Surviving and Thriving in Difficult Times

Location:

Radisson Hotel Roseville

Date/Time:

Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Check in 7 a.m./Class 7:30 (sharp) - 10:30 a.m.

Description:

Everyone is concerned with the recent economic downturn and how it has changed the landscape of profitability. What can you do about it though? This is the first of several seminars MMCA will be offering that faces your concerns head on.

Jim McCarl is one of MCAA’s elite speakers whose knowledge is respected nationally by the thousands of contractors to whom he’s spoken and helped. McCarl has been a contractor for over 30 years and has traveled the nation interviewing and helping contractors who were in trouble when other companies began bidding their type of work. His travels have added to his own experiences and enabled him to help contractors Sharp Shoot projects and keep their margins high. McCarl will be instructing contractors how to identify their sweet spot and learn to build on it successfully.

Jim will also look at:

• Right-size your company every day, the right way

• Mission, Vision, and Values; why they matter

• The “Break Even” concept and how it can give you a competitive edge

• Risk management – More important than ever

 

Speaker:

James McCarl

 

Register for this course by e-mailing the course name, your name, and company name to Register@MinnesotaMCA.org or call (651) 646-2121/(800) 816-8154

Technician Soft Skills

Location:

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

St. Paul College (parking passes required)

Class repeated again on:

Thursday, December 10, 2009

Radisson Hotel Roseville

Date/Time:

Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Check in 5:30 p.m./Class 6 p.m. (sharp) - 9 p.m.

Class repeated again on:

Thursday, December 10, 2009
Check in 7 a.m./Class 7:30 (sharp) - 10:30 a.m.

Description:

Most contractors have technically good service techs but what happens to business when you find a tech who’s also a real people-person? Sales soar and that tech is making your company look good. The real question is why can’t all of your techs be people-pleasers?

Kevin Dougherty has trained thousands of technicians to understand soft skills and why it’s important to the company. He helps the technicians look at a situation from the perspective of the customer as well as the employer. This helps the employee understand why things should be done a certain way.

Dougherty gets techs to buy into his soft sell skills because he shows them how to handle almost every situation. He trains technicians to focus on helping the customer. Instead of selling unnecessary items or services, the technicians learn to help customers with suggestions to improve their homes.

Speaker:

Kevin Dougherty

 

Register for this course by e-mailing the course name, your name, and company name to Register@MinnesotaMCA.org or call (651) 646-2121/(800) 816-8154

Mechanical & Plumbing Permit/Fee Changes

Location:

MMCA Boardroom
830 Transfer Road, Ste. 1A
St. Paul, MN 55114

Date/Time:

Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Check in 7 a.m./Class 7:30 (sharp) - 9 a.m.

Description:

Mechanical, Sprinkler, and Plumbing Permits have changed as of July 1, 2009 and questions have come up about the new permits and fees. What structures do the new permits cover? How are the fees structured? How do the mechanical and sprinkler permits differ from the plumbing? How do the new fees differ from previous fees?

Scott McLellan, Assistant Director with the Minnesota Department of Labor & Industry, will be speaking to MMCA contractors, answering these and other questions you may have about the changes. He will cover the new permit fee structure and how you can avoid problems with the process. He will also walk contractors through the plan review, permit, and inspection process.

If you’ve had questions on the permit process and the changes affecting your business, then this class is a must.

Speaker:

Scott McLellan

 

Register for this course by e-mailing the course name, your name, and company name to Register@MinnesotaMCA.org or call (651) 646-2121/(800) 816-8154

Conducting Effective Performance Reviews

Location:

MMCA Boardroom
830 Transfer Road, Ste. 1A
St. Paul, MN 55114

Date/Time:

Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Check in 7 a.m./Class 7:30 (sharp) - 9:30 a.m.

Description:

Employees need and want to know what they’re doing right or wrong. Performance Reviews help employees know where they can improve or confirm what they’re doing is in line with company goals. Many companies use an Annual Performance Review or Appraisal as a foundation of their employee performance management process. Some even use it to support compensation decisions.

Too often, however, these annual or even semi-annual discussions are merely a check the box activity and not valued by the employees they are intended to support.

To provide value to employees, Performance Reviews need to be specific, data based, as unbiased as possible, delivered effectively, and have a forward focused perspective.

In this two-hour workshop, best practices will be discussed that support effective Performance Reviews by recognizing the value in the review, preparing for the review, conducting an effective review and discussion, and understanding the challenges of rating employees.

