Mid-Michigan Mechanical Contractors Association

Becky J. Brimley, Executive Director 2013 Annual Report

2013 MCAA Safety Director’s Conference

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The MCAA Annual Safety Director’s Conference was held on January 15-17, 2013 in Manhattan Beach, California. A record 120 attendees gathered for industry-specific occupational safety and health education. 3MCA’s Becky Brimley attended this conference along with safety and health professionals from MCAA and MSCA member companies and local association executives and representatives from other affiliated organizations.

World renowned keynote speaker Dr. Scott Geller (pictured left, top) of Safety Performance Solutions kicked off the event with an engaging keynote presentation on the controversial role of discipline in safety. Main session speakers included attorney and industrial hygienist David Sarvadi (pictured left, second row) of Keller & Heckman; CNA’s National Program Under-writing Consulting Director, Mike Farrington (pictured bottom, left); attorney and crisis planning expert Fred Walter; safety and security consultant Ralph Blessing; and CNA’s Risk Control Director, John Mizurak. David Francis (pictured bottom, right) of Little Giant Ladder Systems demonstrated the lat-est and greatest in ladder safety technology.

In addition to the speaker presen-tations, attendees had the oppor-tunity to learn what worker safety and health initiatives are working for other mechanical construction and service compa-nies in one of their favorite ses-sions: What’s Working for Your Colleagues.

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2013-2018 CBA Negotiated The Mid-Michigan Mechanical Contractors Association (3MCA) and UA Local 333negotiated a five-year contract in May 2013. Thank you to the 3MCA Negotiation Team for your time and hard work: Larry Gunthorpe of Gunthorpe Plumbing & Heat-ing, Jason Kreger of Aladdin, Kirk Myers of Myers Plumbing & Heating, Scott Case of Hunter-Prell Company and Jeff Daigle of John E. Green Company.

This year’s MCAA Program (March 17-21, 2013) at the JW Marriott San Antonio Country Resort in Texas featured an action-packed western theme and it focused learning unconventional strategies and practical ideas to help companies remain prosperous. The opening party, “A Taste of Hill Country” paid tribute to the culture, countryside and cuisine that have made the Texas Hill Country a favorite destination.

The Opening Session featured Michael Eisner, former ABC senior vice president, former CEO of Para-mount Pictures and former chairman and CEO of the Walt Disney Company. Robert J. Durr, Sr., treasurer/chairman of Durr Mechanical Construction, Inc. in New York, NY, received MCAA’s Distinguished Service Award (DSA) - the association’s highest honor. Educational sessions included such topics as new technol-ogy, lead-free requirements, NCPWB, pre-fabrication processes, market conditions, millennium adoles-cents, men & women health issues and the National Health Care Law. Guest Speaker Captain Mark Kelly gave an inspirational presentation at the Awards of Excellence Breakfast as he highlighted valuable lessons and insights he developed during his remarkable career as a naval aviator and astronaut and how he overcame formidable life challenges when his wife, Rep. Gabby Giffords was shot in an attempted assassination in 2011.

The Closing Party featured a concert by Martina McBride, the country western music superstar renowned for her special brand of country ballads and pop singles. During the Closing Session, UA General Secretary-Treasurer Mark McManus discussed the UA’s wide range of programs and initiatives to increase membership, expand training opportunities and respond to changing market conditions.

From the opening session to the closing programs, attendees experienced MCAA’s best, as they learned of and honored their industry’s accomplishments. Kirk Myers, Joe Kain and Becky Brimley of 3MCA at-tended the conference.

2013 SkillsUSA Residential Plumbing Contest

The 2013 SkillsUSA Residential Plumbing Contest was conducted this year on Saturday, April 20, 2013 at the Amyway Grand Plaza Hotel in Grand Rapids. The judges included Aaron Munoz of Limbach Company (Pontiac), Robert MacDonald of Emergent BioSolutions (Lansing), Bob Barnet of UA Local 174 (Coopers-ville) and Jerry Hines of Rite-Way Plumbing & Heating (Grand Rapids).

The Mid-Michigan Mechanical Contractors Association (3MCA) and the West Michigan Mechanical Con-tractors Association (WMMCA) co-sponsored the event and both Becky Brimley and Cindy Morse were pre-sent to assist in the competition.

Eleven (11) contestants competed with the top three places awarded to the following individuals: First Place - Mackenzie Causley, Careerline Tech Center (Holland), Second Place - Brandon Blanchard, Capital Area Career Center (Mason), Third Place - Trevor Olfier, Capital Area Career Center (Mason).3MCA, WMMCA and Ferguson Enterprises also jointly donated a Milwaukee Cordless 2-Tool Combo Kit to the first place winner.

