hiring

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.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.

 

Ep.143: From Client to Employee with Meghan Haines

March 22, 2021 Hiring, Management, The Tim Faller Show 00:30:15

The transition from client to employee, does it work?  

Meghan Haines joins Tim and Steve in this episode to talk about the dynamic from being a client to now an employee and why it may or may not work. 

Having the knowledge and experience of a client in the remodeling industry is helpful in the transition to becoming an employee and brings a point of view that some employees may not have.  Meghan talks about the surprises and potential roadblocks in the transition and how she has made it work.

Meghan Haines is the Production Coordinator for Hercules Design Build, a remodeling company in the St. Louis area. Meghan has been with Hercules for a little over a year and a half; However, before joining the company, she was a client for three remodeling projects in her own home.

Tim, Steve and Meghan talk more about:

  • Customer relations
  • The benefits of bringing experience into remodeling from different fields 
  • Advice for contractors interested in hiring
  • And more…

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Ep.119: Moving from Carpenter to Owner with Brad Sawler

September 21, 2020 Management, Operations, Production, The Tim Faller Show 00:34:26

Today’s topic came from a subscriber who contacted Tim asking about making the transition from a single owner-operator to building a team and assuming the role of “Boss.”

Some remodelers just want to do the work themselves and stay small. They enjoy wearing all the “hats,” resigning themselves to the fact that they don’t have the energy or desire to take the next step.

This episode focuses on the transition and growth needed to take the next step. No better example than our guest, Brad Sawler, owner of Oxland Builders in Stratham, NH.

Brad Sawler, started Oxland Builders in 2003 with a partner intent on building high-end spec homes. As the company grew, Brad found himself being pulled away from the field more and more often. The time had come for him to take off his tool belt and focus on growing the business.

Since 2016, Brad has focused on sales, estimating and marketing. The company has grown to a field staff of 7 with plans to hire more personnel in 2021.

Tim, Steve and Brad cover:

  • The transition from working in the field and being hand-on to more of a supervisor role.
  • The determination that growth and hiring a staff was necessary.
  • What the hardest hurdles were and what the easiest tasks were to hand off.
  • Learning to trust others in the front office.
  • Changes in project process and documentation.
  • Changes in pricing, labor hours, etc.
  • Establishing a training system with the team.

This Episode Sponsored by: Builder Funnel​

We are excited to have Builder Funnel joining us as a featured sponsor for The Tim Faller Show. Spencer Powell and his team at Builder Funnel have been huge supporters of R/A and the remodeling community for years and it is great to have on board as a featured sponsor… Welcome, Builder Funnel!

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Ep.118: What Makes a Good Boss with Aaron Enfinger and Les Anderson

September 14, 2020 Management, Operations 00:34:05

In this episode, we take a look at what it takes to be a good boss from an employee’s perspective, but also from the supervisor side as well, as both of our guests have risen through the ranks to become leaders of their respective businesses.

Our first guest, Aaron Enfinger, came up through the ranks and is now General Manager of the company he works for. And our second guest, Les Anderson, has been with his boss for almost as long as the company has been in business, in a market where there are many great remodeling companies.

Aaron is the General Manager at The Cleary Company, a Remodel-Design-Build firm in Columbus, Ohio. As The Cleary Company was growing steadily, it became evident in early 2017 that additional oversight and management was needed in the other areas of the organization. The role of General Manager was created, and Aaron was promoted to the role to help fill this void.

Les is a Field Supervisor Sylvestre Remodeling & Design. Les has over 42 years of construction experience, including 36 years in residential remodeling. He has been with Sylvestre for over 34 years, and a field supervisor for twenty years.

