The site navigation utilizes arrow, enter, escape, and space bar key commands. Left and right arrows move across top level links and expand / close menus in sub levels. Up and Down arrows will open main level menus and toggle through sub tier links. Enter and space open menus and escape closes them as well. Tab will move on to the next part of the site rather than go through menu items.

News

2025 MEP Innovation Conference Brings Together Subcontractors for Another Successful Conference

Feb 12, 2025

Since the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) and the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors’ National Association (SMACNA) joined the Mechanical Contractors Association of America (MCAA) in the re-development of the MEP Innovation Conference in 2022, all three trade associations have watched the continued success of their joint efforts. With more than 700 participants, 2025’s gathering took place January 27–30 in Los Angeles, California.

Every year, innovators and industry pioneers from these three associations leave with expanded comprehension, relationships and skills pertinent to multiple building trades. “You see the levels at which they’re coming here now. It’s not just somebody sending a project manager or somebody that’s involved in tech,” said Stephen L. Rose, Director of Technical Innovation and Facilities at Electrical Training Institute of Southern California. “It’s the presidents of the company that are speaking here and attending, they’re getting into AI and explain how they use it. So I see industry professionals getting together but I see it more stratified.”

Registrants were exposed to new technologies and construction trends on top of capitalizing on networking opportunities. “Just being able to get a different perspective from different trades, whether you’re an electrical contractor, a mechanical, it’s just a different point of view on how to solve similar problems,” said Mica Ashmore, Strategic Business Integration Manager at Alterman Electric. “But by having that different perspective, it takes you out of the mold that you’re probably used to and it really challenges you to think differently.”

A new feature of the 2025 MEP Innovation Conference was the Sponsored Demonstration Rooms where attendees gained a better feel for new tools and technologies on display on the trade show floor. “Oh my gosh! Tech, tech, tech and more tech! Everything seems to be going tech. So I was looking at all the different booths for all the different vendors and once upon a time you’d go to a NECA Convention or something like this [MEP] with a trade show that brought contractors and like-minded people together and you’d see tools, tools and more tools,” exclaimed Rose. “Now you still see tools, but you only see a couple of tools, you don’t see as many as you used to. But now what you do see is software that service, everybody has some kind of project management software, something to do scheduling out. AI is rolling into everything including Revizto, BIM, people are taking AI and they’re using that to model directly as an extract from the estimate. Fascinating stuff! And you can definitely see that shift in the number of participants at the vendor level.” Participants were also given the opportunity to tour the IBEW Local 11 facility as well as the Sheet Metal JATC Local 105 facility.

Collin Weiner, President of CalEnergy Corporation, was recognized as NECA’s 2025 Innovator of the Year. Weiner’s industry peers say he is at the forefront of cutting-edge technology such as fault-managed power-advanced lighting controls, smart building systems and demand power management. Weiner was also cited for continuously driving his business through the training of his employees on new markets, materials and equipment, and marketing through social media, in-person meetings, and company printouts. Weiner’s community involvement and participation in numerous NECA meetings exemplifies key characteristics of an innovator wanting to share his learned knowledge. Weiner identifies new opportunities for improvement and acts on them for the benefit of the industry. He has been a guest speaker at NECA events on cybersecurity in relation to electrical contracting and field operations as well as integrating safe worker strategies and practices.

Since the conference was held as the Los Angeles wildfires were reaching full containment, the NECA Disaster Relief Fund, MCAA Charitable Fund, and SMACNA and the New Horizons Foundation joined forces to donate up to $60,000 for member relief efforts in areas impacted by the fires. Attendees were invited to make an additional donation, driving the final total even higher. For questions about the MEP Innovation Conference or how to get involved, please email [email protected].