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HEADLINES ADDED: November 24, 2009
The best construction industry marketing blog: Nominations open
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HEADLINES ADDED: October 23, 2009
Institute of Green Professionals Awards Highest Honor to Sustainability Leaders
Institute of Green Professionals Awards Highest Honor to Sustainability Leaders for leadership in green development, architecture, planning... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: October 20, 2009
2010 NHQ Awards: Simonini Builders, Wayne Homes Net Gold, Silver
Learn how the 2010 National Housing Quality Awards winners, Simonini Builders and Wayne Homes, netted NHQ Gold and Silver awards.... Read More
Three rules for construction marketing success
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HEADLINES ADDED: October 09, 2009
Vancouver Regional Construction Association Gold Awards of Excellence
The Vancouver Regional Construction Association announced their Gold Awards of Excellence at a gala at the Hyatt Regency on Oct. 1... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: October 07, 2009
Vancouver Regional Construction Association Silver Award winners
The Olympic venue building boom brought a record number of entrants for the Vancouver Regional Construction Association's Awards of Excellence.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: September 14, 2009
Winners of 2009 Brick in Architecture Awards Competition Announced
The Brick Industry Association announced the recipients of its 2009 Brick in Architecture Awards, which honor innovative use of clay brick in eight categories.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: August 26, 2009
Vancouver Olympic venues bask in green glow
A group of architectural firms have been presented with an international award for excellence in green building practices for their contribution to the construction of nine venues for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: August 24, 2009
Carrier Wins 11th Builder's Choice Award
Builder's Choice Awards is the largest, most prominent design competition in the industry.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: August 17, 2009
Winners of the 2009 BusinessWeek/Architectural Record Awards Announced
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HEADLINES ADDED: July 20, 2009
Personal, business, or both
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How important is it to be first on Google?
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HEADLINES ADDED: July 16, 2009
The perfect (and near-perfect) marketing place
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HEADLINES ADDED: July 08, 2009
Testing your ideas
... Read More
Indianapolis Roofer Wins MFM Building Products Grand Prize
Wesley Simpson, Vice President of MFM Building Products Corp., announced that Jerry Sanford, a professional roofer from Indianapolis, Ind., is the grand prize winner of a 2009 GMC 2500 Crew Cab pick-up truck offered in the company’s 20th Anniversary Peel & Seal Sweepstakes.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: June 23, 2009
Global Holcim Awards Honor Sustainable Construction
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HEADLINES ADDED: June 15, 2009
Construction Marketing Publicity
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Why does construction marketing (seem) to need to be difficult?
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HEADLINES ADDED: May 23, 2009
NAHB Honors The Year's Best in Green Home Building
Home building industry leaders honored the best in green residential design and outstanding advocacy efforts at the NAHB National Green Building Awards.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: May 19, 2009
NAHB Honors Remodelers for Green Work
Three remodelers were among those honored at the NAHB National Green Building Awards this weekend. (You can read a full list of the winners here.) ...... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: May 18, 2009
KTGY designs, helps build three homes for Habitat for Humanity
Architect receives 2009 Dream Builder Award from Habitat's Orange County chapter... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: May 14, 2009
ELAINE Construction wins 2009 Massachusetts Family Business of the Year Award
The Northeastern University Center for Family Business honored ELAINE Construction with a 2009 Massachusetts Family Business of the Year Award. The award recognizes the Wexler familys business achievements and leadership success across three generations at the Newton-based company. Research by the Center for Family Business reveals that fewer than12% of family businesses survive to be led by a third generation.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: May 12, 2009
NAHB Honors Builders and Remodelers for Green Construction
Companies receive awards at annual Green Building Conference... Read More
Winners of 2009 National Design Awards Announced
... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: April 22, 2009
Carrier Wins 11th Builder's Choice Award
Builder's Choice Awards is the largest, most prominent design competition in the industry.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: April 20, 2009
Prevent Water Intrusion in Brick Veneer
Home builders can use these best practices to prevent errors that lead to water intrusion in brick veneer applications... Read More
Preparing Builders for the Green Home Inspection Process
There are numerous ways a home can earn green points. Here's how to ready the home for the Green Home certification process.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: April 16, 2009
S&S Electric and Mercedes Homes Honored with National TechHome Awards
Projects awarded Home of the Year and Community of the Year distinctions from the Consumer Electronics Association... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: April 14, 2009
Business Briefs for the Week of March 30, 2009
