Blog
MCAKC Executive Director's Mid-Year Review
In February, I sent out MCAKC's 2024 Strategic & Operational Plan. Our goals are to:
1. Expand innovative educational opportunities,
2. Continue to strengthen partnerships with Unions and other organizations,
3. Strengthen the sense of belonging within an inclusive culture, and
4. Increase awareness of and promote the mechanical contracting industry.
We are six months past that planning session and have made significant progress in these areas.
When it comes to expanding innovative educational opportunities, Jacki has woven her magic to enhance many of our series and has found some great new speakers to do one-off training sessions. Check out our website to see the upcoming fall offerings. I am particularly excited about the “Driving Project Success” session; it's a session I participated in about 10 years ago and I still utilize lessons from it. On October 18th, I will be launching a webinar series to review the benefits of being an MCAKC / MCAA member. You can register for the first one here!
Our current partnership with labor is strong. We are finalizing new Continuing Education Memorandums of Understanding to ensure all our pipefitters and plumbers continue their education after turnout. We have upcoming events with both Business Managers to discuss the challenges in the Kansas City marketplace and collaborate on solutions: “Breakfast with LU533 Business Manager” and “Beers with LU8 Business Manager.” We also have a Local 8 Service Meeting on Tuesday, August 27th for any interested parties. Contact me for more information.
We are working closely to strengthen the partnerships with our national associations, as well. Mark your calendar for Thursday, November 14, as Mike Potts, ACCO Systems Vice President & MSCA/UA Labor Committee and Brian Kelly, UA Director of HVACR Services will be at MCAKC to review the National Service & Maintenance Agreement. If you are signatory to the NSMA, you should plan to attend this breakfast meeting!
This summer, we've been really focused on strengthening a sense of belonging within an inclusive culture. Our goal is for the MCAKC office to be a welcoming space for all of our members, which is why we recently completed a renovation of our office space. Our office manager, Jamie Stein, is here to welcome you. If you haven't visited us lately, we encourage you to stop by and discuss our industry. Our commitment to inclusivity was also highlighted by the participation of 14 local women in the National WiMI conference, which will be hosted in Kansas City next year.
Continuing our focus on creating an inclusive environment, this summer we're hosting 33 interns from 11 universities at 12 different contractors, offering them valuable industry exposure and networking opportunities. Upcoming events, such as the Topgolf networking event on September 11th and the Annual Charity Golf Outing on October 14th, continue to provide opportunities for building connections and fostering our inclusive community. Registration for the Charity Golf Outing opens on August 1st.
To really hone in on our final goal, Kathleen Livingston was hired in May as our new Outreach Manager to help increase awareness and promote our industry. Kathleen spearheaded our Heavy Metal Summer Experience last week and has revitalized our LinkedIn and Facebook presence. Later this year, we'll begin developing a toolkit for members to use when visiting local schools to introduce our industry to the next generation.If there's something you think MCAKC should address, please let me know. We are always seeking ways to support our members and advance our industry. No idea is too small or too outlandish. We value the opportunity to serve you.
Sincerely,
Stacy
