Baby Bottle Leadership

By “Coach Gary” Micheloni

We too often take things for granted: our family, friends, town, associates, business, and even our country.  It’s the July 4^th as I write this column for the August issue of Masonry, and it makes me think about what I have been given. Of course, it all comes from the generosity and vision of those who came before me.

But the heat of summer is here, and that can be trying for all of us out in the field. And, I am reminded of those trials as I look at something right next to my laptop: a baby bottle filled with coins.

Not far from my home is the town of Fallbrook, Calif., which has a pregnancy resource center. Its mission is to help women with their kids, from teenage girls to middle-aged moms. The center is not unique, but the only baby bottle next to my computer is from this particular resource center. This center uses a baby bottle as a symbol, and helps with everything from medical concerns to providing struggling, low-income families with clothes and baby furniture. But each mom has to earn these items by taking some free classes. Each video class is worth points that a mom can redeem for a baby crib or clothes for her child. So, what was once a free gift, now has more value to the family, because Mom has earned it.

Education is huge with this group, as it is for the vast majority of organizations, some with which you may be involved. If you look at my baby bottle, it is chock-full of coins: everything from pennies to quarters. My loose change goes into it, and then I turn it in as a donation. Unfortunately, there are too many pennies and not enough quarters in my baby bottle, but they all go into the mix of helping something worthwhile. It’s the whole idea of “many hands make for light work.”

MCAA is something akin to my baby bottle. We have sole proprietors with no employees as well as major construction companies with hundreds. These are pennies and quarters, all in the same proverbial baby bottle. Everybody is lending a hand, all are doing what they can, educating our people so that we have the best-trained craftsmen available in the industry, capable of finishing jobs on time and on budget. This training often is difficult for a small company to achieve on its own, yet, it comes with membership. We don’t confer titles upon our people. They earn them as they learn them.

We sometimes forget about another function of MCAA: meeting the challenge of educating our marketplace to the advantages our industry offers: sustainability, efficiency and durability. Add your own favorites to that mix. But the fact is, even an extremely large masonry company would find it almost impossible to get out that message to its market. Right or wrong, architects and engineers, facility buyers, and city and state officials are often hard pressed to take the cheapest, present alternative, not the one with the greatest long-term value. Training and lobbying both come from the same MCAA baby bottle.

The little pregnancy resource center in Fallbrook has trials every day. Many are small; some are larger than life. Your business, family and town have daily trials. Most get resolved quickly, but a few can become serious and have long-term consequences. This is why we associate with other business people, network with neighbors, struggle together for a common good, and find solutions to our problems.

On Jan. 1, I didn’t come up with any resolutions for this year. However, from this August, onward, how about all of us agreeing upon a simple one:  “I will have gratitude for what I have been given, because I’ve also been given the ability to join with others and overcome my trials.”  

The heat of summer may go on for many more months yet. My hope is that, come the end of this year, we do see real light at the end of the tunnel. In good times or bad, know that we will get through it. We always have. We are the American building industry. Just keep on putting your pennies and quarters into those baby bottles, and relying upon the leadership that comes from it.

About Coach Gary: What’s your plan for overcoming trials in 2012? Coaching will help you get there in less time, and with more success. Ask Coach Gary to speak for your group, association or convention, or even to coach your company. Coach Gary’s first book, “Get Paid for a Change!” is available at Amazon.com. Get his free scheduling seminars at www.MicrosoftProjectClasses.com. 

Gary Micheloni is a working project manager, speaker, author, consultant and coach. Write him at FullContactTeam@gmail.com.

Copyright 2012 Gary Micheloni

Construction Spending at Highest Level Since December '09

Construction spending in June rose to a 2.5-year high as double-digit percentage increases in private residential and nonresidential construction more than offset an ongoing downturn in public construction, according to an analysis of new federal data released today by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials said they expect the disparity between private and public construction is likely to persist and urged policy makers to put more funding into infrastructure projects.

“The June spending gains come on top of upward revisions to May and April totals, reinforcing the notion that private construction is now growing consistently,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “Even more encouraging, the improvement is showing up in a wide range of residential and nonresidential categories.”

Simonson noted that total construction spending gained 0.4 percent for the month and 7.0 percent year-over-year. Private nonresidential spending climbed for the fourth consecutive month and was 14 percent higher than in June 2011. Residential construction increased 1.3 percent for the month and 12 percent year-over-year, with new multifamily construction soaring 3.4 percent and 49 percent, respectively, and single-family homebuilding up 3.0 percent and 19 percent.

The construction economist said that five of the 11 private nonresidential categories in the Census Bureau’s monthly report registered double-digit percentage gains in spending from June 2011 to June 2012: power and energy construction (including oil and gas-related projects), 26 percent; hotels, 26 percent; manufacturing and educational, 19 percent apiece; and transportation (mainly trucking and rail facilities), 17 percent. There were also 7 percent year-over-year increases in health care, commercial (retail, warehouse and farm) and office construction.

Public construction spending appears to have stabilized in recent months but the June 2012 total was 3.7 percent less than a year earlier, Simonson noted. He said only two of the Census Bureau’s 13 public categories posted year-over-year increases.

International Equipment Solutions Acquires CWS Industries

International Equipment Solutions LLC (IES) has acquired, through an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary, CWS Industries (Mfg) Corp. This is the fourth acquisition by IES since its formation. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

IES was formed in September 2011 as a platform for investments serving the construction, agriculture, landscaping, infrastructure, recycling, demolition, mining, and energy industries. IES’ first two acquisitions occurred in September 2011, when the company acquired Paladin Brands Holding Inc. and Crenlo LLC from Dover Corp. In November 2011, Stephen Andrews was retained as CEO of IES to lead the integration of the first two acquisitions and to aggressively grow and globalize the company. As part of its globalization strategy, IES acquired Siac do Brasil, Ltda., a manufacturer of cab enclosures in Brazil, in June 2012.   

