Adventures In Construction - Plumbing and Mechanical

In my last blog, I introduced a partnership BNP Media forged with BirdDog Jobs, a career center specializing in the skilled trades. Today, we’re pleased to announce another partnership.

by Tim Fausch | June 21, 2011 | Comments (8)

Finding and Filling Jobs in Your Market, Part 1

For the last two years, more than 13+ million U.S. workers have been unemployed, many for very long stretches.

by Tim Fausch | June 1, 2011 | Comments (0)

Three Business Insights Gained While Running Through Hershey

This week I attended the last National Association Oil Heating Service Managers Show in Hershey, PA. Actually, it’s not the last show for this fine organization, but it will be the last show by that exact name.

by Tim Fausch | May 26, 2011 | Comments (0)

Truest Grit

Construction and maintenance pros, do you have what it takes to takes to excel today? I'm not talking about aggressive cost cutting or crazy-efficient management techniques. Chances are you are already doing those things.

by Tim Fausch | April 12, 2011 | Comments (2)

Want to Run a Profitable, Growing Company? Don’t Miss this Free Webinar

Al Levi could have packed it in, gone to Arizona, and led the good life. After all, he sold his contracting company back when the economy was still vibrant.

by Tim Fausch | April 1, 2011 | Comments (2)

Providing Eye Candy for Your Customers

Last week I spent a couple days at the Coverings Show in Las Vegas. Usually, I’m very focused at trade shows on meeting readers or advertisers and talking about their specific interests.

by Tim Fausch | March 24, 2011 | Comments (1)

Winning the Race: Expo Generates New Optimism

The last two years remind me of running in the San Diego Marathon. It was a brutally hot event. At the starting line, race organizers distributed salt packets and issued dire warnings to slow our pace – or face the consequences.

by Tim Fausch | February 14, 2011 | Comments (0)

Builders Show Spotlights Innovative Products

The International Builders Show (IBS) always delivers panache. Building product manufacturers use the industry’s biggest stage to unveil their latest and greatest designs, often with the excessive exuberance needed to stand out among the sea of products on display.

by Tim Fausch | January 28, 2011 | Comments (2)

2011 Building Forecast: Sustainable with a Chance of Profits

Canvassing the International Builders Show (IBS) usually is like drinking water from a fire hose. Fortunately, this year’s version was easier to ingest.

by Tim Fausch | January 21, 2011 | Comments (0)

Building Pros Help a Hero, Turn a House into a Home

At first, I did not notice the all-access design of the NextGen Experience house. But then I spotted Waldemar Alameda, a 39-year-old father of two. He was using a walker to navigate the crowded house.

by Tim Fausch | January 17, 2011 | Comments (0)

Water Quality Takes Center Stage

Blame it on the recession. Concerns over water quality seem to drop from the public’s radar for much of 2009 and 2010.

by Tim Fausch | January 7, 2011 | Comments (0)

Aliens Among Us: A Tribute to Engineers

I’ve been thinking a lot about engineers lately and concluded they must be alien beings. For reasons I do not understand, God sent these advanced life forms to earth to keep people like me from mass chaos. There must be an engineering angel whose job is to keep us from self-destruction.

by Tim Fausch | December 23, 2010 | Comments (0)

Could Health Care Costs Derail a 2011 Construction Comeback?

I’ve been feeling pretty good about 2011. There are several signs the economy is rebounding. Many construction-related firms throughout the supply chain have indicated they are gradually climbing out of their respective holes.

by Tim Fausch | December 1, 2010 | Comments (3)

Sharing the American Dream with Illegal Immigrants

Whenever pro-amnesty groups would claim we need illegal immigrants to do the work U.S. citizens do not want to do, my blood would boil.

by Tim Fausch | November 3, 2010 | Comments (16)

Vote for Someone on Tuesday; Submit Your Company’s Story

In the last two weeks, I’ve traveled to Las Vegas twice for construction trade shows. While there, I had to turn off the TV in my hotel room to escape the tidal wave of negative political ads.

by Tim Fausch | October 29, 2010 | Comments (0)

Moving On...It’s Time to Share Your Story

I don’t know about you, but I’m getting really ticked off by the overreaction to every shift in the economy, especially those that relate to the A/E/C and maintenance fields.

