This may be an accurate image now, but for many reasons, it should not be the future. Women for these positions are a valuable untapped resource.

Slowly, more women are starting to get into the trades in general, and into construction and electrical work in particular. And this is good news for all of us, not least because of the shortage in skilled trade workers that is already starting to hit.

“The skilled labour workforce is constantly shrinking,” writes Merina Shriver in a ForConstructionPros.com article. “The industry is bracing for impact as it faces the silver wave… The skilled labour shortage started and has continued due to a few factors.” He talks about the problem of labour shortages and possible solutions including recruiting women.

Shriver spoke with Josh Nickell, Vice President of the equipment segment at the American Rental Association, who explained, “If we’re all fighting over a small group of people, then that’s still not going to solve our problem long-term. What we think about as an association and as an industry is how do we get to people younger?” An example of how his association is trying new things comes from the Girl Scouts. “We participate a lot with the Girl Scouts. It’s a group of people who like to work with their hands [and] to be outside, it’s a really good potential group for us long-term that is underrepresented in the construction industry and in the rental industry.” The partnership seems a smart approach to engaging girls in these hands-on lucrative trades at a young age.

Taking a closer look at the construction industry, there were about 300,000 job openings in construction in 2024, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce. This number has remained more or less the same for the past seven years. Currently, women make up only about nine percent of the overall construction workforce. This has several implications, especially for people who are not college-educated. That’s because construction is also an important employer of workers who do not have a B.A., employing about 10 million people who don’t have a degree. In fact, skilled labour industries like construction and electrical work are among the industries that pay the highest hourly rates to people who don’t have a degree; comparable roles in healthcare and education for women who do not have a degree actually pay about 19 percent less. Unfortunately, most of the women employed in the construction industry can be found not on the construction sites but in the office in support and administrative roles.

Perhaps one of the biggest challenges to attracting more women to the construction industry might be the construction site itself. Walking into an environment that is overwhelmingly dominated by men can be daunting to begin with. Add the fact that many sites do not include a women’s restroom, the equipment and harnesses are designed for men, and there is little to no accommodation for childcare, of which women by far have the larger share of the responsibility. All of these add up to make a difficult situation that is much more complicated for women. Industry stakeholders need to recognize and address these issues and make change.

In the electrical industry, the numbers are even bleaker. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that only about two percent of electricians are women, BBC News reports in an article that outlines the backdrop of some pretty sobering numbers for the industry. The U.S. faces a major shortage of electricians, with an estimated gap of 1 million workers. This figure comes from Rewiring America, a nonprofit dedicated to electrification. The organization highlights the growing need for skilled professionals to install solar panels, heat pumps, and electric vehicle charging stations—essential components of the nation’s goal to achieve 100 percent carbon pollution-free electricity by 2035. “There are 80,000 openings for electricians each year on average over the next decade just to replace workers who either retire or transition to different jobs,” said Sam Calisch, Rewiring America’s head of research.

And beyond the big numbers that we have just seen, there are impacts that are hitting much closer to home.

For a sense of how difficult things are becoming, take a look at California where demand for more solar panels and alternative sources for electricity continues to grow, but the available workers to provide these services can’t keep up. Installing home EV chargers for the rising numbers of consumers who are buying electric vehicles is just one example. With these types of services in high demand, getting an electrician out for an emergency call is fast becoming a long shot. Borin Reyes, who owns Boyes Electric out of Oakland, California, illustrates the state of the industry in a Grist article:

“Customers are literally looking for electricians every single day,” says Reyes. “We’re not taking emergency calls anymore because we don’t have the manpower.” And this is not limited to just his own business. “It is a problem finding people right now. Most of the electrical companies, you can ask around, all of them are busy.” And it’s not going to get better any time soon because companies like Reyes’ are not able to find experienced people who are looking for work—because they are already hired.

Another problem facing the electrical industry is that the feeder schools turning out the next generation of electricians are facing shortfalls on funding and a shortage of instructors who can teach the trade.

The bottom line of where we are right now for construction and electrical work is that there is far too much demand and not nearly enough skilled workers, yet many industries are leaving half the population out of the workforce. So, the solution seems straightforward, right? If more women entered and stayed in construction and electrical work, there would be enough workers to fill existing job openings. This is starting to happen in the utility and transportation industry, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce. The construction and electrical work industries are lagging behind.

When it comes to finding ways to increase the number of women entering the construction and electrical industries, informing women and changing the impressions they receive of these industries at a young age are critical to changing the course of things. That starts with challenging the assumption that these industries are not for women. Of course, it’s all very well and good to say that, but prospective employees want concrete examples of how they will learn to work with modern tools and technology, develop transferable skills, and work on solving interesting problems and diverse projects. They need to understand that there is a lot of satisfaction in the work, and yes, the pay is very good. The best way to achieve all this is to hear from women themselves who are working in the industries.

As for getting them while they’re young, these industries as a whole need to find ways to make construction and electrical work a real option for girls as they go through school. That means being willing to invest in pathways that lead to apprenticeships as well as opportunities to experience and explore new technologies in these industries.

Initiatives are sparking. As ForConstructionPros.com points out, organizations like the National Association of Women in Construction are running leadership academies and scholarship programs to help remove barriers to women entering and progressing in the industry. In Maine, Governor Janet Mills signed an Executive Order to promote the recruitment, training, and retention of women in construction. The Los Angeles Metro launched the website Women Breaking Ground to give women information about joining apprenticeship readiness training. And the Arizona Builders Alliance offers a Women in Leadership Program to support women’s advancement in leadership roles.

Making change is not only critical for the future of these industries; it is critical for all of us as we need to make investments into our aging infrastructure as well as adapt to new demands that emerging technologies like AI will need. The time to wait and hope that women may start to enter these industries on their own is over. It is up to industry to make this a priority if construction and electrical companies want to continue to thrive.

The post Facing the Silver Wave<p class="company">Women Needed in Trades</p> appeared first on Construction In Focus.

One is one too many
Construction Dive editor Zachary Phillips writes in his December 2024 article that, “Construction last year counted the highest number of workplace deaths in the sector since 2011, according to newly released (U.S.) federal data.”

Construction had 1,075 fatalities in 2023, according to the BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries. It measured a fatal work injury rate of 9.6 deaths per 100,000 full-time equivalent workers and indicates that the numbers have been hovering around this rate for over a decade.

Slips, falls, and trips accounted for 39.2 percent of the fatalities, with falls from a height between six and 30 feet the primary source of 109 fatalities. The remainder were a combination of on-site vehicle and transportation accidents, exposure to hazardous materials, and explosions and fires. Not included among those fatalities are suicides, with workers in the construction sector in both the U.S. and Canada having higher rates than any other sector.

In 2023, there were 169,200 recorded injuries, although the total may be higher depending on the criteria used for reporting, which may vary from state to state.

Meanwhile, in Canada, according to the AWCBC, there were 183 fatalities in 2022, (the most recent year available) making jobs in the industry the most dangerous in the country.

According to the AWCBC, the most significant causes of fatalities are falls while working at heights, equipment accidents while working with cranes and excavators, electrical hazards due to improper wiring or faulty equipment, and exposure to hazardous materials such as asbestos, silica dust, or solvents, which pose long-term health risks.

Workers who received compensation for their injuries from the board numbered 28,512, but again, as in the U.S., the number of injuries may be under underreported.

Why are the numbers so high?
One would expect there to be fewer injuries and deaths in recent years given that the industry as a whole has been pushing for higher safety standards. The Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) has mandated measures for construction safety including fall protection systems such as harnesses and guardrails; machine guarding to prevent heavy equipment accidents; stringent electrical safety standards; and worker training programs. Employers are required to invest in regular safety audits, personal protective equipment (PPE), and continuous training for workers. In addition, many employers are going above and beyond, adding dedicated Safety Managers to their roster of employees.

And yet, despite this emphasis on safety in the last 25 years, the fatality and injury rates remain about the same.

