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Yes, it's another road trip -- to Tempe, AZ. We all look
forward to more time away. Yet we promise you that your days at the
McCormick Systems 26th annual User's Conference -- to be held the
first week of April, will be the BEST INVESTMENT you'll make in
2008 in PRODUCTIVITY IMPROVEMENT!
What's on the agenda:
PRE-CONFERENCE (optional) seminars --
Monday & Tuesday,
March 31 & April 1 -- Hands on training classes for both
Standard and Advanced.
FUN (also optional) -- our McCormick
Masters Golf Tournament,
held Wednesday morning April 2.
NETWORKING (you'll learn from your
peers!) --
our Welcoming Reception, Wednesday night (April
2).
LEARNING (profitable) -- full-day sessions
Thursday, April 3 and Friday, April 4.
FUN + NETWORKING -- at the Friday night
dinner.
LEARNING (optional) -- in the Computer
Lab. This hands-on facility is open for more than 15 hours
altogether -- Thursday & Friday, of course
EXTENDED LAB -- Saturday from 7
to 12
(for those with later Saturday flights or other
business).
Need more info? Want to Register? Call
800-444-4890
Or click here for the registration form.
Conference Schedule At A
Glance
| Date |
Event |
Time |
| Mon., 3/31 |
Standard & Advanced Windows Training (separate classes) |
7am-4pm |
| Tues., 4/1 |
Standard &
Advanced Windows Training Classes Cont. |
7am-4pm |
| Wed. 4/2 |
McCormick Masters Golf Tournament |
tee off: 7:30am |
| Wed., 4/2 |
Welcoming Reception |
7pm-9pm |
| Thur. 4/3 |
Registration |
|
| Thur. 4/3 |
Conference Sessions |
Noon - 5pm |
| Thur. 4/3 |
Computer Lab |
8:30 - 5pm |
| Fri.
4/4 |
Conference Sessions |
7am - 4pm |
| Fri. 4/4 |
Computer Lab |
7am - 5pm |
| Fri.
4/4 |
Dinner |
6pm |
| Sat. 4/5 |
Computer Lab |
7:30am - Noon |
What
You'll Learn -- And Take Home
MON & TUE -- if you
need a refresher, our Standard class on these days is perfectly
timed -- come to AZ, take a class, stay for the conference! We offer
a limited number of Advanced training events during the year, so
those who need to drill down into the specifics can take advantage
of this class's timing as well.
WED -- The Golf
Tournament is fun, of course. But attending the Reception can be to
your advantage. Many of our attendees tell us they like the User's
Conference not only for the McCormick-provided education and
information, but for what they are able to learn from other
contractors and estimators. Some of the friendships developed at our
events extend for not just a few days . . . but years!
THUR -- This is a
full day of learning. Here's what we'll cover:
V9.0 &
PowerLink Partners -- how we interface with Quickbooks,
Spectrum (Dexter + Chaney), Timberline, and American
Contractor. Do you have software from another accounting
provider? Our McCormick Standard Export will be covered, too.
Proposal Sheet -- how you can use it (easily). How it eliminates errors.
And: How you can customize it to meet the needs and desires of
your customers! Note: This module is already included in your
McCormick software (which means, you already paid for it --
we're not selling you an "extra" here!)
Advanced Power
Probes -- you've asked for this enhancement. We're providing
it. Now we'll explore exactly how to use it, and what it will do
for you. This includes a revamped 12k Server that runs as a true service, AND the ability to have multiple McCormick apps open at the same time, i.e. Change Order and the main app.
Net Pricer -- McCormick's people will teach you how to set it up and use it
-- a "from start-to-finish" presentation. You'll be able to
review this with us in the Computer Lab, too!
Three Key
"Other" Vendors -- we've invited people from Autodesk
Subcontractor, NetPricer, and Trade Service to come in and talk
from our stage about their programs and how you can use them.
You'll be able to follow up on this -- with them! -- in our
Computer Lab as well. Needless to say, we'll review how to
interface these "other" products with the McCormick software you
already have on your desk!
Take-Off
Tricks & Tips -- this special DO NOT MISS session will go into the
different ways you can customize the McCormick Systems software
you already have to speed the work that can take up 75% of your
estimating time. There's no doubt in our minds -- YOU want to do
estimating the way you want to do it! We're here to help you be
more productive . . . so attend this session to learn how
to bend the McCormick software to your method! [It's
possible this session alone will pay for your trip to AZ!]
FRI -- another full
day. Among other things, we'll go into:
Security -- this is more important than ever in today's society. You'll
get a thorough review of how to set up security. Did you know
that you can enable only certain people using your McCormick
software to see all elements of the estimate -- and that you can
keep others (you decide who and when) from editing certain
elements? You can even bar someone (a brand new junior
estimator, say) from seeing labor dollars? Our security
discussions will venture from the simple to the extreme -- such
as how to handle security when someone off-site (a project
manager in a job shack) needs access to your estimate and
database.
Project
Management -- speaking of project managers, we'll discuss
how to use our system to enhance your project management
efforts. If you don't already know how to use the Graphs feature
and Scheduling feature that's embedded in your McCormick
software (you already paid for this!) . . .you'll learn. Do you
know how to use Bid Summaries in working out change orders? Are
you familiar with how to export information from your estimating
software to Microsoft Project? We'll go over all of this and
more.
Hardware and Technology Trends -- for the bigger contractors, this session will be
invaluable -- we'll talk about the things you need to know that
perhaps your IT department has gone over very quickly. For the
smaller contractors -- people who serve as CEO and IT chief! --
you'll get information here that, perhaps, you need to know and
don't really know how to find. We're building here on a session
that proved very popular in the 2007 User's Conference.
Databases -- we'll spend some time talking about new items and
capabilities we've added into the database in V9.0. We'll talk a
bit about our ABS database as well.
