What important New Year’s resolution should a person working in the subcontracting industry make for 2019?
When we put that question to our members, we got back diverse, interesting – and sometimes surprising – answers. Here are some of them.
“Continue to support your local trade associations and have a voice in the legislative process.” –
Steve Friar, Hensel Phelps
“Stand by your margins and don’t negotiate them. Negotiate product, clarifications, and labor. Never your margins.” –
Adam Orozco, Diversified Window Coverings
“Resolve not to over-commit to a project schedule … and if you do, be open and honest with the project team early enough so a contingency plan can be prudently thought through and implemented.” –
Hans Muecke, Ryan Companies
“Resist e-mail only communication! Person-to-person is key. Yes, landline calls make for real relatlonships, and they humanize and add goodwill. Also, if you haven’t already, put your phone number at the bottom of all your emails.”
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Jeff Clinkscales, Rossin Steel
“Work as a team member and partner; it makes the projects much more successful.” –
John Luft, Southland Electric
“Invest in training your team(s) on technology (e.g., laser scanning, drones, outsourcing, layout) to increase efficiency and offset the shortage of skilled workers.” –
Nancy Matus, Kelar Pacific
“Make more friends.” –
Matt Becker, Cement Cutting
“Work toward getting paid for change orders in a timely manner.” –
James Simpson, Pacific Southwest Structures
“Give up worrying so much – schedules, deadlines, manpower, materials, equipment, etc. Although what we do is important, it not the most important thing we do in our lives.” –
David Blackston, D.A. Whitacre Construction
“Identify ‘bottlenecks’ and fix them. Every company has them.” –
Jorge Vargas, Balfour Beatty
“Seek life balance. Always make time for family.” –
Frank Robledo, Dynalectric-San Diego
“Practice great communication with customers and business partners!” –
Gil Koury, Life Deck Coating Installations
“Re-review your risk-management and loss-control programs with your insurance brokers to position your company to leverage these risk controls when negotiating insurance renewals. The insurance market will continue to reward subcontractors that maintain a culture of safety throughout the organization, which will result in preferred pricing and coverage.” –
Bill Bodenstadt, CMR Risk & Insurance Services
“Perform a thorough review and replacement of equipment and tools based on condition and age as it relates to safety.” –
Randy Minnier, Ickler Electric Corp.
“Be responsible in who you pursue work with and the projects you pursue; hire competent and high-character tradesmen first and then pursue the work; demand that you are part of a project’s planning process and then make reliable commitments!” –
Steve Sherrer, Align Builders
“Never give up!” --
Rich Collins, Collins Plumbing