CWS is a manufacturer of attachment products, including tire manipulators, cable reelers, grapples, buckets and various large excavator attachment products. Its customers include a global network of dealers and end-users in the mining, oil and gas, forestry and construction markets.

Pearsall, Texas, to Require Masonry in New Construction

Pearsall, Texas, is a fast-growing South Texas city that has decided to join a growing state trend and require minimum percentages of masonry for new construction. Pearsall, located 54 miles south of San Antonio, is the county seat of Frio County. It lies within the Eagle Ford Shale Play, a major oil and gas exploration and production area, and grew nearly 28 percent during 10 years to a population of 9,146 in 2010. Continued significant population growth has spurred new residential and commercial development, but also concerns about construction quality.

Citing concerns about the city’s appearance and the long-term sustainability of the tax base, the City Council on June 12, 2012, voted unanimously to require minimum percentages of masonry for all new residential, multi-family, commercial and industrial buildings. 

The new masonry requirements are:

Residential – Minimum 3 feet of masonry at the ground level and minimum 50 percent masonry or stucco on all walls visible from a street.

Multi-family – Minimum 3 feet of masonry at the ground level and minimum 50 percent masonry or stucco on all exterior walls. Minimum 75 percent masonry or stucco on all walls visible from a street.

Commercial – Minimum 3 feet of masonry at ground level and minimum 75 percent masonry or stucco on all exterior walls.

Industrial – Minimum 50 percent masonry on the building front.

Leila Siqueiros, representing the Texas Masonry Council, says that, by enacting the masonry requirements, Pearsall joins a growing trend in the state. Statewide, more than 170 cities have enacted masonry requirements, according to the Texas Masonry Council. Pearsall is the first city in South Texas to adopt masonry requirements.

Research has shown that masonry (brick, stone, concrete block) provides greater protection against fire and windstorms, such as tornadoes and hurricanes, than non-masonry siding products. In addition, other research has shown that masonry requirements result in higher overall property values; growth in the tax base, lessening the tax burden on residents; continued population and housing growth, and no significant impact on affordability for either renters or buyers of housing.

Largest Shake Table Test Research Awarded Raymond C. Reese Prize

In 2009, SimpsonStrong-Tie collaborated with academia on the NEESWood Capstone project in Japan, the world’s largest earthquake shake table test. A research article based on that test was awarded the 2011 Raymond C. Reese Research Prize by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE).

The research paper, “Experimental Seismic Response of a Full-Scale Six-Story Light-Frame Wood Building,” co-authored by John W. van de Lindt, M.ASCE, Shiling Pei, M.ASCE, Steven E. Pryor, M.ASCE, Simpson Strong-Tie, H. Shimizu and H. Isoda, describes testing and results from the NEESWood Capstone project.

The Raymond C. Reese Research Prize is awarded annually to a notable achievement in research related to structural engineering, with special consideration for how the research can be used. The award was presented at SEI and ASCE’s 2012 Structures Congress in Chicago on March 29-31.

The NEESWood Capstone project was developed to test new design methods for multistory, wood-frame buildings during large seismic events, and featured a seven-story, 40- by 60-foot condominium tower with 23 one- and two-bedroom living units and two retail shops on the ground level. The condo building was subjected to and withstood several earthquakes created by Japan's E-Defense shake table. The test was also intended to provide a landmark data set to the seismic engineering research community.

"The testing done in Japan shows that performance-based design for light-frame wood structures works. This will allow the engineering and building community to provide safer, better performing buildings in the most cost-effective manner,” says Simpson Strong-Tie International Director of Building Systems Steve Pryor, who co-authored the paper.

Call your U.S. Representative today to support H.R. 8

On Tuesday, July 24, 2012, Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee introduced H.R. 8, a bill that would extend the 2001 and 2003 tax cut rates for an additional year.

H.R. 8 would extend through the end of 2013 the current income tax and estate tax rates, which are set to expire at the end of 2012. This extension would also include a "marriage penalty" fix, a $1,000 child tax credit, a 15 percent top rate on dividends and capital gains, and a "patch" to ensure that the Alternative Minimum Tax does not ensnare millions of taxpayers it was never intended to affect.

Some Members of Congress are opposed to extending the 2001/2003 tax cuts for upper-income taxpayers who earn more than $200,000 for individuals and $250,000 for families. You and I both know that many of us and small businesses throughout the country would be hit with skyrocketing taxes if these extensions are capped at $200,000 and $250,000, respectively.

It is imperative that you contact your Member of Congress and state your full support for H.R. 8 and your opposition to capping the cuts at the reduced levels. Estimates from the Joint Committee on Taxation state that H.R. 8 would prevent taxes from rising by $384 billion over 10 years. Our families and small businesses cannot survive any increase in taxes and we need to make sure Congress hears your voice.

If you do not know your Representative, you can use the links below to identify your congressperson in the U.S. House of Representatives:

• Search by State
• Search by ZIP Code

The Mason Contractors Association of America thanks you in advance for your efforts on this issue.

Upgrades Improves Processes at EDCO

EDCO has upgraded its manufacturing process by incorporating both a Powder Coating system and Laser Fabricator. Switching from liquid paint to powder coating eliminates flaking, scratches and other common problems associated with traditional painting. Powder Coating gives products extra protection against daily wear as its more durable and environmentally friendly than liquid paint, says EDCO.

EDCO adds that laser fabrication helped the company significantly reduce manufacturing times - resulting in short order lead times and constant stocks of core products. Laser technology replaces outdated fabrication methods and assures correct part dimensions.