President's Message - Jan '23

On behalf of the Metal Building Contractors and Erectors’ Board of Directors and staff, I want to wish you a Happy, Safe and Prosperous New Year.

We are beginning 2023 with twice as many AC478 accredited members and several more contractors and erectors in the process. We have signed the contract with NCCER to develop the Metal Building Assembly Training curriculum that has the potential to change our industry in revolutionary ways.   Please contact Sasha to get involved with one of our committees to help create the content. Currently we are working on Introduction to Metal Buildings, Material Handling and Staging, and Temporary Bracing. Lastly, the MBCEA gained over 100 members in 2022 and I look forward to continuing that momentum into 2023. Our organization is only as strong as our members and we want to attract the best and brightest from the metal building industry.

Speaking of the best and brightest, we would like to welcome our two newest board members, Steven Hudgins, Rainwater Construction and Chuck Howe, Bobbitt Design Build. We look forward to working with them!

The MBCEA Conference and MBMA Spring Meeting will begin on Monday, May 8, at 2 pm in Nashville, TN at the Renaissance Nashville Hotel. The hotel is steps from the famous Broadway bars and music venues and you won’t want to miss this meeting. There are only a few exhibitor and sponsor spots still available, so please contact Sasha so you don’t miss out.

The conference will begin with the Opening Session that includes Keynote Speaker Keni Thomas and a Welcome message by yours truly and the MBMA Chairman, Mark VanDyken of Nucor Buildings. The MBMA will present their Safety Awards, the MBCEA Building of the Year Awards will be announced, and the Metal Construction Hall of Fame will have their induction ceremony for the newest members to that eminent group.

In the last few years, we have significantly upped the visibility for the Building of the Year award. The MBCEA creates a video overview of the project by interviewing the builder, architect, and erector and that video is promoted to architects and industry. The video is featured prominently on the MBCEA website and is a wonderful marketing tool for the winner of the contest.  This fabulous sales tool is paid for 100% by MBCEA – but you have to be in it to win it. Metal Construction News also features the winning project in their magazine. So get your entries submitted. The deadline to enter is February 18.

This year’s conference will have both a field track and management track on Tuesday, May 9, along with the Contractor/Erector Roundtable, and Exhibit Hall. Additional Field training will be provided on Wednesday, May 10, along with our joint MBCEA/MBMA Roundtable. The event will end with our annual golf tournament at the Gaylord Springs Links Wednesday afternoon.

The field track includes training documentation for completion of an 8-hour Core Rigging and Crane Signaling class, a Temporary Bracing best practices session and a deep dive into Bolting practices and inspections. 

We have two roundtables – one exclusively for Contractors and Erectors and one joint with MBMA. These open mic sessions, where anything goes, are always a fan favorite and a great source of inspiration and ideas.

The management track includes such topics as Succession Planning, Creating Corporate Culture and Business Valuations. There is plenty of time for networking with the Exhibitors and Vendors, seeing old friends and enjoying all that Nashville has to offer.

As we continue to finalize plans for Conference and kick off the New Year, I look forward to hearing your ideas and feedback. Vice President Robert Tiffin always reminds us, “you get out what you put in” so speak up, get involved, and register for conference!

I look forward to seeing y’all in Nashville!