The E-Magazine of the Fairfield County HBRA JANUARY 2018 Features UPCOMING FEBRUARY 7, 2018 General Membership Meeting FEBRUARY 20, 2018 Winter Trade Showcase MARCH 7, 2018 Legislative Night International Builder Show Associate of the Year Honors New HBRA Members Member News Builder News
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HBRA VIP CIRCLE 2017-18 OFFICERS President Chris Steiner Steiner, Inc. Sr. Vice-President Anthony DeRosa DeRosa Builders Vice-President Kim DiMatteo DiMatteo Group Secretary John Hertz Hertz Construction Immediate Past President Peter Gaboriault Bear Paw Builders 2017-18 DIRECTORS Peter Battaglio Hocon Gas Max Bender Bender Supply Steve Berko Four Square Build & Design Michael Church William Pitt Sotheby’s Ken DeLeo Doherty & DeLeo Brian Kurtz Interstate Lumber Rob Michaud The Michaud Group Steven Roth Elevator Service Company Alex Shook Pella Commercial Michael Wood Wood Builders Joanne Carroll JMC Resources Jerry Effren The Greyrock Companies Gary Fanali City Carting LIFE DIRECTORS Peter Fusaro Preferred Builders Maureen Hanley United Bank Michael Palumbo ERI Building & Design Thank you to the following VIP Associate Members for their support in 2018. Due to their generosity the Association greatly benefits - from developing new events and educational opportunities for the membership, to keeping our lights on! JANUARY 2018 | HBRA of Fairfield County 3 gas MEDIA SPONSOR
IN THIS ISSUE • Letter From The President • Upcoming Events • Message from the Executive Officer • Winter Trade Showcase • International Builder Show 9 Winter Trade Showcase 10 Builder’s Show 12 Member News • Connecticut Builder Elected First Vice Chairman of NAHB • VOM Chamber Honors Murphy Brothers • Kim DiMatteo recognized as 2017 Associate of the Year Nominee • How Local Recruiters Can Help Construction Find Talent Amid A Shortage Business Health Plans • How To Prepare For A Construction Project Audit p.19 • 8 Construction Trends To Watch In 2018` • NAHB Launches New Campaign to Raise Safety Awareness Among Home Builders, Remodelers • Residential Remodeling Spending Trending Up p.21 • OSHA Renews Commitment To Safe Workplaces p.21 For Women Construction Workers • Job Bank • Dear Sandler Coach • Training & Seminars • New HBRA Resources • Member Benefits Advertisers: Ridgefield Supply CTC&G DiMatteo Group Ed’s Garage Doors Interstate Lumber Elevator Service Company County TV & Appliance Fairfield County Bank Tooher Ferraris United Bank Marlin Electric Hocon Gas Ring’s End p.23 p.23 p.24 p.25 p.26 p. 2 p. 5 p. 11 p. 14 p. 17 p. 19 p. 21 p. 22 p. 24 p. 26 p. 25 p. 27 p. 30 p.20 p.20 p.18 • Contractors Should Monitor Rising Material Prices p.18 • NAHB Commends Proposed Rule on Small p.19 p.6 p.7 p.8 p.9 p.10 p.12 p.12 p.14 Editorial Staff Jackie Bertolone CEO Sarah Iannarone Membership & Events Coordinator Clare Michalak Designer HBRA of Fairfield County 2228 Black Rock Turnpike, Suite 307 Fairfield, CT 06825 203-335-7008 hbra@buildfairfieldcounty.com www. buildfairfieldcounty.com Want to advertise? Contact the office for more information and rates.
