NWCB’s Executive Director Looks Forward to the Wall and Ceiling Conference & Trade Show
In a special episode of If Walls Could Talk, broadcasted live from BUILD24, W&C Associate Editor Michael Levitt interviews Gabriel Quintana, the new executive director of the Northwest Wall and Ceiling Bureau, discussing the upcoming Wall and Ceiling Conference & Trade Show. Quintana, enthusiastic about his recent appointment, emphasizes the importance of community engagement and soliciting member feedback to drive the association forward, as NWCB collaborates with other industry organizations to expand the conference’s reach and enhance its educational offerings.
W&C talks with influencers in the industry who are making an impact. We are helping educate and entertain the wall and ceiling industry as only W&C can do. What brought these people to the industry? What’s in store for the contractor? And “If Walls Could Talk,” what stories would they tell? Find out all of this and more on each episode.
Protecting Your Business from Fraud
The Association for Financial Professionals’ annual survey highlights a significant rise in payment fraud, with 80 percent of businesses falling victim in 2023, particularly through checks and ACH credits. In an interview with W&C Group Publisher Jill Bloom, Thea Dudley discusses these findings and offers contractors practical advice on enhancing their financial security, including cybersecurity training and using payment portals. Despite the alarming statistics, there is hope, as 41 percent of fraud victims managed to recover most of their lost funds.
Resiliency in Retrofit Roofing
In this episode of If Walls Could Talk, W&C Editor John Wyatt interviews Tom Harris of Tom Harris PUR Consulting about the significance of retrofit roofing in resilient construction. Harris highlights that, while repairing and upgrading commercial roofs is beneficial for addressing local issues like leaks, there is a greater opportunity to consider energy conservation and environmental impact. He emphasizes the need for roofing contractors to be knowledgeable about the energy savings and CO2 reduction from added insulation.
Partner’s Insulation: Working for the Customers
In this special episode of If Walls Could Talk, W&C Associate Editor Michael Levitt speaks with Elva Jimenez of Partner’s Insulation. The company, which is based in Boise, Idaho, is on the cover of W&C’s June issue and has been able to grow to 62 employees and three locations in just six years.
Understanding Independent Sales
In this exclusive episode, W&C Legal Insights Expert Trent Cotney, partner with Adams & Reese, highlights some recent calls he’s taken from contractors when it comes to sales representatives. He breaks down the difference between 1099 and W-2 workers when it comes to sales, recorded at the Florida Roofing and Sheet Metal Association Expo in Kissimmee, Florida.
Top Three Hiring Tips
In this episode of If Walls Could Talk, Jill Bloom talks with Matt DiBara of The Contractor Consultants about the critical process of hiring new employees. DiBara, a fourth-generation contractor, shares three essential tips: considering the candidates’ perspective, crafting compelling job ads and carefully evaluating interview performance against actual work quality.
Dear Anna: Where to Use AI in Marketing?
Contracting may not seem like the most obvious place where artificial intelligence can be useful, but if contractors are open-minded, they’ll find AI can make them more productive. In this episode, Anna Anderson, CEO of Art Unlimited, explains how AI can be used to assist in marketing efforts.
Utilizing EIFS for Greater Long-Term Benefits
In the latest episode of If Walls Could Talk, W&C’s Jill Bloom and John Wyatt speak with Stephen Sears, CEO and executive director of EIMA, about the association’s initiatives and the status of its goals. Sears provides an update on this year’s EIMA event in Texas, including the renaming of its competition to the EIFS Excellence Awards, membership growth and educational courses. He also discusses the Arcadis 2024 International Construction Costs report and EIFS’ long-term benefits for building owners, sharing his thoughts on the future of the system and the industry.
Cybersecurity Insight: Top Hacks You Must Know Now!
Protecting your company’s information is not something to be taken lightly. Bill Collins, director of national accounts at Servco, and Hasshi Sudler, professor at Villanova University, share ways your firm can safeguard its information from cybercriminals and prepare for the event that you are hacked.
