We want to wish you and your family the very best in the year 2003.

In fact, we want to ensure that you and your company get the very best from the concrete accessory product standpoint. That's why this year MCA is re-dedicating itself to providing you, our treasured customer, with additional value in every order we take and deliver. Value is defined by Webster as “a fair return in goods and services for money exchanged,“ but what exactly does this mean to you?

• You'll get continued quick turnaround on all orders and a few “miracles” when necessary (see the Value Added story to the right.)
• You'll get what you ordered the first time out. Did you know that 99% of MCA's customer orders are shipped complete - the first time out?
• You'll get expertise and high quality products and service when you run into a new situation or application problem (see Ask Jimbo on fixing cracks in foundations and slabs).

I invite you to call me directly if you ever feel that MCA isn't holding up its end of the “value exchange." I also welcome you to share your stories about how MCA's service, knowledge, and products have helped you in your job. We may just feature you in next quarter's Value Added column.

Mike Longfield President

At 1:30 on a Friday afternoon one of MCA's Sales Professionals, Tom Bernacki, received an urgent call from one of his customers. Finn Eikeland, a superintendent from Walsh Construction in charge of the 55 E Erie condominium project in downtown Chicago, had decided that his crews needed to work the next day. Could Tom get him about fifty 10' x 20' custom made tarps to keep them working warmly and productively by early Saturday morning?

Working with Bobbie Haner at our tarp manufacturer to quickly change his production schedule, Bernacki was able to meet this emergency need for Eikeland. “This is not something we look to do every day, but our customers know that if something like this comes up at the last minute, MCA will do it's best to get them what they need,” says Bernacki. “We couldn't have done it without our supplier.”

Now that's value added to an order!

Imagine this if you will!

You wake up on a cold, blustery Chicago winter weekday and dread the thought of working outside another day - exposed to the cold and wind. But then you remember that your job site has recently been outfitted with heavy-duty tarps from MCA. With this knowledge you dress warmly, grab a cup of coffee, and head out the door for another productive day on the job. Is this a dream? Well, it sure doesn’t have to be!

MCA has been keeping contractors warm and toasty for many years simply by selling them heavy-duty tarps. These Style 1300 tarps serve to enclose a building to block the wind, let in daylight, and keep the heat generated at a job site within its confines. One should know, too, that these tarps are fire retardant and self-extinguishing!

“These tarps are lightweight but strong,” says Tom Bernacki, Sales Professional at MCA. “They will not absorb water, rot or mildew.”Typical sizes are 12' x 100' or 40' x 100' rolls, but they can also be custom made to fit the particular job site's needs. “We can turn around fairly quickly on custom orders, because we have a great relationship with our supplier and because they're local. This adds lots of value to what we can bring to our customers,” says Jim McGinnis at MCA. “Just ask the guys who were freezing onsite one day and a lot warmer the next day.” Interested in staying a little warmer this season? Ask your MCA Sales Professional about these tarps.