Rockville, MD. - Plumbing Contractors Association, a subgroup of the Mechanical Contractors Association of America, is planning a big splash in its bid to revive plumbing education for contractors. For the first time since 2002, the group is planning to hold its PCA Conference Nov. 12-14, in Houston. The ambitious program is planning to include four major sessions, three breakout sessions and an optional site visit to CFI Mechanical.

The conference will begin on Nov. 12, with the CFI Mechanical site visit, sponsored by the MCA of Houston. The trip will include a tour of CFI's fabrication facilities (contractors who attended the 2007 Pre-Fab Seminar will have an opportunity to see what has changed), CAD operations and company headquarters. In addition to the tour, the MCA of Houston will host a Texas barbecue to give attendees a taste of the local flavors.

The next day, the education kicks off with two main sessions and two breakout sessions. The first main session will feature David Allen, vice president of marketing for McKinstry Co. in Seattle. A recent addition to MCAA's Advanced Leadership Institute, Allen will discuss how proper positioning of a plumbing contractor can optimize its business.

The second major session will be presented by Courtney France, instructor at MCAA's LEED AP Workshop - New Construction and green building expert. Her session will share with contractors her experience on more than 200 LEED projects for high performance buildings. The presentation will include guidance on a plumber's role within a LEED project and water efficiency information crucial to a plumber's participation in the project.

Thursday's breakout sessions will give attendees an opportunity to choose among several topics:

• Setting up a CAD department
• Construction claims
• Evolution of codes
• Risk management in contracts
• Building Information Modeling
• The UA/MCAA Green Mobile Classroom.

Friday will include two major sessions. Dr. Joseph Weintraub, an ALI professor from Babson College, will offer a presentation on Developing Your Middle Management, that will focus on ways contractors can intelligently expand their business. MCAA's past president, David Kruse of L.J. Kruse Co., Berkeley, Calif., will present The Greening of a Plumbing Contractor, a narrative of how his company has made a commitment to green building by renovating its company headquarters into a high performance building.

Friday will include one set of breakout sessions featuring programs on medical gas installation, pre-fabrication and plumbing service.

Additional information is available at www.mcaa.org/education.