Tim, Steve, Aaron and Les talk more about:

  • The most important thing a business owner can do to be a great boss
  • As a supervisor, what you do to try to do to create a great work place
  • What is it about your boss that makes you want to stay
  • What the “deal breaker” is for many employees
  • And more…

This Episode Sponsored by: Builder Funnel

We are excited to have Builder Funnel joining us as a featured sponsor for The Tim Faller Show. Spencer Powell and his team at Builder Funnel have been huge supporters of R/A and the remodeling community for years and it is great to have on board as a featured sponsor… Welcome, Builder Funnel!
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Ep.114: Building the Next Generation of Trades with Brek Goin

August 3, 2020 Hiring, Management, Operations, The Tim Faller Show 00:43:54

We have covered the challenges associated with labor shortage on this show and we have probably had more than ten guests that are directly associated with solving the issue and increasing the awareness and opportunity in the Skilled trades.

We have included many guests who are getting involved by putting together programs and initiatives, and not just talking about the problem at hand.

In this episode, Tim and Steve speak with someone who is making a difference and has gone about it in way that especially appeals to the new generation of tradespeople, and that is social media.

Brek Goin, is the Founder of Hammr, an online professional network and labor marketplace for the construction industry. Brek grew up working next to his father in construction and over the last three years has built one of the largest building-related communities on social media.

Brek joins Tim and Steve to talk more about his mission to build the next generation of construction.

Websites and social media links mentioned in this episode:
Hammr
Builders of Instagram

This Episode Sponsored by: Wellborn Cabinet

We are excited to have Wellborn Cabinet as a featured sponsor for The Tim Faller Show!

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Ep.113: Hiring Right the First Time with Doug Howard

July 27, 2020 Hiring, Management, The Tim Faller Show 00:39:01

Finding and keeping good “help” can make or break your remodeling business. As a business owner you can recruit and interview candidates, maybe even hire one you think will be a superstar, and 2 weeks later you realize that not only are they a bad “fit,” they are destroying the chemistry and dynamic of your existing team.

In this episode Tim and Steve welcome back Doug Howard to discuss the challenges that remodelers face during the hiring process and ways they can overcome them.

Doug is the Director of Consulting for Remodelers Advantage and since joining R/A in 2017, has worked with hundreds of companies, developing strategic plans, streamlining processes, improving profitability, and navigating growth.

Tim, Steve and Doug talk more about:

  • The single most important thing/action in the hiring process
  • Some of the challenges and obstacles remodelers are experiencing
  • Building your own hiring process at your company
  • Some of the resources available out there
  • And more…

If you want to learn more: Free Webinar - “Building Your A Team”

Don’t miss this one-hour, FREE webinar, hosted by today’s guest, Doug Howard, on Tuesday, July 28, 2020.

This webinar is designed to provide insight and strategies for remodeling company owners and their leadership teams on how to hire more efficiently and effectively. Doug will provide ideas, steps and tools to help create processes for recruiting, hiring and onboarding to meet your company’s needs.

Click Here to reserve your seat >>

This Episode Sponsored by: Wellborn Cabinet

wellborn-new-website

Ep.104: Inside the Home Builders Institute with Ed Brady

May 25, 2020 Hiring, Operations, The Tim Faller Show, Uncategorized 00:39:07

Meeting the growing need for a qualified workforce in the remodeling and home building industries has evolved into seeing the ideal worker as coming from a range of backgrounds but with a common interest.

In this episode, Tim and Steve welcome Home Builders Institute (HBI) President and CEO, Ed Brady, who explains the breadth of programs offered and the evolution of services HBI is undertaking to match the industry’s varied and changing needs.

Home Builders Institute (HBI), a national nonprofit that trains underserved populations, including veterans, transitioning military, high school students and justice-involved youth and adults for careers in the building industry. Ed currently oversees the operations, products and services for HBI and is a second-generation home builder from Bloomington, Illinois.

In addition, Ed has served 12 years as Independent Director of the Chicago Federal Home Loan Bank, working with leading experts to advance the nation’s housing policy and has also served as a senior officer with the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and as the 2016 chairman of its board of directors.

Ep.93: Women in Leadership on Site with Dejah Léger

February 24, 2020 Hiring, Management, Production, The Tim Faller Show 00:32:02

We talk a great deal about ways to beat the labor shortage, including the importance of training and education in keeping good employees. We’ve also discussed how to promote the trades as an attractive career choice. 