As Gregory Sizemore, Vice President Workforce Development, Safety, Health, and Environmental for Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC), told Phillips, “Unfortunately, we are not seeing the gains or progress that we would consider favorable for the health and safety of construction workers.”

In her Journal of Commerce article, Jean Sorensen shares some insights. “In both Canada and the U.S., falls have been the leading cause of death in construction fatalities. However, the U.S. based Center for Construction Research and Training has looked at the why and found that workers who were seniors had a higher fall mortality rate.”

With fewer young people entering the skilled trades, employers value the expertise of older workers and want to keep them working, but “older workers are also more likely to experience hearing loss, decreased muscle strength, and diminished balance, all a natural part of the aging process, but which are contributing to the falls,” the research body found. Because of a short supply of skilled workers leading to a need to retain older workers, the center recommends pairing younger, physically fit workers who can do the heavy lifting with seniors who can impart knowledge.

Another cause of the higher accident rate, despite efforts to lower it, can be attributed to language barriers faced by migrant workers, who in the U.S. account for 25 percent of the workforce, as noted by Richard White in his article, Challenges Posed by Language Barriers in Construction.

Examining findings published by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages in 2019, White writes that the construction industry has the greatest foreign language skills gap, with 40 percent of its workers reporting a skill gap, which is projected to rise to 54 percent in the future. Those skilled workers and labor are needed, however, as fewer young North Americans enter the trades.

“With the steady increase of cultural diversity in the workforce, there is a growing need to fill in communications gaps,” writes White. “Given the nature of this kind of labor, miscommunication or failure to understand the safety training or the instructions given by the English-speaking site manager may result in injuries and even death.”

However, he continues, “clear multilingual safety training can be a key component in keeping the jobsite safe.” He recommends hiring skilled, bilingual (English and Spanish) or even multilingual personnel for on-site supervisory positions, having materials such as safety training, employee handbooks, construction plans, and other documents translated by professionals who understand construction terms, and offering immersive language training for migrant workers. “Taking these steps will make your company more welcoming for people from different countries. Crossing these communication gaps can give you access to unrecognized and underutilized talents of a diverse workforce without any compromises on their safety.”

Behavioral psychology and safety culture
Traditionally, construction companies prided themselves on finishing a job on time and on budget. But more and more, companies have begun adding a third point of pride to their accomplishments, that of being a company where safety comes first and where a culture of safety permeates every aspect of the business and the skilled trades thrive alongside a culture of efficiency. Many of the construction company CEOs and project managers we speak with proudly tell us about their safety programs which have resulted in far fewer injuries.

We were particularly intrigued by the Safety and Leadership program initiated in 2006 by the CSM Group in Kalamazoo, Michigan, founded on a sound understanding of behavioral science based on the teachings of Dr. John Austin, a psychology professor at Western Michigan University. He looked at patterns and trends in behaviour that had been observed, combined them with data collected from the industry, and by pinpointing those components that drive human behavior, related it to the industry.

“This approach to behavior science is what we teach our colleagues with the goal of helping them understand the science behind it,” CSM Group CEO Stuart Mason told us. “Before they can create the right environment to get the right behaviors, they must understand Austin’s basic premise: if you create an unsafe environment, you get unsafe behaviors and the reverse is true—a safe environment leads to safe behaviors,” he shared.

“It is important to look at the whole person,” he said, “because there are many factors that employees bring to work with them such as family or relationship stress, or medical issues, which influence how they respond to day-to-day tasks. This requires an organization to maintain an open environment where employees can speak freely and ask for help if they need it.” Thus, “We talk about psychological safety as well as physical safety. It is not easy to build up psychological safety and trust, but when you do, it is transformational, and that is what underpins our safety culture here.”

Added Katrina Reed, the company’s Director of Marketing and Sales, “Construction workers are 12 times more likely to die by suicide than they are by workplace hazards and that represents a significant number of individuals who didn’t have, or didn’t think they had, an environment of care that was open to them.”

In response to these concerns, CSM Group has broadened its outreach beyond its own staff, and in partnership with MIOSHA, the Michigan state agency which regulates workplace safety and health, has begun offering a variety of workshops in both English and Spanish to their trade and manufacturing partners to elevate their level of safety, both physical and psychological, in the hopes that a broad-based safety culture will lead to positive change.

Visionary technologies transforming traditional practices
Being deployed in tandem with a vibrant safety culture are a plethora of high-tech approaches to increasing on-site safety for workers. Wearable technology, including smart helmets, vests, and glasses with sensors and communication devices, is making it possible to monitor a worker’s vital signs in real time and detect signs of fatigue, alerting workers it is time to take a break and thereby preventing accidents caused by exhaustion, according to an editorial in the October 16, 2024 edition of BOSS Magazine.

Wearable technology can also detect hazardous conditions in the immediate environment and instantly communicate safety alerts to workers and supervisors. When integrated with proximity sensors, they can alert workers of potential collisions with equipment on sites where heavy equipment and workers move constantly.

Drones, meanwhile, are helping safety managers accomplish comprehensive site inspections and look at real-time work zones, alerting them to potential danger before it escalates. They can also be used for structural inspection of tall buildings and bridges, reducing the need for workers to access dangerous areas.

Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning are leading the way in predictive analysis by analyzing vast amounts of data to identify safety risks, predict equipment failures, and optimize work schedules to reduce fatigue-related incidents.

Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) can be employed in safety training, allowing workers to practice handling dangerous scenarios in a risk-free environment. AR is beneficial on active sites, as workers wearing AR-enabled smart glasses can receive real-time information about their surroundings—hazards, safety reminders, and step-by-step instructions for complex tasks.

Exoskeletons—wearable support systems—can augment workers’ physical capabilities, reduce the risk of muscular/skeletal disorders and injuries associated with repetitive tasks, reduce strain during lifting and carrying tasks, and provide greater endurance for tasks requiring prolonged standing. In a similar vein, robotics and automation can provide assistance with high-risk electrical tasks or with asbestos removal, for example, minimizing workers’ exposure to potentially life-threatening situations.

Building Information Modelling (BIM) systems can create detailed 3D models to identify safety hazards before construction begins and create safety plans, such as the placement of safety equipment, emergency exits, and first aid stations.

And finally, there’s IoT (Internet of Things) technology, which creates smart sites where safety hazards are immediately identified and addressed. For example, IoT technology-enabled machinery can automatically shut down if a worker enters a dangerous area, or alert supervisors if unsafe operating conditions are found.

“Integrating these technologies will be crucial for construction companies aiming to create safer work environments and achieve excellence,” says BOSS. “Embracing these innovations allows the construction industry to build a future where safety and productivity go hand in hand.”

As 2025 gets into full swing, it seems so much more is now understood about how to reduce the potential for fatalities and serious injuries, through a more broadly accepted safety culture and through the amazing powers of smart technology. The industry has the knowledge and the tools to lower those numbers and make it possible to celebrate safety. All it needs to do now is to invest in it, take it off the shelf, and put it into practice.

The post Construction Safety<p class="company">Can Culture and Technology Save Lives?</p> appeared first on Construction In Focus.

Recognized as a commercial real estate icon, Domloj was part of the team responsible for America’s first multi-story 3D-printed residence, making him a visionary who enjoys being challenged by the industry and his team. “Construction is a science,” he says. “We look at how we can perfect it through new technologies.”

Completing his thesis on robotics in construction for his master’s degree in Construction Engineering and Project Management, Domloj discovered that 3D printing in construction has come a much longer way than most people realize—all the way from the 1930s. As it happened at the time, he discovered that Cornell University was conducting a research project in the field. The young student wasted no time getting involved.

As a member of one of three teams, which included two university professors and a German technology fabricator, Domloj set off to learn as much as he could on the subject. Their efforts culminated in a roughly 6,000-pound 3D construction printer, the largest volume printer to date in America at the time. “It was amazing,” he shares. “It changed how we think about dealing with new technology, how we can make construction and design better and different.” He emphasizes that the goal is not only to build better but to improve processes to achieve optimal quality and cost.