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MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT Dear fellow HBRA members, I am pleased to announce the hire of our new Executive Officer, Jackie Bertolone. Jackie is a young, energetic leader who has the ability to keep our organization growing and thriving. Jackie grew up in the building industry and is leaving her position as an adviser and senior staff member to the House Republican Leader in the CT General Assembly. She also served as the finance director for the caucus, leading the statewide fundraising efforts which included a great deal of event planning. Previously she was a director for a non-profit mentoring program for at-risk youth in the Norwalk Public Schools. She has a great deal of experience in fundraising, event planning, people management, and politics. I would ask everyone to welcome Jackie, and give her the support she needs to keep us moving forward. Thank you and I wish everyone a happy and healthy New Year, Chris Steiner President of the Board 6 HBRA of Fairfield County | JANUARY 2018
MARK YOUR CALENDARS UPCOMING EVENTS February 7, 2018 February GMM Ed’s Garage Doors & Sunshine Floors Showroom 136 Water Street Norwalk CT Click Here to register 1 February 20, 2018 Builders ONLY Event Dolce Norwalk 32 Weed Ave Norwalk, CT Associates: Click Here to reserve a table March 7, 2018 GMM & Legislative Night The Water’s Edge at Giovanni’s 2748 Boston Post Rd Darien CT 06820 Click Here to register Upcoming Meetings HBRA Home Tour - February 8th Associates Council - February 13th Professional Women in Building - February 15th Membership Committee - February 21st JANUARY 2018 | HBRA of Fairfield County 7
MESSAGE FROM THE CEO Dear HBRA Members, I am thrilled to join HBRA Fairfield County as your new EO and am looking forward to meeting you all at our upcoming general membership meeting on February 7th at Ed’s Garage Doors. 2018 is already off to a great start! We completed the first OSHA10 training of the year at Ridgefield Supply’s new facility and we introduced a new program to help contractors maximize their time, called the Twenty Six-Hour day hosted at Rings End. We will be offering members more training opportunities throughout the year to help learn the latest trends and safety techniques. I would love to hear from you if you have ideas on topics, suggested trainers or anything else. We are looking forward to our 3rd Annual Winter Trade Showcase on February 20th at Dolce Norwalk which is a free event for builder members, presented by the Associates Council. It’s a great opportunity to catch up with other builders and hear about products and services from associate members. Sponsorships and tables are going quickly so call us today to reserve yours. I look forward to getting to know all of our member companies and working together to better our organization and our community. All the best, Jackie Bertolone HBRA Chief Excutive Officer 8 HBRA of Fairfield County | JANUARY 2018
WINTER TRADE SHOWCASE February 20, 2018 6-9PM RESERVE YOUR TABLE 40 Associate Member Companies have a unique opportunity to network and promote their business to the HBRA Builder Members at this BUILDERS ONLY event. $300 - Regular Table 6 ft. table includes tablecloth (8 x 10 space) First Come/First Serve and limited to only 3 from the same industry! Only Associate Members with tables can attend! Sponsorship Levels Elite: $1200 Exclusive ($3,350 value) · Exclusive Logo on tote bag · Program book full color back cover · Two-page spread on your business in HBRA’s E-Magazine, “Building Connections” for three months · Opportunity to speak at Trade Showcase · Opportunity to speak at the February General Membership Meeting (about the showcase and your business) · 1st position Logo on event banner · Exclusive sign with your logo on bar at the event · Logo on event marketing materials: email, social media · Table, four attendees and twelve drink tickets · First choice of table location on floorplan Diamond: $1000 2 available ($1,550 value) · Full page color ad in the program · One-page spread on your business in HBRA’s E-Magazine, “Building Connections” for three months · Opportunity to speak at Trade Showcase · 2nd positions Logo on event banner · Logo on event marketing materials: email, social media · Table, three attendees and nine drink tickets · Choice of table location on floorplan Program Advertising • Full page Color ad - $150 • Full Page B/W - $100 • Half Page Color ad - $100 • Half Page B/W ad - $75 All Associates buying a table will receive a listing in the program booklet Contact the HBRA office to secure a sponsorship, table, or program advertising at hbra@buildfairfieldcounty.com or 203-335-7008 Gold: $800 4 available ($1,000 value) · Full page color ad in the program · Half-page ad in HBRA’s E-Magazine, “Building Connections” for three months · Opportunity to speak at Trade Showcase · 3rd positions Logo on event banner · Logo on event marketing materials: email, social media · Table, two attendees and six drink tickets · Choice of table location on floorplan Silver: $600 4 available ($700 value) · Full page black & white OR half page color ad in the program · Quarter-page ad in HBRA’s E-Magazine, “Building Connections” for three months · 4th positions Logo on event banner · Logo on event marketing materials: email, social media · Table, two attendees and four drink tickets JANUARY 2018 | HBRA of Fairfield County 9
