Success

Bridging the Gap: Collaborative Approaches to Industry Education with Jake Carter – [The Tim Faller Show] S5 E20

April 15, 2024 0:41:36

On today’s episode of the Tim Faller Show, Jake Carter is a guest to discuss how the construction industry can address the challenges of a shortage of skilled trades workers and a lack of training opportunities. Jake advocates for a collaborative approach within local communities, with support from regional and/or national partners. Many local Home Builders Associations (HBAs) are playing a crucial role by offering scholarship programs to attract young people into the trades. Jake is currently exploring how Habitat can provide hands-on training through its volunteer program, where volunteers can complete most of the labor on construction sites.

Jake Carter started working with Kitsap Habitat 5 months ago. They are based in Bremerton, WA, and serve Kitsap County through our affordable new home construction. Jake has 12 years of experience in a variety of roles in property management, development, and construction, with his core competencies being in project management. Jake came to Kitsap Habitat with a desire to scale their home-building production to better serve our community. Along with his role at Habitat, Jake is passionate about recruiting and educating new tradespeople as he sees a direct correlation between housing affordability and the trade shortage. Jake is on the board of the Kitsap Building Association and co-chair of our Workforce Development Committee.

Jake, Tim, and Greg talk more about:

Experiences with volunteers
How Habitat works with trade schools to give the students real-life experience
And more…

The Importance of Gender Inclusion with Emma Kraft – [Best of The Tim Faller Show]

April 8, 2024 0:33:18

We welcome guest Emma Kraft to the show to discuss the struggles of bridging the gap in a male-dominated field as both a woman and a daughter.

Emma Kraft is the President of Kraft Custom Construction, Inc., located in Salem, Oregon. The company was started by Emma’s father, Robert Kraft, in 1982. In 2001, he made a conscious decision to down-size the company and focus on completing fewer, higher revenue-producing projects. Kraft is a design/build company that does remodeling, additions, and historic restoration work.

Tim, Steve, and Emma talk more about:

Biases against women in construction
Some of the challenges exclusive to women
How others can help bridge this gap
And more…

The Art of Teaching with Paul Cardis – [Best of The Tim Faller Show]

March 25, 2024 0:37:58

Today on the Tim Faller Show, Paul Cardis of ON3, joins the show to discuss the enormous challenge of proper staffing in the remodeling industry and how proper education, teaching, and coaching can expand the pool of qualified employees and help you retain current ones. Paul states that one of the most effective methods of “training” is to combine digital learning with live mentorship.AI technology allows for this by allowing for the creation of customized learning paths for individual employees.

Paul Cardis is the co-founder and acting CEO of ON3 in Madison, WI. Paul came up with the idea for On3 following the sale of his previous company Avid Ratings. His goal was to solve a pervasive problem within the industry – creating a mobile, AI-based source of truth for construction knowledge serving builders, remodelers, and trade contractors.

Paul, Tim, and Steve talk more about…

Fixing the staffing challenges with training and coaching
Using a combination of AI with personal mentorship for the most effective training, teaching, and coaching
How to apply learning science to training and coaching
And more…

Preconstruction with an Independent Designer with Sarah Walker – [The Tim Faller Show] S5 E19

March 18, 2024 0:39:48

In today’s competitive business world, preconstruction is a crucial process that can make or break a company’s success. Tim and Greg, in their numerous podcasts, have shared valuable insights on how companies can achieve better results by improving their preconstruction process. One of the key factors, they point out, is having in-house designers, which allows for efficient management of the process. However, what if you use subcontracted designers? To address this, Sarah Walker is joining the show today to share her perspective as an outside designer.

Sarah Walker is the owner and principal designer of Nuance Interior Design in Seattle, Washington. She has close to 20 years of experience specializing in luxury and sustainable interior design, holding degrees in interior design, business, and art, as well as certification in construction management. Her full-service design studio is committed to streamlining the process through detailed construction documents, cutting-edge software, and collaboration with trades. Nuance’s showroom features 3,000 square feet of sustainable cabinetry, finishes, fixtures, window treatments, and furniture exclusively available to clients. Sarah’s award-winning, sophisticated interiors have been published locally and nationally. On a personal level, Sarah was born and raised in Dubai and loves to bring a global and holistic point of view to her projects.

Sarah, Tim, and Greg talk more about:

Why use outside designers
Design schedules and impact on the contractor
And more..

The CG&S Way with Sara Hadden and Nathan Morris – [The Tim Faller Show] S5 E18

March 11, 2024 0:37:04

Nathan Morris and Sara Hadden, seasoned professionals from CG&S Design Build, have crafted a unique approach to processes that helps management control the way things are done, named the CG&S Way. Tim and Greg delve into the origins of this innovative system and how these experts garnered widespread acceptance.

Sara Hadden is the Design Manager at CG&S Design Build, located in Austin, Texas. Sara and Nathan have both worked for CG&S for 10 years. Sara started as a project architect and was given the opportunity to manage the Design Studio about 5 years ago. Nathan and I were instrumental in bringing The CG&S Way to fruition.

Nathan Morris is the Production Manager at CG&S Design Build in Austin, TX. CG&S is a Residential Design-Build Firm that has been in business for over 65 years and is focused more on renovations than new builds. Nathan has been with the Company for 10 years this year. He started out as a Project manager and moved into the Production Manager role 7 years ago.