Hawkins Electric Service , Beltsville, Md., has been awarded the prestigious 2008 Angie’s List Super Service Award. Celebrating its 10th year, the award is given to companies who have achieved and maintained a superior service rating... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: April 08, 2009
CE Truck Editor Honored
... Read More
Value of housing development land halves in a year
The value of housing development land in the UK halved during 2008, according to research from property agents Knight Frank.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: April 07, 2009
Black & Veatch site named UK's 'most considerate'
A Black & Veatch Ltd project has been identified as the UK's Most Considerate Site 2009 by the Considerate Constructors Scheme.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: March 26, 2009
Ford Super Duty Repeats Work Truck of the Year Win
A lot of award announcements are stemming from The Work Truck Show that wrapped up last week. One honor went to the Ford F-Series Super Duty which took home the title of Work Truck of the Year. This is a repeat performance for Ford as the company was also recognized for offering the 2008 Work Truck of the Year. The 2009 F-Series Super Duty line of trucks is available in Regular Cab, Super Cab, and Crew Cab models. Powertrain choices 5.4L 3V Triton V-8, 6.8L 3V Triton V-10, and... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: March 05, 2009
MKA Awarded For San Francisco Building
The American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) of Washington has awarded its top honor — the Platinum Award — to Magnusson Klemencic Associates (MKA). The award is for Structural, Seismic, and Wind Engineering on One Rincon Hill, a 60-story, 618-foot residential tower in San Francisco, located only eight miles from the San Andreas fault.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: February 23, 2009
Sika Sarnafil Presents Annual Project of the Year Awards to Roofing Contractors
Sika Sarnafil has announced the winners of its 2008 Projects of the Year Competition. Twelve contractors were recognized for outstanding workmanship in completing a recent project utilizing a Sika Sarnafil thermoplastic membrane for roofing or waterproofing applications.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: February 18, 2009
Job Order Contracting Puts States’ Stimulus Funds To Work Faster Than Conventional Construction
State and local agencies receiving funds from the $790-billion economic stimulus plan can begin their construction renovation and retrofit projects quicker and easier by using the construction contract method known as job order contracting (JOC).... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: February 09, 2009
The three Es of Construction Marketing: Empathy, Energy and Enjoyment
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ABC Of Iowa Presents Awards
Interstate Companies received a prestigious construction award from Associated Builders & Contractors (ABC) of Iowa during the association's annual Excellence in Construction banquet, held recently in West Des Moines. The event recognized member companies and individuals. "Each year, this competition raises the bar for merit shop contractors," says ABC of Iowa President and CEO Greg Spenner.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: January 31, 2009
AIA Announces 2009 Honor Awards for Architecture
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HEADLINES ADDED: January 03, 2009
New Year Honours List: Lend Lease's Val Lowman receives OBE
Val Lowman, managing director of Bovis Lend Lease's not-for-profit arm Be and a key backer of the new Construction & Built Environment Diploma, has been awarded an OBE in the New Year Honours List.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: December 08, 2008
Colorado Engineering Awards
For the past 40 years, consulting engineering firms have entered their most innovative projects and studies in the American Council of Engineering Companies of Colorado competitions. The winners of the 2009 Engineering Excellence Awards represent original or innovative applications of new or existing engineering technologies and have demonstrated their future value to the engineering profession.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: November 18, 2008
Milling Means Business
In an economy which has seen the housing market collapse and many construction contractors pull up stakes, Posen Construction, Inc., has not just survived but thrived. The company's formula for success is a diverse offering combining in-house capabilities and a strong work ethic. It also includes having the right equipment to allow the company to pursue the opportunities that diversification of...... Read More
Concrete Contractor Overcomes Extreme Layout Challenge
Imagine setting pilings for an expansive structure that has the proportions straight out of Batman's Gotham City. That's exactly what Joseph Testa Concrete Contracting is tackling with a massive manufacturing production facility being built in Cheswick, PA, about 10 miles north of Pittsburgh. The building features 84 pile caps that are 5 feet thick and measure 13 feet by 7 feet.... Read More
Handling Challenging Underground Projects
In the 47 years the company has been in business, Selge Construction, of Niles, MI, has built a reputation as one of the most respected utility contractors in the Southwest Michigan-South Bend, IN, area. Selge Construction is a multifaceted company specializing in municipal sewer and water systems, low-pressure sewer systems, concrete paving, and flatwork.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: November 13, 2008
Three Canadian projects earn Holcim awards for sustainable construction
North Vancouver’s Outdoor School, designed by Vancouver firm Larry McFarland Architects Ltd., recently picked up an Acknowledgement prize at the North American Holcim Awards.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: November 05, 2008
