The Metal Building Contractors and Erectors Association (MBCEA) has 3 main goals:

• Education: To provide programs and venues that enhance educational opportunities for metal building contractors and erectors.
• Image Enhancement: To develop programs to enhance the image of metal building contractors and erectors, and the metal building industry.
• Grassroots Support: To develop and maintain programs specifically designed to support and respond to the needs of the grassroots membership of the MBCEA.

President Gary T. Smith believes the way to achieve all of this is at the Chapter level. His laser focus has been on establishing Chapters as forums to offer training and education to members, networking opportunities and programs specific to each region. To that end, we are pleased to announce two new Chapters: Southeast Texas and the Rocky Mountain Region.

Tony Fuentes of Premier Steel Buildings Ltd., Steve Olson and Duke Santillian, of Rigid Global Buildings have organized the Texas Southeast Chapter. They have planned a jam-packed day that will focus on the needs of the workers in the morning and owners and admin in the afternoon. Mark your calendars: September 17, 2014, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Humble Civic Center, 8233 Will Clayton Parkway, Humble, TX 77338. The activities start promptly at 10 a.m. Gary T. Smith will be on hand to inspire the crewmen with his passion for training. In two hours Gary will certify the participants in Fall Hazards Safety, Hot work Safety, Torch Cutting Safety and Global Harmonized System (old MSDS). These are core standards that OSHA is enforcing and Gary recommends all metal building assemblers have. After lunch, Smith will speak with the employers about the benefits of MBCEA membership and plans for the future.

Similarly, the Rocky Mountain Region Chapter will hold its kick-off on October 2, 2014. The meeting has been planned to coincide with METALCON at the Colorado Convention Center, in Denver, CO. Michael Cain, Big Johnson Construction in Fort Morgan, CO, Harvey Freeman, Pro Steel, Inc. in Black Forest, CO and Mike Reynolds, Systems Contractors, Inc. and Systems Builders, Inc. in Thornton, CO have organized the kick-off. Gary T. Smith and several other MBCEA Board members will be in attendance. This meeting will start at 9M at the Convention Center and end in time for participants to enter METALCON. Smith will highlight the advantages of membership and demonstrate some of the training and certification he offers, such as Torch Cutting Safety.

Anyone involved in the Assembly of Metal Building Systems in Southeast Texas and CO, WY and UT are encouraged to attend these free meetings. If you are not a member of the MBCEA, this is a perfect opportunity to check it out.

For more information about the MBCEA, to register for a kickoff meeting or to become a member, visit www.mbcea.org or contact Sasha Graver at 484-239-3337 or sgraver@mbcea.org.