Speaker:

Rob Chvatal

 

Register for this course by e-mailing the course name, your name, and company name to Register@MinnesotaMCA.org or call (651) 646-2121/(800) 816-8154

LEED Certification Training

Location:

Radisson Hotel Roseville

Date/Time:

Thursday, January 21, 2010
Check in 7 a.m./Class 7:30 (sharp) - 11:30 a.m.

Description:

LEED certification has now been around for several years but as everything else evolves so has this certification. There are now three tiers of certification but the one that this class will cover is the LEED Green Associate and is the only one available to persons who have not actually worked on a LEED project. This is a good introductory course and is designed as a study session for those wishing to take the LEED Green Associate exam.

Dan Bulley, an engineer, MCA representative, and a board member on the Chicago Chapter of the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) will go over what type of information you’ll need to know to help you pass the USGBC test. He will also cover future training that everyone will need to keep their certification current. Bulley keeps the information pertinent so understanding LEED information will be more than just memorization, it will actually be relevant.

If you register for the class you should also purchase a copy of the Green Building and LEED Core Concepts Guide from wwww.usgbc.org for referencing material during this LEED training. It is available for only $35 and may both be read online and printed.

Speaker:

Dan Bulley

 

Register for this course by e-mailing the course name, your name, and company name to Register@MinnesotaMCA.org or call (651) 646-2121/(800) 816-8154

Economic Forecast

Location:

Radisson Hotel Roseville

Date/Time:

Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Check in 7 a.m./Class 7:30 (sharp) - 11 a.m.

Description:

In the current economic climate, it is imperative to understand what is coming and how to best prepare for it. This seminar will enable you to navigate the choppy water ahead by providing an economic update and strategies for a down market.

Michael McLin, Managing Director of Maxim Consulting Group, will start by reviewing the current state of the economy, trends by vertical market sector and where to look for indications of market recovery. This economic update will be extremely informative and provide the knowledge and foundation for developing a strategy in a down market.

McLin will take participants through a variety of strategic considerations and will arm them with tools to evaluate alternatives and chose the best available option(s). Some areas that McLin will cover include:

Recession Checklist

Basic SWOT Strategy

Progressive Strategy Development

Organizational Development to support strategy

Applying Blue Ocean Strategy Concepts

Developing personal strategy canvas

Developing Blue Ocean factors of competition

This seminar will not only examine the future of our industry, but also provide the tools to develop your company’s unique strategy to navigate the changing economy.

Speaker:

Michael McLin

 

Register for this course by e-mailing the course name, your name, and company name to Register@MinnesotaMCA.org or call (651) 646-2121/(800) 816-8154

Contracts - Collections, Credit, and Lien Law

Location:

Radisson Hotel Roseville

Date/Time:

Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Check in 7 a.m./Class 7:30 (sharp) - 9:30 a.m.

Description:

It’s one thing to win a bid and complete the job but what about getting paid? Last year we held a seminar on getting paid, but contractors wanted more on collections and Lien Law. So this year Attorney James Sander, author of a “FIELD GUIDE to A job-based Credit Strategy for Credit, Collections & Lien Law,” will be sharing his expertise with us.

Sander, who has practiced law for over 30 years in Minnesota, will share his vast knowledge on the legal steps required to get your money. He will discuss your status as an involuntary credit lender, the job-based credit strategy, how to implement it and the steps needed to make it work. Sander will also discuss the various types of liens, filing them, and what is lienable, foreclosing on a lien, and lien wavers.

The job of getting paid starts with the first phone call about a project. The right to file a lien is an extremely valuable but fragile tool. It provides both a source of collateral, and a collection remedy. Good project information and attention to detail are essential. Payment can be your reward, but the next move is up to you.

Speakers:

Attorney James Sander

 

Register for this course by e-mailing the course name, your name, and company name to Register@MinnesotaMCA.org or call (651) 646-2121/(800) 816-8154

BIM - The Future of our Industry

Location:

Radisson Hotel Roseville

Date/Time:

Thursday, February 11, 2010
Check in 7 a.m./Class 7:30 (sharp) - 9:30 a.m.

Description:

How would you like to be able to see the future? Or at least be able to see problems before they cost you? David Jordani, FAIA of Jordani Consulting Group will be here to show contractors how Building Information Modeling (BIM) can identify problems in the office before they become costly change orders in the field. He’ll also explain why BIM is the newest “buzz” word in the design and construction community. In fact, generals and owners are now requiring subs to be BIM users as part of the bid.