Sara, Nathan, Tim, and Greg talk more about:

Process that created the CG&S Way
Results from the CG&S Way
And more…

A New Twist on the 4-Day Work Week with Erich Van Cleave – [The Tim Faller Show] S5 E17

March 4, 2024 0:26:27

The four-day workweek is becoming a popular trend for companies, especially with the younger generation joining the workforce. While there are arguments for and against this idea, today’s episode features Erich Van Cleave discussing how his company has given a unique twist to the four-day workweek. Tune in to discover how this approach can benefit both employees and the organization.

Erich Van Cleave is the owner of Van Cleave Construction, Remodeling, & Design, located in St. Joseph, MO. Erich founded the company in 2006 where he wore all of the hats, including a tool bag, producing around $250k their first year. Today, Van Cleave has a team of 15 offering design build and construction services producing just north of $3m. The average tenure for our team is just over 7 years.

Erich, Tim, and Greg talk more about:

Implementation of a four-day workweek
Benefits and challenges of the change
And more…

Calculating Capacity in Production with Chris Peterson – [The Tim Faller Show] S5 E16

February 26, 2024 0:41:23

Determining the right amount of work for a company can be a challenging task. The industry has tried to define it, but each company has different budgets and employees who may not work at the same pace. Additionally, the completeness of job packets or job information provided by sales/designers can vary greatly in any company. One employee may be more thorough than another. So, what’s the solution? In today’s discussion, Chris Peterson will talk about how Schloegel Design Remodel measures its capacity.

Chris Peterson, MCR, CRPM, CLC, is a Co-Owner of Schloegel Design Remodel. The award-winning Kansas City-based design-build firm focuses on creating the ultimate client experience during every project. Chris started his career as a craftsman and continued to climb the ranks with his attention to detail, management skills, and love of the industry. Chris has served as president of NARI Kansas City, actively participates in Remodelers Advantage, and persistently advocates for industry growth through NARI’s Future Fund program. Another of Chris’s greatest passions is BBQ! He actively competes in Kansas City competitions and has brought several awards home. He loves to spend time with his wife and two daughters, as well as his 16-month-old granddaughter.

Chris, Tim, and Greg talk more about:

What is VPW
Any pushback from the team
How to track the information
And more…

Going From Employee to Being the Owner with Ray Hornsby – [The Tim Faller Show] S5 E13

February 5, 2024 0:33:22

During Episode 21, Tim had a conversation with Ray Hornsby about his journey from being a Lead Carpenter to becoming a Production Manager. Ray is among the few who have successfully made this transition. He has moved up the growth track and is now the proud owner of Hopkins and Porter Construction located in Potomac, MD. The shift from being an employee to becoming an owner, or even just a Production Manager to an owner, can be quite challenging. Ray, along with Tim and Greg, discuss the process of purchasing the company and how the employees reacted to this change.

Ray Hornsby is the General Manager at Hopkins & Porter, a construction company located in Potomac, MD. Ray’s career in construction began in the late 70s in West Virginia and North Carolina. In 1986, Ray joined Hopkins & Porter as a carpenter and worked his way up to lead carpenter, project manager, production manager, and eventually, the general manager. In 2015, Ray became the owner of the company, after purchasing it.

Ray, Tim, and Greg talk more about:

How did other employees respond?
What worked well that you would recommend to other business owners who may want to sell to an employee?
What advice would you give to employees who aspire to own the business they work for?

Scheduling From Sales Through Completion with Eric Bain – [Best of The Tim Faller Show]

January 29, 2024 0:32:30

Scheduling has been a challenge for everyone over the last few years. Scheduling individual jobs is a challenge by itself but adding the sales design process, the job set up, and then the job itself makes the challenge grow exponentially.

Getting the sales design process scheduled is a growing trend in an effort to more accurately predict the start dates for clients. This process involves gaining the buy-in from designers, sales, and production which can be a daunting task. Our guest today is navigating these waters with success and is here to share his experiences with our listeners.

Eric Bain is the project manager of Innovative Construction and oversees projects as well as handles client relations. He previously worked for the City of Vail where he sharpened his site inspection, landscaping and heavy equipment skills.

Tim, Steve and Eric talk more about:

Working alongside sales and design teams
Utilizing a master schedule
Dealing with issues regarding supplies
And more…

Family Matters Part 2: Firing Family! with Craig Deimler – [The Tim Faller Show] S5 E12

January 22, 2024 0:35:41

Continuing last week’s episode, Join Tim, Greg, and Craig Deimler as they delve into the sensitive topic of firing family members. Learn about the common reasons why letting go of a relative may become necessary and discover invaluable tips from Craig on how to evaluate their performance impartially. Craig also gives advice on how to keep work-related issues from spilling into your personal life so that you can maintain healthy boundaries.

Craig Deimler is a Remodelers Advantage Roundtables Facilitator and salesperson for ALCO Products. Craig has been working in the industry since he was 12. He worked at my father’s company (located in Pennsylvania) first as a laborer, then carpenter and lead carpenter. In 1994, Craig joined the company full-time and headed the sales and design side of the company. I assumed the role of president and CEO in 2008. Shortly after this, Craig started facilitating Remodelers Advantage after being a member for many years before that. In 2019, he decided it was time to close the company and move on to something that was not full-scale design/build.

Craig, Tim, and Greg talk more about:

Ramifications for firing a family member.
Reasons for dismissing a family member.
And more…