When Times Are Tough
The housing industry is in another slump. This is nothing new to those of you who have been around for a few years (since the last slump). The housing industry is cyclical. If it is up, down times are ahead. Fortunately, the opposite also holds true. Believe it or not the causes of these events are beyond the scope of this article (as well as beyond my control).
The first and foremost goal is to survive the current downturn. Your second goal, however, should be to position your company to survive the next one. Anyone (just about anyone) can survive good times but it takes a well-managed, forward thinking company to survive when the inevitable downturn comes.
Your accountant, banker and a wide array of business planners can help you with managing your debt, equity, payroll, and other financial issues. But what about diversification, taking the knowledge, equipment, and expertise that you already have and applying it to other areas of the concrete industry?
Foundation contractors have at least two viable options for diversification. The first one is the commercial market. As is often the case, when the residential market is down, the commercial market is up – or at least steady. One advantage to commercial work is that you can get into it almost immediately. It’s a different world, but one in which you should be able to survive if you know the ins and outs. One of your first contacts should be a general contractor. Drive around and see what type of foundations are being constructed on commercial projects in your area. Find out who is building them. Many foundations on commercial structures are built using site-built wood forms. If that is the case, you can probably save the contractor some significant time and money – two benefits that go a long way in opening new doors.
Another early contact should be other CFA members who have already expanded to include commercial structures. There are some caveats to be aware of such as payment procedures and retainage. You will likely also be working on unique or one-of-a-kind projects. Design professionals such as architects and engineers are often involved. Unions may be an issue. Who better to lead you through the process than a fellow CFA member.
The CFA has added seminars to its regional and summer meetings dealing with issues relating to expanding into the commercial market. Look for the next one in your area and consider attending – if not, give us a call for people outside your geographical area who are involved in commercial projects.
A second opportunity is right at your fingertips – the above grade housing market. Those involved in the above grade market have a considerably greater piece of the housing pie available to them. They need fewer projects (and customers) to create the same revenue stream. However, this is not a market you can decide to get into on Monday and be working on your first house by Friday. It takes considerably more planning and preparation. The time to start the planning is now. If you do, there is a good chance you will have something in place by the time the next downturn occurs. If you start the process, don’t abandon it when the foundation market begins to improve – an easy trap to fall into.
There are ways to shorten the learning curve and perhaps the greatest of these is to network with a CFA/CHC contractor who has been there – who is doing above grade projects. Visit a job site or two, “bend their ear”, that’s one of the biggest benefits of a trade association. Find out what mistakes they made, what they would do different, what has worked and what hasn’t. You need to develop a relationship with a builder unless you are going to develop your own projects. Bring specialty subcontractors into your effort. Since you will be doing more of the project, you will need to develop a relationship with plumbing and electrical subcontractors and other specialty trades. Last but not least, get a project under your belt – and don’t expect to make money on that first job. There is a learning curve and a cost associated with it. If you expect the builder to pay for that experience, you will probably never get your first home (unless its your own). Consider it an investment. Also, the CHC will publish its manual on RCF above grade construction in the first quarter of 2007 – call the CFA to reserve your copy.
By planning now, you’ll be ready for the next market downturn.
Ed Sauter, Executive Director, CFA esauter@cfawalls.orgThe Code Saga Continues
I attended my third International Code Council (ICC) meeting in Orlando, Florida a month ago. For those of you unfamiliar with the code development process, the ICC is the organization that oversees development of the “I” series of codes, including the International Residential Code (IRC), the International Building Code (IBC) and the other Icodes. The ICC was created to take the place of BOCA, SBCCI, and ICBO, three competing codes covering the United States. Code officials met for nearly two consecutive weeks to hear over 1500 proposed modifications to the codes, a process that is repeated annually.
The purpose for my trip was twofold. First, to argue against the modified anchor bolt spacing that was inserted into the 2006 version of the IRC during the closing hours of the last session. Many jurisdictions are currently in the process of adopting this code; and, second, to oppose certain provisions regarding the incorporation of pre-cast systems into the code, namely the construction process that allows their use without footings. The current round of hearings was to determine which proposals will be considered by the full assembly of building officials at next spring’s meeting.
The Portland Cement Association has four employees who work full time monitoring submitted changes and proposing additional ones in an effort to assure that cement-based building systems are fairly represented. It should be noted that the wood industry, the steel industry, actually just about every industry, has a significant presence in this effort – most funded to a much higher degree than the concrete industry.
I timed my appearance, with the help from PCA staff, to appear the afternoon before the issues I spoke on were to be considered (you really never know exactly when a given topic will be considered). The CFA teamed with the NRMCA, PCA, and NAHB to propose wording that would essentially return the code to where it had been in the IRC-2003 – anchor bolts 6’ on center, versus proposed spacings that could be as close as 6” o.c. depending on loading, etc.
Detail on the two proposals affecting our industry can be found on page 7.
There will be another round of code hearings in the spring with many of the same items discussed again. Following those hearings there will be an opportunity for public comment (which is where the anchor bolt concept made it through in the first place). If anyone wants to make an appearance in the future, let me know. Or if you have trouble sleeping, the entire proceedings (two weeks worth) are broadcast live on the web. Just let me know.
Ed Sauter, Executive Director, CFA esauter@cfawalls.orgCertainTeed to Receive Prominent Exposure
(Valley Forge, Pennsylvania) — CertainTeed Corporation, one of North America’s leading building products manufacturers, will be featured prominently on NASCAR(R) driver Jeff Green’s #66 Best Buy Chevrolet as he races in this weekend’s Bass Pro Shops 500 NEXTEL Cup race at the Atlanta Motor Speedway.
CertainTeed, a team sponsor of the Haas/CNC Racing #66 Best Buy Chevrolet for the 2006 NASCAR Nextel Cup Season, will have its Web site displayed across the TV panel for the race. The highly visible placement is located on the rear of the car above the bumper.
“We wish Jeff the best as he races for another top ten finish this weekend,” says Peter Dachowski, President and CEO of CertainTeed Corporation. “The excellent brand exposure we will gain from this race will hopefully drive viewers to our Web site so they can experience our industry leading product offerings.”
The weekend will culminate at 2:55 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on Sunday, October 29, as the biggest names in racing lay down some rubber for 500 miles in the Bass Pro Shops 500 NEXTEL Cup race. On Sunday, armchair NASCAR drivers can tune their televisions to NBC and join the 250,000 race fans in attendance to watch NEXTEL Cup Series drivers compete for the coveted cup.
ABOUT CERTAINTEED CORPORATION
Through innovation and creative product design, CertainTeed Corporation has helped shape the building products industry for more than 100 years. Founded in 1904 as General Roofing Company, the firm made its slogan “Quality Made Certain, Satisfaction Guaranteed,” which quickly inspired the name CertainTeed.
Today, CertainTeed is a leading North American manufacturer of residential and commercial roofing; vinyl and fiber cement siding; vinyl and composite fence, railing and decking; vinyl windows; residential, commercial and mechanical insulation; PVC pipe; foundations; and access covers.
Headquartered in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, CertainTeed is a Saint- Gobain company with approximately 7,000 employees and 40 manufacturing facilities throughout the United States. In 2005 CertainTeed had sales of $2.8 billion. For more information visit their website at www.certainteed.com.
