MCC Mechanical’s plumbing fabrication facility in Memphis, Tenn., allows it to exceed cost and time goals on its projects.

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MCC Mechanical is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, a major milestone for MCC and its Charlotte, N.C.-based office, which has been in this city for 20-plus years, Carolina Regional Manager Glenn Graham says. Longevity has always been a part of CEO Joseph Jaeger’s goal. “Companies are like people: They are born, live for a time and die,” Graham says. “Our CEO treats this company accordingly, taking its temperature occasionally and making sure it stays healthy.

“We have been approached several times by roll-up companies wanting to buy MCC, but our CEO has never sold because of his commitment to the company and people,” he adds.

The mechanical contractor has offices in Raleigh N.C.; Pass Christian, Miss.; and recently opened a new one in Memphis, Tenn. MCC Mechanical is looking into opening an office in Orlando, Fla., Graham adds. The company is licensed in many Southern states, and has performed projects in Saudi Arabia, The Virgin Islands and Russia, as well.

MCC provides mechanical, electrical and plumbing services, but “our real expertise is providing construction solutions to our customers’ needs,” he says. “We will step out of the box if it brings value to our customers.

“Our design/build capabilities started with the conception of our company, 50 years ago before design/build became a buzzword,” he adds. The original owners of the company were engineers and approached contractors in providing both the engineering (design) services as well as the construction (build) services, he explains.

‘Next Big Opportunity’
The company works to adapt itself to the changing marketplace. For example, during the oil boom in the 1980s, MCC had 16 high-rise buildings under construction at the same time in New Orleans, its headquarters city. “Our CEO recognized that wouldn’t last and looked for the next big opportunity,” Graham says.

At that time, it branched out and opened a fabrication facility in Pass Christian, “just in time for at least 12 major projects during the state’s casino boom, further extending the reach throughout the Southeast that led to relationships with McDevitt Street.

“MCC went on the road for McDevitt Street and brought the company to Charlotte and we have been in Charlotte since 1985,” he says. “This vision is paramount in being able to say we are now celebrating our 50th year in business.”

The company’s focus has always been to work with our customers and subcontractors and provide solutions, he stresses. “We work with a number of general contractors, developers and consultants that are in it for the long haul and not just one job,” he says. “This is reflected in our repeat business with the contractors we work with. We are not out there trying to be everything to everyone,” he adds. “Our work is only limited by the needs of our customers. MCC truly lives by the value added philosophy.”

‘Do-What-it-Takes Attitude’
MCC’s culture distinguishes it from other companies, Graham stresses. “Our CEO’s personality sets the culture for the company,” he adds.

That culture includes “an emphasis on innovation and progress both professionally and personally. With this rapidly changing industry, you want to be the guy out in front raising the bar,” he adds. “MCC has do-what-it-takes attitude, and believes in it.”

Professional ethics are also an important part of its culture. “Each person has a job and is accountable for their job,” he says. “Each business unit conducts itself as if it’s running its own business. But, there is the support and backing of all of the [other] groups to allow each person to achieve success.”

The company’s 90 percent repeat business rate and long-term relationships are two of its key strengths. “We have a number of accolades on projects we have completed,” he says. “We have been given awards by our subcontractors based on our team approach and project completions.

“We have several LEED projects we have completed and are currently working on a LEED Gold Ritz hotel for Bank of America in Charlotte,” he says.

Hearst Tower
One of the company’s notable projects is the 48-story Hearst Tower in Charlotte, a Class A office building. The facility includes a three-story Bank of America trading floor that has accommodations for 650 traders, with an expansion capability for 1,000. MCC provided all the mechanical, electrical and plumbing services for the design/build project. “It is one of the most high-tech facilities in the region,” Graham says.

The facility was 950,000 square feet and cost around $45 million. Construction began in 2000 and was completed in the beginning of 2003.

Its fabrication facility allowed the company to exceed cost and time goals on the project, he says. “We have a full-scale fabrication facility in Kenner, La., which does steel and plumbing fab, and a plumbing fab shop in Memphis,” he says.

“With the lack of qualified workers in this industry, our fabrication department, which was a vision of our CEO, allowed us to meet the tight schedule and have less workers on the floors and jobsites.”