by Tim Fausch | October 4, 2010 | Comments (4)

Floods of Opportunity for Construction Pros

Last week I drove to Nashville for the birth of my first grandchild. While there I visited an area next to the Cumberland River, which flooded on May 2, killing 30 people and causing at $1 billion in damage

by Tim Fausch | August 13, 2010 | Comments (3)

Virtual Green Expo Promises Expert Sustainable Building Tips (Free Sign up Ends Aug. 5)

Here’s your chance to be part of something groundbreaking - the first all-green virtual conference and expo designed for readers of our print magazines, Web sites, eNewsletters and digital editions.

by Tim Fausch | July 30, 2010 | Comments (1)

Nailed and Jailed for DUI

If I don’t change my life-endangering behavior quickly, I will be pulled over, ticketed, fined, and possibly jailed if I repeatedly drive under the influence.

by Tim Fausch | July 16, 2010 | Comments (7)

Flooring Producer Supports Haiti Rebuilding Using 'Hands-on' Approach

You got to love a charitable program that requires a “hands-on” involvement among the participants.

by Tim Fausch | July 9, 2010 | Comments (1)

"Cash for Caulkers": Potentially Good News for Construction Pros

The Home Star Energy Retrofit Act of 2010, often referred to as the "Cash for Caulkers" rebate program, was approved by the House in May. If passed by the Senate, construction pros will benefit from a new round of tax-reducing incentives for their customers.

by Tim Fausch | July 2, 2010 | Comments (0)

Helping Construction Pros Navigate In a Digital World

Not long ago, most professionals belonged to their national, state or local association. Or they belonged to a peer group, civic club, or some organization that exposed them to new ideas, skills, and tools, all while networking with other pros.

by Tim Fausch | June 25, 2010 | Comments (1)

World Cup Stadium Construction Is Breathtaking, But What’s Hiding in South Africa’s Shadows?

Apparently, there’s a little soccer tournament starting today called the “2010 FIFA World Cup”. I understand it will attract hundreds of millions of viewers from around the globe.

by Tim Fausch | June 11, 2010 | Comments (0)

Here’s a New Trade Show Everyone Can Attend

I’ve always been baffled by the low turnout for many construction-related trade shows. Even when the number of attendees reaches record levels, the total represents a fraction of the universe of contractors, engineers, architects, wholesalers, and maintenance pros who should be attending.

by Tim Fausch | June 8, 2010 | Comments (2)

Gulf Coast Oil Leak: Environmental Catastrophe vs. U.S. Independence

I’m an ardent fan of the great outdoors. I run and bike on nature trails. I’m the family recycling nut. My favorite vacation destinations are Zion National Park, The Grand Canyon, Glacier National Park, and Bryce Canyon. I love lakes, rivers and the ocean.

by Tim Fausch | May 28, 2010 | Comments (2)

Safety Gone Wrong

Last week I received an email with the headline, “Have a Safe Work Week” from blogger extraordinaire John Sonnehalter. John was promoting North American Occupational Safety & Health Week, which ran May 2-8. I had great intentions of blogging on this topic during the designated week.

by Tim Fausch | May 17, 2010 | Comments (4)

Steam Room Design Brings Back Adolescent Fears

After decades of quiet avoidance, I recently found the courage to enter a public steam room. Finally, I was prepared to overcome adolescent memories of a sauna experience gone badly.

by Tim Fausch | April 16, 2010 | Comments (0)

Four Expanding Markets You Should Pursue Now

I recently attended my first-ever security industry trade show, ISC West, which took place at the Sands Convention Center in Las Vegas March 24-26. The show, which connects security product manufacturers with integrators/installers/security officers, was encouraging on several levels.

by Tim Fausch | April 5, 2010 | Comments (1)

Construction/Service Pros: It’s Twitter Time…Really

A year ago, I told a co-worker that Twitter was a fad. It would not last, I pronounced, because it was fluff and provided no clear benefit. Who cares where tweeters are eating lunch?

by Tim Fausch | March 23, 2010 | Comments (3)

Media Madness and Construction Pros

Last week, I experienced a different kind of March Madness. I spent three days in Manhattan at meetings focused on e-media trends and developments. My head is still spinning.

by Tim Fausch | March 16, 2010 | Comments (0)

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