SAN ANTONIO — At the Construction Contractors’ Alliance (CCA) meeting here, Sept. 15-17, author and Inc. Magazine Editor-at-Large Bo Burlingham shared the successful attributes of 14 privately held companies. The characteristics, fully adaptable to new construction businesses, included charting your own course, having strong ties with your customers and suppliers, being deeply rooted in your community, putting employees first and having an emotional attachment to your business.
To adapt to the changing marketplace, CCA members learned how to focus on analyzing trends and identifying opportunities. For example, a full afternoon was devoted to presentations and discussions about sustainable practices for new construction that can produce profit.
To gain a behind-the-scenes understanding of how contracts are selected and how subcontractors may be able to negotiate differently to get more jobs, CCA members learned the latest trends about construction management from Leland Rocchio, vice president of development for Lyda Swinerton. Also, George Hedley of Hardhat Presentations shared insight on how to get your business to work in a tough economy, including ways to increase contract award odds through bidding and negotiating tactics.
In roundtable meetings, members reviewed different performance indicators that help manage and direct their companies. They also shared business solutions they have discovered and implemented since the winter 2010 CCA meeting
The group also toured a LEED-certified facility at the renovated Pearl Brewery mixed-use development in San Antonio and then exchanged ideas with various experts in sustainable products, such as energy-efficient mechanical systems, rainwater harvesting, solar hot water and dual-flush toilets.
Presenters and sponsors were Adam Bailey, Apricus Solar Water Heaters; Shawn Hatley, BRAE Rainwater Systems; Jami Keller, Daikin; and Eddie Wilcut, Caroma USA’s National Water Conservation Manager. Wilcut, former conservation manager of the San Antonio water system, facilitated the session.
Plans are under way for the next CCA meeting, which will be in March 2011. Non-members of CCA are invited and encouraged to attend the meeting. And if you join CCA during the meeting, your registration fee will be applied to your first year of membership.