Concrete Home Design: Solid As Ever
Gone are the days of over-engineered and overbuilt concrete homes that were a chore to construct and even more difficult to sell. Today’s concrete residential designs, in particular those for homes constructed with Removable Concrete Forms (RCFs), not only offer homeowners a rock-solid, weather resistant and energy efficient investment, these fresh designs yield must-have residences with up-to-date features and amenities.
David Davenport, of Davenport Architecture + Design, Inc., is a Cary, NC-based architect—and Concrete Homes Council member—whose designs generate homes of breathtaking beauty, function and resiliency. He finds the work challenging and rewarding. “It’s great to work with top-notch professionals and build a structure that we know will perform as it should.” Naturally, he’s referring to concrete’s inherent virtues: quiet, environmentally friendly and strong enough to handle harsh coastal elements.
Reviewing Davenport’s concrete home portfolio, we cannot help but be in awe. First, we have The Chateau (pictured at left), an amazing concrete estate home in The Hills of Rosemont, an exclusive neighborhood in Chatham County, NC. A Gold Award-winner and recipient of “The Best of The Best” in the Home Builders Associations of Durham, Orange & Chatham Counties’ 2005 Parade of Homes, this 8,197 square-foot five bedroom residence has a gourmet kitchen and butler’s pantry, exercise and recreation rooms and a four-car garage. Concrete has been utilized for flooring, countertops in a bathroom and laundry room, pool deck, driveway and sidewalks. Adjacent to the Old Chatham golf course (designed by Rees Jones) this two-story home with spectacular views is on the market for $2,250,000.00.
Heading east a bit to Cary, we can view Davenport’s La Maison Be’ton (pictured on next page), a 10,000 square-foot home built entirely of concrete. This manor-like residence features a gourmet kitchen with concrete countertops, wine cellar and tasting room, home theater, covered terrace and picturesque landscaping. Concrete was also used for countertops in bathrooms, floors, decks, driveway and sidewalks. The home, with a blend of traditional and contemporary French interiors, is located in Birklands, one of the area’s premier neighborhoods, and garnered a Gold Award in the Home Builders Associations of Raleigh-Wake County’s 2003 Parade of Homes. Jon Rufty of Rufty Homes, Inc., constructed both of these magnificent homes (www.rufty.com) and Tri-City Contractors was the concrete contractor on both projects.
Currently, Davenport is actively involved with the design and construction of three more impressive concrete homes in North Carolina. The first is an 8,000+ square-foot custom residence in The Hills of Rosemont. This classically designed custom home, sited on a gracious, secluded ten-acre lot, is at the foundation stage of construction (as of this story) and is slated for completion in 2007. Built for an automobile aficionado who cherishes familial privacy, the home has, among other state-of-the-art amenities, a media room, a luxurious master suite and bath, complete with a Japanese soaking tub and, of course, ample space to house his cars. The builder is once again Jon Rufty, Rufty Homes, Inc. working with Tri-City Contractors. Judy Pickett, ASID, of Design Lines, Ltd, of Raleigh, is handling the interiors of this stellar residence.
And if you think that Davenport only designs large homes, think again. He is also busy these days with a 3,600 square-foot beach home overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, shown at left. The four-story speculative home is being built for Ocean City Ventures, a development company out of North Topsail Beach, NC, and represents the best there is in coastal vernacular design. The property includes a concrete tower pre-dating World War II, originally used by the U.S. Defense Department to observe missile testing over the Atlantic Ocean. During the war, the tower served as a lookout post by the military to monitor the Atlantic for German U-boats. The final phase of the project is to convert the tower into a bathhouse for the home’s outdoor pool and sun deck. Like any concrete home built to withstand coastal weather, this house will be loaded with high performance features, such as Andersen hurricane-resistant windows and doors and high-wind construction detailing.
In the near future, Davenport will begin a Mediterranean-style villa on a two-acre site in North Topsail. The permanent custom residence will have seven bedrooms, an exercise studio and lap pool, a movie theater, a pool hall, separate guest accommodations, an interior courtyard and a six-car garage. Working closely with the family throughout the design process, Davenport’s goal is to create a home that can be handed down to generations to come. When the project begins, Security Building Group, of Sneads Ferry, NC, will handle the RCF construction of the exterior walls, floors and ceilings, while Maebuilt Construction, of Surf City, NC, will serve as the contractor of record.
Today’s homeowners want spaces that capture their emotions, homes that are not just well sited and serviceable but beautiful inside and out. Only recently have concrete homebuilders been able to deliver such an all-inclusive package. Davenport explains that trial and error coupled with engineering advances have enabled the industry to go from structurally sound yet aesthetically lacking homes, to homes of impeccable beauty, quality and strength. “We’re learning how to deal with flashings, elevations, slabs, overhangs and balances while using a lighter touch,” he explains. “And it helps that we’re working in tandem with an excellent engineer who knows how to be very efficient with concrete.” Davenport is referring to Ken Theisen of Engineering Tech, P.A. of Raleigh, NC.
Theisen’s expertise comes from successful structural designs of nuclear power plant components, hotels and limited service motels, churches, educational and medical facilities, and large single-family and multi-family dwellings. Many of these buildings required Theisen to engineer and design foundation and retaining walls, yet his work also includes extensive experience engineering insulated concrete homes and all concrete homes, both inland and along the coast.
Davenport draws parallels between the evolution of engineering and designing concrete homes and the automobile. “Originally automobiles were constructed to be very heavy so they would be safe. Over time, automobiles have evolved into something lighter yet even safer than before.” He says the same is true with concrete homes. “We had areas in some of our first concrete homes that were heavy and over-engineered, especially slabs and overhangs. Now we engineer these features, and many other aspects of the home, so they are structurally lighter and visually appealing, yet still extremely strong.”
In addition to collaborating with a knowledgeable engineer, Davenport has taken his design work to the third dimension. He employs the latest technology available to architects utilizing a software program called SketchUp Pro. Developed to combine the elegance and spontaneity of pencil sketching with the speed and flexibility of today’s digital media, SketchUp allows the architect to create, view and modify three-dimensional ideas quickly and easily (www.sketchup.com)
Everyone seems to profit from doing more with less. Of course, builders have always appreciated concrete’s strength and resilience. But now they are discovering that this time-honored material allows them the same flexibility and appearance they can get with stick construction. In addition to the first-class homes they can produce, today’s sleeker designs require less concrete, passing on to builders reduced construction costs, and consequently, greater profit margins. This rewarding collaboration between architect, engineer and builder ensures an end product that any concrete construction professional would gladly add to his or her portfolio.
Solid architectural design—it’s the foundation of concrete home construction. To discover more about the adventure of concrete home construction and how it can impact your business, contact a member of the Concrete Homes Council today.
by Wendy Shannon and Libbie Hough, Op5 Creative, Atlanta, Georgia.
MacGregor Village, 107 Edinburgh South #201 Cary, NC 27511 P: 919.388.9321 F: 919.388.9322 contact@davenportarchitecture.com www.davenportarchitecture.com
Completing A Foundation In 10.5 HRS!
WHAT THEY DID
In an unprecedented 10.5 hours, Coello & Associates constructed a full 8 foot basement and 850 square foot attached garage foundation from start to finish.
THE CONCRETE WAS KEY
A foundation like the one for this home would typically take a minimum of three days to complete from start to finish. On day one the footings were set up and poured and on day two the same was done for the walls. The walls then sat overnight before the forms could be stripped away. As you can imagine, trying to condense this process into a 12 hour time slot was a challenge. Careful planning was a must, but that was only the beginning.
