MAUI, Hawaii - While parts of the Hawaiian Islands were being drenched with rains and tormented by mudslides, several thousand mechanical contractors flocked to the mostly sun-drenched beaches of Wailea. Evidently, Lono, the Hawaiian lord of the sun and wisdom was watching over as the Mechanical Contractors Association of America (MCAA) held its 117th annual convention. The first day of the convention was hampered by steady rains, but the rest of the event saw a mixture of fun in the sun and half-day business meetings.
Stanley Berger, 2005 chairman of the MCAA and CEO of Arista Air Conditioning Corp., Long Island City, N.Y., opened the annual convention with a report on insights he had gained while representing MCAA during the year. "Everything in this association starts with education. Education is the key element that allows our contractor members to expand in a rapidly changing HVAC marketplace," said Berger.