Socially Responsible Investments

To me, Socially Responsible Investing (SRI) may have a first cousin in the younger generation managers coming online today. These are people who care about ethical framework and community involvement on a deeper level. Gratefully, that’s been part of our corporate culture in different ways over time, and we’ve recently made our efforts more official. Giving back to the community can take several forms, but for us, there are three major resources:

Time. We’ve always encouraged those in the company to be active volunteers in their communities. This year, we formalized a program to show our support. It’s called Stewart/Perry Cares, and among several initiatives, allows each one of us to take a full day (paid) away from the office for service.

Space. Since we first moved to our new place about 10 years ago, we’ve been donating the space to non-profits who might need a venue for a meeting or event. We’ve lent out our conference room countless times, and allowed many groups of elementary school children to fish in our lake. Several fundraising dinners have taken place on our grounds. This is another easy way to contribute, and it’s fun for us as well.

Finances. We support several initiatives with our finances, from the Scouts to United Way, the Symphony and others. When it comes to investments, we consider both financial return and social or environmental impact, to find a win for both our company and the greater good.

Even small initiatives can make a big difference over time. To paraphrase John Harbert, an acquaintance from many years ago, “It’s not important how much you do, but that you do something.”

 

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11 Areas of Cyber Insurance You Should Know More About

Twenty years ago, no one had heard of cyber insurance, and a hacker was someone with a cough. As recently as 10 years ago, many people still did not know how exposed they were to clandestine attacks on their data.

Improve Bids with Database-Driven Numbers & Project Cost Histories

It is widely acknowledged that the construction industry is ripe for digital disruption. Yet, many general contractors and construction business owners struggle to determine which technology investments will deliver the biggest return on investment (ROI) for their companies. The good news is that many contractors are finding the largest ROI by focusing on the basics—establishing standardized, database-driven cost estimating processes.

How to Find the Right Bidding Software

Matt Vetter, vice president of Schafer Construction Inc., has tried a multitude of bidding tools over the years, with varying degrees of success. But, because his Brighton, Michigan-based firm is relatively small, he admits that “the tremendous learning curve and time commitment” involved in getting his team up to speed with an estimating software solution has not been a high priority.

Meet the Bid Boss

For most independent estimators, bid day isn’t (as the name suggests) one, crazy day that revolves around a single, prospective job. Unlike general contractors (GCs), who run a team of people grinding out final numbers, these estimators have rolling deadlines and proposals due daily, making every day bid day.

3 Main Ingredients in Colantonio Inc.’s Recipe for Success

As one of the largest industries worldwide, there is no shortage of great construction organizations outperforming year after year. However, there are a few companies that build a strong legacy of performance with a team that not only has created a superior culture, but also serves as a magnet in their market, geography and niches.

The competition looks at these industry icons and often seeks to capture their “lightning in a bottle.”

Common Licensing Pitfalls

States are cracking down on unlicensed contracting, implementing everything from sting operations and construction site sweeps to consumer hotlines that identify unqualified or fraudulent operators. But professional, licensed contractors can also be cited for unlicensed practice due to innocent mistakes and quirks made during state licensing processes.