DSG Connections 2017, issue 2

How To Take A Vacation When You’re The

Boss

2017 – ISSUE 2

CONNECTIONS

UNIFORMS:

DOING SOMETHING GOOD

LOOKING GOOD IS GOOD FOR BUSINESS

Real-life stories of people helping out off the clock

THE BENEFITS OF BUILDING INFORMATION MODELING (BIM)

Introducing The ASPIRE Design Showroom Gallery

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PROPELLING OTHERS FORWARD BY GIVING SOMETHING BACK

Many programs and organizations would not be possible if it weren’t for the help and support of those who volunteer. Here are just a few of the incredible people who give so much.

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DOING SOMETHING GOOD

Check out some of the ways DSG employee owners have given back this past year.

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HOW TO TAKE A VACATION WHEN YOU’RE THE BOSS For the owner or manager of a contracting company, it can be hard to take a day off.

Get some proven tips for planning your escape.

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THE BENEFITS OF BIM Building Information Modeling (BIM) is changing the way we think about

constructing or even remodeling a building. Check out how BIM can make projects more successful and your job easier.

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INTRODUCING THE ASPIRE DESIGN SHOWROOM GALLERY ASPIRE is not your average showroom. Learn more about the

unique philosophy behind DSG’s newest facility.

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LOOKING GOOD IS GOOD FOR BUSINESS Uniforms might provide just the boost your company is looking

for. Here are some of the reasons that more and more contractors are using uniforms to help them succeed.

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THE WIN COLUMN |

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AN UPFRONT ADVANTAGE Read how Flock’s Heating and Air Conditioning

used upfront pricing to change things dramatically for its business.

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PROFILES | HEADLINES

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WATER METER CHANGEOUT GUIDE For municipalities and rural water utilities that are thinking about an upcoming water meter

changeout in the next five years, here are some things to consider.

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“WAIT” LOSS PRODUCTS Learn about some labor-saving products that can help

contractors and electricians get the job done faster.

FIXTURES |

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Putting It Together The Power Of A Helping Hand – Todd Kumm ..............................................4

Meet The DSG Team Sandy Hrtanek ................................................................................................33 Steve Dulac ......................................................................................................44

Grow Your Business Social Prospects: Using Facebook To Recruit Employees ............................34

Grow Yourself Fueling Up For Hard Work ............................................................................26

Job Site Are Your Hiring Interviews Illegal? ................................................................30

News Wire Two DSG Employee Owners Named As NAED’s 30 Under 35 Winners .....46 DSG Named 2017 Supply House Of The Year By Supply House Times ..........46

Recommended Reading The Richest Man In Town ....................................................................................5

State Of The Industry HVAC/R – Greg Servais .................................................................................17 Waterworks – Malcolm Macdonald.................................................................29

I Didn’t Know DSG Did That!

DSG’s Barcode Advantage Program...............................................................42

Winning With DSG After Hours Expert Contest............................................................................45 Kohler Outdoor Adventure Program.............................................................45

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PUTTING IT TOGETHER |

THE POWER OF A HELPING HAND I’m always grateful that I work with an outstanding from these activities. Just the opposite. Somehow team of employee owners here at DSG, but I the more we give, the more we get back. When feel especially proud whenever I think of all the you’re really part of a community, the members good things they do that are above and beyond of that community recognize it, and that sense of their jobs. In this issue, you’ll read about a solidarity is worth more than money. few of the DSG employee owners who How does your business and the people volunteer their time to important it employs help those around you? How causes and worthy organizations. But does your business recognize and reward there are many more. Hundreds of those who make a positive impact in the DSG’s finest give their time every year communities they serve? If you only to help organizations find cures concentrate on dollars and cents, for diseases, inspire and care you’re overlooking the value in for youth, aid the homeless, human connections. Encourage support those who struggle your team to give of themselves, with addiction and encourage and you’ll find that they become groups that work to improve better teammates. Be flexible, TODD KUMM our planet’s resources. As and be supportive. It doesn’t need CEO, DSG a company, we support these to be expensive. Just about every efforts by providing them with time philanthropic organization in off and even matching donated funds with our the world would rather have your time than annual Pay It Forward campaign. your dollars.