Gold Award winners announced at Vancouver Regional Construction Association gala
The Vancouver Regional Construction Association (VRCA) unveiled their Gold Awards of Excellence winners at a recent gala in Vancouver.... Read More
20th annual Award of Excellence winners
The Vancouver Regional Construction Association (VRCA) announced the winners of their 20th Annual Awards of Excellence at a gala at the Hyatt Regency in Vancouver on October 30, 2008.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: September 08, 2008
RIAGC Honors Seven Contractors
The Rhode Island Chapter of the Associated General Contractors (RIAGC) of America recently honored seven construction companies for 10 outstanding construction projects. This was the seventh year that “Build Rhode Island” hosted the awards program. The 85-year old RIAGC represents leading general contractors, construction managers, specialty contractors, suppliers, and service provi...... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: August 06, 2008
Build Washington Awards
The Associated General Contractors of Washington honored the 2008 Build Washington Award winners in a gala event recently at the Seattle Art Museum. Build Washington Awards for Construction Excellence were presented to 12 contractors for their 13 projects. Tacoma Narrows Constructors, a joint venture of Kiewit Pacific Co.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: August 05, 2008
Professional Builder’s 2008 Best Workplaces
This year we chose six home builders that, in spite of the glum housing market, found a way to keep employees happy and ready to do whatever it takes to keep their companies going.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: July 16, 2008
Highway Corridor Reconstruction Builds Road To Future
The result of the labor will long outlive the workers who brought it forth. And the designers, transporters and installers of the concrete construction materials going into the extensive network of bridges and transportation structures in central Wisconsin couldn't be more proud. Zenith Tech Inc., of Waukesha and Rothschild, and Lunda Construction, of Black River Falls, two of the largest bridg...... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: July 15, 2008
Building Schools for the Future awards launched
Schools contractors could be up for a prize in the first ever Building Schools for the Future (BSF) awards.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: July 14, 2008
Georgia Branch, AGC Receives National Chapter Of The Year Honors
Georgia Branch, AGC was recently honored as the recipient of AGC of America’s Chapter of the Year award. The award was presented earlier this year at AGC’s national convention in Las Vegas – and it happens to coincide with the chapter’s 80th anniversary celebration.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: July 07, 2008
Challenging Bridge Construction In Cloudland Canyon
Bridge construction always brings challenges — and it's not always the biggest bridges that offer the biggest challenges. A good case in point is the recently completed bridge over Daniels Creek in Cloudland Canyon State Park in northwestern Georgia, a project that involved everything from unbelievably rugged terrain to the necessity of placing beams by helicopter.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: July 05, 2008
Building Schools for the Future awards launched
Schools contractors could be up for a prize in the first ever Building Schools for the Future (BSF) awards.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: July 04, 2008
Taylor Wimpey wins design award
Taylor Wimpey has won a Housing Design award for its Oxley Woods development in Milton Keynes.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: July 02, 2008
Presenting the 50+ Housing Awards of 2008
Professional Builder presents the winners of the NAHB 50+ Housing Council's Best of 50+ Housing Awards.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: June 25, 2008
Best Places Awards 2008: winners announced
The winners of the Contract Journal Best Places to Work in Construction Awards 2008 have been announced.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: June 18, 2008
Understanding Concrete Pavement
Going from a 10-inch concrete pavement design to an 11-inch concrete pavement design can nearly double the life of the pavement. That's what Tom Van Dam, Ph.D., P.E., associate professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Michigan Tech University, told attendees of the recent Concrete Workshop in East Lansing sponsored by the Michigan Concrete Paving Association (MCPA),...... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: June 16, 2008
Manufactured Building System Means Fast Concrete Building Construction
How fast can a 20,000-square-foot church facility be constructed? According to Royal Concrete Concepts, such a project can be completed "within days" using the manufactured building system units developed by the company. Royal Concrete Concepts manufactures the building system units at its new plant in Okeechobee, Fla.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: June 13, 2008
19 Awards for Campus Architecture, Buildings, Plans and Landscapes
The Society for College and University Planning (SCUP) and the Committee on Architecture for Education of the American Institute of Architects (AIA-CAE) have announced 19 awards in the areas of architecture, campus planning and landscape architecture. Winners included not just American universities but also projects on foreign campuses, such as the master plan for the faculty of arts and sciences at the Aga Khan University, in Karachi, Pakistan, by Payette.Recognition went to a variety of new (Alice Paul Residence Hall at Swarthmore College) and renovated/restored (Dalton Hall at Bryn... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: June 02, 2008
ABC to Present Excellence in Construction Awards June 18