CIVE was also responsible for building “the largest cement terminal in the world at that time. I believe it’s still the largest in Houston,” says Domloj. “That was our first marine project—our first heavy industrial project that we’ve done and our first over-$100 million project.”

Since then, CIVE has continued its drive for improvement, crossing its next Rubicon in the form of virtual construction. With this technology, the team can analyze each project’s resources, needs, and demands in-depth well before the construction process even starts.

Introducing the technology into its process on its 20^th anniversary at the end of 2023, the company’s virtual construction department in Beirut, Lebanon handles the virtual building process of each project. By virtually constructing every building before groundbreaking even starts, the team can identify challenges and solve them before large amounts of money and time are wasted on performing corrections in the field.

“Right now, we are one of very few companies in the U.S. [that do virtual construction and design],” says Domloj. The CIVE design process also includes harnessing augmented reality, complete with 4D simulations where the element of time is incorporated into the simulation, and 5D functions that incorporate cost and cash flow into the overall calculation process, rendering detailed scheduling and budget reports to identify any areas that need improvement.

To ensure that its projects stay within budget, CIVE is also developing an AI add-on that draws from its large database. It provides costs in real-time as the design process progresses, allowing designers to reassess their choices while they work to help them stay on course, significantly cutting down on the traditional lengthy amendments phase and improving project flow.

As a natural innovator, Domloj started the firm in 2003 following being laid off and receiving an out-of-the-blue request for post-tension foundation designs. This became a process he first researched thoroughly before taking on the job and completing it to exacting standards. A couple of decades later, this service remains one of the company’s leading offerings.

What started purely as an engineering outfit developed into a full architectural design service company when clients realized Domloj’s design talent. Making a name for himself before striking out on his own, the leader is also well-versed in retrofitting failing communications towers in situ following destructive weather events, saving them from collapse. These days, his talents are largely directed toward more creative pursuits.

At the moment, he says, there is a lot to be excited about, like projects underway in the Middle East and the possibility of realizing a big dream of helping to rebuild Syria and Lebanon

This is because good design truly matters in every respect at CIVE. With its ability to expertly blend Eastern and Western sensibilities to create a unique signature, the CIVE team infuses every project with its quintessential sense of place. “I love architectural design. I love interior design. I have passion for that,” Domloj says with a smile. The firm’s designs connect people to natural elements, imbuing its buildings with a sense of calm.

Driving this is Domloj’s design ethos that emphasizes infusing warmth into spaces that wrap their occupants in comfort—all while being highly functional and energy-efficient. Comparing his economy of line to the French concept of the beauty of simplicity, he refers to elegance residing in the essence of how well an architectural design balances structure, space, and the flow of natural elements.

He also enjoys being part of his team’s creative process—especially in kinetic design. “I love design. Whenever we start on kinetic designs, I go and sit in the architectural department.”

Growing up in a multi-generational household with an engineer uncle, Hachem Domloj is not your average licensed civil and structural engineer. Blessed with an enquiring intellect and fine sense of observation, this visionary pioneer draws development and design inspiration from great depths of contemplation, from the richly textured life experience he has accumulated—a time that has been as interesting as it has been exciting.

While his humility is undeniable, Domloj is a worldly man in the best possible sense. As a youngster, he took the time to make a personal study of the exquisite architecture of his beloved Lebanon on visits across the country, a thought exercise that underscores his characteristic precision and fine attention to detail. Considering him a hopeless romantic would be erroneous, however. Nominated for a second time as Entrepreneur of the Year by Ernst and Young this year, following being a finalist in 2019, he undeniably has a head for business. Resilience and daring permeate his artistic sensibilities.

Today, Domloj and his team continue forging the future of design in and beyond the United States. It comes as no surprise that this team is proud of its ranking as one of Houston’s fastest-growing companies and its position on the Inc. 5000 for four consecutive years, alongside other prestigious metrics. “We are one of the largest civil construction engineering companies in Houston,” adds Domloj.

The company stays on top, he says, by remaining forward-thinking. Hiring in part for this ability, Domloj appreciates his team’s talent for looking ahead of the curve.

“I want them to be ahead of me all the time,” he says. “I really appreciate all the effort and dedication they have, not only in their work, but in how they believe in the company and how they believe in my leadership.” For a company led by a man intent on a future focus, looking ahead to improve construction as we know it becomes a mandate—one as clear-cut and fresh as its designs.

The post Construction and Design at their Finest<p class="company">CIVE</p> appeared first on Construction In Focus.

A few years ago, the company faced a choice when it was approached by private equity firms and others in the paving industry wanting to purchase MAC. Instead of selling the company to an outside party, the decision was made to help dedicated staff members—some of them with MAC for almost 40 years—build their legacies through an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). These plans, similar to a 401(k), hold many benefits for staff, but unlike a 401(k), employees don’t have to pay part of their salary to be part of ESOP. Employees also receive a financial stake in the company, and take ownership in its future success.

“The ESOP has really been fantastic for everybody involved,” says Rob McConnell, President and employee/owner. “People really like the whole scenario.” Employee-owners can build greater wealth, and for the company, benefits of an ESOP include greater staff retention and more open and effective communication. “This creates a high-character culture where everyone is focused on growing the business to build personal wealth for each and every stakeholder,” explains the company on its website.

The ESOP became official at MAC on January 31, 2021. This year, the company broke the 200 mark, reaching 208 employees at its peak. “We have so many people who have 20 years of their lives invested in this company, and we felt it was better to have them continue to grow the company for everybody’s benefit,” shares McConnell. “As a result, we have greater employee retention and are attracting better candidates. When people look at McConnell & Associates in the industry and realize they can get ownership in the company, then they are more apt to give that a try than companies that don’t offer that.”

“The ESOP provides an additional 401(k) program for them, because we offer a 401(k) that we match every year for our employees. But with ESOP, they have another retirement avenue for their benefit.”

Decades after it was established, MAC is now led by Rob, his brother Scott (who serves as Chief Executive Officer), and brother-in-law Chris Hanson, Chief Operating Officer. Along with a dedicated group of employees, the trio continues building on the legacy of its founders.

Prior to creating the business, Rob and Scott’s father, Troy, was working as a bulldozer operator, and their grandfather Burton served as an excavation company supervisor. An entrepreneur living in a small town in Missouri, Burton’s other business ventures included a school bus service, grocery store, and gas station. Moving to Kansas City for his supervisor role, Burton soon discovered the asphalt maintenance business, which was in its infancy in the early ’60s.

“Sealcoating was a brand-new industry,” McConnell explains, and this interest led to the McConnells working for Patricia Lorenz, an entrepreneur who had a pavement maintenance franchise. In time, the two bought the business from Lorenz and continued growing the business by performing asphalt paving, concrete work, porch construction, and more. In 1965, McConnell & Associates was born, with Troy and Burton becoming 50/50 owners.

To meet the needs of its many customers, MAC has divisions dedicated to commercial asphalt paving, maintenance and repairs, and constructing and maintaining high-performance athletic sports surfaces. These include tennis courts, pickleball and basketball courts, and running tracks. The company also provides commercial concrete services such as parking lots, sidewalks, curbs, repairs, and grading and drainage solutions.

To best serve the paving and sports construction needs of clients, MAC has locations in Kansas City, Missouri; Saint Louis, Missouri; Pevely, Missouri; and Wichita, Kansas. “We cover the middle part of America, which would be Missouri, Kansas, Iowa, Nebraska, Illinois, Arkansas, and Oklahoma,” says McConnell. “There are six or seven states right in the middle of America that we service. There are plenty of growth opportunities in those areas, and we will continue to branch out more in the same areas.”

To operate successfully in such a specialized area, MAC has several team members with certified running track credentials to their name through the American Sports Builders Association (ASBA). “We are very involved with the ASBA, and that lends to our credibility,” says McConnell.

The governing authority on specifications throughout the world for building tennis court complexes, running tracks, and artificial turf fields, “the ASBA exists to promote the highest standards of design, construction, and maintenance for all types of indoor and outdoor sports facilities,” according to its website. “ASBA serves as the centralized resource for builders, designers, and suppliers, as well as the owners, operators, players, and others who enjoy them.”