It’s always been interesting to me that some of Get involved, and encourage your company the most powerful work we do has almost nothing to do the same. You may be surprised to see how to do with the products we sell or the services we much of a difference you can make. provide. That’s not to say that we don’t benefit

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The Richest Man In Town

By V.J. Smith This space is usually reserved for books written by and for entrepreneurs. These books teach us about return on investment and hourly rates, but few touch on life outside of work. This issue’s recommended reading, The Richest Man in Town

by V.J. Smith, has a place on your shelf beside those books, but it is definitely a different kind of story. Contrary to its title, The Richest Man in Town isn’t about money at all.

V.J. Smith, who lives in Brookings, SD, instead writes about life lessons he learned from Marty, an elderly man he met in a discount store checkout line. In fact, Marty was the cashier, and he made a point of stepping out from behind the checkout counter to shake the hand of each and every person he served – every day. Smith was so impressed by the gesture that he wrote a letter to the giant retailer’s corporate headquarters.

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That’s when things really took off. Marty was recognized nationally for his customer service, and Smith felt compelled to find out more about this kind old man who everybody in town seemed to recognize and acknowledge. He wanted to find out why customers routinely ignored open checkout lanes to wait in line for Marty. What set him apart?

The lion’s share of this refreshing little book (you should be able to read it in an hour or so) is spent describing Marty’s unique way of dealing with other people. He listens, he pays attention and he treats them with respect (even young children). The anecdotes are heartwarming, and the results speak for themselves, as the author soon learns that the entire town knows and loves Marty, often interrupting their lunchtime interviews to say hello.

As it turns out, this book

is something of an instruction manual for being the kind of person others want to be around. Marty earned respect and admiration without ever earning very much money, and Smith presents his story in a way that makes you want to become a better person yourself. Marty’s life was not easy (you’ll read about his impoverished youth and his traumatic service in World War II, for example), but he overcame long odds with a relentlessly positive attitude.

This book may not impact your bottom line, but it may very well change how you look at your life.

For a change of pace, pick up The Richest Man in Town, the story of Marty, a man who succeeded by putting others ahead of himself.

You can order this book directly from author and inspirational speaker V.J. Smith at www.vj-smith.com or from other booksellers.

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PROPELLING OTHERS

FOR WAR D

By Giving Something Back

Volunteering is a magnificent mix of generosity, compassion and hard work. Many of the nation’s most helpful programs and organizations would not be possible if it weren’t for the support of those who volunteer. From firefighting to disaster relief, from youth sports clubs to parent-teacher organizations, from homeless shelters to animal shelters, more than 62 million volunteers around the country have logged more than 7.8 billion hours of time this year alone to provide support to causes they care about.

DSG recognizes that business is never just about business. Instead, good business is about helping people to succeed and communities to thrive. Each year, as part of our Do Something Good program, we provide each employee owner four hours of paid leave to volunteer in his or her

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community. Of course that’s only a starting point.

Most employee owners who volunteer spend much more time than that with the causes they care about most. In addition, our Pay It Forward program provides more than $200,000 in annual donations to charities selected by our employee owners, including the Special Olympics, local children’s hospitals, the Salvation Army, the American Cancer Society and the United Way. While none of the effort put forth by DSG or our employee owners is self-serving, we thought a little recognition was due to some of the incredible people who give so much. While there were many to choose from, limited space compelled us to choose three stories of DSG employee owners to focus on in this issue. Look for more in future editions of Connections magazine.

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PROJECT ATHENA Foundation When Renee Anderson, executive assistant at DSG Fargo, heard Robyn Benincasa speak at a conference in 2015 about her experiences as founder of the Project Athena Foundation, she felt compelled to help.

Left to right: DSG’s Anderson reached out to fellow employee owner and Renee Anderson and Kaitlin Awe friend Kaitlin Awe at DSG’s Aberdeen branch to see if she would join her on a new adventure. Both women volunteered, and while it may have seemed impulsive at the time, it is a decision that they have never regretted.

“

The whole point is to give the survivor a chance to accomplish something bigger than themselves.

”

The Project Athena Foundation is a nonprofit aimed at helping those who have experienced a medical or traumatic setback to make a transition from “survivor” to “athlete.”