Jordani, past Vice Chair of the US National BIM Standards (NBIMS) Committee, has introduced BIM to a broad spectrum of designers, contractors and owners. Jordani will describe the opportunities that BIM presents for a leaner design and construction process, the benefits that can be achieved, and the challenges to be addressed. He will show how BIM will improve your productivity and the value you add to projects saving you more time and making your clients glad they used you. Disruptive though it may be, the transition to BIM is well underway. Changes will yield benefits to all stakeholders that embrace the concept of a more informed collaborative process. BIM is the future and you need to embrace it…Now!

 

Speaker:

David Jordani

 

Register for this course by e-mailing the course name, your name, and company name to Register@MinnesotaMCA.org or call (651) 646-2121/(800) 816-8154

New Residential & Commercial Energy Codes

Location:

Radisson Hotel Roseville

Date/Time:

Monday, February 15, 2010
Check in 7 a.m./Class 7:30 (sharp) - 10:30 a.m.

Description:

Don Sivigny, a senior building code representative for the Department of Labor and Industry, Building Codes and Standards Division, will go over the changes in the New Minnesota Commercial and Residential Energy Code that contractors need to be aware of and comply with.

The seminar will first review changes to the Commercial Energy Code which include recessed lighting fixtures; load calculations for heating and cooling system design loads; heating and cooling controls; insulation and sealing for ducts and piping; prohibition of heating commercial parking facilities; economizers; zone controls; air system design and control; and water chilling packages and once-through cooling systems.

For the residential code changes Sivigny will discuss the optional REScheck; sunrooms; northern climate zone R-values; building certificates; basement ducts; labeling mechanical ventilation; continuously exhausting fans; passive radon systems; remodeling, air tightening and carbon monoxide alarms; and many other topics.

Speaker:

Don Sivigny

 

Register for this course by e-mailing the course name, your name, and company name to Register@MinnesotaMCA.org or call (651) 646-2121/(800) 816-8154

Positive Sales Relationships

Location:

Radisson Hotel Roseville

Date/Time:

Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Check in 7 a.m./Class 7:30 (sharp) - 3:30 p.m.

Description:

Almost everyone has experienced situations where they just didn’t seem to be able to connect with or get through to another person, regardless of how hard they tried. When this happens on a sales call it can mean sales opportunities go unrealized, and potentially good customers are lost to competitors. These problems most often occur when there are major differences between the operating style of the salesperson and that of the customer, creating a wall that inhibits communication and rapport between the two.

Effective salespeople must be able to recognize and quickly adapt to the different communication styles of their customers to avoid creating these unnecessary obstacles to sales.

“Building Positive Sales Relationships” uses the proven DISC® learning model to give participants the skills they need to quickly recognize and adapt their approaches for the different operating styles of their customers. Realistic interactive video examples facilitate learning and make it easy for the salesperson to immediately start using the skills developed on actual sales calls. With this program, salespeople can learn to avoid communication disconnects, and dramatically improve their sales effectiveness with customers.

 

Speaker:

Nancy Bandy

 

Register for this course by e-mailing the course name, your name, and company name to Register@MinnesotaMCA.org or call (651) 646-2121/(800) 816-8154

Driving Change to the Finish Line

Location:

Radisson Hotel Roseville

Date/Time:

Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Check in 7 a.m./Class 7:30 (sharp) - 11 a.m.

Description:

For over decade, most organizations have recognized the absolute need for changing what and how they do things to maintain or improve business performance in an increasingly competitive market. Changes in policies, priorities, strategies, and processes have become commonplace in today’s work environment. Unfortunately, many of the changes being pursued fall short of the purpose and goals they were proposed to meet.

Rob Chvatal of Catalyst for Change, will address common methods involved in effectively managing and leading change initiatives. These are practical approaches and tools that help put theory into action - theory that many leaders agree they already know, but aren’t often effectively put in practice.

Chvatal will go over:

• Personal Change/Transitional Cycle

• Natural Resistance to Change

• Supporting People through the Change Cycle

• Strategically Leading Large Change Initiatives

If “Change is the only Constant” we need to embrace it and follow it through to completion.

 

Speaker:

Rob Chvatal

 

Register for this course by e-mailing the course name, your name, and company name to Register@MinnesotaMCA.org or call (651) 646-2121/(800) 816-8154