HBRA EVENTS 2018 NAHB International Builder Show F or the three days of the NAHB 2018 International Builders’ Show® (IBS), building industry professionals from across the globe discovered a variety of products and innovative concepts that are sure to enhance their businesses moving forward. The show welcomed more than 85,000 attendees, as part of Design & Construction Week®. Of that total, about 60,000 were IBS registrants. Thousands of building professionals attended more than 150+ education sessions in 8 tracks that covered the breadth of the entire building industry. Click here to see highlights from the week. Kim DiMatteo of DiMatteo group and Greg Ugalde, the newly appointed Vice Chairman of the NAHB both hosted events at IBS to celebrate their awards and recognitions. Members of the Board including our President Chris Steiner, our senior Vice President Anthony Derosa, our new CEO, Jackie Bertolone, and our Chairman of the Board, Peter Fusaro were also in attendance. 10 HBRA of Fairfield County | JANUARY 2018
Look no further for an insurance agent who can work with you to design an insurance portfolio just right for your business. If you engage in construction or remodeling of one or two family residences in CT then I want to talk to you. Our construction insurance program includes: • General Liability • • • Property Business Auto Inland Marine • Workers Compensation • Umbrella • Builders Risk Kim Marie DiMatteo, CIC, MWCA I have been in the construction insurance business since 1992. I know the markets, the products, and what’s right for you. Call me today to schedule a convenient appointment. 79 Bridgeport Ave, Shelton, CT 06484 | 203.924.5429 | www.dimatteogrp.com JANUARY 2018 | HBRA of Fairfield County 11
MEMBER NEWS Connecticut Builder Elected First Vice Chairman of NAHB G reg Ugalde, a Connecticut-based builder and developer with more than 25 years of experience in the home building industry, was elected as the 2018 first vice chairman of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) during the association’s International Builders’ Show in Orlando, Fla. Ugalde is president and chief legal officer of Torrington-based T&M Building Co., Inc., one of the largest home builders in the state. Since its founding in 1962, T&M has built more than 3,500 new homes in over 40 Connecticut communities. He is also the founder and owner of GFU Investments LLC, a builder/developer minority-owned business that focuses on urban development. “Our focus this year is to ensure that housing and homeownership remain a national priority,” said Ugalde. “NAHB will work with Congress to advance comprehensive housing finance reform and reduce burdensome regulations in order to put families in homes, create jobs and move the economy forward.” Ugalde has been active in the NAHB leadership structure at the local, state and national levels throughout his career. A life director, he has served on the NAHB Board of Directors for 15 years and has been a member of the NAHB Executive Board for the past decade. He has also served on eight NAHB committees, was a member of several NAHB task force groups, served as the vice chairman of the Budget and Finance Committee and was chairman of Build-PAC and three other committees. From 2006-2010, he served as the NAHB State Representative from Connecticut. He was the Moderator of the State Representatives in 2010 and in 2011 and 2012 he was elected as the National Area Chairman for his region. From 2003-2005, Ugalde was the president of the Home Builders and Remodelers Association of Connecticut (HBRA), was named local and state 2000 Builder of the Year, has served on the HBRA board since 1999 and been a member of its executive committee since 2000. He is a three-time recipient of the HBRA Distinguished Service Awards, and served as chairman of the Connecticut Developers Council from 1997-2004. Ugalde received the state home building industry’s highest honor, the Charles J. LoDolce Award, in 2011. ng people don’t know if they’re good at it or not because they’re not exposed to it.” An effective advocate and spokesperson on a broad range of housing issues, Ugalde has served on the HOMEConnecticut Steering Committee, the National Land Use Attorneys Network, the Governor’s Blue Ribbon Commission on Affordable Housing and the Town of Burlington’s IWWC and Parks & Recreation Commission. In 1998 he received the Hartford Business Journal’s 40 under 40 Award. Read More VOM Chamber Honors Murphy Brothers S ean and Chris Murphy were honored at the 2018 Mamaroneck Chamber of Commerce Dinner held at the Beach Point Club. Chamber President Susan Fuller of Orange Bank & Trust recognized the Murphy Brothers and their award-winning firm for their many contributions to the local community over the years in her presentation speech. The event was attended by owners and representatives of many local small businesses, as well as family and friends, and several elected officials who presented proclamations naming January 12th “Murphy Brothers Contracting Day” in both Mamaroneck Village & Westchester County. The Murphy Brothers have operated their businesses, Murphy Brothers Contracting & Mamaroneck Self Storage in the Village for many years, and are big supporters of the work of the Village Chamber of Commerce. They are also advocates of the “Maker Zone” approach to encouraging business development in the Mamaroneck Industrial Area. 12 HBRA of Fairfield County | JANUARY 2018
RESERVE YOUR SPACE NOW! 2018 Directory & Resource Guide LAST CALL NEW Ad & Listing Deadline: MONDAY, January 29, 2018 The HBRA Member Directory & Consumer Resource Guide reaches hundreds of members and consumers each year through the printed and online flipbook directory. AD DIMENSIONS & PRICING size Full Page Half Page (Hor.) Quarter Page 5.75” x 3.75” 2.75” x 3.75” All full-size print pages include bleed. Please return forms via email, fax or mail. HBRA of Fairfield County 2228 Black Rock Turnpike, Suite 307 Fairfield CT 06825 T: (203) 335-7008 F: (203) 335-7141 clare@buildfairfieldcounty.com dimensions [WxH] PRiCe 6.75” x 8.75” $900 $600 $425 Listing Example Simple Listing: InSinkErator 4700 21st St Racine WI 53406 www.insinkerator.com Rhonda Burnim (203)522-9608 CLICK HERE FOR LISTING FORMS JANUARY 2018 | HBRA of Fairfield County 13