Survivors, or “Athenas” as the foundation calls them, include anyone (primarily women) who has experienced distressing circumstances such as a stroke, cancer, a major surgery or even an abusive relationship. They are offered the chance to go on one of six preplanned adventures (or to embark on one of their choosing) that include treks around the Grand Canyon, kayaking and cycling along the Florida Keys coastline and a

Three Reasons To Get Involved Ask anyone who volunteers, and they’ll tell you that they believe they are making a difference. In fact, volunteering has a positive impact on the lives of both those who need help and those who offer their time. Here’s how: 1. Volunteering can improve your health.

The Corporation for National & Community Service (CNCS) found that community service work leads to lower mortality rates, greater physical capabilities and improved mental health, particularly among baby boomer volunteers.

2. Volunteering can make you feel like you have more time.

According to a study by the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School, people who helped others felt like they had time to spare, felt more accomplished and felt they could do even more.

3. Volunteering can make your workplace stronger.

The Huffington Post reviewed volunteering through the workplace and found that such opportunities boost employees’ productivity, pride, gratitude and ethics.

Source: http://blog.mobileserve.com/2016/12/07/10amazing-volunteer-stats-wont-believe

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multisport trip to Santa Barbara, CA, to name a few. The events, whatever they may be, always provide Athenas with mental and physical challenges in a noncompetitive environment.

“The whole Anderson and Awe went on a 50-mile hike in support of the point is to give the Project Athena Foundation. survivor a chance to accomplish something bigger than themselves,” says Anderson. “To help them realize that it’s okay to ask for help along the way and that they can accomplish amazing things right now, despite what has happened to them in the past.”

Volunteers either donate or help to raise money to fund the trips for the Athenas, and they oftentimes accompany them on their adventures.

Together, DSG’s Anderson and Awe raised more than $5,000 for Athenas. “A lot of the money we raised came from family members and from our coworkers at DSG,” says Awe. “We are so grateful for everyone’s support and generosity.”

The two women also accompanied Athenas on a two-day, 50-mile urban hike along a route from Oceanside to Shelter Island in San Diego, CA, in April 2017. “It was exhausting, but that’s the point,” says Awe. “Having to dig deep and go on when you feel you can’t. That’s what a lot of these women are experiencing in life. When we got to the end, knowing that we finished and that we were a part of their accomplishment was tremendously fulfilling.”

The adventure was one that Anderson and Awe will remember for the rest of their lives, and it has reinforced the value of volunteering.

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“We’re often told that we have to make something for ourselves, to work hard and be successful for ourselves,” says Awe. “But volunteering, to work hard for someone else and ask nothing in return, is more rewarding than anything.”

You can learn more about the Project Athena Foundation at www.projectathena.org.

COTTAGE GROVE

Police Reserves

For 40 hours or more a week, Jeff Rossow sports a DSG polo shirt and is armed with a computer, serving as a purchasing agent at the company’s St. Paul, MN, branch. However, two nights a month, he wears a slightly different outfit that includes a taser, pepper spray and a baton.

Rossow has volunteered as a sergeant for the Cottage Grove Police Reserves since 2000. He used to be part of the local chapter of Patriot Guard Riders, a volunteer group of motorcyclists who accompany fallen military soldiers, first responders and police officers during funeral proceedings. He did this for several years, and after he was put on grand jury duty for a police officer shooting, he realized that he wanted to get even more involved with law enforcement. The Reserves were a perfect fit.

“

I’m honored and proud to be a part of the Reserves, and I take it very seriously.

”

The Cottage Grove Police Reserves are made up of citizen volunteers who assist the police department with a variety of responsibilities, from patrol duties and prisoner transports to community emergencies. Reserve members come from all walks of life – some of them seeking experience for a career in law enforcement, others

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looking to fulfill a civic duty. “They only accept people who have completed the academy training, passed the interview process and ‘have what it takes,’” says Rossow. “I’m honored and proud to be a part of the Reserves, and I take it very seriously.”

In this role, Rossow typically joins a fellow Reserve officer in a squad car, patrolling streets, neighborhoods and parks for suspicious activity.

Sometimes, he accompanies an official police officer. Reserves are on call 24 hours a day and are required to volunteer their time at least one night a month, patrolling on shifts that can last from 6:00 p.m. until 6:30 a.m. the next morning. They also participate in community events and parades.