From parking lots to pickleball courts, not all surfaces are created equal; different methods, materials, and coatings are required, and trends also change. Today, MAC is seeing greater demand for pickleball courts. It its online article, 6 Things to Know Before Building a Pickleball Court, the company outlines the different construction materials available, including concrete, asphalt, and synthetic surfaces, along with discussing budgets, permits, grading, and inspection and maintenance.

As pickleball becomes even more popular, the company is seeing customers asking for surface materials they can call pickleball-specific. Measuring a standard 34 feet wide and 64 feet in length, including boundary lines, proper pickleball courts are built out of a post-tension concrete slab involving post-tension cables. These cables apply “compressive stresses to reinforce the concrete,” states MAC, “and reduce the effect of expansion and contraction,” common with temperature changes. Done properly, a pickleball surface will not crack or require control joints or expansion joints, which will cause a bad bounce. Along with the post-tension work, MAC does all design work, excavating, and construction, all the way to surface coatings.

To ensure top-quality results, MAC manufactures its own paints and acrylic coatings for tennis and pickleball, along with asphalt emulsions and coal tar sealers for its parking lot business. The company also supplies other contractors throughout middle America with its coating products and crack fillers. Today, MAC has two satellite plants in the STAR group, one of the best-known manufacturers of sealcoatings, concrete products, traffic paint, and other products.

Working with MAC means dealing with a company with one of the best warranties in the business. “That’s the biggest feather in our hat,” states McConnell. “What we leave in our wake is 100 percent satisfaction for our customers, and that’s the biggest sales tool we have. We absolutely stand by and honor our warranties.” These include coverage for workmanship and materials. For a tennis court, for example, warranties are for a year, and cover cracking, peeling, or surface coating.

This spring will see MAC complete its largest sports construction contract to date at the world-famous Kansas City Country Club. The large-scale work involves demolishing six existing tennis courts, regrading, and building eight new pickleball courts, six new post-tension concrete courts, and completely rebuilding the tennis facility.

From civil to sports projects, all works handled by McConnell & Associates use the skills of dedicated employees to ensure successful on-time and on-budget completion. “McConnell & Associates is blessed to have such good people come to work every day, who literally put their lives into the company,” says McConnell. “And we have a loyal customer base who put their trust in us to deliver all their pavement and sports construction needs. We have a huge appreciation for both. Those two things working together make us successful.”

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WB Components began operations around 1984, when members of the Willowbank Hutterite Colony in Edgeley, North Dakota were approached by a man selling a truss table taken from a defunct plant. The colony purchased the table and began producing trusses from there under the leadership of Dan Wipf, originally a truss plant manager and now in Inside Sales & Design. WB eventually teamed up with supplier Alpine ITW (Illinois Tool Works), which provided engineering software and plates for the trusses, two necessary steps to expand the company’s operations. Today, WB services projects and clients across America, with a roster of remote staff members to oversee and facilitate national operations.

The North Dakota head of Truss Design & Sales, Jeff Haider, explains that the business is steadily growing and improving its processes while also reinvesting back into the Hutterite colony. Many of WB’s operations are performed in-house: the company manufactures, engineers, and designs its own stackers for trusses; loads and unloads products from two different rail spurs via its own fleet of Peterbilt semi-trucks and a half-dozen pickup trucks; and builds its own columns in-house. 2024 also saw the addition of an in-house automated truck washing station to help keep the fleet running clean.

Furthermore, the company’s operations include a degree of automation in its layouts, table setups, and saws, which allows it to label each piece of wood processed to designate its future purpose and destination. WB even repurposes its wood scraps into turkey bedding that it then re-sells, a practice that many other truss plants simply don’t think to do. Haider says that, when it comes to sustainability and smart solutions like this, “we were green before green was a thing.”

This decade has been a busy one for the company. In 2020, WB built a 56,000-square-foot lumber storage building from the ground up, one that boasts a modern interior with temperature control, the latter being important for both wood quality and morale for employees during the notoriously subzero North Dakota winters. This warehouse has improved overall wood quality as it allows WB not to have to store its main resource outside.

WB sports a quarter mile of storage for its trusses; whereas a lot of other plants can be very tight in space, WB has the capacity to build up to 115-foot clear span trusses in wood. “We have never come close to running out of space,” Haider says. The space is also filled with multiple pallet handlers and forklifts that allow for quick loading and unloading of trusses, which pairs well with its transport fleet that is ready to haul to any state.

Haider says that 2024 turned out to be a great year for WB, with sales on par with the equally successful 2023. The company would not have had such success, Haider says, without being open to traveling across the country to find interesting work, such as big building jobs in the Kansas area. “It’s knowing our market and knowing what to do to get those sales,” he tells us.

Amid this mounting success, there are still some challenges to overcome. Haider says that a challenge in working with Hutterites is that they are not concerned about advertising the business, insisting only on word-of-mouth. This is why partnerships with organizations like NDAB (North Dakota Association of Builders) and NDRLA (North Dakota Retail Lumberman’s Association) are incredibly important, as both have afforded the company access to networking and personal training within the industry, as well as a demonstrable uptick in sales in the North Dakota area. Haider says that the growth of WB wouldn’t be possible without partner organizations like these, and the company is very grateful for them.

Another aspect of being a Hutterite business is that WB lacks options for bringing in new talent, as the colony does not generally hire workers from outside its own collective or others nearby. A challenge going forward will be in producing more volume during the year’s busy times with the same amount of people. This will also mean an increased focus on and improvement of communication amongst the company’s remote employees across the country. In the past, WB opened its doors to other truss plants eager to research its warehousing and storage, plants that WB now often partners with and that have similarly opened their own doors.

WB Components has also had to continue adapting to changes in the lumber industry. In recent years, certain commodity prices have been better than others and projects in the home area of North Dakota were a bit sporadic. Haider says that not every area was great for business in 2024 with the economy struggling—especially in areas like housing—but WB was able to find its niche to operate in and ended up having a good year despite it all.

A crucial factor for the company is the presidential change from Joe Biden to Donald Trump and the potential for lumber tariffs to be imposed by the new administration. The lumber market has fluctuated because of this uncertainty, but with WB’s large storage facility, it can order multiple rail cars of wood and store it indoors safely for a long time. Historically, North Dakota has not had much trouble during national situations like the 2008 housing crisis thanks to its robust local industries (i.e. oil and the Air Force), and WB has not faced a big crunch itself. The Sentinel Missile Project also has a strong presence in the state and is promising to bring infrastructure and more than 500 new families to the area.

Haider says that business is generally slow for WB at the start of the year until about April, when business picks up considerably until roughly November. To keep its business growing, WB will look to find more work in the slow winter times so as not to be in a deficit by the time April comes around. The company is confident that President Trump will do a good job for the lumber industry in lifting American bans on logging in certain areas, which will give companies like WB timberland for wood that is close by and allow it to not depend on Canadian lumber; however, WB does enjoy working with the superior Canadian lumber product and Haider hopes the tariff situation can be resolved.

Automation will also play a big role in WB’s future. Automated tables that need less manpower to work and other options could be gamechangers, but there have been hiccups with the adoption of automation in the truss industry so far this decade. With the hope that these problems will be fixed and more options will be available, automation will likely represent the company’s next big investment.

Haider says that 2025 is expected to be an incredible year for WB Components. While Haider himself says that he didn’t understand a lot about the Hutterite community before starting work with the company, he says that they have made him feel like he is part of a family thanks to a strong sense of closeness. This attitude is what the company will be bringing forward as it looks to take steps into the automation space while maintaining the same high quality of service that America has expected from it since the 1980s.

The post Where Community Spirit Brings Sustained Growth<p class="company">WB Components</p> appeared first on Construction In Focus.

Its latest initiative, Backyard Homes, brings practical and high-quality housing solutions to homeowners across London and the surrounding areas.