MEMBER NEWS Kim DiMatteo recognized as 2017 Associate of the Year Nominee K im DiMatteo of the DiMatteo group, longtime member and current Vice President of the HBRA of Fairfield County, was recognized as one of the top 10 associate members in the country. She was presented with the award from Monica Lewis, the 2017 NAHBAssociates Committee Chair, for her outstanding commitment to the asssociation, industry, and community. BEAUTY. ELEGANCE. STRENGTH. Our Aluminum Doors Will Surprise You. Ed’s Garage Doors offers a broad selection of aluminum doors that are the perfect complement to your home. Visit our showroom to see many exclusive aluminum doors on display, and talk with a design expert about our countless in-stock and custom options. Showroom Hours: Mon. – Fri.: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm Saturday: 9:00 am – 3:00 pm Evenings: By appointment Sunday: Closed 136 Water Street, Norwalk, CT 06854 203-847-1284 edsgaragedoors.com ® 14 HBRA of Fairfield County | JANUARY 2018
HBRA HOME TOUR SAVE THE DATES APPLICATIONS ARRIVING SOON BUILDERS! It’s almost time to apply to the annual HBRA Home Tour. You will be receiving a builder’s packet in the mail in the next few weeks. Please call the office at 203-335-7008 or email hbra@buildfairfieldcounty.com with any questions. Tour Dates: June 23 -24, 2018 VIP Kick Off June 22, 2018 Initial Application Deadline: February 28th Once Accepted - Builder Packet Deadline: March 30th
NEW MEMBERS Welcome to the newest members of HBRA of Fairfield County! Go to www.buildfairfieldcounty.com for their contact info. Paul A. Brautigam, LLS Brautigam Land Surveyors, P.C. Be it a small site survey for landscape design, pool sites or recreation areas or mortgage and title surveys of commercial buildings, Brautigam Land Surveyors can handle the project.With the business office in Newtown, Connecticut, Brautigam Land Surveyors, is centrally located to serve Fairfield, Litchfield and New Haven counties in Connecticut, and Westchester and Putnam counties in New York State. Brautigam Land Surveyors, P.C. maintains a list of professionals in the real estate sale or development field as referrals. We have over 30 years of experience in the real estate field. Bill McGuinness Sun Homes SUN HOMES is a vertically integrated land development, design and construction management company. Bob Dale and Bill McGuinness joined forces in 2006 under the Sun Homes brand name to bring together a combined experience of over 50 years in large-scale residential development. Over the last decade the two individually and together have developed thousands of housing units in the Northeast, including luxury townhome and condominium communities, multi-family housing and large-scale land developments. Mortgage Planners John Stearns Mortgage Planners Sue Costanzo AKDO For two decades, AKDO has been quietly designing, manufacturing, quarrying, sourcing and importing superior natural stone and tile to the United States. Through a devotion to quality and service, AKDO founder Hakki Akbulak has established a distribution network of America’s finest tile showrooms and built a reputation for excellence throughout the tile and stone community. AKDO also owns and has exclusive rights to several quarries, and with sister company Silkar owns three factories in Turkey and China where stone is processed and crafted into 2.5 million square feet per year of exquisite mosaics, tiles, and slabs. 16 HBRA of Fairfield County | JANUARY 2018
Zach Marchetti Marchetti Consulting Engineers Marchetti Consulting Engineers is an award-winning firm that specializes in the engineering of new, and the renovation of existing, industrial, commercial, and residential projects We are a family-run company established in 1986. Peter Marchetti is the principle of our multi-facetted firm, with over 37 years of experience in system design engineering. We have state of the art software capabilities that enable our team to produce design documents that meet the highest standards in the industry. Our diverse team is able to coordinate our engineering services in house, greatly simplifying the design process and ensuring minimal conflicts. Welcome our newest affiliate members Kate Silva AKDO Christi Blad Marvin Windows and Doors A.W. Hastings & Company LLC Danica Caruso Jason Ferry CAFD 13/16" 3/4" ILINE 1902 ILINE 1901S ILINE 1903 ILINE 1903S The ILINE Collection is a comprehensive moulding program that offers a fresh pallet of new and vibrant profiles that will be an enhancement to any interior space. These profiles are divided into categories based upon their specific application. To ensure that the proper mouldings are specified in the project, simply write the corresponding ILINE moulding number in your specifications, or architectural plans. View and download profiles at interstatelumber.com JANUARY 2018 | HBRA of Fairfield County 17 7 1/4" 5 3/4"
BUILDER NEWS How Local Recruiters Can Help Construction Find Talent Amid A Shortage O ptimism about the economic future of the construction industry is high, and employers expect to increase their payrolls in the coming year and beyond, according to the Associated General Contractors of America — but no one is really sure where the labor to support all that activity is going to come from. And while the attention has largely focused on how hard it is to find skilled craft workers like carpenters, construction companies are also struggling to fill open slots for positions such as superintendents and project managers. It is for those jobs where some in the industry turn to professional recruiters. Recruiters count both candidates and construction companies among their clients and work to arrange the best matches between the two. But, according to industry experts, that sounds simpler than it is. “We use what we call a career-directed approach,” said Mark Jones, executive vice president and national sales manager at Kimmel & Associates. Jones said Kimmel is in a constant state of recruiting, not just when a job order comes in. The company’s sales team identifies qualified individuals and reaches