While Reserves are not allowed to pull anyone over without the supervision of an official police officer or make an arrest (beyond a citizen’s arrest), they face many of the same risks as official law enforcement. “There’s definitely danger involved,” says Rossow. “You never know who or what you’re going to pull up on, and you’re exposed to some horrible sights. But the chance to support the brave men and women in blue is worth it.”

According to Rossow, he’s happy to be able to volunteer his time and give back to his community, and what volunteering has provided to him in return has been incredibly rewarding.

“Volunteering is so important,” he says. “I think that if you have the means and the time to do it, you should. It has made a big impact on my own life, and I’m a stronger person because of it.”

You can learn more about the Cottage Grove Police Reserves at www.cottage-grove.org/ police.

COMPANIONS For Children At DSG, Tavis Trosen is an account manager known for his great customer service. After hours, he’s known for his prowess as a competitor in international in-line skating competitions. At Companions for Children in Minot, ND, however, he’s known as a mentor and a friend.

Companions for Children pairs children ages 6 through 18 with volunteer mentors. These mentors serve as role models to provide fun and guidance to children during challenging and crucial times in their lives. Oftentimes, the children are from single-parent homes, but sometimes the kids just need a little extra positivity.

“

It doesn’t take a lot of effort, and the results can be huge.

”

Trosen was introduced to Companions for Children when one of DSG’s customers asked DSG to sponsor a table at one of the group’s events. Trosen was intrigued, and once he learned more about the organization, he wanted to get more involved.

DSG’s Jeff Rossow volunteers as a sergeant for the Cottage Grove Police Reserves.

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DSG’s Tavis Trosen

Trosen mentors a 17-year-old boy whose father is not in his life.

He spends about three to four hours every other week with the young man participating in fun activities, including sports, board games and video games. “It’s about being there for him,” says Trosen. “It doesn’t matter what we do, it just matters that we spend time together. I was fortunate to have an amazing childhood, and I believe that everyone deserves a little of that.”

For Trosen, the best part of volunteering his time is the impact that he’s having on his young friend. “He’s kind of shy and quiet,” says Trosen. “His mom pulled me aside one day, with tears, and said that every time he comes back from our time

together, he talks nonstop about what we did. It’s the happiest she has ever seen him. That was amazing to hear.”

For those who are undecided about whether they should volunteer and get involved, Trosen says there’s no reason not to. “It doesn’t take a lot of effort, and the results can be huge,” he says. “You can simply hang out with someone and play games and make a difference in their lives. If everyone just did a little something, imagine how things could be.”

You can learn more about Companions for Children at www.companionsforchildren.org.

Mentors can change kids’ lives for the better.

Here are some stats from Companions for Children to prove it. Kids with mentors are:

46% less likely than their peers to start using illegal drugs

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55% more likely to enroll in college

81% more likely to participate regularly in sports or activities

78% more likely to volunteer regularly

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DOING SOMETHING GOOD 1

DSG’s Jessica Kelner (left) and Melissa Lunak (right) volunteered as bell ringers for the Salvation Army.

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DSG Sioux Falls collected items and created chemotherapy care packages for local hospitals.

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DSG Dickinson helped collect items from customers for those affected by Hurricane Harvey.

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DSG Minot participated in the Nathan Artz Memorial Blood Drive (pictured left to right: DSG’s Luis Diaz, Rudy Bosque and Stacy Golde).

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DSG Helena hosted a Red Cross blood drive (pictured left to right: DSG’s Bill Martian and Greg Robson).

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DSG Kalispell adopted a family for the holidays through the Salvation Army, raising more than $350 and volunteering their time to shop for gifts and food (pictured: DSG’s Cheryl West).

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DSG Kalispell donated 500 pounds of food to the Montana Veterans Food Bank.

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DSG Sioux Falls collected school supplies for local schools.

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DSG Sioux Falls collected children’s reading books for the Sioux Falls Children’s Home Society.

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AN UPFRONT ADVANTAGE When you’ve been in business as long as Mark Flock has, you know a thing or two about running a successful company. He was just 26 years old when he and his brother, Tony, took over Flock’s Heating and Air Conditioning from their parents.

They’ve had their fair share of bumps along the way, but with hard work, a great crew and solid partnerships, Flock’s Heating and Air Conditioning is still thriving more than three decades later.