Copp’s Buildall has deep roots in London’s history. Originally called Copp’s Brothers, the company was founded as a supplier of essential building materials such as timbers and bricks. William Copp also played a pivotal role in constructing many historic homes in London, some of which still stand today.

The company evolved over time, rebranding as Copp’s Buildall and expanding its services. Despite these changes, its core values remained intact: high-quality products, exceptional customer service, and a strong connection to the community. As Mac Copp states, “We don’t do anything that we’re not going to stand behind. And we’ve always been customer-centric, focused on making sure the job goes well, that the customer is taken care of.”

Copp’s Buildall has also built a reputation for fostering long-term relationships with customers and employees alike. The company celebrates employee anniversaries each year at its Christmas party, where it’s not uncommon to see employees who have been with the company for over 30 years.

“We really value our employees and the contributions they make,” Copp says. “We treat our team the way we would want to be treated, and that creates an environment where people stay and grow with us.”

Copp’s Buildall has a history of pioneering housing solutions. In the 1970s, the company introduced the ‘Build by Numbers’ program, which allowed homeowners to purchase complete home-building kits ranging from 400 to 900 square feet. These kits made homebuilding more accessible and provided a streamlined approach for those looking to build their own homes.

As housing needs shifted over the years, the demand for this type of product declined. However, with the passing of Ontario’s Bill 23 in 2022, which encourages homeowners to build additional residential units (ARUs) on their properties, Copp’s Buildall saw an opportunity to reintroduce a modernized version of the Build by Numbers concept: Backyard Homes.

Backyard Homes are high-quality, fully detached ARUs ranging from 400 to 800 square feet. These units are designed to provide an efficient and affordable housing solution without compromising on quality.

Unlike traditional home additions, Backyard Homes are entirely separate structures built in the customer’s backyard. They function as independent living spaces, complete with kitchens, bathrooms, and living areas, making them ideal for a variety of uses. They provide a solution for homeowners looking to maximize the potential of their property, whether for family accommodation or financial gain through rental income.

“When you buy a Backyard Home from us, not only are you getting a great product, but you’re buying something from a company that’s been around for a long time and will continue to be around for a long time,” says Copp. “We stand behind our word. When we quote something and sign a contract, we’re going to deliver on that.”

The demand for Backyard Homes comes from homeowners who need additional living space for family members, those looking to generate rental income, and people searching for affordable housing solutions without the high cost of a new primary residence. Many homeowners are using Backyard Homes to house aging parents, adult children, or even themselves while renting out the main home. The shift toward multi-generational living is growing as families seek solutions that allow them to stay close while maintaining independence.

“Whether it’s parents moving into the backyard or kids moving into the main house, we’ve seen a big shift toward multi-generational living,” says Copp. “It’s a smart solution that allows families to stay close while still having their own space.”

For homeowners interested in generating rental income, Backyard Homes provide an ideal investment opportunity. Rising housing costs have made it increasingly difficult for many individuals to enter the housing market, and ARUs offer a more accessible path to home ownership. Property owners are turning to Backyard Homes to create rental units that help offset their mortgage or increase cash flow while providing high-quality living spaces for tenants.

“We understand the rental market, and we structure pricing so that investment property owners can achieve positive cash flow with our Backyard Homes,” Copp explains. “Our goal is to create a product that makes financial sense for landlords while still providing quality living spaces.”

The company offers a full-service approach, handling everything from initial planning and zoning requirements to construction and final installation. This streamlined process removes the complexity from homeowners who may otherwise struggle with navigating the permitting and building process. And the company works closely with trusted contractors to ensure that each Backyard Home meets the highest construction standards. A team of experienced professionals guides clients through every stage of the process, ensuring that the finished product is not just a house but a home that seamlessly integrates into the existing property.

This team takes pride in ensuring that every Backyard Home is built to the highest standard. As a licensed Tarion builder, the company guarantees that its units are durable and come with a warranty for peace of mind. And Backyard Homes are thoughtfully designed with both aesthetics and functionality in mind. Mac’s sister, Averil, an experienced interior designer, contributes to the project by ensuring that the interiors are both stylish and practical. The most popular model, the 720, features high ceilings, large windows, and a bright, open-concept design that makes the compact space feel expansive.

“We wanted to design something that feels spacious despite the smaller square footage,” says Copp. “The vaulted ceilings and big windows make a huge difference.”

Each Backyard Home is built with high-quality materials to ensure longevity, efficiency, and comfort. Homeowners can choose from various design options, allowing them to customize their units to fit their personal style and needs.

While the current focus is on London and the surrounding areas, Copp’s Buildall has ambitious plans to scale the Backyard Homes division. The team is continually refining its processes to enhance efficiency, reduce construction time, and make homes more accessible to a wider audience. “We’re mastering our processes right now, streamlining production so we can bring more units to market faster,” Copp says. “The demand is there, and we want to be ready to meet it.”

In the coming years, the company aims to expand beyond London and serve more areas in Southwestern Ontario. “We’re seeing interest from people outside our current service area,” says Copp. “For now, we’re focused on perfecting our process, but in the future, we definitely plan to expand.”

As Ontario’s housing market continues to evolve, innovative solutions like Backyard Homes will play a crucial role in addressing affordability and accessibility. Copp’s Buildall, with its deep roots in the community and unwavering commitment to quality, is leading the way in providing homeowners with smart, sustainable housing options that stand the test of time.

For those considering a Backyard Home, Copp’s Buildall provides a hassle-free experience, handling everything from concept to completion. Whether it’s for family use or rental income, these compact yet high-quality homes offer a smart solution for today’s housing challenges. As Copp concludes, “We want to make it easy, take care of any problems, and never push issues back onto the customer. When we take on a job, we own it from start to finish.”

The post Revolutionizing Housing with Backyard Homes<p class="company">Copp's Buildall</p> appeared first on Construction In Focus.

This isn’t too surprising when you see the levels of service supplied by this equipment supply company, and how the team has elevated service above everything, as suggested by its social media hashtag, #Hereforyou.

The company believes in building a lasting partnership with each client by setting out to surpass expectations and earn trust through the excellent work of each member of its team. Providing high-quality rentals is where its service begins, with GM Equipment Rentals leasing out top-notch, meticulously maintained construction equipment, each piece undergoing thorough inspection and OSHA approval.

Setting the standard
Founded in 2006, this family-owned business has since established an impeccable track record as a go-to source for rentals, sales, parts, and service. Offering expertise in the rental of aerial and material handling equipment, the company has a fleet of more than 700 units, plus service assets and accessories such as boom lifts, scissor lifts, telehandlers, mast forklifts, small dirt equipment, and more.

GM Equipment Rentals also provides repair services on-site or at its own facilities, with service personnel qualified and authorized to conduct boom inspections on a quarterly or annual basis, along with the provision of custom hydraulic hoses, electrical and hydraulic maintenance, diagnostics, and much more. “We always pride ourselves on being able to do what others can’t or won’t,” says General Manager Drew Dobson. “We work to an internal model where we always make it happen.”

Making it happen includes not being afraid to be flexible with delivery or maintenance schedules—whatever best helps the customer. “We find this tends to go a long way with our customers,” Dobson adds. “They always appreciate us being able to make it happen last minute if an emergency pops up or there’s just something that may have slipped their mind. We’re very good at getting a call at three o’clock in the afternoon and being able to move things around and have a delivery there by eight o’clock the next morning. It’s something we do that a lot of the national brands don’t, and it’s something other people may struggle with, but we’ve built it into our every day, and it’s been really helpful.”

Being able to provide a wide range of industries with products is another way of helping and supporting customers, who include painters, electricians, HVAC technicians, framers, carpenters, and more. The company even has customers in telecommunications, security, and fire sprinklers who have become key clients, he adds. GM can serve them all in one way or another.

Opening up options
Lifts, in particular, have become a nearly essential component of many job sites, Dobson explains. “Workers have come to realize that scaffolding and ladders are not only unsafe but also costly in the time it takes to set them up and move them around. Lifts are just a much better way to go.”