Companies with excellent safety records will be honored at the Washington, D.C., event by the association, which represents more than 24,000 non-union firms.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: May 28, 2008
British Columbia projects among winners of Governor General’s Medals in Architecture
A handful of British Columbia projects were recipients of the recently announced Governor General’s Medals in Architecture.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: May 21, 2008
Best concrete projects in B.C. recognized at Connie Awards
The Sunset Community Centre and the Whistler Sliding Centre were the big winners at the Connie Awards gala hosted by the B.C. Ready-Mixed Concrete Association.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: May 19, 2008
Construction Cameras At Work
Builders and developers throughout the United States are turning to specialized construction cameras to help them manage and market their projects. Two high-profile projects in Jackson, Miss., illustrate how easy it can be to get started and how cameras can directly benefit contractors. In June 2007 construction began on the nine-story high-rise office building, The Pinnacle at Jackson Place in...... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: May 12, 2008
The 2008 Annual Awards For Excellence In Concrete Pavement (Part II)
The Missouri/Kansas Chapter of the ACPA honored exceptional concrete pavement professionals at the 28th Annual Portland Cement Concrete Pavement Conference & Annual Back to Basics Seminar on February 26 – 28, 2008, in Kansas City, Missouri. The awards program encourages high-quality workmanship in every concrete pavement project and serves as a forum for sharing information about high...... Read More
World Architecture Festival launches all-encompassing award
A new architecture award is set to provide bus stops and dentist surgeries with the chance to be recognised as great buildings.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: May 10, 2008
Beyond Housing : A discussion with Robert Murray, chief economist, McGraw-Hill Construction
With so much talk of a slump in housing, the rest of the construction picture was getting obscured. ENR.com’s Senior Business Editor, Richard Korman, and McGraw-Hill Construction Chief Economist Robert Murray talk about the nuances of the housing decline, what consumer trends are driving retail development, why demand still is high despite inflation, why offices still are vibrant although not as high as historic peaks, hot cities, the sharp upswing in power-related construction and how the Democrat-controlled Congress affects the picture in transportation.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: May 09, 2008
L.M. Scofield announces Decorative Concrete Awards
Decorative concrete products manufacturer L.M. Scofield will hold its first annual Decorative Concrete Awards. Enter your submissions in one of three categories: Residential, Commercial and Unique Application. Projects must have been completed between September 2007 and September 2008. The winners will be announced at World of Concrete 2009. Here’s your chance to set your company and your skills above the competition. Winning awards programs like this can be a boost for your company, garnering marketing and publicity for your work. What are you waiting for?! Visit the Scofield website... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: May 08, 2008
Lou Coletti: Build New Strategies to Manage Growth
The president of the Building Trades Employers' Association of New York City says professional development, safety, and PLAs are the keys to handling an expected construction boom in the region.... Read More
Projects Showcase Contractor’s Expertise
Texas Roof Management Inc.received the Golden Hammer Award for two recent projects: The Mosaic and the Gables Uptown Tower in Dallas. The Golden Hammer Awards — presented by the North Texas Roofing Contractors Association — are given to companies who perform outstanding reroofing projects in both commercial and residential applications.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: May 05, 2008
Quality Filter Cleaning
Cylindrical cartridge filters from trucks and heavy construction equipment are replaced on an average of once a month. At this rate, filters for one truck can take up approximately 37.2 cubic feet in a landfill in one year's time*. Imagine how much landfill space could be eliminated if the filters for an entire fleet could be cleaned and reused nine or 10 times.... Read More
2008 Engineering Excellence Awards
Parsons/HNTB Corp. won the top honor — the Platinum Award — in the American Council of Engineering Companies of Washington's 2008 Engineering Excellence competition for their structural engineering design of the new Tacoma Narrows Suspension Bridge. ACEC/Washington's 40th annual awards ceremony, held on Jan.... Read More
Consequential Damages In Today's Construction Industry
It seems unlikely that a project's construction manager, which agreed to a $600,000 fee, could be held responsible for over $14 million in lost profits for a four-month delay to the project, yet it has happened. By failing to include a consequential damages waiver in its contract, the construction manager was left open to a costly lawsuit.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: April 17, 2008
Construction bid-rigging Q&A
An overview of theOFT (Office of Fair Trading) investigation into construction bid-rigging, including: background to the investigation; a list of all major construction companies implicated; and links to all key stories during this period.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: April 16, 2008
Construction industry’s pay-when-paid debate continues
Transferred risk, due diligence, ethics and who is the bad guy — these are the common themes that emerge in any discussion of pay-when-paid practices in construction. But how pay-when-paid is viewed often depends on where someone is in the industry ‘food chain.’... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: April 07, 2008
