Remodelers Advantage

Ep.177: The Secret to Successful Bonuses and Incentives with Eddie Casanave

January 10, 2022 Finance, Management, Production 00:36:47

This is PART 2 of a 4-part series focused on Bonuses and Incentives. 

Eddie Casanave, Owner of Distinctive Remodeling in Raleigh, NC joins Tim and Steve to talk about the bonus and incentive program he and his team use.

In business 1987, Eddie has seen and tried many different bonus plans, and they seemed to all have limited life.

The current plan he uses seems to have the elements to make it long lasting.

Tim, Steve and Eddie talk more about:

  • Financial bonuses vs. incentives
  • The origin of the bonus program and how has it developed over time
  • Which part makes it appealing to their team
  • Customer Satisfaction issues
  • And More


4-Part Series on Bonuses and Incentives:

Ep.176: Bonuses and Incentives with Andrew Kerr

December 20, 2021 Finance, Management, Operations, The Tim Faller Show 00:31:59

This is PART 1 of a 4-part series focused on Bonuses and Incentives. 

Financial incentives and bonuses are often how many companies attract and retain great talent.  Guest Andrew Kerr of Landis Construction is here to share how bonus structures can potentially lead to increased motivation and involvement within a company.

Andrew has been with Landis since 2001, and as their COO he now oversees the company’s architecture, estimating, construction, and process management departments.  Prior to joining the company, Andrew held a position as a PM at Centex Homes, managing construction for new homes, and also worked at the White House for the National Security Council.

Tim, Steve and Andrew talk more about:

  • Unfulfilled bonus promises
  • Bonus structures and customer satisfaction
  • Financial bonuses vs. incentives
  • And more…


4-Part Series on Bonuses and Incentives:

Get Your Production Team Focused on Profit!

Keep your production team sharp and focused on profit throughout the new year with our weekly Production Team Training Masterclass, starting up on January 10th.

Instructor Tim Faller covers 6 hot topics that have proven to be game-changers for companies all over the country and will definitely raise the bar in your world.

This course is geared to your production staff and at the end of each session, Tim will assign homework that the team can use to reinforce the topic and implement the new ideas.

More Information + Registration
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Ep.175: From ICU Practitioner to Production Manager with Ryan Truesdale

December 13, 2021 Operations, Production, The Tim Faller Show 00:41:17

As companies mature, the need for someone to take the production department off of the shoulders of the owner is inevitable.  While having construction knowledge may be beneficial, we see that some of the best production managers come from a variety of backgrounds. 

Guest Ryan Truesdale shares his story about making the transition from a hospital, to a job site, and how he did it. Ryan knows what it’s like to work in high pressure situations and understands the importance of working with a team to execute plans with precision.

After working as a nurse for 12 years, he is now with The Kingston Group, and has been a catalyst to bring process and order to their day-to-day operations. Leading the production team, Ryan and The Kingston Group are the preferred choice for custom remodeling in the Nashville area.

Tim, Steve and Ryan talk more about:

  • Looking for talent outside of the construction industry
  • Necessary skills for any field
  • What to look for in a potential production manager candidate 
  • And more…

A Great Stocking-stuffer for Your Production Team!

Ep.174: Women in Construction with Jessica Bishop-Smyser

November 29, 2021 Operations, Production, The Tim Faller Show 00:38:59

Since the start of the Tim Faller Show, about 170 episodes ago, one of the goals has been to highlight the role of women in this industry.  Fast forward to today, we now have 5 dedicated, knowledgeable women in our production manager roundtable groups.  In this episode, guest Jessica Bishop-Smyser talks about her role and her journey in an otherwise male-dominated field, in hopes to inspire others. 

Jessica is the operations manager for Silent Rivers Design + Build located in Des Moines and Clive, Iowa. Silent Rivers is known for thinking outside the box, for setting or pushing standards not just in design, or attention to detail but to also be a catalyst for positive change in the industry of remodeling. They are led by a strong female leadership team and believe it is what a person brings to the table, not their gender.