Part of this ability to pivot and make customer service a top priority is due to GM Equipment Rentals’ family-owned history. “GM actually stands for George and Mike, two cousins,” says Dobson. “And even though we’ve grown to become more of a regional player, we still bring that mom-and-pop feel to the industry. Our employees not only know me and the other managers and office team on a first-name basis, but they also get to know the owners the same way.”

He notes that the company sees its duty as providing a good workplace for people, never expecting anything from employees that managers and owners wouldn’t do themselves—or haven’t done before. In the beginning, Dobson says, the owners or managers could often be found washing and delivering equipment, and often still do.

“There’s not one job here that any of us is above doing. We really try to let the guys who work for us know that they’re not just a number. We get to know them personally. We get to know their families, their stories, and we truly care.”

#Hereforyou

Concern for employees and customers has extended to a social media hashtag created by Dobson—#Hereforyou—to more accurately reflect the company’s ongoing commitment to maintaining that level of care every day.

“We assure our customers all the time that if they need a referral for another type of contractor, or they have a problem that they’re not used to facing, bounce it off us because we know and network with other people throughout the industry, and even though we may not have the answer to a problem, we probably know somebody who has. #Hereforyou just truly means that we’re here for whatever you may need,” Dobson tells us.

“We had an ongoing story where, back in the day when we first started, we would tell customers, ‘If you need a helicopter, call us,’” he says. “We’re not in the business of helicopters, we don’t know of anybody with a helicopter, but we can guarantee we’ll find you one.”

That’s the type of dedication and commitment that has kept the company going strong; at the end of the day, customer service will always be the one essential ingredient. “There are hundreds if not thousands of other rental companies, and what’s tough about our industry is we all offer the same equipment, so the only thing that can truly set us apart is our service. A lot of companies will tell you that their service is the best, but we mean it and truly pride ourselves on it.”

Branching out
In an ongoing effort to stand out, stay relevant, and continue in its tradition of diversity and progress, in November of 2020, GM Equipment Rentals launched a new division called Hydraulix to repair bucket trucks. Focusing on the hydraulic and electrical repair of various boom, bucket, and derrick trucks, Hydraulix services also include DOT inspections, annual boom inspections, hydraulic repair, electrical diagnostics, lathe and mill work, dielectric testing, and custom hoses of all sizes. The division has since expanded to serve a variety of customers with various needs at locations in St. Marys, Pennsylvania and Columbus, Ohio.

“This business has really taken off for us in the past 18 months,” says Dobson of the niche addition.

As with so many companies today, even though GM Equipment Rentals truly values its employees, staff turnover is a concern. To maintain its strong team, the company has undertaken some “out of the box” initiatives to build flexibility into its culture, such as providing paid holidays for birthdays and an option for employees to work one week of any month as four 10-hour days, taking a Friday off.

“That’s not out of the norm when you consider the job market in its entirety, but it’s a little something different in our industry,” says Dobson. “As far as we know, we’re the only ones that offer that.”

The company’s attention to remaining innovative has also been noticed within the industry, resulting in being named a “market mover” for 2024 in the ARA’s (American Rental Association) magazine, listed alongside some big national brands and larger independent players.

“Our mindset is a big thing that sets us apart,” Dobson says. “We don’t tell customers ‘no’ unless we absolutely have to. We try to move things around, make things happen when they need them to. We truly care about our customers. We get to know them, get to know their families, and build relationships with them. The biggest thing here is you’re not just a number; whether you’re an employee or a customer, we truly get to know you.”

Of course, this personal approach is greatly appreciated by customers and employees alike, resulting in many success stories at GM. “We have guys here who started in high school washing equipment for us who have gone on to be sales reps or mechanics and truck drivers, and a lot of guys who have been with us for over 10 years,” says Dobson. “It’s really great to see these younger guys come up through the ranks. It’s something we try to do everywhere, and when it works, it feels great.”

GM Equipment Rentals intends to ensure that this commitment to customer and employee care remains top of mind in the years ahead. “We are still in growth mode, and it’s not only to better our current market positions in our current locations but also to potentially grow into another one or two or three,” says Dobson. “That could be through an acquisition or internal growth, where we plant a flag and start from the ground up. We’re just getting started, and we want to continue to grow and do more.”

While growth remains the goal, the company grasps the challenges that lie ahead, and the challenges faced by the industry at large. “It’s tough out there,” says Drew Dobson. “There have been a lot of changes since COVID. We’ve learned to adapt and try to do better, and it’s worked so far. We want to continue that.”

The post Here For You: Delivering Excellent Service Industry-Wide<p class="company">GM Equipment Rentals</p> appeared first on Construction In Focus.

iWired offers a broad selection of smart lighting, heating, security, air-conditioning, and other systems that can be remotely controlled via a smart phone, computer, or voice command. Some of these devices can also operate on an automated basis. Smart HVAC systems, for example, self-adjust heating levels to avoid wasting energy. Smart water valves monitor the flow of water into a home. If water flow suddenly spikes due to a leak, the smart valve shuts off the water main before damage occurs to the home.

Smart devices “enhance the quality of life [and offer] ease and simplicity within the home,” says George. “Imagine window shades and lighting moving in tandem as your home theater or home audio comes on. Imagine, at the click of a button, changing the color of the lighting in your home to set certain moods. Imagine the ability to really feel safe and secure because you’ve got AI-embedded camera technology that tells you when there’s someone suspicious walking up your driveway.”

iWired also sells and installs home audio and theater systems, central vacuum setups, and programmable shades and blinds which can be lowered or raised at set hours. To run these smart systems, the company offers Control4, a user-friendly platform that amounts to an “operating system for the home,” explains George.

A full-service company, iWired installs the high-tech systems it sells, along with all associated infrastructure. “We do it all,” says George. “We do everything from running wiring in the pre-construction phase [of a new home]. As soon as 2×4’s are up, our team is out there running data lines and cables and conduit… We provide all the hardware, we do all the programming, and we provide ongoing continuing service once the homeowner has moved in and taken over the system,” he explains.

In addition to its head office, iWired has a branch in Prescott, Arizona and two locations in neighboring Colorado (in Denver and Colorado Springs). At present, the company primarily serves the Arizona and Colorado markets and deals with a very specific demographic: “Our primary customer tends to be an upmarket consumer,” says George. “They tend to be business executives or professionals. [The projects] we are most proud of are the ones where we’re able to really work with the homeowner to design the home of their dreams and integrate as many technologies as possible.”

To this end, the aforementioned merger with a Colorado Springs custom tech integrator called HomeRun Electronics took place a little over a year ago. “Our intention was to bring together these two great companies with the idea that we’re better together than we are apart,” George explains. “In doing so, we have really refocused our energy on the sales and service teams and used our combined purchasing power to streamline and create efficiencies in the back office.” For instance, the two companies’ accounting, HR, and operations divisions have been centralized.

The acquisition of TekServ, which monitors fire alarm systems to protect properties, has enabled the team to grow their service offerings and horizons (as George notes, most commercial properties are mandated to have a monitored alarm system). At present, the residential sector accounts for about 90 percent of the group’s business, and the goal is to diversify, increasing the commercial share to 30 percent.

If automation and high-tech systems for private homes tend to be based around convenience and fun (think home media centers with comfy couches and an array of audio/visual options), commercial systems are more pragmatic. Popular solutions for commercial buildings include automated lighting and HVAC systems, and advanced security. Increasingly, the latter includes video verification—an emerging category and a new iWired offering. In a video verification system, security cameras relay images back to a central station where they are monitored 24/7. If a person who is not verified to be on a specific property is spotted, an individual at the central station can issue a verbal warning to the trespasser.

While eager to grow into new markets or areas (perhaps through more corporate acquisitions), iWired approaches growth mindfully. “Our philosophy has always been to grow slowly so that we aren’t taking on any projects that exceed our capabilities,” says George.

Founded in 2000 as a local subsidiary of a telecom firm, iWired initially focused on putting high-speed data lines in private homes. The business grew quickly, and new services were added as the company expanded.

