MCAA, the Education Association, designed its 2018 annual convention (March 25-29, San Antonio) around the issues that are driving the industry today and into the future. Since leading a successful company in these challenging times can be a daunting task for even for the most experienced business executives, attendees will find a wealth of education to help them keep their companies growing and thriving.

For a contracting business to stay at the top of its game, its leaders should know the economic conditions that will affect his or her market, and economist Brian Beaulieu will provide that critical information. He’ll cover the dynamics of world market trends and the Trump Administration’s emerging policies that will affect companies’ financial wellbeing for months, even years, to come. He will review the ups and downs of global, national and regional market trends and point to the indicators to follow to create a short and long-term business-building strategy.

Tax reform poses a unique challenge for today’s industry leaders, who need to quickly unravel the intricacies of the latest reforms. Tax expert and Forbes columnist Tony Nitti will give attendees the “nitti-gritty” on the new tax reform act. His insights and analyses will show attendees how the changes in the tax law affect their businesses and their companies. 

Productivity is often measured by the speed at which we tackle our to-do lists. Real productivity, however, comes from thinking differently — managing how we identify goals, construct teams, direct our focus and make decisions. Charles Duhigg will present case studies demonstrating how companies can become smarter, faster and better. 

Trust is a fundamental, bottom-line issue. Without it, leaders lose teams, salespeople lose sales, and organizations lose reputation, good people, relationships and revenue. With trust, individuals and organizations enjoy greater creativity, productivity, freedom and results. David Horsager will reveal how top leaders and organizations drive business results to become the most trusted in their industry.

Part of any company’s success strategy includes finding and preparing the next generation of leaders to keep a company on the path to continued success. That means using recruiting techniques that will attract and retain talent. John Koontz will moderate a session offering strategies for finding this talent. The convention also includes a Student Chapter Exhibit to help contractors and students connect. 

Once the talent has been found, leaders must be confident in how to coach them for growth. Dr. Chip Valutis will take the mystery out of coaching and start attendees on the path to growth. Connie Podesta will empower attendees with the attitudes, mindsets and strategies necessary to create a team that’s willing, able and excited to get the job done the right way.

Career advancement poses special challenges for women professionals. Audrey Gallien focuses on proven career advancement strategies for these professionals. Attendees will walk away with fresh insights about how to accelerate their careers and gain the tools and plan to make it happen. This session is sponsored by Women in the Mechanical Industry, a forum to enable women in the mechanical industry to further enrich their careers through networking, educational, mentoring and career development opportunities beyond those already offered through membership in MCAA and MSCA.

Although we would like to have every project progress smoothly from contract negotiation to the day of completion, that’s rarely the case. Doug Patin and Paul Stynchcomb offer insights and advice on how to manage and resolve subcontract disputes. They also provide practical, proven approaches to managing claims that will help attendees ensure a profit on the job.

Cyber security plays an increasingly important role for today’s contractors. With access to infrastructure and connected systems, contractors are frequently targeted by hackers. Security expert Nick Espinosa will teach attendees to minimize risks to their privacy, data, and business operations while at the same time enjoying the benefits of technology.

An important value-add to the convention’s educational programming is its Annual Manufacturer/Supplier Council Exhibit, where attendees can learn about innovations that could give them a competitive advantage. They may even discover a new approach to using software or a device in the office or in the field that will significantly increase productivity and bottom-line results.

And in keeping with its tradition, MCAA’s lineup of general session headliners is impressive: Bestselling Author Malcolm Gladwell; NBA Champion, Olympian and Philanthropist David Robinson; Laura Bush, First Lady of the United States (2001-2009); United Association General President Mark McManus-; and News Anchor and Author Ted Koppel.

As MCAA President Greg Fuller concludes: “MCAA’s convention is a win-win from beginning to end. I can trace my company’s success — directly and indirectly — to my involvement in MCAA. Attending the convention, sharing experiences with peers and colleagues and learning from top-notch speakers is all a part of that involvement.”

For more information, visit www.mcaa.org and mcaaconvention.org.