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The 18th Annual Doug Griffith “Breakfast for Kids” Raises $4,200 for the Chil-dren’s Miracle Network and 3MCA & UA Local 333 Jointly Donate $10,000

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Sparrow’s Children Center, UA Local 333 and 3MCA partnered to recognize a leader in community service in the tradition of labor leader Doug Griffith to raise money for the Children’s Miracle Network on Friday, June 14, 2013. Hosted by Glenn Freeman, President of the Greater Lansing Labor Council AFL-CIO (pictured bottom row, center), the event raised $4,200 this year and over $70,000 total since it first began.

The featured “Miracle Child” was 5-year old Bella Fakih of Okemos (pictured left, third and fourth row and bottom center). Bella spent three months at Spar-row with a life-threatening bowel obstruction, overcoming great odds to fulfill her goal of being at school for the first day of kindergarten. Dr. Stephen Guer-tin of Sparrow Pediatrics (pictured left, first row) spoke about Bella’s condition and the community-wide support of the Children’s Miracle Network. Bella’s Mom, Megan Fakih (pictured left, second row) stated that it was important that Bella receive her care locally at Sparrow and she is now 100% healthy. Megan also complimented Sparrow for their passionate care and that Bella loved her stay and considers Sparrow her “second home.”

The Doug Griffith Community Service Award was presented this year to Larry Smith, who is now retired and living in Florida. Larry has hosted the Doug Griffith “Breakfast for Kids” for many years and it was most appropriate that he be recognized for his dedication to this annual event.

The 2013 Sparrow Children’s Center Telethon on May 31 – June 1, 2013 raised more than $980,000 to benefit the young patients of the Sparrow Children’s Center. The money raised during the telethon will help fund improvements to the Sparrow Children’s Center and ensure the on-going advancement of medi-cal care for all children in mid-Michigan – regardless of their ability to pay. 3MCA and UA Local 333 were phone bank sponsors and jointly donated. (Price Dobernick & Becky Brimley pictured bottom, right).

2013 Golf Outing

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The Annual 3MCA Golf Outing was held Monday, June 24, 2013 at the Country Club of Lansing with nearly 50 golfers in atten-dance. Contractors, Associate members and guests enjoyed a great day of golf.

First Place Team Low Score went to Nathan Gunthorpe, Sam McDiarmid, John Lamke and Jon Upton (pictured 1st row, left). Second Place Team Low Score went to Larry Gunthorpe, Tim Pru-den, Harley Eskew and Ken Geoghegan (pictured 2nd row, left). Closest to the Pin went to Joe Kain (bottom row, left). Longest Putt went to Ken Peterson with Longest Drive to Nathan Gun-thorpe. Skins Game winners went to Teams Larry Gunthorpe, Na-than Gunthorpe, Daigle, and Kenroy.

3MCA would also like to thank the following sponsors: BeneSys, Inc., Ferguson Enterprises, Inc., J.O. Galloup, Novara Tesija P.L.L.C., and Nelson Trane.

Becky Brimley Earns Certified Association Executive Credential

UA Celebrates 60th Anniversary of Instructor Training Program

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Becky Brimley, Executive Director of the Mid-Michigan Mechanical Contractors Association (3MCA) has earned the Certified Association Ex-ecutive (CAE®) credential. The CAE is the highest professional credential in the association industry. Less than five percent of all association profession-als have earned the CAE.

To be designated as a Certified Association Executive, an applicant must have a minimum of three years experience in nonprofit organization management, complete a minimum of 100 hours of specialized profes-sional development, pass a stringent examination in association management, and pledge to uphold a code of ethics. To maintain the certification, individuals must undertake ongoing professional development and activities in association and nonprofit management. More than 4,000 association professionals currently hold the CAE credential. The CAE program is accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agen-cies (NCCA).

ASAE is a membership organization of more than 21,000 association executives and industry partners rep-resenting 10,000 organizations. Its members manage leading trade associations, individual membership so-cieties and voluntary organizations across the United States and in nearly 50 countries around the world. With support of the ASAE Foundation, a separate nonprofit entity, ASAE is the premier source of learning, knowledge and future-oriented research for the association and nonprofit profession, and provides re-

This year’s UA Instructor Training Program took place from August 10-16, 2013 at the Washtenaw Community Col-lege in Ann Arbor, MI, mark-ing its 60th Anniversary. High-lights of the week long pro-gram included the UA Interna-tional Apprentice Contest, classroom and mobile site vis-its, networking opportunities with UA leadership, contractor and industry vendors, and a formal apprenticeship comple-tion ceremony on the final day.

UA Local 333 Ben Wright

MASCI Meeting

Great Lakes Peer Group Conference

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On Monday, August 19, 2013, Jack Martin (pic-tured left, front center) received the Certificate of Meritorious Service from the United State De-partment of Labor Office of Apprenticeship. The presentation of this award was made during a MASCI meeting at the Federal Building in Lansing, MI.

