The Construction Contractors’ Alliance, an enhanced service group of the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors-National Association, returned to Dallas – the city of its first meeting two decades ago – for its 20th anniversary meeting last month, featuring one of the business world’s most innovative thinkers, Larry Linne.

Headlining this three-day event, Linne helped attendees “reduce the noise” that causes them to spend less than 20 percent of their time doing what actually results in the greatest value to their organizations. Part of his strategy was giving these “First in Commands” ways to really evaluate their daily effectiveness, plus providing them with a guide to develop a “Second in Command” to help them reach 80 percent of their time doing what they do best.

Also, in a year of several natural disasters across the states, a particularly timely session on disaster planning and recovery helped attendees focus on a risk management plan to prepare for such unexpected events. Laramie Sandquist from Federated Insurance focused on steps these contractors should take now in terms of operations, employees, key contacts, IT resources and more to expedite recovery and resume servicing customers as quickly as possible should a disaster impact their businesses.

The CCA rounded out its meeting with roundtables, breakout sessions and a special contractor spotlight with MMM Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning’s Dickie McCurdy to send attendees home with real-life solutions to specific issues these new construction contractors face.

During the Spring meeting, the CCA held its Trustee Elections. Newly selected to the Board of Trustees are Scott DenHerder of HPS Mechanical, Inc. in Bakersfield, California, and Brad Smith of Kimbel Mechanical in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

For its Fall 2018 meeting, the CCA heads to Chicago, Sept. 19-21.