There’s a third component — finding the right people. And that may mean changing your thinking about what, or who, you’re looking for.

Dejah Léger came into remodeling with no experience, but was “trained from scratch,” she says. Due to her motivation and ability to learn quickly, she was promoted to lead carpenter within a year.

In this episode, Dejah talks to Tim and Steve about her experiences changing careers to become a carpenter and project manager, the challenges, and why women are a big asset on the job site.

Dejah is a lead carpenter/project manager at Irons Brothers Construction in Shoreline, WA. The first project she led was a major kitchen remodel, and she has continued to lead multiple jobs since then. Her role as the only female lead carpenter in Shoreline is a huge advantage on many levels. It points to the many reasons women should be recruited to be bags-on, even if it means large initial investments in training. 

Dejah’s remodeling career started when one of the company’s owners recruited her at her daughter’s baseball game. Her coworkers trained her on-site, she studied everything she could at night, and Irons Brothers sends their team to training and trade shows. She talks about what it’s like being a woman in a male-dominated industry, changing careers, and the advantages it gives her in the field, including:

  • Establishing authority and leading on site
  • Why the labor shortage leveled the playing field for her
  • Communicating with clients 
  • Creating relationships with subs and vendors
  • Finding safety equipment that fits
  • Training on her own
  • The physical aspects of the job
  • Using her graphic design background to understand plans
  • Why to recruit more women
  • And more …

Getting past preconceived notions of what a carpenter or project manager has always been is the first step toward recruiting and retaining good team members — and that includes women.

Ep.89: Profit-Sharing Strategies with Shawn McCadden

January 27, 2020 Hiring, Management, Operations, Production, The Tim Faller Show 00:33:12

Money isn’t the only way to motivate your team, but profit sharing can boost morale, productivity, and help attract and keep good production employees.

Profit sharing can be engineered into the budget so there will be funds to distribute. As long as you hit the gross-profit margin, you can set up profit sharing, says Shawn McCadden. But you have to be careful and systematic in creating the system.

In this episode, Shawn discusses profit-sharing strategies with Tim and Steve, and how to create and maintain a profit-sharing program that will motivate your field team.

Shawn is president of Remodel My Business Inc. in Brookline, NH, and is a prominent figure in the remodeling industry. He obtained his builder’s license by age 18; founded, operated, and sold a successful employee-managed design/build firm; co-founded the Residential Design/Build Institute; and went on to become director of education for a national bath and kitchen remodeling franchise company. Today he speaks frequently at industry conferences and trade events. As an award-winning columnist, he contributes to industry publications, blogs, and writes a monthly column for Qualified Remodeler magazine. You can learn more at www.shawnmccadden.com.

You must have a sensible financial system already in place to make profit sharing work, says Shawn. There’s no room for guesswork. You also need a way to measure what’s happening on a job in the same way it was estimated for apples-to-apples comparisons. He discusses how to implement a profit sharing plan and the benefits, including: 

  • Starting with best practices
  • The difference between profit sharing and bonuses
  • Considering profit sharing as an overhead expense
  • Training your staff to understand your budget
  • Testing it before you roll it out
  • Setting the goals
  • When — and how often — to distribute the money
  • Documenting your process 
  • Determining who gets how much
  • Being a competitive employer in your market
  • And more …

The labor shortage is only going to get worse, says Shawn, and a profit-sharing program — along with competitive pay, benefits, and time off — will help your company attract and keep the best employees.

You’ve Got Questions, We’ll Find Answers

This topic was suggested by one of our listeners who wanted to know how to begin a profit-sharing program. If you’ve got a question or idea for a topic or guest, send Tim an email at tim@remodelersadvantage.com.

New Dates for Extreme Business Makeover

Due to schedule conflicts we moved the Extreme Business Makeover to March 30 – 31, 2020. We’re still at the BWI Westin in Baltimore and we’ve added Bruce Case as a featured speaker… More content being added and we’ve got 4-5 great tools that you will be leaving with, so take a look at this event and we would love to see you there!
More information + Registration >>