees stay or go but what to do to make them want to stay.

No single department can solve the employee retention issue on its own. It takes a coordinated and strategic alliance between the c-suite, supervisors and human resources to create a more engaging and productive work environment. The result is higher employee retention rates, greater talent acquisition, strengthened leadership, talent development and conflict management.

This session with the same title as Colene’s book, Retention: Key Mindsets That Retain Top Talent, is for business leaders who recognize that their long-term success is directly linked to their ability to attract, equip, engage and most importantly, retain their best and brightest.

Attendees will leave the session with actionable takeaways, including five initiatives that can strategically change your company’s culture of trust, communication and engagement. These initiatives can also boost profits and help retain talent. The session will include four components of the System of Leadership that enables leaders to maximize their level of influence for greater organizational success.

Join the MCAA staff to learn more about the Association’s educational offerings throughout the year. Staff directors will be available to discuss details of the programs they oversee, answer questions and assist you with registering yourself or your colleagues. You can even sign up for advance registration notifications for some of the most sought-after conferences and classes. A light lunch will be available to enjoy while networking.

Join representatives from MCAA’s Plumbing Contractors of America subsidiary for a contractor-led presentation and roundtable lunch, with lively discussion on topics including the current state of plumbing, recruitment and retention, plumbing service and technology.

Witness our industry’s emerging leaders as they compete in the Annual MCAA Student Chapter Competition. Four teams will compete for the  first-place prize of $10,000. These accomplished students secured their Final Four spot by submitting a written proposal that rose to the top of 20+ chapter submissions for a real-world project bid (contributed by U.S. Engineering of Westminster, CO).

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 formal presentation, the teams 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.

Please join us to honor the achievements of our members and future professionals.

• ASC Engineered Solutions Fun Run/Walk
• Victaulic/Carrier Corporation Golf Tournament
• NIBCO INC. Tennis & Pickleball Tournament
• CNA/MCAA Safety Awards
• MILWAUKEE TOOL Safety Professional of the Year
• Alan P. O’Shea Memorial Scholarship
• ATP Inspiring Future Leaders Scholarship
• Foster McCarl, Jr. Memorial Scholarship
• Reilly Family Memorial Scholarship
• Robert J. Durr, Sr. – UA/NCPWB Partnering Scholarship
• William A. Bianco, Jr. Memorial Scholarship
• Thomas J. Wanner Scholarship
• Viega – Joe Pikus Scholarship
• Josam Endowed Scholarship
• Trimble Estimating Scholarship
• Ferguson Women in the Mechanical Industry Scholarship
• DeWALT Patriot Scholarship
• Educator of the Year
• Student Chapter of the Year
• MCAA Student Chapter Competition

Tennis legend John McEnroe embodies the American spirit. On and off the court, McEnroe has proven himself to be one of the most intriguing and controversial public figures of his time. Throughout his playing years, his bold and irreverent style made him, for many, a symbol for a generation of “rock n’ roll” athletes. He won his first Grand Slam singles title in 1979 when he captured the first of four U.S. Open Championships. In 1981, he took the first of his three Wimbledon singles titles, becoming the youngest #1 ranked male in the history of professional tennis. Since leaving the court, his unique commentary and style in the broadcast booth have garnered him national Sports Emmy nominations. He has written two bestsellers, all based on his trademark retort to the chair umpire: You Cannot Be Serious and But, Seriously. McEnroe is the Founder and Director of The Johnny Mac Tennis Project (JMTP), which changes young lives by removing the racial, economic and social barriers to success through tennis, and the John McEnroe Tennis Academy (JMTA).

Stop by the PAC fundraiser to purchase chances to win a guitar autographed by Matchbox Twenty!

Raffle tickets will be sold in the following denominations:
$50/1 ticket
$250/6 tickets
$500/15 tickets.

The winner will be awarded the guitar at the Thursday morning Closing General Session.

Support the John R. Gentille Foundation as you swing away on our virtual links. The John R. Gentille Foundation longest drive contest will test your form and your strength, so stop by more than once and give it your best swing.

A $25 contribution will get you four swings in the contest. Winners will be acknowledged at the Thursday Morning Closing General Session with gift cards to Golf Galaxy ($1,000/first place, $500/second place, $250/third place).

In this contractor-led session, attendees will gain valuable information gathered from best-in-class union mechanical service operations from across the country. Topics include: the key role of service agreements, recruiting in a tight labor market and converting service work from a construction business. We will also review key performance indicators and ratios to help contractors benchmark their service business.

What if you could coach yourself in five minutes or less to clearly think through a major decision or an emotional dilemma? Coaching is a powerful tool to create personal clarity, build a positive environment and facilitate progress towards critical goals. Valorie Burton will give you principles and research-based techniques that can immediately facilitate growth in others.

As Burton shares her proven five-step coaching process, you will discover how to:

• Transform a scattered brain into a focused mind that accomplishes daily goals
• Lay your head on your pillow at night and feel at peace with your decisions
• Control the emotions that cause you to procrastinate, spend emotionally and sabotage your own success.

