The annual Mechanical Contractors Association of America (MCAA) Convention was held in Maui, HI, on March 8-12. PhcNews Publisher Dave Schulte was on hand to learn of the association’s updates for 2015 and network at the expo.

New leadership

Many of the association’s leadership appointments were acknowledged at the convention. Tom Stone was named president elect of MCAA. Stone is the president and owner of Braconier Plumbing & Heating Co., Inc., a commercial plumbing and HVAC contractor serving Denver, Colo. Stone joined Braconier in 1992 as an Estimator/Project Manager, becoming a full-time project manager in 1995. He transitioned into the company’s leadership in 1997 as vice president. Stone took the helm as the company’s president in 2005. Stone is passionate about coaching and education because he began his career as a Special Journeyman Pipefitter and has seen first-hand how education and determination can pay off.

Stone has served as the president of MCA of Colorado and its NCPWB chapter. His first exposure to MCAA came in the form of attending several educational programs, including MCAA’s Advanced Leadership Institute. This was shortly followed by service on the Advanced Leadership Institute Committee and the OPUS (Online Piping & Usage Specification) Task Force. Stone joined MCAA’s Board of Directors in 2007 and has served on the MCAA Education Committee since 2010.

Steve Dawson became president of MCAA. Dawson is the president of Harrell-Fish Inc., a mechanical contracting and service firm specializing in the construction, industrial, commercial, food service, residential, and energy industries. Dawson joined Harrell-Fish after graduating from Purdue University’s Mechanical Engineering program in 1991. A few years later in 1998, he purchased the company at the age of 28.

Seeking ways to ensure continued success, Dawson got involved in the MCA of Southern Indiana to stay on top of state and local issues as HFI grew. His involvement there continued to expand and recently included a term as that association’s Chairman of the Board. A dedicated member of the MCAA Education Committee for several years, Dawson has seen first-hand the value of education to any company’s continued success.

Michael A. Brandt was elected vice president and assistant treasurer of MCAA. Brandt is the president and CEO of The Smith & Oby Company, a full-service mechanical and plumbing contractor. He joined the Walton Hills, Ohio-based company in 1983. Interested in keeping his company current with construction industry changes and taking advantage of the numerous resources available, Brandt got involved with the MCA of Cleveland. He is the association’s president and serves on its Board of Directors. His first exposure to MCAA came through service on the NCPWB Technical Committee. A graduate of both MCAA’s Institute for Project Management and the Advanced Leadership Institute, Brandt was elected to the MCAA Board of Directors in 2010. Since that time, he has also served on the association’s Government Affairs, ALI and Education committees.

Greg L. Fuller was elected senior vice president and treasurer of MCAA. Fuller is the president and owner of North Mechanical Contracting, Inc. and North Mechanical Services, Inc., a mechanical construction and service contractor serving commercial, industrial, life sciences, institutional, and public sector clients. Fuller joined North Mechanical in 1991 as a project manager. He transitioned into the company’s leadership as vice president, and purchased the company in 1997. Fuller added service to the company’s capabilities with the purchase of Ramsey, Inc. in 2001. That same year, the company also launched a pre-fabrication facility. Fuller received his journeyman plumber status in 1985, began his career as a superintendent and project manager.

Seeking ways to ensure success, Fuller got involved with the MCA of Indiana and the group’s Indianapolis chapter. He serves on the Boards of Directors of both organizations, where he also served on the Labor Management and Finance committees. In addition, he served on the MCA of Indiana’s Membership and By-Laws and Legislative committees. He is chairman of the UA Local 440 Health and Welfare Trust, and serves on the Project Managers Education Committee.

Special honors

Brandt L. Lawyer, a junior in the Department of Building Construction Management at Purdue University, received the Mechanical Contracting Education & Research Foundation’s (MCERF) Foster McCarl, Jr. Memorial Scholarship. The $2,500 scholarship was presented at the March 11 Student Chapter Luncheon and Meeting, which was part of the MCAA Annual Convention.

Professor Daphene C. Koch, who was named MCAA’s 2013 Educator of the Year for her work as the faculty advisor to the university’s MCAA Student Chapter, nominated Lawyer for the award.

Koch noted, “Brandt is the type of student that all instructors dream about. He is organized, prepared, motivated, and even has a sense of humor. He always volunteers to help and completes every task with the highest level of detail. He brings a positive viewpoint to the group and a ‘get it done’ approach to projects.”

In addition to his impressive academic achievements—he maintains a 4.0 grade point average— Lawyer serves as associate president for the MCAA Student Chapter and as treasurer for Sigma Lambda Chi, an international construction honors club.

He gained practical experience during an internship with Harrell-Fish Inc. in Bloomington, IN. He continues to work part time, preparing estimates online or developing detail drawings for installation, and has been hired for a full time position at the company upon graduation.

The Foster McCarl, Jr. Memorial Scholarship commemorates the legacy of MCERF’s founder, Foster McCarl, Jr., and memorializes his many contributions to the continued advancement of the mechanical contracting industry. Faculty advisors to chartered MCAA student chapters nominate students for the scholarship, and the MCAA Career Development Committee selects the winner based on criteria that include exceptional scholastic achievement, leadership skills and interest in developing a career in the mechanical, mechanical service or plumbing industry.