At present, iWired and HomeRun have 112 employees and prefer applicants with “a capacity to learn… We don’t expect that they come in with the knowledge base to do what we do, because we work on niche technology products. [Instead] we look for someone who is a team player that enjoys interfacing with customers and colleagues and has a general sense of humility and a hunger to grow,” explains George.

Asked what sets this group apart from other companies, he says, “Our three unique offerings are people, products, processes.” People-wise, the team “works really hard to hire, train, and retain best-in-class talent,” he says, pointing to the loyalty and long tenure of many company employees.

“From a product standpoint, we keep our selections really narrow. We focus on a really small basket of vendor products, and we work collaboratively with our vendor partners to ensure that customers have best-in-class service experiences.”

And when it comes to processes, the company “spends an inordinate amount of time” documenting and detailing its actions “so all of our core processes [are] repeatable.”

This methodical approach is exemplified by iWired’s robust Quality Assurance process. A project manager reviews sales orders for accuracy, scope, and inclusivity before the client signs off on them. Once a project moves into production, a QA manager accompanies teams in the field to coordinate with the home construction manager and ensure all goes to plan. iWired staff members also work closely with the homeowner during installation.

“They walk the homeowner through exactly what they bought… We take our customer service very, very seriously,” says George. In the same vein, two years ago, iWired implemented a management program called EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System) to enhance company-wide efficiency and accountability.

Challenges come in the form of new home standardization; iWired works with large national home builders who typically construct thousands of new dwellings a year in master-planned communities. But faced with rising interest rates and construction costs, some of these builders have trimmed expenses by reducing the amount of customization in their new builds. “This presents a challenge because it [makes it harder] for us to meet with our homeowners and provide a truly customized, tailored approach to their technology solutions,” explains George. It’s important, he says, for general contractors to recognize that technology integrators such as iWired play a hugely important role in the design and construction of new homes.

As for the future, “We are starting to dip our toes into the world of drones, which is really exciting,” he adds. The potential AI represents is strong as well, with its ability to augment electronic building security. Lighting, meanwhile, “represents a new frontier for us in the residential space. To be able to provide great lighting design and then utilize great lighting infrastructure in conjunction with the electrician changes the home. You can make an average home feel exceptional with great lighting.”

The integrated Vangeo Technology Group’s overall vision for the future is also exceptional: “Our goal is to build a world-class integration organization that our competitors look at with a deep and profound respect, that our customers love, and that has the ability to continue to grow because we’ve built a sustainable foundation with systems, processes, and people that allow us to scale up within our current market and new marketplaces alike.”

The post Automation and Connectivity Solutions for Homes and Businesses<p class="company">iWired/HomeRun Electronics</p> appeared first on Construction In Focus.

“Our stores are similar to Apple stores. You walk in; you can touch; you can feel; you can experience what you’re getting. We have knowledgeable staff who can direct you on how to use the solution,” explains Joseph Akhtarzad, co-owner and Vice President of Video & Audio Center and President of Just One Touch.

Notable products include frame, flat-screen, and wall televisions. ‘Frame’ televisions resemble a painting when not in use. One year ago, the company sold and installed a massive Samsung wall television measuring over 200 inches wide, with a price tag of $800,000. Such gargantuan sets make a stunning impression.

The enormous project required “a lot of meticulous planning and coordination with Samsung engineers,” states Walden Caballero, Director of Operations at Just One Touch. The client was delighted with the results and promptly ordered two more large Samsung televisions, he adds.

Video & Audio Center has also embraced ‘transparent’ televisions from LG Electronics, which utilize organic light emitting diode (OLED) panels to present a see-through screen when turned off. The company is partial to Sony projection televisions due to their reliability and quality and claims to have the largest selection of Sony products in the country.

The company’s audio products include all manner of speakers, radios, cables, karaoke systems, receivers, headphones, remote controls, and more, while its home technology category encompasses everything from air purifiers and grills to bread makers and voice assistants. Outdoor technology includes wearables, GoPro systems, and Segways.

The company also sells elaborate home automation and security systems that enable clients to remotely lock or unlock doors, greet visitors, and control their lighting in addition to their HVAC systems. Clients can turn off their sprinklers remotely in case of rain and view visuals from security cameras on their phones. Another home technology function can automatically raise and lower window blinds when residents are away, letting would-be burglars believe someone is at home. Other services include video transfers, media duplication of DVDs, Blu-ray discs, and CDs, and television rentals.

Indeed, Video & Audio Center is more than just a source for consumer electronics. The Just One Touch segment excels at installing home theaters, media centers, automation systems, audio systems, and household technology networks, with an integration process that begins with a one-on-one discussion with the client to determine their needs and budget. Based on these specifications, Just One Touch comes up with a proposal and presents it to the client. Once the proposal is accepted, staff members develop a design using CAD software and other tools, and company technicians use the design to plan the installation.

“A lot of my friends rely on me,” says Akhtarzad. “When they buy a new house or remodel a house, [we offer] a turnkey solution. If you want to do a home theater, you give us the space, and we will turn it—within eight to 12 weeks—into a home theater for you. We’ve done home theatres from $50,000 to $100,000; we’ve done many home theaters for over $500,000 to $1 million.”

Just One Touch provides 24/7 support and has crews prepared to act in all manner of emergency situations. For instance, the company contacted clients whose homes were destroyed in the recent fires that ravaged the Los Angeles area, sending “numerous messages to make sure they know we are here for them.”

The company traces its roots to the early 1980s. After completing a master’s degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from the University of Nottingham in the UK, Akhtarzad decided to join his older brother Mayer in Southern California. He worked for a satellite dish firm for a few months, and then the brothers teamed up to launch Video & Audio Center in 1981. Mayer remains President, although he is largely retired these days.

From the start, “The vision was to bring the latest and most innovative technology to market,” and over the decades, the business has helped introduce the Walkman, Discman, flat-screen televisions, and Blu-ray players. It has worked with celebrities such as Michael Jackson and Elizabeth Taylor and corporate clients such as Disney and DreamWorks.

“We built a reputation as a trusted destination for cutting-edge electronics… but I knew customer service was also very important. I made sure all my salespeople were trained, and we went after the niche market, all high-end,” Akhtarzad explains. “I would say our success has come from having good employees. Some of them have been with me since the beginning. We’ve created an environment where the employees love to contribute to the business. They love working here.”

At present, roughly 150 people work here, with 100 employees at Video & Audio Center and the rest at Just One Touch. There is frequent overlap between these segments, however, with Video & Audio Center borrowing resources from Just One Touch and vice versa.

And Akhtarzad takes a keen interest in new hires. “Don’t be a salesman; always listen to a customer’s needs and give them the solution they’re looking for,” he tells new employees. Other rules for store staff: no upselling and no using incomprehensible technological jargon that leaves a customer baffled and frustrated. Also, a tidy appearance is a must. In his view, being poorly groomed suggests someone cannot take care of themselves, much less take care of an elaborate video or audio system.

Such concerns are understandable as, “We are a growing company. Every year we grow by 10 to 20 percent,” he shares.

In addition to its brick-and-mortar sites, Video & Audio Center and Just One Touch offer a comprehensive website. At first, the website primarily served as a platform for manufacturers to display their wares and a convenient vehicle for informing potential customers about what was in stock. Gradually, the site began to generate its own share of business as customers became more comfortable making online transactions. “Everything we carry is available for us to sell online, except custom solutions.”

The company has also benefited from its membership in the Home Technology Specialists of America (HTSA) buying group, an “industry member-driven trade consortium” consisting of home technology retailers and custom integrators, to which Video & Audio Center has belonged for approximately 25 years.

Joining the HTSA “was the best thing for us,” states Akhtarzad. “We have group meetings, talk about the next technology.”

Indeed, staying abreast of developments in the consumer technology world is a point of pride. Roughly a decade ago, he sensed that voice-activated controls would become a huge trend and ever since, the team has provided products in this category as they became available.