Flock’s Heating and Air Conditioning was founded as Flock’s Sheet Metal in 1960 by Clarence Flock, a distant relative of Mark and Tony’s. In 1970, their parents, Sylvester and Ramona Flock, bought the company. They had 11 children, so it was no surprise that the business has stayed in the family ever since.

Mark and Tony took over the company in 1985, and their brother Bill also became a partner in 1998. The three brothers diversified the business, and in 2002, they updated the company’s name to reflect their new focus on mechanical contracting.

Today, Flock’s Heating and Air Conditioning designs, installs and repairs all types of heating and cooling equipment, serving customers (mostly residential rural customers) throughout westcentral Wisconsin. The business is headquartered outside of Cashton, WI, about 30 miles west of La Crosse.

Flock’s Heating and Air Conditioning saw success early on, with a company focus rooted in strong customer service and high-quality work. But in 2000, Mark read an article in a trade magazine about upfront pricing, and it changed things dramatically – for the better.

At the time, pricing in the service department at Flock’s Heating and Air Conditioning was based on time and materials. For the unfamiliar, time and material pricing, as the name suggests, means you charge the customer for the actual hours

Mark Flock has co-owned Flock’s Heating and Air Conditioning for more than 30 years.

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Tony Flock, part owner of Flock’s Heating and Air Conditioning, works on a job in the 90s.

This radiant heating installation for an eight-unit apartment building showcases the quality and neatness of the work done by Flock’s Heating and Air Conditioning.

(based on an hourly rate) and actual material costs incurred to do the work. The final price of the project is only known once the project is complete. On the other hand, upfront pricing, sometimes referred to as flat rate pricing, is when you estimate the cost involved in the project and quote the customer a fixed price to do the work.

Barring any change orders, the customer knows before the project begins exactly how much he or she will owe when the job is done.

“For years, our guys would make a service call, write up a ticket based on who did the work and how long it took, and we would process it through our system,” says Mark. “The problem was that our customers weren’t getting billed until much later.

All of the happy feelings that they had because we had helped them were long gone. Now all they saw us as was a bill they had to pay. Customers would question how long we were on the job, how much we charged per hour and so on. It wasn’t working for us. Our installation department was pretty much subsidizing our service department, and we needed a change.”

After doing their homework, the company switched over to upfront pricing, and the results

were powerful. “Complaints about the price of our service virtually disappeared,” says Mark. “Not only that, but our accounts receivables dropped significantly as well. We were collecting payment right away, and our customers were happier. It was the best of both worlds.”

If you are going to switch your pricing model, Mark offers a few words of advice. “It’s important to base your pricing on what your overhead is, and charge what you think is fair,” he says. “You shouldn’t base your price on what everyone else is charging.”

It’s also important to be straightforward with your employees about what you’re doing. “Open your books, and show your crew the costs,” he advises. “Take the time to explain to them why you’re doing what you’re doing, and it will be easier to get everyone on board with the change.”

While the company experienced a boost in profitability after switching to upfront pricing, there’s more to the story. According to Mark, Flock’s Heating and Air Conditioning is thriving because of its focus on its honest customer service. “You should never take advantage of a homeowner,” says Mark. “I tell my crew not to Continued on page 16

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make recommendations that they wouldn’t make to their own parents.”

In addition, a mutual respect between employees and management has served Flock’s Heating and Air Conditioning well. The company addresses employee concerns regularly during meetings, offers a competitive benefit package that includes paid time off for birthdays and even a paid, companywide fishing day. As a result, Flock’s Heating and Air Conditioning has experienced extremely low turnover, with only one person leaving the crew (to pursue a new opportunity) in the last 10 years. “We care a lot about our employees,” says Mark, “and hopefully that shows.”

A solid partnership with its supplier has also played a role in the company’s success. Since its inception, Flock’s Heating and Air Conditioning has worked with DSG (then known as W.A. Roosevelt). “I remember spending time on their loading dock when I was 13,” recalls Mark. “It was an old brick building down by the river, and I would often go with my dad to pick up parts.”

The bond between the two

companies grew even stronger when DSG acquired W.A. Roosevelt in 2012. “I really noticed some positive changes when DSG took over,” says Mark. “They hold training events that help you determine a profitable hourly rate, they put out articles that include great business tips – clearly they understand that our success drives their own.”

