Operations

Ep.190: Stop the Runs! (Lumberyard runs that is) with Paul Wurth

April 25, 2022 00:29:52

Making multiple trips to the lumber yard for construction material is both disruptive to jobsite progress and very costly. By stopping all material runs your business can save thousands of dollars on labor, gas, vehicles and much more. Guest Paul Wurth is here to share how to stop making these unnecessary trips and save your company money in the long run.

Paul Wurth is the Chief Revenue Officer at the technology startup, RenoRun! RenoRun provides a simple, cost effective way to help contractors stop multiple trips to get construction material, saving time and money.

Tim, Steve and Paul talk more about:

Technology in relation to remodeling
Identifying costly behaviors
And more…

Ep.180: Setting Up an In-house Training Center with David Myers

January 31, 2022 00:37:44

It is always both exciting and refreshing to see companies tackle skills training head on by providing necessary programs for new talent. Guest Dave Myers joins us to talk about the training process he and his team use to set employees up for success.

Dave is the Vice President and general manager of J. Francis Company, a design build and remodel firm in Pittsburgh, PA. He previously worked in college administration and facility management, and finds that elements from his previous positions have been beneficial to the success in his current role.

Tim, Steve and Dave talk more about:

The investment into a training program
Logistics and timelines of training
Significant outcomes of the program
And more…

Ep.176: Bonuses and Incentives with Andrew Kerr

December 20, 2021 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.

Ep.175: From ICU Practitioner to Production Manager with Ryan Truesdale

December 13, 2021 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 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 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.166: Taking the Client Experience to the Next Level (Part 2) with Jeremy Kelley

October 4, 2021 00:29:46

People mysteriously up and leave without giving notice, and we are stuck with the issue of keeping and retaining that “good help.” From a manager’s perspective all was going so well, but still, there is something going on in the employee’s head that causes them to leave.

In almost all cases, getting more money somewhere else is the most common explanation. Money is the prominent tangible item in the experience, so it is often used as the excuse. But what prompted them to even look someplace else? Why did the good relationship get to the point where someone was not wanting to stay?

In this two part series, we will be talking about how our personality and more importantly, the other person’s personality impact these relationships. Tune in to part 2 to hear about the internal client, with the help of guest Jeremy Kelley.

Jeremy joined BACK Construction four years ago after running his own Residential Design/Build company for 11 years. Over the last year, his position has changed slightly from Production manager to Director of the Remodeling Division.

Tim, Steve and Jeremy talk more about:

Being a better listener
Controlling your “natural style”
The critical ideas for any relationship
And more…

If you love The Tim Faller Show, you will LOVE
PowerTips Unscripted... A podcast to help remodelers build a strong, profitable remodeling company

Whether you are listening in the truck on your way to your next client or at your desk during a lunch break, PowerTips Unscripted brings you your next big idea, success tip or even just a chance to hear from those that have achieved great success in the remodeling industry.

PowerTips Unscripted is available on Apple iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher and always on PowerTipsPodcast.com

Ep.161: The Basics of Real Change with Doug Howard

August 9, 2021 00:38:19

Change can be very elusive. Podcasts, seminars, books, classes, webinars, virtual classes all give us great ideas for improving processes. But how many actually take root and become what we do as a regular habit or process?

Maybe we just don’t know how to change, so we substitute other activities. In a recent training, guest Doug Howard of Remodelers Advantage discussed LEAN with a company and one of the concepts that he outlined may be beneficial to us all.

Doug is an experienced leader, entrepreneur and business consultant with over 25 years of success in leading organizations, starting new companies and assisting client businesses as they start-up, grow or transition. Doug joined Remodelers Advantage as Director of Consulting Services in 2017, and now specializes in helping remodeling company owners develop strategic plans, streamline processes, improve profitability, and navigate growth.

Tim, Steve and Doug talk more about:

The principles of LEAN
The value stream map
Creating a successful flow of communication
And more…

Imagine being more profitable than your competition, without having to be more expensive.

LEAN is a method of process improvement designed to simultaneously improve customer service, enhance employee morale and increase profitability — all with little or no capital investment.

At Remodelers Advantage we’ve taken the core principles of Lean and developed the Lean Remodeling System (LRS), which addresses the specific challenges facing remodeling businesses today.

[Click Here to Learn More]

Ep.154: The Locus of Control with Jef Forward

June 14, 2021 00:39:01

The Locus of Control is a concept that highlights one’s ability to control the outcomes and events in their lives. When applied in a business, The Locus of Control can increase productivity, and breed ownership and support.

The Tim Faller Show welcomes back guest Jef Forward, to share his experiences surrounding the locus of control in his remodeling business.

Jef is the founder and co-owner, with his wife, Monica, of Forward Design Build Remodel in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Over 23 years, the company has grown to a team of 30+ engaged, positive, and supportive employees, and their path towards continued success is heavily focused on team and leadership building.

Tim, Steve and Jef talk more about:

Background and overview of The Locus of Control
The five dysfunctions of a team
Building a trustworthy team
Reaching goals
And more…

Let Us Turn Your Project Manager into a Superhero!

Project Management Intensive

This course combines in-person instruction, interactive exercises, and Roundtables elements such as individual focus time and formulating commitments in a group of non-competing remodeling companies.

This two-day program focuses on two of the most critical aspects of managing a project – hitting the agreed-upon budget and working with and managing the team effectively.

NEW DATES ADDED: November 4-5, 2021

[ More Information + Registration ]

Ep.153: Using a Talent Management Test for Hiring with Ben Reynolds

June 7, 2021 00:34:27

The hiring process is a big challenge for, well, all of us.

One way to assist in this process is by having a good set of interview questions, and the skills to actively listen to the responses given. Without these tools, you may find yourself later on wondering how you missed red flags in an employee’s interview and hiring process.

Guest Ben Reynolds joins this episode to teach you how to avoid that very situation.

Ben is the production manager at Kawartha Lakes Construction in Lakefield, Ontario, a design build company that has implemented a hiring process that has proved to be successful, and promotes employee retention.

This process includes a required skills assessment made up of practical tasks that a potential employee in a specific position would be faced with on a regular occurrence. By adding this to their hiring process, they are able to ensure that prospective employees are proficient and efficient when operating in remote and hard to access areas, a large part of their business.

Tim, Steve and Ben talk more about:

Who should be participating in the interview process
What positions require this demonstration of talent
Hiring based on drive and aptitude
And more…

How Much Does a Bad Hire Cost Your Business?

The Remodelers Advantage Hiring Edge Program helps you hire key team members more effectively using a unique combination of TriMetrix DNA Assessment Tools and experienced, hands-on business coaching. Our mission is to improve your hiring process and help you attract the talent your company needs and deserves.
[Click Here for More Information]