What's Next -- where is McCormick Systems thinking of taking the
software on your desk? What enhancements are we planning for the
future (stuff you'll get automatically, in future updates) . . .
? And most of all -- what do YOU want to see from us in
the future? This group meeting with President Todd
McCormick is his chance to run some ideas by you, and your
opportunity to put items of importance to you on our agenda.
Why Attend?
Perhaps you're the
type of electrical contractor or estimator who spends a lot of time
every single day thinking about, playing with, and talking with
others about state-of-the-art electrical construction estimating and
project management computer software. If so -- Congratulations!
Perhaps you won't need to spend some April time with us in AZ.
However, in our
discussions with electrical construction people (our customers),
McCormick Systems has learned that most are too busy getting the
work done to think about the capabilities of the software you
already have on your desk. We've found that attendees at the User's
Conference walk away with things they can put to work immediately
upon returning home.
In other words, we're
talking here about IMPROVED ESTIMATING PRODUCTIVITY. And better
project management productivity, too.
Don't miss this
once-a-year opportunity to get more out of your estimating software,
share ideas with other contractors and estimators . . . and to move
your company's estimating productivity to a much higher level. Call
us now for more info or to Register -- 800-444-4890.
See Us In Las Vegas
Feb. 27-29, come and visit McCormick Systems at our booth at the
Electric West 2008 show. Booth #400. NOTE: You can register for an
Exhibit Hall pass online -- free. It'll be a $25 charge at the door. Click here to register.
Guest
Commentary: From The EleBlog
(three timely topics, from Joe Salimando's www.eleblog.com -- used with
permission)
Honda Home
Energy Station
From Honda: "This fourth-generation experimental
unit is designed to provide fuel for a hydrogen-powered fuel cell
vehicle, as well as heat and electricity for a home. The new system
is more compact and efficient, with a lower operating cost than
previous models. The announcement coincides with the world debut of
the all-new FCX Clarity hydrogen-powered fuel cell vehicle at the
Los Angeles Auto Show."
The claim: The Home Energy Station IV can reduce both cost and
carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions for the consumer. Compared
to the average U.S. consumer's home with grid-supplied electricity
and a gasoline-powered car, a home using Home Energy Station IV to
help produce heat and electricity and also to refuel an FCX Clarity
can reduce CO2 emissions by an estimated 30 percent and
energy costs by an estimated 50 percent.
Details (posted by H in November) -- here. Read it. We're
talking here about Honda for the house, as well as an energy deal
for a car.
What's
Wrong With LEED
Greensource magazine posted (back in
November) a Q&A with a designer, Thom Mayne, on "what's
wrong with LEED." It includes this:
Q: What do you think of LEED and
the way the USGBC has handled it so far? What about other standards
and groups?
TM: LEED should give performance
requirements and let the architect solve the problem. The point
system doesn't scale. A bike rack and air conditioning get you the
same point. I'd much rather see BTU and CO2 requirements and let the
professional community solve the problem. If you give proscriptive
requirements, it stagnates new development and research. It's like
taking a blue book test. You don't need to know the subject. Because
architects deal in creative problem solving, some of that will be
curtailed by proscriptive systems.
I also think the LEED point system is overladen in the construction
phase versus lifetime energy consumption and secondary effects.
It's easy to criticize. It's easy to sit back,
let someone else do something, and then slam it. My gut feeling
about LEED is similar to that last sentence from Mayne . . . more
emphasis on energy consumption is needed.
But the feelings of Mayne (an expert) and The EleBlog (not a
standards-creating organization) should be seen as commentaries on a
tremendous accomplishment, not knocking something cobbled together.
LEED is an accomplishment. If critics like Mayne can help make it
better, that's great . . . but please don't let criticism stray into
the vicinity of a tear-down.
DOE
Transformer Standard
I am not well informed about transformers, so I
pass along this information without an opinion. The U.S. Department
of Energy in October issued final electric distribution transformer standards. From what I've read in the
industry, there is a near-universal lack of enthusiasm (even
disappointment) at what DOE required.
As in . . . the gummint didn't go far enough.
Here's what the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy
said in a release:
The electric industry along with
efficiency and environmental groups said new electric distribution
transformer standards finalized by the Department of Energy today
improve upon an initial proposal issued last year, but fall short of
the strong levels the groups had jointly endorsed with one of the
biggest transformer manufacturers.
"We're glad DOE has improved upon
their original proposed standard," said Steven Nadel, Executive
Director of the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy
(ACEEE). "But, with the buyers and one of the biggest sellers of
transformers urging even higher standards, DOE could have done
better."
Electric distribution transformers
are the ubiquitous large grey, green, or sometimes brown metal
cylinders or boxes on utility poles and cement pads that reduce or
"step down" voltage from the levels used to efficiently ship power
over an electric distribution network to the levels needed for
business and household use. About 41 million transformers are in use
across the U.S. A slight improvement in transformer efficiency would
result in large electricity savings.
McCormick 2008 Calendar --
Dates For
Your Planning
We'd like to talk with you. Please consider coming to see us at the
shows listed below. And plan to be with us in Tempe for the annual
User's Conference!
Feb. 27-29, Las Vegas, NV -- Electric West
Conference & Show. We're in booth #400. More info.
April 2-5, Tempe, AZ -- McCormick Systems
Conference '08
Pre-Conference training
classes (standard and advanced) -- March 31 & April 1
May 7-9, Las Vegas, NV -- ABC Construction Education Conference Elect/Mech
Sept. 29-Oct. 2, Las Vegas, NV -- BICSI Fall
Conference.
Oct. 4-7, Chicago, IL -- NECA Show
Oct. 30-31, Atlanta, GA -- IEC Electric Expo.
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