Category: Business Services
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Why California’s Building Code Sets the Standard for Construction Across the U.S.
Construction professionals carry the critical responsibility of delivering structures that are safe, habitable, accessible and energy efficient. A key component of that responsibility is adherence to current building codes and compliance best practices — both of which are essential for ensuring successful outcomes across every phase of a project. A foundational best practice is maintaining…
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How Disorganized Project Data Is Costing AEC Firms Millions
Information management isn’t just about staying organized. It’s about staying profitable. If you’re leading a busy architecture, engineering or construction firm (AEC), you’ve seen what happens when files get lost, RFIs slip through the cracks or your team spends hours chasing down the latest drawing. That waste adds up. The right information management system doesn’t…
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The Intrapreneur’s Guide to Building a U.S. Subsidiary from the Ground Up
Intrapreneurship — the art of harnessing entrepreneurial energy within an existing organization — takes many forms. It can be implemented at the department level, where a new department or team explores innovative approaches in operations, marketing, IT, etc. It can happen at the division level, where a new product, service or line of business is…
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How Construction Companies Are Replacing CFO Turnover with Team-Based Financial Leadership
In today’s construction industry, uncertainty is a constant. Volatile material costs, protracted billing cycles and razor-thin margins place significant strain on management teams. For many mid-sized subcontractors and GC’s, an emerging challenge is a revolving door in financial leadership – high turnover in the CFO role is creating a dangerous blind spot. Research shows that…
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Winning the Talent War: How Construction Firms Can Attract the Next Generation of Workers
The construction industry is at a tipping point. With seasoned workers aging out and too few young professionals stepping in, the labor shortage has gone from a looming issue to a full-blown crisis. According to the National Center for Construction Education and Research, 41% of the current construction workforce is expected to retire by 2031.…
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What Contractors Need to Know About Prompt Payment Statutes in Construction
Prompt payment statutes are laws enacted at the federal and state levels that set specific deadlines for payment and limit the amount of retention that can be withheld on construction projects. These statutes can apply to both public and private construction work, depending on the jurisdiction, and are designed to ensure that contractors, subcontractors and…
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10 Essential Sealcoating Strategies | For Construction Pros
Sealcoating is a significant part of our industry, whether directly or indirectly. Most of us deal with it in some capacity — and for many, it’s a substantial part of their business. This prompted me to reflect on various strategies and lessons learned over the years to optimize sealcoating jobs. When considering this topic, I…
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How Controlled Insurance Programs Help Large Construction Projects Avoid Failure
Large scale or “mega” construction projects routinely fail – and sometimes even small and mid-sized projects – costing project owners and governments billions of dollars and sometimes completing years after the expected completion date. In Toronto, the Eglinton Crosstown LRT is a particularly well known example, running at least five years behind schedule and costing millions more than initially…
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Let’s make a deal. Or maybe not?
Growing infrastructure investment, the expanding global middle class, increased housing demand, the need for data servers and falling interest rates: Given all these trends, it’s no surprise that the engineering and construction (E&C) sector is growing at a healthy clip (5% a year). That pace will likely accelerate and could reshape the market for decades.…
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Prioritizing Mental Health Over Branding
When I came into the asphalt industry, mid-way through 2022, one of the first calls I took was with the man who people told me was an “asphalt influencer,” and since I was so new I wanted to make sure I connected with him as soon as I could. I remember not really knowing what…