Guest Column: Moving Beyond ‘The Oil Factor’ to Sustainability and ‘Green to Gold’
Roofing Contractor caught up with Bill Collins, the former president and CEO of GAF Materials Corp. Collins has been out of the day-to-day roofing industry for a couple of years, and we asked him to let us know what he has been up to lately and share his thoughts on the future of the roofing industry.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: April 04, 2008
Technical Details: Waterproofing of Rooftop Gardens
Rooftop garden construction consists of two equally important phased applications: the waterproofing application and the garden assembly. The ultimate success of a rooftop garden depends largely on the proper design and installation of both of these applications.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: March 25, 2008
Technical Details: Tile Roof Repair
Tile roof application is prominent in residential construction in the Southeast and Southwest regions of the United States. Tiles provide significant advantages on steep-slope applications. They provide distinctive architectural aesthetics because of their color, texture and the play of light and shadow. They are naturally fire-resistant. Other distinct advantages include durability and longevity. They are able to withstand harsh environments and, when properly maintained, could provide 50 to 100 years of service life.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: March 24, 2008
Pay Attention to Your Female Homebuyer
If you're in a construction or building related field, paying attention to the needs of women consumers may be one of the critical ingredients in your future success.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: March 21, 2008
How to develop successful homeowner associations
Builders with communities that have homeowner associations face unique challenges and risks. Here are best practices and resources for home builders who are looking to set up community associations that succeed.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: March 02, 2008
Marissa Mayer's 9 Principles of Innovation
Google's VP of search products and user experience shares the rules that gives the search company its innovative edge.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: February 25, 2008
Case Studies: Process Improvement Drives Operational Excellence
In September 2006, glass producer AGC partnered with the Juran Institute to launch an initiative to drive operational excellence and improve profitability. This initiative has been coined JPI (Jikko Process Improvement) by AGC and is based on the principles of Value Stream Management.... Read More
The Inside Track on Six Sigma Training
It is essential to weigh the advantages and disadvantages of training methods that lead to certification and implementation of Lean Six Sigma and related methodologies. This is necessary for any organization to ensure alignment not only with all operational processes, but equally important, the entire enterprise.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: February 18, 2008
Exercise And Pre-Fab At Skanska Project
Two things come to mind for Micah Parker, executive project manager for Skanska's San Jose Regional Medical Center Addition and Renovation Project, when asked about issues that are helping the construction effort. The first is overall conditioning of crews by way of morning group-stretching exercises before starting work.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: February 17, 2008
Contractor Business Coach
I’ve been asked by potential coaching clients, “If I’m a contractor looking for a business coach, why should I go with your company instead of another? What is the difference between you and other business coaches?” Good question. When businesses call us for help, it’s because they want to do better with their business. They want business management coaching that will make their construction-related business stronger and more profitable. But with a number of coaches available, what separates one business coach or consultant from another? I know that the... Read More
Builders Tell Success Stories
Last year wasn't just a good year, it was a great year for Hubble Homes, West Des Moines, Iowa.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: February 11, 2008
The Proximity Principle and Project Success: Revisiting Project e-Tip 016
lass="pull_ad">In my first guest-blogger entry, I mentioned the importance of managing perceptions. I wrote that not doing so was the main cause of why only one project out of three was considered successful by major stakeholders, according to the Standish Group's Chaos Report1. I concluded that "not managing perceptions" could be considered the 10th waste of ill-managed projects. asy to say that we have to manage perceptions. But where and how should we start doing that? The Chaos Report gives us pretty good leads on that. The report identifies... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: January 28, 2008
First Roofing Companies in the Nation to Receive OSHA VPP Award
The Evans Roofing Company’s two subsidiaries (The Charles F. Evans Company Inc. & CFE, Inc.) will be the first two roofing companies in the nation to be awarded the prestigious VPP (Voluntary Protection Program) designation from the U. S. Department of Labor OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration). The award recognizes those companies that have developed and implemented model safety and health programs in their industry.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: January 24, 2008
Five things you didn't know about Reed Construction Dashboard
Home builders across the country are using RCD to benchmarks their performance against others in the industry. Read on to find out five uses that they have provided.... Read More
5 Common Construction Mistakes
