The Manufacturer/Supplier Council of the Mechanical Contractors Association of America (MCAA) was in the spotlight at the association’s 2005 convention in Scottsdale, AZ.
The 1,600 attendees saw MCAA’s Distinguished Service Award presented to Trane’s Tom Mikulina, the first Manufacturer/Supplier Council member to receive the honor.
Education sessions focused on topics both personal and professional. One that attracted particular attention was “Leveraging the Value Chain to Become More Competitive,” a presentation by members of — you guessed it — the Manufacturer/Supplier Council. This session demonstrated how streamlining work processes, developing stronger relationships with suppliers, and using technology can significantly improve profitability.
Following a document recently published by the Mechanical Contracting Education and Research Foundation—The Value Chain: Adding Value to the Supply Chain—panel members discussed the principles and practices through which the members of a supply chain can be transformed into value-added counterparts.
Other highlights of the conference included the announcement of the student chapter at Oregon State University as the winner of the Student Chapter Competition, and the All-Member Awards of Excellence Breakfast. The breakfast featured United Association (UA) General President Bill Hite. Hite discussed the future of the UA and avowed his commitment to building a stronger, more prosperous organization that responds to the needs of both its membership and its industry partners.
During the closing session, MCAA 2004 President Mike Gossman introduced his successor, MCAA 2005 President Stanley Berger , owner and CEO of Arista Air Conditioning Corp., Long Island City, NY. Michael Cullinane, president/comptroller of Bert C. Young & Sons Corp., Bellwood, IL, was named president-elect.
MCAA’s 2006 convention is scheduled for March 19–23 in Wailea, Maui, HI. For more information, visit www.mcaa.org.