While the past has been a successful time for Flock’s Heating and Air Conditioning, Mark and his fellow owners are even more excited for what the future has in store for the company. In 2017, Mark’s son, Dan, became part owner as Tony semi-retired, and Dan will take over Mark’s share of the company when he retires. This will be the fourth generation to own Flock’s Heating and Air Conditioning. “I’m not only fortunate to have a child that is interested in the business, but I have one who shares the same work ethic that our company and our family are so proud of,” says Mark. “Our customers and our employees will be in great hands.”

Want to learn more about upfront pricing? Need a hand determining a profitable hourly rate?

Ask your DSG representative about how DSG’s Power Tools Success Workshops or P4 Learning Labs can help - coming in 2018!

Dan Flock, future owner of Flock’s Heating and Air Conditioning, stands next to a boiler installed in 1911 (pictured left) that was replaced with a new system (pictured right) in 2015.

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State Of The

INDUSTRY

HVAC/R

Promising Developments HVAC/R SEGMENT MANAGER GREG SERVAIS

This year has been a busy one for the HVAC/R industry. While we haven’t seen any drastic changes, trends toward higher efficiency and improved indoor air quality – as well as ongoing labor challenges – continue to impact how we as an industry do business.

When it comes to air conditioning, we’re seeing more and more units with outdated technology reaching the age where they need to be replaced.

That’s great news for contractors.

As this happens, homeowners and business owners are looking beyond the base 13-SEER systems to those that reach 16, 18 or even 20 SEER. It’s no surprise that energy efficiency is at the top of people’s WWW.DAKOTASUPPLYGROUP.COM

minds. The government and the Department of Energy continue to push the envelope and drive standard efficiency levels as high as they can go. Building codes at the national and state level are calling for an even greater focus on improved indoor air quality.

All of this means that there is real potential for contractors to sell HRV and ERV systems.

R410A, commonly used in many A/C units and heat pump systems, is destined to be upgraded to a new refrigerant.

The timeline is tentative at this point, but there are research and development efforts taking place, and manufacturers are taking notice. We will be keeping a close eye on this at DSG. Workforce woes continue to be a challenge for the HVAC/R industry and the trades as a whole. Contractors are forced to do more with less, and we’re constantly keeping an eye out for labor-saving products. Take Zoom Lock from Parker, for example.

It’s a flame-free refrigerant fitting that allows you to join a copper tube in about 10 seconds without

brazing – reducing labor by as much as 60 percent. Give your DSG sales representative a call, and we can tell you more about it.

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the power of connectivity. Connected thermostats now not only control air comfort, they operate lights, security systems and more.

Tools and installations are becoming more high tech as well. Fortunately, online support continues to expand, especially the use of instructional videos.

This is allowing contractors to take advantage of training when it is most convenient.

All of the trends we’re seeing in the HVAC/R industry point to us treating homes and buildings as complete systems. HVAC/R isn’t just heating and cooling anymore. It’s about making indoor living spaces the best they can be for our customers. The more we adopt this mindset, the more the HVAC/R industry will continue to thrive.

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GROW YOURSELF |

N O I T A C A V A E K A T O T S S W O B HO E H T E R ’ U O think.

Y y a m N u o E han y WH ’s easier t ing, it

lann p le t t li a With

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For the owner or manager of a contracting company, it can be hard to take a day off, let alone a two-week trip to Florida with the family. Not only can it make you feel guilty, the uncertainty of leaving the company you built can be overwhelming. For those leaders who oversee a host of critical jobs like billing, payroll and scheduling in addition to their day-to-day duties on the job site, a vacation can seem like an impossible mission. In fact, surveys show that almost half of all small-business owners take off only holidays, skipping vacations entirely.

On the other hand, most experts agree that it is necessary for any busy person to periodically take time away from his or her tasks. Humans can easily “burn out” if they don’t have downtime to recharge their mental batteries, and from a business perspective, a week or two away can give leadership a new view of challenges and fresh ideas for growth.