A proprietary concrete mix supplied by Bend Industries was key to the success of the project. The concrete was designed to reach 8,000 psi after 28 days, which is twice that of the concrete used for our standard foundation walls. Even more important was that the concrete had reached 3000 psi in strength only four hours after the walls were poured. To put that into perspective, the code requires that a foundation wall reach only 2500 psi in 28 days.
This allowed the carpenters to begin quickly decking the home. The foundation was backfilled less than ten hours after the wall pour. When using their standard concrete mix, they recommend waiting a week to ten days before backfilling a foundation for best results.
Coello & Associates’ utilization of Durand aluminum forms with attached hardware also aided in the fast construction of the basement. This advanced forming system helped the crews set the walls both correctly and with extreme efficiency.
While the perfect concrete mix and superior forming system were instrumental in constructing the foundation on time, it also took the determination, skill, and hard work of 36 individuals to truly make the project a success.
WHAT THEY GAVE
For Coello and Associates, it meant 280 man-hours on the site, secretive ground-work, and material donations from Coello and other partner companies.
Following show guidelines, two things had to happen according to Michael Coello, General Manager. First, this had to be a surprise to the family, and second, everything needed to be donated. Sharing this project with only a few key people, Michael got their foundation project organized.
First he went to their suppliers for donations and expertise with the special requirements for the quick-turn-around. Among them were Bend Industries, CertainTeed, Axim, Victory Steel, Tremco Barrier Solutions, and Monarch Windows. In addition to their labor force, equipment and forms, Coello & Associates donated anchor bolts, steel rebar, and foundation insulation.
A foundation this size, completed in a ‘normal’ timeframe, would typically cost approximately $25,000.
Michael called a company meeting and said “We have a tremendous opportunity to change a family’s life, and that it would happen through this show. The employees were tremendously excited to do it. I didn’t have to say another word – no one declined.”
Michael Coello says constant lightning and bad weather threatened throughout the evening. Coello crews started in shifts — staging the first 12 at 4 pm on the 1st, then 3 hours later adding another 11, then 3 hours later adding the remaining group for a total of 35, who all worked until Michael started sending them home after 3 am.
WHAT THEY GOT
On a professional level, the recognition of their company’s role in the project may not necessarily bring them more work, but Michael believes it will help to reinforce their company brand recognition, something they try to work on constantly. Michael also believes this project was a step towards ‘walking the talk’; to show that as a company Coello and Associates can do projects like this that are out of the box and display their ability to work with different specs and standards.
On a personal level, Michael says “We only get so many chances in life to affect other peoples lives. This was our chance. I felt that because they came to us and thought we were the ones that could meet this dying man’s needs, then we were the ones. It gave us great satisfaction and wonder to be a part of this.”
Enjoy these comments from Coello employees who helped with this project:
• Tom Poznanski – It was a great honor to participate in an experience which will be televised. It made me feel good knowing that I helped the family/homeowners in a personal way to improve the quality of their home.
• Jason Terhardt – My experience was awesome. This job was unique and was a challenge in many different ways. From a timeline that most of us never had encountered to a concrete mix that was such a fast setting product. The whole job site has such a great feeling that it basically gave you a rush from start to finish. To top it all off you have a crowd of people watching you and cameras all over the place making you feel like you are being privileged to be on that particular job site.
• Scott Blaskowski – I felt a great sense of pride in what we accomplished. I’m sure it is something I will talk about for years to come. Being able to help this family out and being given the opportunity to work on this project by our boss reaffirmed what we try to do here at Coello & Associates… “Fulfill Peoples Dreams”. Thanks for the opportunity. It was incredible to see what could be done with concrete also. The suppliers we worked with were awesome and the mix design did everything we needed perfectly!!
• Keith Mittelstaedt – Not only am I very proud to have helped out in this special project, but I feel very privileged as well. It was a very impressive project with a lot of thought and heart put into it. The amount of good people and volunteers is also overwhelming. So many people with so much skill all brought together to tackle this feat was amazing. I hope I was able to help make a family’s dream come true.
• Ben Reinke – I feel that it was a great honor to be able to participate in the Home Makeover project. From start to finish I was filled with excitement and adrenalin just trying to take in everything that was going on around the site. It is truly amazing to see a project like this take place with all the contractors and volunteers working so hard and in sync to accomplish this dream. I will never forget the events that took place that night. Thank you for the awesome opportunity.
• John Reuteler – As a fan of the show I know the highs and lows the family feels during this process. It was a great feeling to be part of their high. It was also a new challenge for me personally. It was not the most difficult house but the timeline we had to finish it in was a real challenge. To do a job in under 12 hours that usually takes 3 days was a new high for me.
OTHER CFA MEMBERS
In addition to CFA member Coello & Associates, other CFA members who were partners in this home construction were CertainTeed Form-a-Drain, Durand Forms, LaFarge North America, Tremco Barrier Solutions Horizon, and Monarch Manufacturing.
Steve Gross, Director of Marketing for CertainTeed wrote in to say “We are honored that Coello & Associates recommended Form-A-Drain to help form a solid foundation for the Koepke’s home. Form-A-Drain was chosen because of its unique three-in-one offering, as it served as a sturdy footing form during the ‘Extreme Makeover’ construction, and will provide foundation drainage and radon evacuation benefits for years to come.”
ICC Code Update
Here is how it went.
Those in favor of the proposal to remove the language from the 2006 IRC stated their case (a maximum of 2 minutes each was allowed). I presented facts from our survey of members among other data. Those who opposed the change stated their case (again, 2 minutes each). Each speaker then had 1 minute to rebut the testimony of the other side (both for and against). There may have been a re-rebuttal (I’ve lost track by now). After 5-10 minutes of discussion by the committee, they voted 7 to 4 against our proposed language to return the code to its 2003 version – but its not over yet. The assembly can choose to have the issue considered by the entire group (around 150 – it varies) upon motion. A motion was made and seconded and the assembly voted in favor of the language we proposed. What does this mean? We get another opportunity to argue our case in front of the full assembly.
The pre-cast initiative has a similar result via a different path. The language proposed but the pre-cast industry would allow the prescriptive use of compacted gravel as a footing under pre-cast, and other wall types (which included CIP or RCF construction). Several individuals representing various constituencies argued for, then against the proposal. The committee made a motion to disapprove the proposal but the motion failed. A second motion was made to approve the proposal as submitted and it also failed, thus the provision will not be included – for the time being. The most persuasive argument against approval dealt with the fact that this type of foundation literally turns to mush during a seismic event. Since areas of high seismic activity were not excluded, the proposal was defeated. Expect to see it again in future code hearings with restrictions in high seismic areas. What does this mean for the RCF industry? I think we should consider the development of systems and details for use of RCF’s that do not require footings when placed on compacted gravel.
So it went.
What’s Ahead?
Just recently I returned from the CFA Fall Regional meeting in Hartford, CT. As your president, I am pleased to see we have many exciting projects and activities identified that are sure to continue building value to the membership. As a fellow contractor, however, I share with you a subject that is not quite as encouraging…the sagging market.
During any given CFA event, there are many “networking” discussions, most held “after hours” between a wide variety of members. This time, we seemed particularly centered on the common fact that most residential markets are significantly down over previous years. I don’t imagine this is any secret to those of you who battle these circumstances every day. What you may find surprising, however, is it always seems to help a little when you can share your experiences with others discovering that just maybe you’re not the only one and it isn’t because you are doing things wrong.