out to them, whether they’re open to an opportunity at the time or not. “We may find some people looking immediately or looking for something years down the road,” he said. Workers in the prime of their careers, the recruiter said, could be looking to make a move at some point, and want to stake out a position geographically closer to where they plan to retire. Most recently, Jones said he placed someone he first made contact with 16 years ago. The candidate wasn’t happy with his company’s new ownership, a prospect that seemed unlikely when they spoke for the first time so many years ago. “It’s all about building and maintaining relationships,” he said, “and building trust. People take our calls because they know we’re not going to waste their time.” But that trust is just as important on the company side as well. After all, both contractors and candidates make up the company’s immense database, Jones said, and oftentimes the contractors they’ve maintained personal relationships with are a primary — and exclusive — source for candidate leads, an invaluable tool when supply is tight. “It’s tough because good candidates aren’t out there looking for a job,” said Brian Binke, CEO and president of Detroit-area recruiting firm The Birmingham Group. Binke chalked up the tight supply to the Great Recession of 2007 to 2009 and to the lack of programs in high schools that might spark an interest in the construction industry as a career. “A lot of companies got lean and mean or went out of business [during the recession],” he said. “At the same time, kids don’t see [construction] as a fun industry. Young people don’t know if they’re good at it or not because they’re not exposed to it.” Read More 18 HBRA of Fairfield County | JANUARY 2018 ABC: Contractors Should Monitor Rising Material Prices S oftwood lumber is one input price that is sure to rise in the coming months as the U.S. and Canada wade through a legal battle over the material. Earlier this month, the U.S. International Trade Commission affirmed final tariffs on Canadian softwood lumber imports, ruling that those imports had hurt the U.S. lumber industry. In November, Canadian officials had initiated a North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) trade challenge against duties on $5.66 billion worth of U.S. lumber imports before formally opening a case at the World Trade Organization over the material. Canada said it will seek a review of the action under NAFTA’s dispute process The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) has pushed back against the U.S.-imposed tariffs, arguing that it will increase homebuilding costs and hurt the new housing market, which is already facing supply shortages. According to the NAHB, Canada supplies 95% of wood imports, which made up 33% of U.S. lumber supplies. Despite the threat of increased material costs, builder confidence increased by two points to a mark of 70 on the November NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index, its highest level since March and second-highest level since July 2005. Job growth, a rise in homeownership rates and a continuing shortage of available homes all drove the index higher, according to the NAHB. Read More
NAHB Commends Proposed Rule on Small Business Health Plans T he National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) today commended the Department of Labor (DOL) for issuing a proposed rule that is intended to expand access to health coverage by allowing more employers to form Small Business Health Plans, also known as Association Health Plans. “NAHB has been a long-time proponent of Small Business Health Plans as a means to provide quality, cost-effective health care for our members across the nation,” said NAHB First Vice Chairman Randy Noel, a custom home builder from LaPlace, La. “Today’s action by the DOL takes us an important step closer to implementing President Trump’s executive order on health care and creating more options for small businesses to provide health benefits to their employees.” Small Business Health Plans will provide small businesses access to better and more affordable health care plans, allow them to negotiate lower costs for coverage and level the playing field for smaller firms that want to help their workers and their families with their health care needs. Read More How To Prepare For A Construction Project Audit T here’s just something about the word “audit.” Whether it appears on a notice from some taxing authority or in a construction contract, the prospect of a third party poking around company records can be unsettling, even if there’s nothing to hide. Yet, project audits are something with which many contractors have to contend. From a financial perspective, audits on projects delivered via contracts like costplus-fee, cost-plus-fee with a guaranteed maximum price (GMP) and time and materials are fairly common. That’s because the risk to the owner is greatest in these arrangements Read More WE ARE NEW TECHNOLOGIES IN MOTION As the elevator and lift industry experts, Elevator Service Company is dedicated to finding the prefect product for your application. We offer the most reliable and efficient lift solutions in the industry. Our products come in every finish and option imaginable, so you can add your personal touch. 203-757-5000 www.ElevatorServiceCo.com CT Lic.# ELV. 400105 R1 ~ RI Lic. # 21 MA Lic.# EC-000093 Providing not one, but all Major Manufacturers Equipment JANUARY 2018 | HBRA of Fairfield County 19