This kind of attention to detail matched with excellent service has earned the firm kudos from industry peers. In 2022, the Akhtarzad brothers were inducted into the Consumer Technology Hall of Fame, which is organized by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA), a trade association representing the U.S. consumer technology industry.

In 2023, Video & Audio Center was ranked number one on CE Pro’s list of 100 Top Custom Retailers in both California and the United States. CE Pro magazine is the self-described “leading trade publication for professionals involved in the custom electronics business,” and the company has repeatedly earned the number one spot for California custom retailers and been a top five fixture on the list of retailers across the entire U.S.

Indeed, doing big things remains a company staple. At the time we spoke, Video & Audio Center was gearing up for a huge Super Bowl party at a country club. This invitation-only soiree would welcome “high-end consumers from real estate, directors, producers, surgeons, doctors,” he says, with plans for valet parking, barbecue, drinks, a family atmosphere, and of course, an array of awe-inspiring OLED, wall, and frame televisions from sponsor Samsung to watch the game.

Akhtarzad is not currently pondering any new branches outside of the city, although he says, “I am open to franchising or to teaching other people who would like to get into this business to collaborate.” Any potential areas outside of Los Angeles would have to retain the company’s service-oriented ethos, he adds, offering a rosy forecast for the future. “Five years from now, I believe technology like transparent TV, and other technologies I’m working with manufacturers on, is going to flourish… Dedicated home theatres are on the increase.” Video & Audio Center will be there every step of the day.

The post Your Source for Consumer Electronics and So Much More<p class="company">Video & Audio Center</p> appeared first on Construction In Focus.

Now comprising 1,400 members in North Dakota and more than 140,000 members nationwide who drive value for their local, state, and national economies, NDAB and its members are doing their part to ensure the growing demands for construction are met, which is no easy feat given the challenges before them.

While financing and interest rates have cooled the market demand in North Dakota to some degree, the state is also experiencing strong growth in the natural resource, transportation, and agricultural sectors, which is exacerbating the labor crunch. The lack of talent, paired with other legislative and regulatory changes, means that the need for an organization like NDAB is greater than ever.

Adding value for members
The North Dakota Association of Builders (NDAB) was born out of the desire to enhance the public image of the home building industry in the state, but the scope of its role has evolved over time. Today, it serves as a place for local builders associations to come together and acts as a conduit between its members, the industry, and the various levels of government, serving as an advocative force where decisions are made that directly impact the industry.

“Most of the state associations across the country for builders were founded to enhance the image of the home building industry across the state and to work together to address building codes and other laws impacting the industry,” explains NDAB Chief Executive Officer Brittney Roehrich.

The organization brings six local associations under a single governing body, including the Western Area Builders Association, Minot Association of Builders, Forx Builders Association, Dickinson Area Home Builders Association, Building Industry Association of the Red River Valley, and the Bismarck-Mandan Home Builders Association.

The year after its founding, NDAB was officially chartered by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), support that Roehrich credits as being second to none. “There is always help available for any questions or concerns from our membership or staff. It truly makes a difference to have the support and help with answering hard questions our membership may be looking for.”

And becoming a member is easy. When a company becomes a member of their local builders association, they automatically become a member of NDAB, and by virtue of that membership, NAHB as well. There are three membership levels: builder membership, associate membership, and affiliate membership, and each plays an important role in the sector.

“Builders are the heart and soul of the home builders association,” says Roehrich. “Builder members are directly involved in building homes—they include small-volume builders, production builders, light commercial builders, and remodelers.”

Associate members make up the majority of members and represent suppliers to the industry, service providers, and manufacturers that support the growth and success of the industry while gaining valuable access to a strong network to build relationships and showcase their products and services while enjoying a feedback loop whereby they can align their offerings with the needs of the market.

Affiliate members are employees of Builder and Associate members who earn the same rewards of membership but at a lower cost. Each group is representative of an important industry cohort, and through the NDAB, members can work together to address legislative matters such as building codes and other laws that impact the strength of the industry.

Members can also attain professional recognition, not only through the relationship with NAHB, but through the opportunity for certification. Members can become a North Dakota Professional Builder (NDPB) or Associate (NDPA) through NDAB, certifications which stand out in a competitive market. Members also have access to discounts from major retailers, rebate programs, and most importantly, a voice and a presence at various levels of government.

A strong and growing network
In the construction industry, competition is fierce, especially when it comes to securing talent. While being a member of NDAB can’t manifest workers in an instant to solve the labor crunch, what it can do is present a positive public image and leverage its professional network to build opportunities for its members. For instance, NDAB maintains relationships with local, regional, and state schools and training centers, encouraging the next generation of workers to join the industry and ensuring that the needs of the sector are being met.

NDAB’s relationship with the North Dakota Association of Realtors is another important connection that can enhance the strength of its members, particularly as appraisal values can sometimes be lower than the actual cost to build the home in the first place, which contributes to underinvestment in the market. This is particularly important as a significant challenge facing the industry has been underinvestment in single-family homes, which has further contributed to the shortfall in supply and to higher housing prices.

Smart policies lead to stronger outcomes, and the NDAB is at the forefront of these efforts to create a pro-building economic environment in the state. From appraisals to improved access to financing, the organization will continue to forge ahead, leveraging its partnerships and reinforcing its network.

Further, through its relationships with organizations like North Dakota Housing Finance Agency, Community Services, Building Officials Association, Secretary of State’s Office, Workforce Safety and Insurance, Job Service of North Dakota, Housing & Urban Development (HUD), Fannie Mae, and Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA), NDAB creates positive relationships and opens lines of communication to produce collaborative solutions.

It also creates opportunities for this collaboration to take place. Some of the organization’s upcoming events are the Area 10 Leadership Conference in Des Moines, Iowa, April 16 – 17; the Summer Social and Board Meeting in Minot, July 29 – 30; and the Annual Banquet and Fall Board Meeting, the year’s gala event in Grand Forks, November 4 – 5, where industry leaders will be recognized and the awards of the year can be celebrated.

“These serve as great opportunities to celebrate the successes of the industry and come together to ensure that information is being disseminated and the voices of the industry are being heard,” says NDAB President and Owner of McCody Concrete Products Inc., Bob Horab.

A unified voice in advocacy
One of the greatest values derived from membership is representation and advocacy at the legislative level. NDAB has member representatives on local, state, and national committees acting as a strong voice and advocate for Builder and Associate members to protect the industry and advance its interests.

Understanding that there are hundreds of bills introduced at each biennial session of the North Dakota Legislative Session that could have major implications for the industry and its members, NDAB ensures that it keeps legislators informed about the needs of its members and vice versa, keeping its members apprised of the changes coming down the pipeline. The organization also supports candidates that will have the sector’s best interests at heart.

“We work to reduce regulations and ensure workable building codes for our members. We also have a member that’s on the State Building Code Council and he updates us at our board meetings. We also have partnerships with related organizations,” notes Roehrich. NDAB-PAC is the organization’s political action committee that provides non-partisan support for local, state, and federal candidates who support the building industry. BUILD-PAC is the national arm of the organization that works to elect pro-housing and pro-business candidates to Congress.

Indeed, the organization pays close attention to code and regulatory issues at every level to remain at the leading edge of the industry, keeping its members up to date and educated—because knowledge, in this case, is certainly power.

“Being able to stay on top of this, where you’ve got multiple jurisdictions coming up with new ordinances and codes and regulations, I think is beneficial with 1,400 members within the state. There are a lot of eyes on what’s going on, such that we can address or support or work to eliminate some of the regulations that become harmful for the building industry,” Horab explains.

Empowering the industry
Through its work, NDAB is empowering its members and the broader industry to succeed. Members can gain valuable leadership opportunities through involvement with the organization, and the more hands doing the work, the greater the ability to have a positive impact.

As it continues to grow both its membership and its presence, the NDAB will continue to identify ways that its members can be better supported. From stronger advocacy to seats at more tables, it will continue to be a conduit of knowledge, a source of education, a place for networking, and a tireless advocate for its members where it is needed the most to ensure the viability and profitability of the sector for years to come.

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