It never fails; when production levels are running high our customers seem to line up and in unison tell us that since their volumes are so good that we should be able to offer a better price – “We are giving you so much work you should be able to operate more efficiently” (which is builder-speak for cheaper). Since we all love to build foundations we usually succumb to their pleas, figuring out ways to cut costs and justifying this internally because we have more work…and that’s supposed to be a good thing, right?
Well, now that the cyclical markets are trending downward, is it all that surprising that the message from our customers is surprisingly similar – “We need for you to step up and share our pain”, “Since the workload is smaller the competition is hungrier”, “When everyone needs work this badly, you have to find a way to work cheaper” – Sound familiar?
So, we begin asking ourselves, “How in the world are we going to accomplish this?” We have already tightened the belt as much as we could when things were busy. Ready mix producers are already asking for next year’s price increase and all of our “good” help are expecting raises…(I’m not even going to mention fuel). Who is going to help us share in our pain? We have already read and implemented our “7 Habits”, we have figured out “Who Moved our Cheese”, and long ago we shifted from “Good to Great” What’s left?
What I’m most pleased to report, from Hartford is that for many of us, knowing that numerous others are in the same boat can be a very real help. Some of us have taken bold moves while others have implemented more conservative approaches to deal with today’s issues. I left Indianapolis feeling cornered; I left Hartford feeling encouraged knowing that I have friends and associates fighting the same battles. Their experience, wisdom, and insight has been very helpful. Irregardless of what direction you or I ultimately choose to take, the information that can be gleaned from colleagues is more valuable than anything that can be found in any bookstore. We’re not experts, we just try the little things and look for new ways taken from each other.
When times are a little harder and the talk is constantly about cutting costs and being more efficient, perhaps this is the time when it is most appropriate to invest more time and energy into the things that can make the biggest difference. Perhaps things like the CFA.
Brad Schrock, CFA President, Custom Concrete Company Inc. bschrock@customconcrete.comCIFA USA Announces Acquisition of CIFA S.p.A. by the Italian Fund Magenta
Italian private equity fund Magenta today announced the completion of the acquisition of CIFA SpA, the Italian group active in the design, manufacture and distribution of equipment for the mixing, transportation and placement of ready-mix concrete.
Magenta is a new Italian private equity fund, founded by Luciano Balbo, Edoardo Lanzavecchia and Luigi Sala, that together have over 50 years of experience in the private equity industry.
Magenta with other financial investors that include private equity fund Alpha and Banca Intesa, acquired 72.5% of CIFA, with the Cerini – Mutti – Raimondi and other families owning the remaining 27.5%.
“CIFA is an example of an Italian company well know for its successful business worldwide. The company represents a great opportunity and an optimal platform to grow organically and through acquisitions. We look forward to working with the management team to drive the company forward” said Edoardo Lanzavecchia, managing director of Magenta.
Alceste Murada has been appointed CEO, Maurizio Ferrari Vice-Chairman and Giovanni Cerini has been confirmed Chairman.
Alceste Murada has extensive national and international experience, he realized the first European joint venture in the air-conditioning equipment sector between Sanyo and Elfi . He was Vice-President of Carrier Europe, Middle East & Africa (United Technologies Corporation) and CEO of Riello.
Maurizio Ferrari led as CEO several buyouts of Castelgarden/GGP, growing the company to the European leader in the gardening equipment sector.
“This acquisition – says Matteo Rolla Vice President of CIFA USA – is an excellent opportunity for the CIFA Group and particularly for their US based operation.
Beside the extensive knowhow in production and technology still assured by the previous owners, CIFA undoubtedly will benefit from the financial strength and internationally recognized management skill provided by the new shareholders.
I can foresee a great future for CIFA USA and our customers and partners. We will be committed even more than before in delivering high quality product, service and relationship”
Founded in 1928, CIFA designs, manufactures and distributes equipment for the mixing, transportation and placement of ready-mix concrete including mixing plants, formworks, truck mixers and concrete pumps.
Two companies in Geronimo, Oklahoma turn ideas into concrete plans
From The Lawton Constitution, May 23, 2006
by Scott Rains, Staff Writer srains@lawton-constitution.comGERONIMO, Okla.— A progressive view of construction must be mixed into the local water supply.
The community supported — by a 71 percent margin — passage of a proposition for a concrete, domed school and gymnasium during a school bond vote earlier this month. Now, the residential development of Geronimo Estates is the testing ground for what could soon be the vanguard of housing especially suited for the needs of Oklahoma homeowners and buyers.
“I think we’re on the cutting edge of something beneficial here and throughout the country,” Alford Hennessee said. Hennessee, owner of Hennessee Realty, is developing Geronimo Estates on the north edge of town. Hennessee and partners Gene Simmons and Mark Simmons have formed Okie Homes.
The first endeavor for Okie Homes is the construction of two insulated concrete homes in the addition. “I must think a lot of this idea,” Hennessee said, “I’ve put a lot of money into it, and I think it’s the way to go.”
Soon the company will have its own crew trained to use cutting edge wall form technology to construct concrete homes for the same cost as a home built from traditional materials such as wood and brick.
Concrete homes are not a new idea. Solid and less prone to structural damage from wear and weather, the drawback for many prospective buyers has been construction costs, which are often twice as much as traditional homes.
Until now.
“Concrete homes have been built for years, but the construction has never been cheap or easy,” Tim Ryan, of Insulated Concrete Structures, said. He has a background in working with engineers and architects, especially in structural construction, he said. In January, Ryan’s design for sandwich wall forms which holds the insulation in place during the pouring of concrete homes was patented. He had been working on the idea for four years, he said. Okie Homes is purchasing some of the forms to begin building the concrete homes.
Taking Western Forms’ standard aluminum wall forms and applying trusses to hold the interior Styrofoam insulation in place, both sides of the wall are poured at the same time, allowing for a quick turnaround in construction. Rebar is set in the 3,500-pound per-square-inch test concrete and, when completed, the structure meets FEMA standards for safety.
“Instead of a safe room, we’re giving people an affordable safe house,” Hennessee said.
Window and door frames are designed into the framed structure before pouring. With housings in place while in the form stage, plumbers and electricians finish all tasks inside the walls prior to pouring. Drywall and exterior finishes may be applied once the concrete has set. Products such as acrylic stucco, drywall and paints are applied directly to the concrete.
“The technology integrates the plumbers, electricians, drywall and exterior finishers into the home’s construction,” Ryan said. “In one pour you replace framing, insulation, sheet rock and exterior board.”
Using this technology makes the cost of building a concrete safe home the same as that of a home built of wood or brick, Ryan said. Gene Simmons concurred, saying the cost is around “$100 per square-foot.” The average turnaround time for a build is “basically eight days,” Ryan said, and includes a crew of between six to eight workers. He believes once the idea catches on with the public, it will spark a new wave in construction.
“Building with an insulated concrete wall using Western Forms aluminum forms allows us versatility in layout of walls, height, thickness and location of windows and doors,” Ryan said. “You can take your floor plan and build it as drawn.”
“It can last indefinitely,” Hennessee said. The end result is a home which is impervious to many of the problems of traditional homes, such as wood rot, termites and even wind damage. Depending on the specs of the project, Ryan said, people “won’t have a clue the house is all concrete” when completed.