BUILDER NEWS 8 Construction Trends To Watch In 2018 fter a robust 2017, commercial construction companies are anticipating an A even stronger 2018, with the majority reporting they plan to expand their staffs, according to Dodge Data & Analytics. As professionals seek to map out 2018 and beyond, there are a number of trends shaping the construction industry. Some are evolutions of past years, such as offsite construction and an increasing reliance on technology, and some trends are new, such as a focus on resiliency after the most damaging hurricane season on record and devastating fires in California. Other trends that will shape construction revolve around policy, both federal and state, the ongoing labor shortage and gargantuan projects, including Amazon’s much-anticipated HQ2. Read on for our list of the top eight trends to monitor this year. Resiliency takes center stage Resiliency is set to be one of the construction industry’s watchwords for 2018 after last year’s onslaught of hurricanes, heat waves, cold waves, flooding, tornadoes and wildfires. Property owners took a total financial hit that is still climbing and could reach nearly $400 billion, according to Vox. Rather than throwing up duplicate replacement structures, more owners will likely heed the call of organizations like the U.S. Green Building Council and demand resilient site and structure features. The USGBC in November announced it would adopt construction standard RELi, which awards points for resilient features such as adaptive design for extreme weather events and their resulting hazards, communications and first-aid resources. The Trump administration also used last year’s natural disasters to underscore how important building for resiliency is by declaring November 2017 as Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience Month. The administration’s proclamation was intended to highlight how important it is to keep vital infrastructure up and running — no matter the weather or other extreme conditions — for national security purposes. In the coming year, the industry may see more resilient projects mimic those already underway, like the raising of streets in Miami Beach or the building of earthquake-resistant skyscrapers sans rebar in California. Certainly architects, engineers and contractors will be critical to rebuilding efforts, but business as usual could be a thing of the past. Short on labor — still The construction industry will continue to contend with a limited supply of skilled craft workers. Officials in various parts of the country have used words like “dire” and “scary” to describe the availability of qualified labor as younger individuals resist construction as a career option and more baby boomers retire. The Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) reported in December that November construction employment increased to its highest level since the same month in 2008, but that this has resulted in a smaller pool of candidates, likely constraining future hiring efforts. Read More NAHB Launches New Campaign to Raise Safety Awareness Among Home Builders, Remodelers T he National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) launched Safety 365, a new member and public awareness campaign designed to ensure that building industry professionals have the information and resources to help keep construction workers safe and help minimize accidents, injuries and deaths. The initiative is designed to make construction safety a priority, every day, 365 days a year. “Our members realize the importance of jobsite safety because we know that our employees have families to return home to. We want to keep these workers safe from accidents and injuries,” said NAHB Chairman Randy Noel, a home builder and developer from La Place, La. “Safety 365 is an important initiative that will keep these efforts at the forefront of our industry.” The campaign is a joint effort of the NAHB Construction Safety Committee and Builders Mutual Insurance Co., which has supported NAHB’s workplace safety efforts since it worked with the association in 2006 to launch the SAFE awards, NAHB’s popular annual program honoring workplace safety efforts and highlighting innovative products and solutions. Read More 20 HBRA of Fairfield County | JANUARY 2018
Residential Remodeling Spending Trending Up S pending on residential remodels will continue to grow at a modest pace in the next two years, according to experts at a press conference hosted by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Remodelers at the International Builders’ Show (IBS) in Orlando, Fla. Professional remodelers from around the country agreed with the forecast, citing increased consumer confidence. NAHB predicts that remodeling spending for owner-occupied single-family homes will increase 4.9 percent in 2018 over 2017 and an additional 0.6 percent in 2019. “Remodeler confidence has stabilized at a positive level, as remodeling spending topped $152 billion in 2017,” said 2017 NAHB Remodelers Chair Dan Bawden, CAPS, CGP, CGR, GMB, a remodeler from Houston. “There is steady demand around the country, but the cost of labor and materials is challenging remodelers’ ability to meet that demand.” “NAHB estimates that real spending on home improvements will grow by nearly 5 percent in 2018, as below-normal rates of home building are creating an aging housing stock,” said Paul Emrath, NAHB vice president for survey and housing policy research. “Factors inhibiting stronger growth include the ongoing labor shortage and rising material prices.” Read More OSHA Renews Commitment To Safe Workplaces For Women Construction Workers O SHA previously launched a webpage dedicated to promoting the safety of women construction workers and laying out the unique challenges women may face on the jobsite. One major concern is PPE — notably, making sure that there is safety equipment available that fits women who are often smaller in stature or otherwise not suited for the PPE worn by their male counterparts. Read More THE SMART CHOICE For Making Your Dream Kitchen A Reality SMART HOME CONTROL THERMADOR SUBZERO / WOLF GE MONOGRAM ...and more BEST SERVICE AT THE GUARANTEED BEST PRICE In-Store And Online 2770 Summer Street • Stamford, CT 06905 203-327-2630 STORE HOURS: MON & THURS: 9AM-9PM | TUES, WED, FRI & SAT: 9AM-6PM | SUN: 11AM-5PM www.countytv.com JANUARY 2018 | HBRA of Fairfield County 21