The Michigan Apprenticeship Steering Committee, Inc., MASCI, is an advocacy group made up of professionals from the education industry, manufacturing sector, construction trades and governmental departments of Michigan.  MASCI’s objective is to educate Michigan’s workforce and employer groups on the benefits of participation in Registered Apprentice-ship.

The concept of Apprenticeship is “Earn while you Learn” in a desired craft while creating some of the most marketable, proficient workers found in the labor markets.  MASCI provides several resources for indi-viduals to map out a career path of his or her choice as well as assisting employers in the development of apprentice programs.

The Annual Great Lakes Peer Group Conference was con-ducted this year on September 19-20, 2013 at the Dearborn Inn in Dearborn, MI. Over twenty MCAA Association Ex-ecutives attended this informative meeting to discuss Nego-tiations Updates, Pension Reform Activity, National Health-care, Light Commercial Work, Student Chapters, Young Pro-fessionals, Contractor Unfunded Liability and Social Media.

MCAA’s John McNerney (pictured below) gave a report on the Pension Reform Activity as well as the National Health-care Update. In addition, Mitch Siefert of Nehlson Commu-nications (pictured right) gave a Social Media presentation using a multi platform strategy.

Pictures courtesy of the MCA of Detroit

Ele’s Place New Teen Zone Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

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A Ribbon Cutting Ceremony was held on Tuesday, August 27, 2013 for Ele’s Place Teen Zone located at 1145 West Oakland in Lansing. Thanks to four years of hard work and $75,000 worth of donations and vol-unteer labor, Ele’s Place can now offer the teens their own space to hang out and do some hands on activities. The renovated space in the lower level of their facility offers a place for the teens to interact, role play, use technology-based communications and express themselves through art and music.

The healing center for grieving kids has been working for years to create the perfect environment for teens. Managing Director of Lansing’s Ele Place Lori Bosch stated that “It’s very exciting and our teens are thrilled.” She continued to state that “All of those physical experiences, gives them a way to express them-selves with other teens who understand what they’re going through. They form strong relationships and trust while they’re interacting together.”

T.H. Eifert Mechanical Contractors and the Mid-Michigan Mechanical Contractors Association (3MCA) do-nated to this very worthwhile cause and both Tom Eifert and Becky Brimley were present for the Ribbon Cut-ting Ceremony.

Connecting MIOSHA & Construction Industry

MSCA Educational Conference

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On Wednesday, September 4, 2013, 3MCA’s Becky Brimley attended the “Connecting MIOSHA & Construction Industry” Seminar presented by Patty Meyer, MIOSHA Construction Safety and Health Division Director. The seminar was sponsored by AGC of Michigan and Safety Director Pete Ander-son was also in attendance to answer construction safety questions. Ms. Meyer discussed the Office of Regulatory Reinvention and the purpose of the MIOSHA Standards changes and the new Hazcom/Globally Harmonized Standards.

More than 600 attendees were present for the MSCA 28th An-nual Education Conference on October 13-6, 2013 in Boca Ra-ton, FL. This year’s message was for those that go “beyond their limits” are destined to succeed. Speakers included Man-agement Strategist Troy Hazard, Vietnam War veteran Captain Charles Plumb and World Champion Eco-Challenge Adventure Race and fire-fighter Robyn Benincasa.

MCAA’s John McNerney and Richard Sawhill of ARCA/MCA of Southern California (pictured, left) presented a workshop on Multi-Employer Defined Benefit Plans and they reviewed the current legis-lation reform proposal designed to appropriately allocate the funding risks of multi-employer de-fined benefit plans and the potential impact on bargaining and sponsoring employers.

SkillsUSA Technical Committee Meeting

New Training Directors Announced

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The SkillsUSA Technical Committee Meeting was conducted on Thursday, October 24, 2013 at the Am-way Grand Plaza in Grand Rapids, MI in preparation for the statewide contest to be held on Saturday, April 12, 2014. Careerline Tech Center (Holland) Instructor Kyle Phelps, 3MCA’s Becky Brimley and Cindy Morse of WMMCA (pictured left) represented the State Plumbing Technical Committee this year. The Technical Committees complete check lists, submit the State Contest planning forms and task and mate-rial lists for each contest.

SkillsUSA is a partnership of students, instructors and industry working together to ensure that America has a skilled workforce and they help each student excel.

Trent Mauk is the new UA Local 333 Training Director and he can be con-tacted at 517-525-1777 or by email: trent@local333.com.

Eric Fradette is the new Service Trades Instructor and he can be contacted at 616-837-0222, Ext. 16 or by email: efradette@ua174.org.

Please Mark Your Calendar

3MCA Christmas Party

Tuesday, December 10, 2013 6:30 p.m.

Country Club of Lansing 2200 Moores River Dr.

Lansing, MI 48911

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