How then can the owner of a four-person electrical contracting business or the foreman of a three-person plumbing crew take time off without putting the business – or its customers – in jeopardy? Here are some proven tips for planning your escape:

DELEGATE YOUR JOBS This is almost always the first step. If you believe that nothing will get done when you are on vacation, it’s probably because you are doing everything at your business. While that may be a badge of honor for some managers, it gets old very quickly. Find people on your team who you trust and start giving them responsibilities. By sharing the load, you make it much easier to get away.

APPOINT A SUBSTITUTE Now that you’ve delegated some of your work, choose a reliable individual to assume leadership while you are out. Not only should this be somebody you trust, it should be a worker who looks forward to a challenge. You don’t want them dreading your vacations, after all. Ideally, this would be someone from within the organization, but if your company is too small for this to make sense, it might also be possible to “swap” vacation coverage with another contractor in your market with whom you have a good relationship. After all, they are probably dealing with the same vacation aversion that you are.

PRACTICE Take an hour or two a week in the months before your vacation, and let your team know that you will be “off the grid.” Maybe even take an entire day away from your job. See how your substitute and your team respond, and make any changes that are necessary to improve the experience for everybody involved.

COMMUNICATE EXPECTATIONS For example, define what an “emergency” is.

Should your team call you if a tech doesn’t show up for work? See the first tip for guidance here. By empowering your people – especially the person you leave in charge – this can be much less of a challenge. If you do a good job of choosing your backup, he or she will make most of the same choices that you would have. That means they will only need to contact you in the event of a disaster.

Also, make sure that everyone knows how to get a hold of you, when you will be available and what they should do if you are unavailable. This will

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make everybody more comfortable with your time away, and that means your time away will go more smoothly.

SCHEDULE TIMES TO CHECK IN If you absolutely cannot be “offline” the whole time you are on vacation, set a time to communicate with your substitute. If you speak every day at 7:30 a.m. before things get hectic, you can relax for the rest of the day knowing that your team has had a chance to approach you with anything significant. With that being said, once you are done checking in for the day, stop checking email and text messages and enjoy yourself.

DEBRIEF WHEN YOU RETURN Finally, check in when you get back and give everyone a chance to let you know how things went. You may very well discover that things went better than you thought they would. In fact, you

might actually be a little disappointed to learn that they didn’t really miss you at all. Remember, that’s a good thing! In fact, it is probably one of the most beneficial long-term effects of a boss taking time off: learning that all of the systems you’ve put in place work as intended (or, perhaps, providing you the opportunity to fix those that don’t).

THE ROI OF R&R It’s time to take a break! Think ahead, and you’ll be able to relax and enjoy a vacation the right way. Best of all, by planning and empowering your people, you may find that not only do you feel better when you return, your business is healthier as well.

Sources: https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/278156, https:// mobileday.com/workplace-effectiveness/work-life-balance/areyou-afraid-to-take-time-off-work/, https://www.entrepreneur.com/ article/249720, https://www.thebalance.com/how-to-have-a-worryfree-vacation-2948302, http://www.today.com/parents/where-doamericans-go-top-10-most-visited-cities-outside-6232354

CA P E S E R U O Y G N s that I ie N it c r la u p PLAN o p t s o top 10 m ked the Budget Travel ran broad: Americans visit a

as 10. Nassau, Baham minican Republic 9. Punta Cana, Do 8. Barcelona, Spain amaica 7. Montego Bay, J 6. Rome, Italy

5. Toronto, Canada 4. Paris, France o Rico 3. San Juan, Puert d 2. London, Englan 1. Cancun, Mexico

ARE YOU READY FOR A TUNE-UP IN 2018?

Your mind is a powerful tool for growing your business.

POWER TOOLS WORKSHOPS Get long-term results in a short period of time. In less than eight hours, this unique training session will add value to your business and power up your profits.

P4 LEARNING LABS Two days that will change everything: Through presentations and hands-on workshops, this training event teaches smallbusiness owners and managers real-life ways to improve productivity, cash flow, profitability and more.

Look for more information coming soon!

GROW YOUR BUSINESS |

THE BENEFITS OF

Building Information Modeling Puts It All Together For Architects, Engineers And Contractors.

We may not be flying our cars to work quite yet, but advances in technology are still making science fiction into science fact every day. That’s true even in contracting and construction. In the past, writers envisioned a future where we could use computers to provide three-dimensional, fully functional models of buildings before they were built. In their imaginations, you could see what the structure looked like inside and out, and more importantly – you could see how its interrelated

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systems worked together to support its inhabitants.