FREE ADVERTISING OPPORTUNITY ASSOCIATE SPOTLIGHT The HBRA of Fairfield County is offering a VALUEADDED membership opportunity to promote your business in our digital monthly magazine Building Connections! Interstate+Lakeland Lumber Corp. Since 1922 Interstate + Lakeland Lumber has been dedicated to servicing the needs of the area’s finest builders throughout Westchester and Fairfield counties. Committed to providing the highest quality of service and materials in the area with competitive pricing, Interstate + Lakeland Lumber has established itself as one of the leaders in product knowledge and representation. From framing lumber, both dimensional and engineered, to windows, siding, and trim, Interstate + Lakeland Lumber can supply the full array of building materials to suit any type of project. We are most proud of our molding program with over 300 molding profiles in stock that make up the IL Greenwich Collection. Interstate + Lakeland Lumber just recently launched 40 additional profiles to make up their new “ILINE Collection”. With our 100,000 sq ft millwork manufacturing and distribution center located in Bethel CT, we are leading the industry on the custom mill work side of the business for both interior and exterior production. Interstate + Lakeland Lumber is proud to be one of Brian Kurtz the few and remaining successful family owned and operated businesses that has entered into its fourth 26 HBRA of Fairfield County | JUNE 2017 generation with the addition of Brian. This rich and vibrant tradition continues to grow as the company enters its 96th year in business. Brian joined the company in 2008 eager to continue its great success, and has played key role in helping chart the future course of Interstate + Lakeland Lumber. As an outside salesman for the past five years he has managed to grow existing customer relationships as well as develop new ones with some of the top builders in the area. He brings passion and enthusiasm every day to his work and is constantly looking for ways to improve customer satisfaction. Over the next five years Brian plans to continue his growth in all aspects of the company and focus on bringing in the next generation of dedicated IL employees to help Interstate flourish. Please stop into Interstate + Lakeland Lumber’s award winning Window and Door showroom in Greenwich CT, or any one of the 5 locations to speak with our knowledgeable and friendly staff that represent the Interstate and Lakeland Lumber family. We look forward to supplying your next job.” Interstate+Lakeland Lumber Corp. 184 South Water Street Greenwich CT 06830 www.interstatelumber.com The Monthly Spotlight includes: • 1 FREE Full Page in the Building Connections Magazine • Space for company contact information and logos, linked to your website • Opportunity to display homes for sale, listing information, and notable homes • Opportunity to display awards and recognitions • See Pages 24 and 26 for examples. CONTACT clare@buildfairfieldcounty.com to reserve your space today! Financing some of the top builders in Fairfield County. People you trust, service you expect, and products to fit your financial needs. • Construction Financing • Commercial Mortgages • Term Loans • Revolving Lines of Credit 877.431.7431 • www.fairfieldcountybank.com NMLS ID #516624 EQUAL HOUSING L E ND E R MEMBER FDIC 22 HBRA of Fairfield County | JANUARY 2018
DEAR SANDLER COACH Dear Sandler Coach, What’s the most efficient way to prospect? - Jane T HBRA JOB BANK The HBRA JOB BANK is a FREE service for HBRA Members. If you would like to have a job posted, please use the Job Posting form to submit the information. The fee for Non-members is $50. Please contact the HBRA office at 203-335-7008 or email us for more information, FREE Resume Posting (Open to the public) E-mail your resume in Microsoft Word or Adobe Acrobat PDF format. Subject line: JOB BANK. Do not include your resume as body copy in an e-mail. Include a short paragraph summary of your skills or what type of job you are seeking. The HBRA of Fairfield County is not an employment agency nor will the HBRA recommend or refer any person seeking employment. It is up to the Member to contact an applicant directly and make employment decisions. Murphy Brothers Contracting Construction Site Supervisor Murphy Brothers Contracting is hiring for a Site Supervisor position with at least 5 years’ experience. This highly motivated individual must be knowledgeable of all construction phases from excavation through finishes, communicates well, understands how to read blueprints, has good problem-solving skills, and is comfortable working with work-related computer programs. Qualified candidates must be able to work closely with Project Manager, homeowners, architects, designers and coworks. For more information, contact Michael Murphy at michael@murphybrothers.com Dear Jane, Unfortunately there is no silver bullet to prospecting, I think if there was we would all be doing it. When I talk to my clients about prospecting the first thing I ask is - Who are you looking to talk to? Start with a specific target, is it homeowners? CEO’s? HR? Woman? Men? Then you have to essentially get into the mind of those people, where would they likely go to get their information? What kind of organizations do they belong to? What are their daily habits? If you don’t know these answers you could always ask your existing clients. My prospecting world is a combination of a lot of different avenues from cold calling to seats on local boards to networking events and even our 3 foot rule. If someone is in 3 feet of you there is an opportunity to strike up a conversation. The other big part of this is what your message to your prospect is. When you have them on the phone or when you are in front of them, what are you asking? How are you positioning your product or service? What kind of messages/emails are you sending? We have saying at Sandler - You don’t have to like prospecting, you just have to do it! It’s a much larger conversation but hopefully some of this helped. - John John J. Fazio, Jr. John’s clients include the single entrepreneur all the way up to Fortune 500 companies in the areas of sales, leadership, management and customer service. Have a training question for John? Send your questions to hbra@buildfairfieldcounty.com JANUARY 2018 | HBRA of Fairfield County 23
