training

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 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…

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…

Family Matters Part 1: Hiring Family – [The Tim Faller Show] S5 E11

January 15, 2024 0:37:31

Family members can sometimes bring valuable skills to a company that can help improve it. However, in some cases, it can be seen as favoritism by the owner (usually a parent), who tries to get their son, daughter, or spouse to take on a role without having the necessary skills or qualifications. While hiring family members can be a successful strategy for building a profitable business, it is important for business owners to ensure that their family members have the skills and the support of other employees. In today’s episode, Craig Deimler will share his experiences running a family business and provide some advice on making such hires successful.

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:

Separation of work and family life
How can family employees impact the morale of other employees?
What should a business owner do if they want to hire family members?
And more…

Onboarding a New Team Member with Geoff Clark – [The Tim Faller Show] S5 E10

January 8, 2024 0:36:09

On today’s episode of the Tim Faller Show, Geoff Clark will join us to talk about the topic of onboarding new hires. He will share the story of how he and the team at Mac Renovations decided to improve their old hiring process and will walk us through the new onboarding process they have implemented. The episode will also cover the benefits of their new approach and how it has positively impacted their new hires.

Geoff Clark is the Production Manager at Mac Renovations located in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. He has been with Mac Renovations for almost two years, and in the production manager role for a year and a half. An accomplishment he is proud of is successfully making the transition from field to office. A piece of that success was the onboarding that Geoff was put through for the position.

Geoff, Tim, and Steve talk more about:

How the onboarding process changes for each position
And more…

An Español Track at JLC Live! with Paola Enriquez – [The Tim Faller Show] S5 E3

October 23, 2023 0:30:41

On today’s episode of the Tim Faller Show, Tim and Steve have a special guest, Paola Enriquez, who talks about a new track at JLC Live. Starting in March 2024, Spanish-speaking workers and owners can access education in their native language at the En Espanol track. This will be presented in Spanish rather than interpreted. Paola explains how the idea of this track was realized and what to expect during the track.

Paola Enriquez is the conference education manager at JLC LIVE. She enjoys connecting with people and making a difference. Paola is an active member in her community and volunteers for numerous causes, lending her bilingual and leadership skills to GED En Espanol, Financial Peace University English and Spanish classes, and Apartment Life, to name a few. Paola has been part of the JLC LIVE team since June of 2022.

Paola, Tim, and Steve talk more about…

Topics for the En Espanol track
How to register for the event
And more…

The 5 Statements You Should Not Make with Tim Faller and Steve Wheeler – [Best of The Tim Faller Show]

October 2, 2023 0:38:58

What we say is a reflection of what we think, and as clinical counselors will tell you, what we think will dictate how we act. So, how we act will of course dictate success.

Following this logic, words are very powerful factors in our success. But do we pay attention to those words? We tend to be concerned about what we say as it affects others, but what about the effect on ourselves?

What we say is often said without thinking of their potential consequences. They can be seen as excuses or statements of desperation, or they can be simply things we say when nothing else seems to fit. But all of them can have a negative impact on us and our work, so Tim and Steve share specific examples and how to avoid them.

Tim and Steve talk more about:

Encouraging new thought processes
Rephrasing the things we say
And more…

Time Management for Project Managers with John Vendafreddo – [Best of The Tim Faller Show]

July 24, 2023 0:32:29

Today on the Tim Faller Show, we welcome guest John Vendafreddo to discuss time management. John talks about how to organize jobs based on importance or urgency and how planning can help with time management. John also discusses how to handle in-office meetings while working on job sites. John finished the show by giving some advice to new project managers.

John has been interested in building since he received his first Fisher-Price toolset. Upon graduating high school, there was no question about what field John would enter. John joined the Hogan Design Build team as a laborer, but his drive and eye for perfection helped develop him into the company’s head trim carpenter. As Hogan Design Build grew, John’s attention to detail led to him being promoted to Project Manager and now Senior Project Manager. John is married and has three sons. He lives in a house that he built from the ground up in Batavia.

Tim, Steve, and John talk about:

How to prioritize your time
How much time to spend with clients
On the job site, time management
And more…

The Tricks of a Lead Carpenter with Doug Horgan – [Best of The Tim Faller Show]

July 10, 2023 0:44:29

Tim and Steve welcome Doug Horgan to the show to discuss the role of a lead carpenter. Doug talks about his responsibilities, including research, being an internal “help desk,” managing people internally and externally. He also manages scheduling and explains the meaning behind the saying “make ready planning” and why it’s essential for a lead carpenter.

Doug Horgan is Vice President–Best Practices at BOWA, the Washington DC area’s premier custom and remodeling builder. In this training, quality, and troubleshooting role, Doug’s goal is reducing construction defects through sharing knowledge. Doug’s thirty years of tools-on carpentry, warranty troubleshooting, and instruction experience, are the foundations for visually rich presentations on how to build properly and avoid construction problems.

Tim, Steve, and Doug talk more about

Having an organized job site
Client relations and communication
Advice for a lead carpenter
And more…