That is, until the energy bills come in. The three inches of concrete on either side of four inches of Styrofoam insulation helps the structure to become a geothermal unit with up to 40 percent savings on utility costs, Ryan said.
“Energy prices aren’t going down, and I believe energy savings will play more and more a consideration when people are building a home,” Hennessee said. “Energy has changed our way of life.”
Also, concrete is fire-proof, so lower insurance costs have been cited for these “safe homes,” Ryan said. Tax credits are available to the home buyer for purchasing a concrete, environmentally
As the first home was being completed, and with the second underway, an open house and media day was held on May 23, 2006 at Geronimo Estates to allow the public to examine the end result for themselves.
“Once people, see, feel and touch these houses, they won’t have to sell it,” Ryan said, “They’ll sell themselves.”
INTERVIEWS WITH CFA MEMBERS WOMEN IN CONCRETE
Hot on the heals of a sold out, first-ever, ‘Women In Concrete Forum’ at the World of Concrete, we’re featuring some of the women in the foundation industry.
We’ve selected eight CFA members that have solid industry experience and make a difference to the corporations they either own or work for. Once thing is for sure — they have all paid their dues through education and by working their way up in the industry. CFA member Joan Ausbury, Cranes & Equipment Corp., says “females in a male dominated industry have to work harder to prove themselves, but the rewards are great. I never thought I’d be where I am today 25 years ago.” All together we can count over 115 years of experience with these 8 women whose stories are accounted for on the following pages.
Like the speakers at the Forum they echo words like education, experience, challenges, networking, and rewards. One of our featured members, Valerie Gore from Solid Foundations, urges women to “Learn as much as you can so you know what you are doing and what you are talking about. It helps you earn respect, something you need in an industry that is dominated by males.”
When asked to describe the CFA and the industry it represents, Jim Baty, CFA Technical Director stated: “Historically, the concrete industry has been male-dominated of somewhere around 98%. Although largely in more clerical positions, we now know how significantly that trend has been changing for women over the past two decades. The CFA is a great example of that paradigm switch as women hold many key technical, management, ownership, supervisory and primary workforce positions.”
THE NUMBERS — WOMEN IN CONCRETE
“While the trend may be on the increase in other construction businesses, no where is it as prevalent as it is in the residential foundation contractor business,” says CFA Executive Director Ed Sauter (see Executive Director’s Message, page 5).
Industry-wide, according to the U.S. Department of Labor, the entire construction industry employs about 5.4 percent of all workers and accounts for 9.8 percent of all business establishments in the U.S., with women holding just 2% of construction jobs. Current employment statistics show total annual average construction employment rising from 5,536,000 in 1996 to an all-time high of 7,277,00 in 2005, surpassing the previous high achieved in 2004.
Specific to the concrete foundation industry, the U.S. Department of Labor shows just over 230,000 workers in all occupations for the Poured Concrete Foundation and Structure Contractors industry in May 2005 — at 2%, that’s 4,600 women.
Future opportunities for women abound as the U.S. Department of Labor at the end of 2005 predicted that total job opportunities are expected to be excellent in the construction industry, especially for skilled trades workers, due to the large number of retirements of these workers anticipated over the next decade, as well as fewer people with the right education or experience entering the skilled trades.
The number of wage and salary jobs in the construction industry is expected to grow about 11 percent through the year 2014.
Employment growth will differ among various occupations in the construction industry. Employment of construction managers is expected to grow as a result of the increasing complexity of construction work that needs to be managed, including the need to deal with the proliferation of laws dealing with building construction, worker safety, and environmental issues.
Also, the growth of self employment in this industry is leading to a larger number of managers that own small construction businesses.
An especially favorable job outlook is expected for those who have a bachelor’s degree in construction science, with an emphasis on construction management, and who have related work experience in construction management services firms.
Employment growth of administrative support occupations will be limited by increased office automation.
WHAT OTHERS SAY
Dr. Heather Brown, an assistant professor in Concrete Industry Management at Middle Tennessee State University, when chosen by Concrete Network as their January 2005 Industry Leader, said she would like to see a lot more of women in the industry. “I’m one of the few. Out of our 300 students (at MTSU), 15 are women.” Although she realizes the concrete industry is far from gender blind, Brown says the easiest way to fit in is to ‘Find your niche.”
Deborah Henry, director of Special Programs at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, and a presenter at the ‘Women In Concrete Forum’, said during her presentation that although the construction industry is very slowly opening up to women, the good news is that “women own about 8% of the nation’s 2.67 million construction companies, and according to a study by the Center for Women’s Business Research, the number of women who own construction companies grew 30% from 1998 to 2004.”
Her advice was to take specific steps:
• continue your education
• develop a support system made up of friends, family, and other professional women and men
• join and be a leader in professional organizations and associations that are associated with your career.
Susan Eisenberg is the author of We’ll Call You If We Need You: Experiences of Women Working Construction and of Pioneering: Poems from the Construction Site. Susan is a union electrician who lectures nationally and she teaches at the University of Massachusetts in Boston. In an Engineering News Record article she said “From my interviews, it became clear that women enter the trades for many of the same reasons as men. They not only like the money. Women as well as men enjoy doing work that’s useful, physically active, mentally challenging and results oriented’ jobs that let you improve your surroundings.”
There is also a growing need for women to enter the construction fields internationally. Jean Lambert, a Green Party Member of the European Parliament, said in 2004 that “women need to enter the building trade in the thousands every year to solve a growing skills crisis in the UK’s construction industry….
The industry itself reckons 83,000 new employees will be needed annually until at least 2007 (in the UK) just for capacity to stand still.” “The reality is far more builders will be required, with very specialist skills, to meet the needs of the ‘green’ construction sector. New building regulations and awareness on energy efficiency, for example, mean we’ll need a whole new generation of construction workers – with a 21st Century skills portfolio.
“This won’t happen by itself: the EU needs a strategy for training and employment in construction. We are told we are building a New Europe – I want women to be fully involved in both the physical and political dimensions.”
THE WOMEN BEHIND THE NUMBERS
Let’s come back and revisit ‘Women In Concrete’ ten years from now and see the changes that have taken place.
In the meantime, enjoy these interviews of eight women behind the statistics.
Amber Lange
708 Commerce Dr., Piqua, Ohio 45346 office 937-773-3963 fax 937-773-4904 amber@lavyconcrete.com www.lavyconcrete.comWhat is your role in your company? My main role at Lavy Concrete is Estimator, in which I am responsible for approximately 75% of the bids that our company issues. We do quite a mix of work such as Commercial Foundations, Industrial Machine Bases, Residential Foundations and Interior & Exterior flatwork. In addition to estimating I am fairly fluent in Microsoft Access and Excel which I use to create and analyze many reports for our company.
How long have you been in the foundation industry? How did you get started in the industry? I started at LCC many years ago, like when I was 10 years old I think. I can remember reading the “transit” for my dad at a basement or two. Then I graduated to cleaning toilets and the rest of the office. So after high school, a few years of college, working in a grocery deli, then becoming an insurance claims adjuster, the position of receptionist finally came available at LCC. I started out answering the phones and processing Accounts Payable then moved on to Accounts Receivable and Job Costing and now after 10+ official years of employment here, I am the Estimator.
Is there a growing number of women in your company? We have had women working in the field off and on. Currently we do not have any women in the field, but the office consists of 4 of us, our accountant Diana, our Office Manager (my mom) Jane, and Robin who takes care of Job Costing, A/R, personal secretary to the guys in the field and is learning how to estimate as well.