TRAINING & SEMINARS OSHA10 Training T hank you to Ridgefield Supply Company for hosting our first OSHA10 classes of 2018! The HBRA of Fairfield County offers OSHA10 opportunities throughout the year to help our members receive and maintain their certifications. We also offer educational classes in topics such as building code updates, sales, marketing, time management and more. Please visit www.buildfairfieldcounty.com for a full list of our current opportunities or contact us if you have suggestion on classes that can be helpful to you and your business! 24 HBRA of Fairfield County | JANUARY 2018
EDUCATION SURVEY Do you have a new idea for a seminar? Do you want to take a class that the HBRA doesn’t offer? Let us know! Contact hbra@buildfairfieldcounty.com express your interest in a new class or to give us a recommendation. JANUARY 2018 | HBRA of Fairfield County 25
MEMBER BENEFITS Verizon 22% OFF monthly access fees and more NPP offers members exclusive savings on a variety of Verizon Wireless services for business. Plus, you can also share Verizon discounts with your employees. Sign up today so your business can start saving with the nation’s largest and most reliable 4G LTE network. NPP members receive • 22% OFF monthly access fees for eligible members* • 25% discount on select accessories • Special promotions on equipment • *Corporate liable lines only. $34.99 or higher, 5–line minimum, 2 corporate lines required. • *Industry eligibility requirements apply. MEET THE MOST POWERFUL BUSINESS PARTNERS IN FAIRFIELD COUNTY. Kathryn A. Eren, VP, Cash Management Officer; Lisa Stuard, AVP Commercial Loan Administrator; Maureen Hanley-Bellitto, SVP, Commercial Team Leader; Gregory Pastor, Jr. VP, Commercial Banking Officer; Kim Karl, VP, Commercial Banking Officer; Deep community roots. Unrivaled market knowledge. Unmatched customer service. When a bank builds its commercial banking team around the values that truly make a difference in helping your business and community grow and prosper, that’s more than banking. That’s changing the way you bank. Talk to us today. Visit bankatunited.com/commercial Member FDIC Equal Housing Lender 26 HBRA of Fairfield County | JANUARY 2018
Staples Savings on supplies and services Staples Business Advantage is designed to help you consolidate business purchasing with one convenient vendor. Sign up and save on office supplies and solutions for all of your company’s needs, including technology, furniture, printing, promotional items and more. Staples Business Advantage delivers it all to you NPP members receive • 250,000+ items competitively priced to satisfy diverse product and category needs • Manufacturer-direct program of furniture solutions • FREE next business-day delivery on most standard orders over $30 • Fast and secure ordering at www.staplesadvantage.com Not signed up yet? All HBRA Members are eligible! Visit www.mynpp.com, select Company, then Construction, then Residential. Select HB&RA - Home Builders and Remodelers Associations from the dropdown menu, complete the enrollment and START SAVING! HBRA_BldgConnectionsMag_HlfPg_Ad_8x5.25.indd 1 12/28/17 4:27 PM JANUARY 2018 | HBRA of Fairfield County 27
MEMBER BENEFITS FCA US LLC A Great Offer for NAHB Members FCA US LLC is pleased to announce a special $500 cash allowance toward the purchase or lease of many of the most popular vehicles in our lineup. Between Chrysler, Dodge, FIAT®, Jeep® and Ram®, there’s something for everyone. NAHB members and their employees can combine this stackable $500 cash allowance with most current retail incentives and choose an On The Job program allowance. Plus, same household family members receive a $500 cash allowance, stackable with most local and national retail incentives, toward the purchase or lease of a vehicle. • NAHB member business owners and their employees also receive On The Job program benefits. These benefits include: • No-Extra-Charge-2-Year Gas/Diesel Lube-Oil Filter Allowance • Up to $1,000 Commercial Graphics Program Allowance • Up to $1,000 Commercial Equipment/Upfit Allowance • $300-$1,000 Allowance on Select Mopar® Service Contracts Redeem this offer today! Here’s How: When you’re ready to make a purchase or lease, follow these simple steps to ensure you’ll receive all your member benefits: • Shop the eligible FCA US LLC vehicles online or at any Chrysler, Dodge, FIAT®, Jeep®, or Ram® dealership • Working with the dealership salesperson, make your best deal – combining applicable local and national retail incentives and special programs • Inform the dealer and provide proof that you are a NAHB member, or you are employed by or an immediate family member of a NAHB member to receive an additional NAHB $500 member cash allowance. Simply use the “Print my Proof of Membership” button above and take that form to the dealership. Click here for more information 28 HBRA of Fairfield County | JANUARY 2018
SPEND LESS TIME RUNNING PAYROLL • ADP provides excellent job costing payroll that quickly and easily flows into the general ledger • Mobile apps can be geographically fenced with job costing capabilities to satisfy your most complex payroll • Biometric finger scan to help prevent “buddy punching” • Quickly view balances, request time off, approve/deny requests Contact MunnCo to connect with ADP E: Dylan@munnco.com C: 406-459-4392 JANUARY 2018 | HBRA of Fairfield County 29
REdefining home improvement RingsEnd.com 800 390 1000 JANUARY 2018 | HBRA of Fairfield County 30
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