Avoiding these construction mistakes results in a higher quality, more comfortable, energy-efficient home at little extra cost to the builder. In these days of construction litigation, can you really afford to get it wrong?... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: January 18, 2008
AudioVisions: Doing it Best
The AudioVisions business model, which also incorporates software that provides real-time cost analysis for every job, is the scalable platform they plan to use to expand its high-end custom installation business nationally.... Read More
Take Pictures of Open Walls For Future Reference
At the end of a prewire, take digital photos of all the wiring in the open walls, advises Dale Schultze, operations manager for Beachwood, Ohio-based S.M.I.L.E. Inc. ... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: January 16, 2008
How to Always Deliver Clean and Neat Installations
Do you ever wonder how all those bad installs you see exemplified got be that bad? ... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: January 13, 2008
Why they're Innovators, Part Five
This week I'm blogging about our Innovators. You can read Part One here, Part Two here, Part Three here and Part Four here. (Once again, if yo...... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: January 10, 2008
Why they're Innovators, Part Four
This week I'm blogging about our Innovators. You can read Part One here, Part Two here and Part Three here. Today I'm focusing on Bill Simo...... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: January 09, 2008
Why they're Innovators, Part Three
This week I'm blogging about our Innovators. You can read Part One here, Part Two here and the January cover story that inspired the series&nb...... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: January 08, 2008
Why they're Innovators, Part Two
This week I'm blogging about our Innovators. You can read Part One here and the Innovators cover story here. Today's Innovator is Mike High...... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: January 07, 2008
Choosing the Innovators
This week I'm going to do something a little different with the blog, giving you some insight into how we put together a list like this month's Inn...... Read More
Why they're Innovators, Part One
As I wrote earlier today, this week I'll be blogging about our five 2008 Innovators, profiled in the January cover story. If you haven't already, I...... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: December 30, 2007
Industry Insider’s Best of 2007
In 2007, I wrote 12 Industry Insider columns. In doing so, I articulated at least 12 controversial, humorous, bizarre, audacious or profound thoughts. ... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: December 26, 2007
Mastering the Flow
CFO's new Cash Masters Scorecard shows which companies are best at turning sales dollars into cash flow.... Read More
5 Resolutions For a More Profitable 2008
As you look cheerfully toward New Year’s Day, consider these professional New Year’s resolutions. They may help your custom retail business flourish in 2008 and beyond.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: December 25, 2007
Contractor Insights
For this edition of RS&SD Contractor Insights, Contracting Business spoke with Bill Almquist, president and owner of Almcoe Refrigeration Company, Dallas, TX.... Read More
Veridian Homes: Professional Builder’s Builder of the Year 2008
Veridian Homes adapts the strategies of today’s most successful companies. Professional Builder names this homebuilder Builder of the Year 2008. See why.... Read More
17 Ways to Improve Your Efficiency
Following are 17 suggestions to companies for trimming budgets, saving time, avoiding service calls and improving efficiency during a lean time.... Read More
Overhead Question and Answer
Question: Hello Matt; After reading your book, I have a question regarding dual overhead percentage and Total Mark-up percentages. My mark-up percentage calculates to 35%. For my dual overhead calculations I am using a 8% profit, 7% material/sub-contractor & 20% Labor and equipment. This totals to 35%. The thing that I have noticed is that if I take my raw labor/equipment, materials/sub-contract costs, & take them x 1.35 this total number is higher than if I accumulate the percentages separately on my spreadsheet. Is my process correct? Is this... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: December 19, 2007
Damage Claims Strike Out at Safeco Field Project
CDS and the Seattle Mariners learned the value of recording the pre-existing condition of a job site after the Safeco Field project was completed in 1999. When Ken Griffey Jr. officially broke ground for the new Seattle Mariners baseball stadium in March of 1997, only a select few people were aware that CDS had actually begun the first preparatory operations for the project several weeks earlier. When the Washington State Major League Baseball Public Facilities District hired CDS to perform Construction Verification during construction of the stadium they specified... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: December 18, 2007
Should You Join a Buying Group?
If you run a custom-only boutique or hybrid custom retailer, at some point you’ve considered the pros and cons of buying your products direct from the manufacturer or from a distributor. But have you considered a buying group?... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: December 16, 2007
New NARI groups could be a boon for small firms
Some cool news out of the NARI fall board meetings. The group is starting a new peer networking program aimed at smaller firms with sales in the $2...... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: December 12, 2007
2007 Best of Success: Speakers Shine in Phoenix at Fourth Annual Conference
Roofing experts arrived from points across the United States with tools proven to work in the industry.... Read More
Sponsor Profile: ABC Supply Co. Inc.