Does your company do anything to attract women to construction and your firm as a career choice?This past year we “earned” a project that I really feel, if I wasn’t bidding it, we may not have gotten it. It is a new foundation for the Buckeye Trails Girl Scout Program Center. I was a Girl Scout as well as my daughters and I told the GC and the Architect that fact. I went about the very complicated bid with enthusiasm because the project hit close to home. While the foundation was under way, I did a presentation to approximately 65 Girl Scouts and their leaders. I told them what was going on with the project and what my role was in the company. They were able to stick their hands in concrete and watch our concrete pump and our wall crew in action. I told them that a girl could do any of these tasks and I asked them which they would like to do. I think we may have a few more women concrete pump operators in the near future! I know our reputation as a Quality Wall Contractor had a lot to do with us earning this project, but I think that having a “Girl Scout” bidding on it gave us the edge.
Have we come a long way? Is the residential foundation industry a good place for a woman to have a career? We have definitely come a long way. I have made several friends with a newly formed, Ohio Ready-Mixed Concrete Association sponsored, women in concrete group. We are called L.E.A.R.N. or Ladies Educational and Readymix Network. Our group consists of women owning and working for ready mix companies, chemical
Any advice for woman starting out in the industry? Listen to the men, but make sure you don’t conform to their opinion or their way of doing things, unless it is the right way. Learn how to communicate. Most men don’t want it “sugar-coated”, they just want the facts. Don’t be afraid to ask for help, but make sure you really need it and that the answer is not there in front of you.
What did you want to be when you were a kid? I always thought if I was going to have a permanent role here, it would be in estimating but, honestly, I wanted to be a fashion merchandiser! So to encourage my feminine side, I am a mother, a Mary Kay Skin Care Consultant, and a Rabbit 4-H club advisor. I love working with numbers and was good in math, I just didn’t realize how much I was going to use it! I really enjoy knowing what new facility is going in across town and checking out all the house designs!
Have you ever encountered issues as a female in the industry?When I started estimating, I would get phone calls from customers who didn’t want to accept a woman in my position. After introducing my self to them as the Estimator, they would continually ask “Well does he know how much it would cost to….?” After a few aggravated moments and a few years of patience and telling them “I am Terry’s daughter, I can help you with that”, I no longer get the puzzled looks or the silence on the phone.
Joan Ausbury
Cranes & Equipment Corp 512 W John H Gwynn Jr Ave Peoria, IL 61605-2344 Offi ce 309-674-7400 jea@cranesequip.com www.cranesequip.comWhat is your role in your company? As co-founder of the Cranes and Equipment in 1982, I am currently President in charge of sales and administrative functions (however, I also do windows and water the trees and trim the shrubs when necessary!). When we first started the business,I was the only sales person,bookkeeper, parts/warehouse department and even mechanic as I assisted in the installation and rebuilding of cranes. Having started the business in the basement of my house with a$500 investment – that’s right, five hundred dollars, we are now in a new 30,000 sq. ft. building sitting on five acres with 24employees. I can honestly tell my employees I don’t ask them to do anything I haven’t already done – except weld, and I’m too old to learn now.
How long have you been in the foundation industry? How did you get started in the industry? How did I get started in the crane business? Having previously worked as Assistant Sales Manager for the hometown Caterpillar dealer, I was constantly reminded by some peers that “if you can do it for them, you can do it for yourself.” Although cranes were not in the yellow product line at that time, it was something new to me and seemed to be a challenge. And so after 13 years dealing with tractors, loaders, motor graders, excavators and engines, I jumped into the sink-or-swim pool of self employment. That was 24 years ago. Although I sometimes take more steps back than forward on any given day, I’m far ahead of where I started. Those backward steps only make us stronger.
Is there a growing number of women in your company? My Parts Manager is a female and has been with us for ten years plus four additional females in various roles of accounting and secretarial functions.
There are very few females in the crane industry as it’s not a field many females inspire to pursue. I’m sometimes referred to as “The Crane Lady”.
Have we come a long way? Is the (CRANE) industry a good place for a woman to have a career? It would be no different than a female MBA graduate deciding to go into pharmaceutical sales or aggregate sales or concrete form sales. One can learn by textbook the concept of selling, but must learn about the product being sold before he/she can become proficient at it. Knowing the product is first and foremost, knowing the application you are selling into is probably as equally important. That’s what selling is, talking about your product and how it fits into your customers application. It doesn’t matter if the salesperson is male or female.
Have we (residential foundation industry) come a long way? Definitely. Back in the early 80’s foundation contractors were satisfied just to get their forms on/off their truck with a crane that had 35 feet of reach. Twenty plus years later these same contractors are looking for reaches pushing 100 feet. Residential job sites have changed (more secluded and/or wooded areas), the size and complexity of foundations have changed (no longer rectangular foundations); the workforce and employment conditions have changed forcing contractors to make handling concrete forms easier. The foundation contractor knows concrete and forming; it’s my responsibility to make him aware of not only what my product can do for him, it’s benefits and features, but also such things as:
• Proper sizing of the chassis
• Legal weight limits as they apply to him in the state(s) in which he operates
• Proper placement of loads on the truck in order to comply with the weight laws
• Current Federal, State and/or local standards and/or certifications
Any advice for women starting out– their own business — crane or otherwise? Perseverance and confidence. The “I think I can, I think I can” attitude must change to “I know I can, I know I can” and then do it. It doesn’t matter if it’s in the foundation industry or the crane industry. Know your business well and treat people fairly.
What did you want to be when you were a kid? TEACHER; typing, shorthand (ha ha) and office procedures. I’d probably have been unemployed long ago had I actually pursued that career with the onset of computers and other electronic devices that make dictation and shorthand a thing of the past.
Have you ever encountered issues as a female in the industry? Of course. There is and always will be a select few who view women in a male dominated industry as inferior. What’s reassuring is when you hear back from some of those people with comments like, “she really did know what she was talking about” or “I got more information from her than I did from any of her male counterparts or competitors.”
Having come from a male dominated industry early on (earthmoving equipment), I learned then how to handle the comments, remarks and attitudes. Females in a male dominated industry have to work harder to prove themselves, but the rewards are great. I never thought I’d be where I am today 25 years ago. Being a single mother, there were times I didn’t think I’d have the money to buy bread and milk for my daughter and I. It only made me work harder. I KNOW I CAN. I KNOW I CAN.
Lisa Crawford
Western Forms Inc 6200 Equitable Rd Kansas City, MO 64120 Office 800-821-3870 lcrawford@westernforms.com www.westernforms.comWhat is your role in your company? Director of Marketing: I am charged with a variety of marketing, public relations, and advertising decisions, as well as their execution. I work with other departments to launch products, build our overall brand, and strengthen customer and distributor relationships. I manage a department that includes creative, strategic, and tactical personnel. Together, we accomplish everything from media buys to online presence, day-today communications to trade shows and special events, database maintenance to strategic planning.
How long have you been in the foundation industry? How did you get started in the industry? 3 Years. I got started when the opportunity to change industries and grow in a new direction was presented to me after my predecessor left the company.
Is there a growing number of women in your company? It’s pretty much staying the same. Much of the office staff is female, covering many roles, including management. We also have a female presence in our manufacturing facility. However, there are no women involved in sales or product management.