Tim, Steve and Jessica talk more about:

  • Breaking down gender barriers
  • Challenges faced as a woman in a male oriented career
  • Overcoming stereotypes
  • And more…

Training For You & Your Entire Team

Whether you are on-site with us or attending one of our virtual courses, we are dedicated to bringing you fast-paced, in-depth education and training opportunities to further develop your industry knowledge.

We have several courses coming up in the next few months that are perfect for any successful remodeling business owner, or perhaps key staff and team members.

[ CLICK HERE FOR A LIST OF UPCOMING MASTERCLASSES ]

Ep.173: Pull Planning for Smooth Production with Jack Miller – Part 2 of 2

November 22, 2021 Operations, Production, The Tim Faller Show 00:47:04

In the last installment of this two part series, Host Tim Faller goes in depth about Pull Planning, and how he thinks it can change the way the residential remodeling world schedules projects.  Instead of creating a schedule from start dates, the focus is centered around end dates, and guest Jack Miller is here to talk about how this technical tool can eliminate the huge costs and high stress from production scheduling delays.

Jack started Jack Miller Contractors in 2007 with the vision of a team of highly skilled professionals working together to deliver exceptional projects, a vision which has since come to fruition.  He also leads his parish Buildings & Grounds committee and is on the advisory committee to Charles H. McCann Technical School. 

Tim, Steve and Jack talk more about:

  • Defining milestones
  • Transitioning to Pull Planning
  • Pull Planning timelines
  • And more…

Get Inside Information from Tim Faller Every Month!

Don’t miss Tim’s stories from the road as he works one-on-one with some of the best remodelers in the US & Canada. Each month Tim shares tips, tactics and anecdotes from his consulting work, brings us up to speed on the home front in New England and gives us a few key announcements for the upcoming months, like where he will be appearing and speaking.

[ Click Here to Subscribe to “From the Field” with Tim Faller ]

Ep.172: Pull Planning for Smooth Production with Jack Miller – Part 1

November 15, 2021 Management, Production, The Tim Faller Show 00:42:42

In this episode, Host Tim Faller shares a process called Pull Planning, and how he thinks it can change the way the residential remodeling world schedules projects.  Instead of creating a schedule from start dates, the focus is centered around end dates, and guest Jack Miller is here to talk about how this technical tool can eliminate the huge costs and high stress from production scheduling delays.

Jack started Jack Miller Contractors in 2007 with the vision of a team of highly skilled professionals working together to deliver exceptional projects, a vision which has since come to fruition.  He also leads his parish Buildings & Grounds committee and is on the advisory committee to Charles H. McCann Technical School. 

Tim, Steve and Jack talk more about:

  • What can cause schedules to fail
  • Organizing Pull Planning meetings
  • Identifying project milestones
  • And more…

Peer-Power for your Production Team!

Due to ongoing demand, we will be taking new members into our 7th Roundtables Group, specifically for Project Managers, in January 2022.

Developed and led by our Senior Consultant and “Production Guru,” Tim Faller, this special Roundtables™ Program focuses on all aspects of production management; People Management, Technology, Training & Development, Customer Service and more.

For more information about this great program, click here.

Ep.170: Turning Uninformed Skeptics into Trusting Partners with Aaron Goeke

November 1, 2021 Production, The Tim Faller Show 00:36:13

When working on remodeling projects, we often hear concerns from clients who say they were unaware of the plans.  So, guest Aaron Goeke is here to share how to help your clients not only better understand the scope of the project, but also to believe in you as the expert.

Aaron is the Production Manager at CROSS, a luxury remodeling firm in San Antonio Texas. Aaron has been with the company for just over a year now, and has a background in custom cabinet building and commercial construction sales. He now manages a team of four project managers, one project coordinator, two construction supervisors and 10 field personnel. 

Tim, Steve and Aaron talk more about:

  • Keeping clients in the know
  • Navigating relationships throughout a project
  • Identifying how a client learns
  • And more…

Ep.169: How to Make Sure the Client Knows What They’re Getting with Chris Landis

October 25, 2021 Production, Sales, The Tim Faller Show 00:32:42

Do you have a way to be sure that your clients understand the scope and plans of the services you offer?

