MECHANICAL CONTRACTING Q&A e Continued from p 26
mainstream Republican or Democrat, this plan is a win-win for all of us. Throughout my MCAA career, I have been active in helping shape our career development program, and I feel very strongly about supporting MCAA’s student chapters. Our industry needs to continue educating young people about the opportunities in order to attract the best talent to our firms to replace retiring baby boomers. This year, we held a very successful student chapter summit in Chicago in October and, through my position on the national board of the ACE mentoring program, continue extending that reach into the high schools. phc: Do you feel that you met your goals? Explain.
Armistead: Absolutely. MCAA has 36
continued to advance our members’ interests on a wide variety of fronts. We’ve been providing educational programs to help them prepare for the industry’s future. We have a strong relationship with our labor partners at the United Association, and we have a highly successful legislative affairs program that is both protecting our interests and working to create new markets for our contractors. phc: Did the economy affect your vision as president?
Armistead: Not too much. MCAA as an association is all about providing great value to our membership. We have a very lean but highly professional staff that continued to provide the best programs and services to our members throughout the recession. We trimmed our budget but did not have to implement any staff reductions or furloughs. That’s great, because the association business is just like our business; it’s about people, and we
pride ourselves on having an extremely talented and experienced staff with virtually no turnover. phc: What advice do you have for struggling contractors?
Armistead: I would encourage them
to take advantage of what MCAA has to offer. MCAA has certainly helped my company get through these tough times. Beyond that, we have continued to do what we do best — estimate well, perform well on the job and just keep marketing. I try to support my people and help them make the best decisions for our future. phc: Other than the economy, what was a major obstacle or issue you had to face in 2010?
Armistead: MCAA was dismayed last summer when the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) proposed expanded disclosure and reporting requirements for construction companies that are signatory to multi-employer pension and benefit plans. We had very serious problems with the proposals in terms of both administrative burden and concerns that the information being asked for would be more misleading than useful for the users of financial statements. MCAA formed a “swat team” of experts to address these concerns and has taken the lead for the construction industry to work with FASB. We are making significant progress and I am confident that, under the leadership of incoming president Mark Rogers, we will continue to work with FASB until this issue is resolved. phc: How do you see the future of mechanical contracting? Armistead: Mechanical contracting has a bright future. In the new economy,
energy efficiency and water efficiency are going to be more and more important. And our contractors have the skills and abilities to help owners maximize their savings in these areas. phc: Briefly describe the benefits of an MCAA membership. Armistead: MCAA’s core mission as
the “education association” is to deliver the finest educational programs and services to our membership. Furthermore, our programs are evolving to keep ahead of the industry’s change curve. One of this year’s highlights is the MCAA convention in Maui. Keynote speakers include former ABC News anchor Charlie Gibson, NBA legend Bill Walton, United Association general president Bill Hite and retired General Stanley McChrystal. In addition, we have a full range of workshops, roundtables and informative programs that will provide our members with great ideas and insights. Personally, I always look forward to the finals of the student chapter competition. This year, teams from 29 colleges and universities throughout the United States and Canada entered the competition. In Maui, the best four teams will make oral presentations, competing for the coveted championship trophy. It’s a session not to be missed. And, of course, we have endless networking opportunities and a well- deserved chance for winter- and economy-weary contractors to recharge and rethink. It will be a busy but productive week, and I know that, as I leave the presidency, MCAA is in excellent condition and that my successor, Mark Rogers, will do a great job as the next president.;
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phc march 2011
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