b'Message from the President THE 2023-2024In his speech to membership at theMCAC EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE conference, MCAC President DerekAND BOARD OF DIRECTORS:Ermen talked about the importance ofExecutive Committeecross-country unity amongst MCAC members: To do this means balancingPresident:Charlie Webbthe needs of many stakeholders in ourPresident-Elect/ industry, while keeping in mind theVice President, Western:Brad Masonmission and vision of the association. He went on to say his year in office gaveVice President, Eastern:him the opportunity to see the delicacy ofCharles Savoiethis balance firsthand in an association asVice President, Central:Joe Givensdiverse as MCAC.Though this diversity can be a sourceSecretary/Treasurer:Derek Ermentogether during the conference to provideof fragmentation, MCAC providesChief Executive Officer: their thoughts on a new strategic planthe opportunity to bring together theTania Johnstonbeing developed by MCAC to guide theindustrys many regional viewpointsBoard of Directors:association into the future. Preliminaryand work out national consensuses. He stressed that this collective approach British Columbia:thoughts expressed at these meetingswill be needed even more in the futureSteve Robinson included the importance of advocacyas the industry tackles a number ofKyle Wisniewskiand the need to promote both thesignificant issues that will impactindustry and the association. With thismechanical contracting. Alberta: guidance, the next step is to create aMark Schendel plan development timeline that includesErmen also commented on key industryMike Loughlintabling a draft plan at the Board ofissues such as workforce development, bestSaskatchewan: Directors meeting in May 2024. practices and immigration, and how theseJoanne Harpauer-Dignean At the annual meeting, members agreedconcerns might be remedied. Once again,Ken Swannto form two new task forces: one onthe solution came back to unity. He said, developing a guideline for industryIn my time at MCAC, I have witnessedManitoba: environmental and social governancehow effective a national association can beBrad Masonpolicy, and the other to work onwhen issues are raised to this level. WhileOntario: changes to the MCAC Change Orderwe may not always agree, the discussionJoe Givens Protocol toolkit. Other business duringof industry issues, consensus building andEric Niemithe conference included a mentorshipaction taken by our national association initiative for the Women in Mechanicalonly serves to make our industry strongerSerge Robert Contracting committee and an agreementgoing forward. Frank Turano to approach the federal government for aLife Membership Award Adam Carpentertax deduction to offset the unique costsThe Life Membership Award recognizesNew Brunswick:TBAof proper personal protective equipmentan individuals outstanding contributionNova Scotia:Charles Savoie(PPE) for women in the industry. to the work of MCAC. At the 2023 Plenty of Social and conference, the Life Membership AwardNewfoundland & Labrador: Companion Events was presented to Dave Holek, pastIan ArbuckleIn addition to the business sessions,president of MCAC. Holek has dedicatedPrince Edward Island: attendees took advantage of the manymany years to volunteering for associationQuentin Bevansocial and companion events on offer,work at the local, provincial and national including two golf tournaments: thelevel. The owner of a family business,Service Contractors:TBAtwo-person scramble on Silveradoshe strongly believes in the concept ofAssociate Council:Mike Weisssouth course, and the MCAC annualindustry collaboration and has served on MCAC committees and boards at Women in Mechanical Contracting:golf tournament on the resorts moreall levels. Judy Lynn Masonchallenging course, which is the home of the PGA Fortinet Championship.His commitment to the industry as aFuture Leaders Advisory Council:Companions also participated in grapewhole was evident in his two terms asKyle Gettystomping and yoga. Other social eventsMCAC presidentthe second of which included an opening night reception andwas the national associations first-ever closing gala. virtual chair during the COVID-19 Attendees found the off-site event pandemic. Holek is a true believer in theeach of our outdoor events workon Thursday night particularly spectacular.merits of MCAC and a worthy recipientvery well. We were able to meet all of our Held at Castello di Amorosa (castle of this award. conference objectives.of love), a 13th-century castle near Looking Ahead The 2024 MCAC Annual Conference will the resort, the masquerade event The Silverado Resort was a first-classbe held in Austin, Texas, on November was sponsored by UA Canada andvenue that provided excellent service27-30, 2024. We hope to see you thereincluded a wine tour and dinner. In all,and hospitality to our attendees, said there was plenty going on during the Seabrook. The weather was perfectfor another first-class mechanical four-day conference. throughout the conference, which madecontracting conference!NATIONAL BULLETIN | Issue 2, 202317'