With a host of new technologies coming to market, it’s easy to lose track of the technologies at work in your company, their performance and what new tech may be needed. In this session, Jonathan Marsh introduces a method to quickly produce a practical map of your company’s existing technology stack. Marsh will provide strategies for assessing, communicating and tracking technologies on an ongoing basis. This session focuses on understanding your technology stack in non-technical terms and collaborating with team members at all levels of technical understanding.

Soft landing? Something harder? Whither inflation? This presentation will supply in-depth analysis of the major factors shaping economic outcomes, including central bank policymaking, worker attitudes, business confidence, and geopolitics. It will then turn toward a forecast for the year to come, highlighting the major risks that economic stakeholders will likely encounter.

Soft landing? Something harder? Whither inflation? This presentation will supply in-depth analysis of the major factors shaping economic outcomes, including central bank policymaking, worker attitudes, business confidence, and geopolitics. It will then turn toward a forecast for the year to come, highlighting the major risks that economic stakeholders will likely encounter.

Executives, employees and staff deal with hundreds of daily complaints from both customers and coworkers. In this fast-paced and funny presentation you will learn:

• What’s wrong with complaining?
• What is (and isn’t) a complaint?
• The five reasons people complain.
• How to stop complaining (and get others to follow suit)
• Positive leadership in a negative world

You’ll leave inspired, mindful of your own complaints and motivated to approach complainers with new, simple and effective strategies.

Over the last few years, there has been a significant increase in regulatory and legislative activity from the federal level down to the local level. This session will provide broad policy updates that impact all our businesses. In addition, the discussion will focus on how proposed and finalized policies will impact the water heating and hydronic heating industries.

When you think of Batman, who comes to mind? Is it Adam West, Michael Keaton, Val Kilmer, George Clooney, Christian Bale, Lego Batman, Ben Affleck or Robert Pattinson? Whether you relate to the BAM – POW era of Batman, remember an Icy former California Governor, or just had your first Riddler experience with the PatBat, we need to hear from all generations during this interactive lunch and networking session with our student chapter members.

John Koontz will moderate a Q&A segment about jobsite logistics with a real-life Batman and Robin team, also known as a foreman (Dave Hosnedl) and project manager (Andrew Palcan). Open discussion will follow for a collection of concepts and best practices to ensure everyone working on your team has the proper tools and mindset for who should be driving your company’s Batmobile.

Hosted by MILWAUKEE TOOL

Join your friends and colleagues at the Closing Reception. The perfect prequel to the Closing Dinner & Concert, take in one last view of the desert sunset and toast to another fantastic convention.

Beverages Sponsored by Daikin Group

Dinner Sponsored by Watts Water Technologies

Dinner seating is based on your registered state. Please be sure to check your MCAA23 registration packet for specific dinner location information. If you need assistance, please stop by the MCAA Registration & Information Center.

Beverages Sponsored by Daikin Group

Matchbox Twenty is Kyle Cook, Paul Doucette, Rob Thomas and Brian Yale. The group has sold over 40 million records worldwide, earned multiple chart-topping singles and countless accolades, including five GRAMMY® nominations, four American Music Award nods and the 2004 People’s Choice Award for “Favorite Musical Group.”

Fueled by such classic songs as “Real World,” “Back 2 Good” and the number one smash hits “Push” and “3AM,” 1996’s Diamond-certified Yourself or Someone Like You proved a worldwide sensation and established Matchbox Twenty as global superstars. 2000 saw the band release the four-times Platinum Mad Season, containing the number one singles “Bent” and “If You’re Gone.” Matchbox’s third release, More Than You Think You Are, also was certified Platinum and featured the number one hit, “Unwell.” 2007’s greatest hits compilation album with six new songs, Exile On Mainstream, yielded yet another number one track, “How Far We’ve Come,” while the band’s most recent album, 2012’s North, exploded into the top position on the Billboard 200 – Matchbox Twenty’s first-ever chart-topper and number one debut.

2022 has the band back in the studio working on their highly anticipated sixth studio album. They will embark on a 54-date tour beginning in May. The tour is the band’s first since 2017, when they reunited for the “A Brief History of Everything” tour to mark the 20th anniversary of their debut album.

Closing Session Speaker Sponsored by Zurn Elkay Water Solutions

Our Closing General Session opens with remarks from UA General President Mark McManus on the UA’s initiatives. MCAA President Robert M. Bolton will pass the gavel to his successor Robert Beck, 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 the renowned host of the four-time Emmynominated American Ninja Warrior and a winner of The New Celebrity Apprentice, Matt Iseman.

“Life is short, do what makes you happy.” That’s the advice that Iseman got from his dad, a world-renowned physician when he quit medicine to pursue standup comedy. And those words still guide Iseman today. A regular on multiple TV programs, Iseman shared his medical expertise and unique lifestyle tips on Hallmark’s Home & Family; won an Emmy Award for hosting Style’s Clean House and combined his lifelong passions of sports and comedy to host Sports Soup on Versus (now NBC Sports Network).

Iseman’s ongoing battle with rheumatoid arthritis transformed him into a strong supporter of the Arthritis Foundation and his battle with renal cell carcinoma has made him an advocate for the American Cancer Society. Iseman combines his winning sense of humor, unique experiences and perspective as a doctor turned comic, who also hosts a smash-hit show to deliver his inspiring story of battling cancer, overcoming obstacles and the paramount importance of following your dreams.