Does your company do anything to attract women to construction and your firm as a career choice? Not that I know of.
Have we come a long way? Is the residential foundation industry a good place for a woman to have a career? Gender can work either way. On the plus side, I think it helps those of us in management (especially a customer-facing position such as mine) to stand out a bit more and have our message get noticed, even if it’s only due to the curiosity factor. I think women in positions such as receptionist, customer service, or department support are not seen as novel; almost expected. However, it is rare to encounter someone that holds a decision-making position in sales, upper-management, or fieldwork. These areas still have a lot of “good ‘ol boy network” politics associated with them and it will be hard to crack that and be taken seriously or not resented.
Any advice for women starting out in the industry? As with all industries, be good at what you do and earn the respect of your peers, coworkers, and customers based on who you are, not what you are. Talk to other women in the organization you are considering about how they feel women are treated and represented, but also try to see the overall impression the company and industry makes in treating people and individuals, regardless of gender. Make your own decisions based on your instinct and past experiences, and don’t put too much focus on being a woman over being a person. Join the industry because you have a passion, whether that passion is residential concrete, trying a new challenge, or knowing you can make the position and the company the best it can be.
What did you want to be when you were a kid? Space princess. Elephant in-vitro specialist. Professional mini-golfer.
Have you ever encountered issues as a female in the industry? I’ve encountered issues being me, but I don’t know if that’s because I’m a woman or because I’m who I am! Of course, in a male dominated industry, with jobs marked by a physical expectation and reputation (foundation crew responsibilities and manual labor) and past ownership composition (father-son companies) there are some things that will be a challenge, but it’s up to you to pick the right company to be treated fairly when it could easily go the other way. And, at least I never have to share a room when we go to trade shows.
Valerie Gore
Solid Foundations, Inc. 2000 County Road 292 Bellevue, OH 44811 Office 419.483.8805 FAX 419.483.8814 gore@sfoundations.com www.sfoundations.comWhat is your role in your company? I would have to say administration is my main role. I am responsible to oversee and implement most systems in the company. I am in charge of safety, accounting, customer relations, and any other functions that go through the office.
I am a support person to many people in my company. I do a lot of daily “trouble-shooting” and problem solving, which is what I enjoy the most.
How long have you been in the foundation industry? How did you get started in the industry? My husband and I started Solid Foundations, Inc. in 1990, so it will be 16 years this fall.
Is there a growing number of women in your company? Not really. I have two women in the office (plus myself ), and about 17 men in the field.
Does your company do anything to attract women to construction and your firm as a career choice? No, not really.
Have we come a long way? Is the residential foundation industry a good place for a woman to have a career? We have hired women in the office. I would not be opposed to hiring a woman in the field.
I think women are great detail people. They are good organizers and with the right women have great people skills. I am fortunate to work with two other women that are easy to work with and are really good at their jobs. They really care about the outcome of their work.
Any advice for women starting out in the industry? Learn as much as you can so you know what you are doing and what you are talking about. It helps you earn respect, something you need in an industry that is dominated by males.
What did you want to be when you were a kid? I have always wanted to own a business.
Have you ever encountered issues as a female in the industry? I would say that most of my experiences have been good and productive. I spend a lot of time learning about this industry so I can be on looked upon as resourceful. That is the best way to earn respect in any job or industry, but especially when you work with men. It also helps you get work!
There have been times that I feel I am in over my head. I pray and God has always faithfully given me the wisdom I need to figure things out and do things best!
Over the years I have learned your employees are your company. You have to lead them and help them understand how you want things done and in what time frame. You can never over educate or over train them. It takes everyone to accomplish what we do every day, consistently, and when we say we will.
My husband, Daniel Gore, is an excellent production manager. He works directly with the crews helping them understand their daily objectives and equipping them with what they need to accomplish their work. Working with my husband has been a trying but overall good experience. I would have it no other way!
We have always put priority on new Technology and having equipment that makes our employee’s jobs easier. Sometimes I go out to the field (especially flatwork) and have the men explain what they are doing and how the equipment works. We have field leaders that have been with us a long time that really know what they are doing so I learn from them.
I think overall, working as a woman in this industry has been a great experience. The men I deal with are all so unique. You just have to try to understand them and how they think and operate in order to help them accomplish their objectives.
Mary Carr
Oak Ridge Solutions 17251 Foundation Parkway Westfield, Indiana 46074 Office 317-896-2885 maryc@customconcrete.com www.oakridgesolutions.com www.customconcrete.comWhat is your role in your company? I am the Internal Operations Director for Custom Concrete and President of Oak Ridge Solutions. I work with the Custom Tracker program in development, implementation, and application of the software. My husband is Tom Carr. We are part of the ownership for both companies.
How long have you been in the foundation industry? How did you get started in the industry? I was married to Tom Carr in 1982, and I began working in his family’s small business office, Custom Concrete, in the fall of 1984. The business was beginning to grow and it was necessary to have added office help. Until that time, Betty Carr, my mother-in-law, was the only office staff. She handled all the accounting and administrative functions of the business out of her home and she did it extremely well. Joe Carr laughs about the concern at that time that there would be enough work to justify my full-time employment. Since that time, I have been a part of several changes and have watched the growth of the office staff and internal processes at Custom.
Is there a growing number of women in your company? Yes, we currently have 20-25 women employed at Custom Concrete. Their job descriptions are varied and include titles such as Assistant Controller, Sales Account Coordinators, Human Resources, Production Management, CAD design, Yard Security, and Accounting.
Does your company do anything to attract women to construction and your firm as a career choice? Although we do not search for candidates based upon gender, we will readily interview women for almost any position and encourage them to apply.
Have we come a long way? Is the residential foundation industry a good place for a woman to have a career? The construction industry including the residential foundation industry has been somewhat reluctant to welcome women. We have come a long way with being receptive to women in professional office roles within the foundation industry, but there are still areas unchallenged by women. Perhaps the next ten years will do more to create a greater opportunity in those areas.
Any advice for women starting out in the industry? In every industry, my advice for women is to try to be patient, helpful, kind, and wise. Every business will face problems and women can offer solutions. Although the suggestions may not always be welcome, patience and consistency are the keys. Above all, the Lord should receive the credit for everything we do whether we are a man or a woman.
What did you want to be when you were a kid? I always wanted to teach high school history, business classes, and/or English.
Have you ever encountered issues as a female in the industry? Yes. Where there are people, there are problems. They may be described as “female” issues, but they are actually people problems. I have heard it said that, “At the heart of every problem is a problem of the heart.”
Amanda Herbert Morris
Herbert Construction Company P.O. Box 996, Marietta, GA 30061 Office 770-795-0103 Fax 770-795-0734 amandam@herbertconstruction.com www.herbertconstruction.comWhat is your role in your company? Vice President of Operations. I oversee the scheduling of the jobs, crews, layout and drawings.
I also meet with other officers of the company to determine the company’s direction.
How long have you been in the foundation industry? How did you get started in the industry? I have essentially been in the foundation industry most of my life. My parents started Herbert Construction Co. when I was 4 years old and I grew up in the business.
I worked in many different areas in the company throughout summers during high school. I attended Lawrence Technological University and earned a BS in Architecture. While attending college I worked for a different foundation contractor, along with a development company and an architecture fi rm. All of these experiences gave me a new insight into the construction industry and specifically concrete foundations.
Since attending college, I have been working for Herbert Construction Co. for eight years.