Simply asking for their signature on future plans does not necessarily guarantee that they understand what it is they are signing.  Like many of the topics discussed on this show, there is no magic answer to ensuring that a client is aware and knowledgeable about the services they may want or are receiving.  Host Tim Faller suspects that it is important to educate based off of the entire sales and production processes, so he speaks with guest Chris Landis to search for some answers.

Chris is the Co-Founder and Principal of Landis Construction, and is a member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA). After graduating with an MA in architecture from Columbia University, he worked with Fortune 500 companies. He served two terms on D.C.’s Historic Preservation Review Board and is a past president of the DC chapter of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry.  

Tim, Steve and Chris talk more about:

  • Starting this process
  • Creating a budget range
  • Steering away from making assumptions
  • And more…

Remodelers Advantage is Hiring!

We are looking for a new team member! Our new Sales Executive will work with smart, appreciative remodeling business owners; changing not only their businesses but their lives, families and the lives of their staff members!

[ Click Here for More Information & to Apply ]

Ep.168: Building a Training Center with Ed Hoksbergen

October 18, 2021 Hiring, Production, The Tim Faller Show 00:28:02

As many of you may know, Host Tim Faller facilitates Roundtables Peer Groups for Production Managers from successful remodeling companies, from all over the US & Canada. 

One of the hot topics in these groups is the need for skills training and development.  Some are developing training departments within their own companies, with both in-person and virtual training classes, and others are working with trade schools.  

There are many ways to approach gaining that training and development, but the biggest challenge is often just recognizing and deciding that this is a need for your team. 

Listen to this episode to hear from guest Ed Hoksbergen, who joined forces with a local trade association to create a center where this development could occur. 

Ed is the Production Manager at Encore Homes in Middleton, WI.  He splits his time between the office and the field, coordinating with superintendents, realtors, subcontractors, and homeowners throughout the entire construction process.  He is also a chairperson for the skilled trades committee, a group looking for ways to promote the trades to youth.

Tim, Steve and Ed talk more about:

  • The origins of the idea for a training center
  • What makes the training center successful
  • Finding jobs for the graduates
  • And more…

New Project Manager Roundtables Group Forming Now

Due to ongoing demand, we will be taking new members into our 7th Roundtables Group, specifically for Project Managers, in January 2022. Developed and led by our Senior Consultant and “Production Guru,” Tim Faller, this special Roundtables™ Program focuses on all aspects of production management; People Management, Technology, Training & Development, Customer Service and more.

For more information about this great program, click here.

Ep.167: Hiring for the Future with Jim Reardon

October 11, 2021 Hiring, Production, The Tim Faller Show 00:31:51

Without a doubt, hiring is a huge challenge in any field, but especially in design build and remodeling. 

A large aspect of that challenge is that instead of consistently working to improve the hiring process, teams often wait too long, and find themselves in a situation where a position needs to be filled immediately.

Host Tim Faller thinks that there are ebbs and flows in the intensity and energy put into the hiring process, and that not enough focus is dedicated to hiring at all times.  

Guest Jim Reardon, Production Manager at Rhode Island Kitchen and Bath joins this episode to talk about a practice of being staffed for an upcoming growth spurt, and how to project that kind of growth. 

Jim has been with the company for 5 years and has been part of the transition from a $3.5M company, to a $7.5M company, producing over 80 projects per year.  He oversees a production office staff and various trade partners all while continuing to grow the business.

Tim, Steve and Jim talk more about:

  • Projecting growth
  • Setting goals
  • Working alongside a consultant
  • And more…

New Project Manager Roundtables Group Forming Now

Due to ongoing demand, we will be taking new members into our 7th Roundtables Group, specifically for Project Managers, in January 2022. Developed and led by our Senior Consultant and “Production Guru,” Tim Faller, this special Roundtables™ Program focuses on all aspects of production management; People Management, Technology, Training & Development, Customer Service and more.

For more information about this great program, click here.