Many distributors talk about putting the customer first. ABC Supply Co. Inc. lives that promise every day. For 25 years, the company has distinguished itself by following a single, simple guiding principle — take care of contractors better than any other distributor by understanding their businesses and offering products and services carefully selected to meet their unique needs.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: December 03, 2007
Veridian Homes: Professional Builder’s Builder of the Year 2008
Veridian Homes adapts the strategies of today’s most successful companies. Professional Builder names this homebuilder Builder of the Year 2008 for its industry success and initiative in best practices and green building.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: November 28, 2007
After Six Corrections, Centex's CEO Knows the Ropes
"At Centex, we are used to taking advantages of these cycles .... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: November 27, 2007
JI for Developing the Five Why Habit
lass="pull_ad">I spent the last week in Bellingham, WA in a training program. I am now a TWI Institute Qualified Trainer for the Job Instruction (JI) program. This is the same program Toyota uses to teach their team leaders and supervisors how to train their staff. I am quite pleased with the training. The TWI Institute is doing a good job replicating the TWI Service's training program. We used the same basic materials, although the guide was well-annotated and included very useful references for trainers. ht be wondering, "Why did... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: November 26, 2007
Contractors - Investigate your Competition
... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: November 06, 2007
2007 Contractor of the Year: Residential
Sometimes a company offering the right products and services finds the perfect niche and great relationships just seem to flow naturally — or at least that’s how it seems from afar. Of course, at the heart of all that success is a lot of hard work done the right way, and it is this attention to quality that is the hallmark of Brian McPartlon Roofing LLC of Santa Fe, N.M.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: November 05, 2007
Idaho Airport Project Beats The Clock
Central Idaho attracts a steady flow of visitors and new residents, so the local airport in the town of Hailey is a key transportation link. Faced with the need to rebuild its single runway, airport managers relied on consulting engineers, an experienced contractor and a soil-cement specialist to complete the job in a mere 30 days.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: October 30, 2007
Ten Minutes with Robert Luffy, CEO of American Bridge Co.
By the time CEO Robert Luffy took over as president of Pittsburgh-based American Bridge in 1993, the former powerhouse steel erector had one contract and was down to 25 employees.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: October 22, 2007
Company Culture Helps Mercedes Homes Net NHQ Silver Award
A strong company culture that garners high customer and employee satisfaction contribute to Mercedes Homes’ receiving silver recognition for the National Housing Quality Award.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: October 19, 2007
Audio Advisors Celebrates 25 Years as Florida’s Top Electronic Systems Contractor
In 1982, Jeff Hoover started a business out of a love for loud cars. He opened the doors to Audio Advisors with a handful of car audio system installers and a handful of customers. ... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: October 08, 2007
Innovative Firms Perfect the Use of BIM, Green Building
... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: April 27, 2007
Becoming a Great Place to Work: What It Really Takes
... Read More
Dinner "Alone"
From Mark Goulston Keith was out of town recently and so I had to "eat alone" as a dinner guest of Warren Bennis, who was hosting his long time friend Werner Erhard, founder of est and the Landmark Forum, at The Hump restaurant in Santa Monica. It went so well that Werner invited me to join him and other friends for dinner the next night. All in all, eight hours with Werner, his partner Gonneke, Steve Zaffron (CEO of Landmark's consulting arm), Dave Logan (a brilliant rhetoretician), and my... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: April 23, 2007
Some Work-Force Solutions Are Obvious and Ignored
It has taken decades, but the construction industry finally is coming around to accept the idea that the most effective way of dealing with work-force labor shortages is to take individual, company and local or regional action, rather than trying to transform the image of the industry as a whole.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: April 18, 2007
Why Do Good Employees Leave?
... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: April 17, 2007
Do you have to be anti-change to be pro-business?
... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: April 08, 2007
The 3-Week Schedule
The 3-week schedule is (should be) a subset of the main CPM project schedule. It is more of the ground-level plan that changes on a weekly basis and is used during the weekly production meetings with the general contractor. It should be used along with the CPM schedule as the primary tool for showing what you plan to do in the short-term, making sure that there is a clear path for you to work in including no conflicts with other trades, all permits are done and RFI’s answered. Any... Read More
Organizational Charting Our Course
Wonder how a specific company is organized? Want to learn who's working where? CogMap might be an increasingly useful tool. Basically, CogMap is a wiki that collects organizational charts from various companies. Some of the more popular entries include Google,...... Read More
City of Chicago Underground Coordination
... Read More
Proactive Employee Retention Requires A Person-Centered Plan
Retaining good employees is critical to a firm's long-term success.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: April 06, 2007
Scoreboards & Construction
I just read a great article in Contractor Magazine by Dennis Sowards called You Can Be Guided by Scoreboard, Dashboard. The article makes some great points about why a clear company scoreboard is necessary and also about the challenges of managing a company by a scoreboard that is populated with old information. We always work hard with clients to get them focused on this line of thinking - especially when it comes to providing feedback to the field where a lot of money is made and lost every day.... Read More
Best Sales Practices of 2007
Insights into the big deal... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: April 03, 2007
Classic Entrepreneur Transforms His Field
Earthmoving isn’t the most glamorous job in the industry, but Dwayne McAninch, the 69-year-old chairman and CEO of specialty contractor McAninch Corp., does it with style and grace. His unassuming nature makes him an unlikely person to transform the field from a seat-of-the-pants to a click-of-the-mouse business. But speaking with colleagues near his company’s headquarters in West Des Moines, Iowa, and spending time at his home in nearby Norwalk, makes it clear why ENR’s editors selected him to receive the magazine’s 41st Award of Excellence.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: April 02, 2007
An 811 'Call-Before-You-Dig' Ring Can Save a 911 Call
Explosions, flooding, fires, electrocutions and mass communications and power outages—civilization brought to a standstill. In various forms and degrees of severity, this happens 700,000 time a year in the U.S. when people digging don't realize there are utilities buried in the area.... Read More
New Book, "The New Business Model of Construction Contracting
Our new book, The New Business Model for Construction Contracting is scheduled for December 2007. It focuses on the numbers, metrics and measures that contractors and their managers should focus on to manage their businesses better. For more information, contact us at clientservices@stevensci.com. Thank you, Matt Stevens President Stevens Construction Institute, Inc.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: March 31, 2007
HEADLINES ADDED: March 27, 2007
California Beaming
2007 Commercial Contractor of the Year A.O. Reed & Company San Diego, CA... Read More
Kiewit Reports Strong Profit
Peter Kiewit Son’ Inc. says it has substantially increased its profit and revenue in 2006, according to a recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Based on revenue of $5.03 billion, the Omaha-based contractor reported net income of $250 million, up 10% from 2005. The price per share of the company’s stock jumped 18% to $56.75.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: March 26, 2007
Remodeler of the Year: Alure Home Improvements
... Read More
Best Practices Ranking - Sample Edition
Rank our Sample Best Practices in Construction Contracting. Learn what other regions of the country are doing. Link is below: http://www.zoomerang.com/survey.zgi?p=WEB224TKS5EL2X... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: March 25, 2007
On Being Disruptive
Authors Scott D. Anthony and Claytom M. Christensen, writing for Forbes.com, have an innovative approach to innovation. They call it “disruptive innovation” and it essentially means two things: thinking outside the box and thinking like a customer. They posit that “Customers don’t really buy products; they hire them to get ‘jobs’ done in their life.” Accordingly, the first of the five principles of disruptive innovation is to find jobs people want done but they can’t do easily or affordably. In other words, the frustrated customer. That’s what Intuit did... Read More
The DNA of Wal-Mart
I’ve already gushed about Bill Marquard’s business strategy book, WAL-SMART. In the book, this former Wal-Mart executive explains because of Wal-Mart’s unbridled success, this mega-retailer has forever changed the game of business from sourcing to distribution to pricing to inventory methods to merchandising. It’s now up to companies today (and tomorrow) to deal with doing business in the world that Wal-Mart has created and redefined. Since Marquard spent time at Wal-Mart in the late 90s responsible for developing the company’s strategic planning processes, he has a very unique understanding... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: March 18, 2007
Simonini Builders: A Retrospective
... Read More
The Top Brass at Simonini Builders
... Read More
Simonini: People Profiles
... Read More
More about Simonini
... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: March 17, 2007
CH2M Hill's Formula for Success: Fly High but Stay Grounded
Executives of CH2M Hill Cos. Ltd. like to show off “the little yellow book,” a 4 x 5-in., 15-page illustrated pamphlet of “core values” that has been a corporate operating manual since former chairman Jim Howland wrote it in 1982.... Read More
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Favorite Book 2007
The Toyota Way is my favorite book for 2007. It had so many good ideas that I could not keep up and ended up reading it again and even buying the Field Book to go along with it.
Download Elegant Solutions from Change This which provides some highlights of the Toyota Production System. Too many ideas that are applicable to contractors to even count!
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