Is there a growing number of women in your company? There is a steady number at this time.
Does your company do anything to attract women to construction and your firm as a career choice? My mother, Linda Herbert, is an owner of the company. Her presence throughout the years has created an inspiring example of a woman in construction. In the past, Linda has been an active member in NAWIC (National Association of Women in Construction).
Have we come a long way? Is the residential foundation industry a good place for a woman to have a career? I believe we have. Men are more accepting of working with a woman; in most cases, I do not think there is a second thought given to the fact that she is a woman.
Any advice for women starting out in the industry? Do not be afraid to be a woman. When I started out dealing with men in this industry, I thought that I had to be as tough as the men were. However, men are expected to be gruff, and if a man speaks to another man in a harsh tone, it is expected and accepted. For women dealing with men in the construction industry it is a different expectation and I have found that the old adage holds true “you can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar”. It is much easier to get what I want when I ask nicely and do not demand.
What did you want to be when you were a kid? An Architect. I always said I did not want to be a concrete contractor because I did not want to work all the long hours.
Have you ever encountered issues as a female in the industry? Not that I am aware of. I grew up around men in construction, and then I went to a university to study a field dominated by men. I am used to working around men and if I have encountered issues as a female in the industry, I did not notice.
Editor’s Note: Amanda is also a CFA Board Member. Amanda and other Board members work together with the CFA staff to carry out a multitude of educational and promotional efforts for the advancement of concrete foundation technology.
Jane Lavy
Lavy Concrete Construction, Inc. 708 Commerce Dr., Piqua, Ohio 45346 office 937-773-3963 fax 937-773-4904 jane@lavyconcrete.com www.lavyconcrete.comWhat is your role in your company? At this time I am Office Manager, front door receptionist, process Payroll and handle employee benefits. I am also handling uniforms, working with vending machines and do all sorts of secretarial things. I am also part owner and wife of the president, Terry. So we have work conversations at home all the time.
How long have you been in the foundation industry? How did you get started in the industry? When I married Terry in 1972, he was working for his uncle DJ Lavy, and was learning how to pour concrete. Terry started managing the company and was in need of help in the office so I started to work for this company in 1985. At that time it was D.J. Lavy Concrete Construction. A few years later we purchased the company from Terry’s cousin and changed the name to Lavy Concrete Construction. I told Terry I would come to work if I could come home at noon so I could keep up with the house and kids. That was when we did everything manually. That didn’t last long. Terry and I did everything in the office, from estimating, to billing and collecting. At that time we only had 8-10 employees. Terry also worked some in the field and worked on the company’s equipment in our garage at home so I was exposed to the company at home too. I also have spent many evenings when I thought we were going out to eat and have a nice night out, and end up running by a job site to see how it was going. We have spent a lot of time looking at anything in concrete.
Is there a growing number of women in your company? We have had a few women out in the field but most of the women are in the office. Our daughter, Amber started out as a child cleaning the office. After working at another job for a little while she then come back to help out with the bookkeeping. She now is our full time Job Estimator. Being an estimator for a construction company is typically a man’s job, so she has had some hurdles to jump over. She has always been a numbers person and does a real good job at putting the numbers together. She has been exposed to the jobs we were working on since she was a child and understood how it went together. She has even been known to go out and prep slabs to get ready to pour.
Does your company do anything to attract women to construction and your firm as a career choice?
We recently did the concrete work for a new Girl Scout facility and have had groups of Girl Scouts in to show them how the foundation was put in. Amber was one that gave the talk and asked the girls if any of them would like to work in the concrete construction business. Many of them were interested, especially driving the big equipment. Of course Amber’s two girls were involved and have been exposed to the concrete industry just as Amber was. Who knows, there may be another generation in the training.
Have we come a long way? Is the residential foundation industry a good place for a woman to have a career? Yes, women have finally been accepted in a man’s world. They usually have to prove themselves, it’s not just given to them.
Any advice for women starting out in the industry? Perseverance, and common sense. There’s lots of places to show an artistic side, as in the colored and stamped concrete
What did you want to be when you were a kid? I have always wanted to be outside and never afraid to get dirty. I never thought I would be so involved in the concrete industry since I was raised on a farm. I thought I would be doing something that had to do with the outdoors.
Have you ever encountered issues as a female in the industry? I wish sometime I was considered more as an individual and not the boss’ wife. I guess that is what you get when you work your whole adult life with your husband, the boss.
Kay Lanahan
Advanced Concrete Foundations 3798 Three Notch Rd Louisa, VA 23093 Office 434-589-1122 KLanahan@acfoundation.net www.acfoundation.netWhat is your role in your company? General Manager. Originally my husband Tom and I tried to find someone for this job when we learned he had rhumetoid arthritis, but we just couldn’t find the right person. So for awhile I did two jobs at once, then made the decision to work full time for ACF. I initially came to handle the accounting, then stepped into the GM position 3 years later. I came from the construction world, but had to learn a lot by the seat of my pants. Our son Josh is in sales for our company and both my husband and son taught me a lot.
Tom continues to work with various customers and is of course the expert here with technical issues.
I feel very lucky that both my son and our daughter are also involved in the business. Ashley handles operations, and Josh has learned this business inside out and backwards.
Advanced Concrete Foundations is a smaller business with about 100 employees. We were strictly footings and walls, but have expanded to offer our builders a total package by adding slab-footwork and waterproofing.
We focus primarily on custom work and are adding commercial — up to 30%. I do the estimating for commercial work. Our residential tends to be very complicated, and I’ve found the commercial work is usually much simpler wall structure.
How long have you been in the foundation industry? How did you get started in the industry? Here 6 years, then in construction 10 years.
Is there a growing number of women in your company? Yes. We have two women that run operations. Our controller is a woman, and we have a woman who handles payroll.
Have we come a long way? Is the residential foundation industry a good place for a woman to have a career? Yes — very definitely. Construction is such a detailed-oriented business and women are traditionally detailed-oriented. I think women naturally bring that talent, along with the ability to multi-task, to the construction industry. It is an absolute requirement to multi-task in this industry.
When hiring for our company, I tend to listen and have learned to take a step back in hiring. By this I mean that I feel that applicants often have not been given a fair shake in life. I approach the employer-employee relationship by explaining that we work under a team concept. I stress to our people that if they are fair with us, we will be fair to them. As a result we have really great employees. Women can be a little softer, so this is something I feel I can bring to this business.
Any advice for women starting out in the industry? A cool head and lots of knowledge (the technical stuff that CFA supplies) makes the job fun.
When hiring (for women or men) we don’t require higher education, but instead I look for the I-can-do attitude and willingness to learn. Technical ability is helpful, but we try to get people to as many seminars as possible, like the CFA seminars. These are invaluable and I find our people drink in the information. I tell them ‘learn one thing from the seminar and its worth your time’.
What did you want to be when you were a kid? A ski bum.
Have you ever encountered issues as a female in the industry? No. It is not a problem for me to deal with any companies on any level now. I don’t find any resistance to women. When I first went to (industry) meetings, there were no women. At our local association meetings there is almost 50% women in attendance, most of them sub contractors or from small businesses.
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SOURCES
1 – www.concretenetwork.com 2 – ‘The Concrete Producer’, April 2006, Kari Moosmann 3 – Engineering News Record, The McGraw-Hill Companies, October 15, 2001 4 – www.greenparty.org/uk
