Feedback came informally (through conversations we had at the event’s Friday night dinner) and via formal comments, including these:

• “I took three pages of notes – very informative!”

• “I’m a long-time McCormick user, but I learned several functions of the program that I did not use.”

• “Love the section starting on Jobs and working through Big Summary. This for me was the most valuable information of the Conference.”

• “I believe I learned more from this conference than in the one last year. This makes me want to return again – the conferences get better every year.”

While it was gratifying to hear and read these comments, it was an important reminder for the McCormick Systems staff: Things we "know" about our program are not necessarily known by all. Information we include with new releases ( new capabilities, enhancements, etc.) isn't universally absorbed with a 100% take-up rate.

Guest Speakers

As noted in a February pre-conference newsletter write-up, four speakers from other software vendors were invited to speak at this year’s event.

Perhaps the most informative (for everyone) was the presentation from BIM Solutions. Everyone in construction has a word to say about BIM, but we at McCormick were interested in how this first-time presenter would fare at our event. Are electrical contractors really going to get into building information modeling?

Answer: Yes. Not only were our attendees interested, they obviously were well-informed on the subject – and wanted to discuss it with another knowledgeable resource. When the 60 minutes we had allocated to Scott Elliot’s presentation ticked away, our customers were not yet done with their questions and comments.

“We let Scott extend the session another 30 minutes,” Todd McCormick noted. “There were plenty of questions. One of our regular attendees actually thanked us ‘for not cutting it short’.”

Sal Huerta of NetPricer talked about the brand-new offering from ElectricSmarts: Smart eCat. It’s a solution that allows contractors, estimators & project managers to use handhelds (such as the Android) and iPads to access information from electrical manufacturers and suppliers – including pricing and videos.

Project Doc Control (whose product has roots as Autodesk Subcontractor) is a productivity-enhancing idea for construction contractors of all sorts, which is why it fit this year’s “Productivity” theme. Jeff Burmeister (who has appeared at past User’s Conference events) discussed how his product is used to track important project documents.

Also on hand was Trade Service Corp., to talk about its new product – Submittal Manager. Just introduced, it drew significant interest from those contractors in attendance. Again, it’s a productivity-enhancing product customized to the needs of project managers and others working for electrical contractors. They also showed their Tra-Ser price updating program and Tra-Ser Supplier Exchange.

‘What’s Next’ segment

What’s more, we retained but modified one key session from past User Conferences. This is the time devoted to asking our customers what they would like to see in the future in terms of additional functions, enhancements, and other changes and improvements to McCormick’s software.

In the past, the wide-open session could wander from topic to topic, in a random fashion. A comment about CAD Estimating could be followed by a suggestion on Bid Summary – and then yet another idea about something completely unrelated. The value was there . . . many ideas now incorporated in the software came from past meetings. But it wasn’t possible to get in-depth information on the estimating needs and wants on specific areas.

At this past event, we tried a variation on this approach. Todd McCormick began the session by laying out for the group the specific development plans (in three major areas) that McCormick has for 2011 R&D. Then he asked the assembled contractors and estimators to provide ideas on those areas.

“It was very good for our development in the next months, because we obtained a lot more targeted information from the group,” said Todd McCormick. “Everyone seemed to have some great input on the areas on which we are now focusing.”

For Your 2011 Calendar

The thickest part of the posting is about how to hire an electrician. Here it is, in its entirety . . . can you meet or exceed these expectations?

• Have one handy: Most homeowners call electricians in an emergency or if they’re building or remodeling – so it’s important to research a contractor and find a skilled electrician before you need one.

• Always check licensing: If your state requires electricians to be licensed, check that the license is current. Poor wire connections, overloaded circuits, improper grounding and broken safety elements on an electrical panel are just a few of the problems that can arise from bad workmanship.

• Inquire about costs: Highly rated electricians on Angie’s List tell us replacing just the panel can cost anywhere from $1,200 to $2,000. Rewiring a whole house runs from $8,000 to $15,000 for a 1,500- to 3,000-square-foot house.

• Don’t forget permits: A permit is usually required in most counties and from the power company any time you’re replacing a home’s main electrical equipment or doing a significant amount of rewiring. The cost of the permit is often included in your electrician’s bill – but be sure to ask. With the permit comes an inspection to ensure the work meets code.

• Ask about education: A reputable company will require staff to attend monthly training courses and be up-to-date on the National Electrical Code, which is amended every three years.

• Electrical Inspection: Depending on the age of the home and what appliances have been added, it’s a good idea to have an electrical inspection once every three to five years.

• Service plans: A trend taking hold is several companies are already or plan to offer electrical maintenance service plans. Much like seasonal air conditioner and furnace inspections, these service plans involve a yearly or twice-yearly review. The homeowner receives a written report detailing the condition of and any concerns with the home’s electrical system, from outlets to smoke alarms, to the breaker panel and all wiring in between. This service is generally priced by the size of the home and can save money by find finding problems early and avoiding emergency repair bills. Some providers will point out imminent problems with major appliances, which can also save on emergency repairs.