MCA: MCA members focus in quality craftsmanship

The Mechanical Contractors Association of Greater Springfield is comprised of 14 union-employing plumbing and pipe-fitting firms in the Springfield area.

MCA members have installed the mechanical systems in many of our city's most important buildings, power plants, hospitals, factories, schools and other private and public structures, including your homes.

The Mechanical Contractors Association is made up of contractors and their employees who are dedicated to their work and take pride in their craft.

Today, mechanical contracting is more complicated than ever before.

Through technology, the field has grown to encompass all types of advanced plumbing, heating, air conditioning, ventilating, refrigeration, power and process piping, sprinkler piping, temperature-control piping, high- and low-pressure boilers, oil-burning equipment, gas-burning equipment, pneumatic piping, hydraulic piping, insulation, sheet metal work, testing and balancing, service maintenance, energy management and more.

The focus of our association is the trade itself.

Skilled craftsmen are the key to construction.

No project can be done right without them.

MCA members employ the best trained plumbers and pipe fitters in the country and have access to as many as they need for any given project to meet tight construction schedules.

MCA contractors employ members of Local No. 178, United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipefitting Industry of the United States and Canada, more commonly known as United Association.

Mechanical systems are often the most costly and critical component in a modern building. Construction owners and general contractors can't afford to have any but the best mechanical contractors install and service today's complex environmental equipment and systems.

With an MCA contractor, you draw from a tradition of quality, you hire someone with access to an unlimited supply of highly skilled workers and you get educated businessmen who don't have to cut corners to make a profit.

With a MCA contractor, you buy a safe workplace and quality work that is done on time and at a competitive price.

As an association, we meet to share ideas with other members, and provide seminars and training programs in Red Cross safety and Hazard Communication Standards for our industry to provide a safe workplace.

The 2000 officers of The Mechanical Contractors Association of Greater Springfield are:

Jim Montgomery, president;

William Hayworth, vice president;

Jerry Fielder, treasurer;

John H. Schmidt, executive secretary.

Past and current projects by MCA members include James River Assembly of God; the OTC Industry and Transportation Building; the Evangel Student Union; Drury Student Housing; the Wonders of Wildlife Museum; the Southwest Missouri State University Library; First USA/First Card; Central High School Reno-vations and Additions; and McBride Elementary phase II.

If you haven't worked with a MCA firm recently, I hope you'll take a few moments to find out what we're all about.

We are proud of our commitment to perfection and proud of our knowledge and training.

(Daniel Edwards represents the Mechanical Contractors Association and is president of Connelly Plumbing Co.)