With the advent of building information modeling (BIM), the future has arrived, and it’s changing how we think about constructing or even remodeling a building. Autodesk defines BIM as “an intelligent 3D model-based process that gives architecture, engineering and construction professionals the insight and tools to more efficiently plan, design, construct and manage buildings and infrastructure.” That’s a fancy way of saying that BIM allows the builders/ architects/engineers to assemble a building virtually before putting it together in real life.

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A Step In The Right Direction While modeling an entire project on a computer might seem like an extra step in an already complex process, it actually saves everybody involved a lot of time. It’s the middle of BIM’s three letters that is the key: information.

When contractors have all of the information in advance, the benefits can be profound. No longer do electricians, plumbers or HVAC/R professionals need to stop their crews while they wait for questions and requests for information to be answered by the architects and engineers.

Uncertainty and conflicts no longer slow down the work on the job site because issues were addressed months earlier in the BIM testing process.

By addressing virtually all of the more complicated logistics problems up front, the hands-on part of the project can proceed with few interruptions. BIM can significantly improve coordination and cooperation between subcontractors, but it can also help by making materials easier to order and prefabrication simpler to manage. By allowing a supplier like DSG to be involved earlier in the planning process, delivery can be more flexible and schedules can be much easier to manage.

The installation of a facility’s plumbing system is a good example. With pipe interconnected throughout a building, even small misjudgments in the initial design can slow the entire project to a crawl as tiny math errors result in impossible installations. Everyone waits for the new parts to be ordered, deadlines press together and budgets inflate as everyone tries to stay positive.

With an accurate BIM simulation up front, the architects and engineers can identify these tiny miscalculations (“that needs to move over six

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inches or there’s going to be problem”) before the plans are finalized, before the parts are ordered or before a dozen plumbers are standing around waiting for something to do.

Solving Problems Before They Become Problems In the end, BIM allows the building planning stage to be completed earlier and with more confidence.

That means problems can be addressed in the virtual world before they cause problems in the real one, and work can begin sooner so that fewer individual steps need to be expedited.

For contractors like plumbers, electricians and HVAC/R technicians, BIM may be the solution to “hurry up and wait” roadblocks that cause frustration on even the best-planned jobs.

You may not have encountered BIM on any of your projects yet, but the odds are that you will soon. As with most technology, it was adopted first by big firms working on big projects (mostly skyscrapers), but is quickly becoming more and more practical for any project. If you haven’t experienced it already, the day isn’t far off when an engineer will fire up his or her laptop and show you the systems of a building project from the inside out, zooming in and asking you specific questions that only someone with your expertise can answer.

Get ready for BIM. It’s going to make projects more successful and your job easier – and DSG is ready to offer our assistance every step of the way.

Sources: http://www.ecmag.com/section/systems/lay-landbim-and-collaboration, http://www.engineering.com/BIM/ ArticleID/11436/BIM-101-What-is-Building-Information-Modeling. aspx, https://www.autodesk.com/solutions/bim

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Introducing The ASPIRE “We’ll take it from here.”

These five little words are the foundation of DSG’s new ASPIRE Design Showroom Gallery. Making its debut in the fall of 2017 along with DSG’s new Plymouth, MN, location, ASPIRE is not your average showroom. Among displays showcasing the latest in showers, baths, sinks and

more, ASPIRE’s philosophy shines through every square foot: making remodels and new construction projects less demanding for contractors by making product selection much simpler for consumers.

But can a showroom really make a contractor’s job easier?

It can if it helps homeowners and building owners to make

informed choices about kitchen, bathroom and lighting fixtures – without taking up any of the contractor’s time. Customer decisions can be complicated, and the ASPIRE team of experts specializes in helping them to find the products they’re looking for, all while focusing on the contractor’s

Design Showroom Gallery

845 Berkshire Lane North | Plymouth, MN 55441 | 952-988-5550

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20 494

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mind. All contractors have to do is introduce ASPIRE to their customers, and then we take it from there.”

To learn more about the ASPIRE Design Showroom Gallery, talk to your local DSG representative or visit www.aspiredsg.com.

Berkshire Ln N

budget and timeline. “ASPIRE consultants know kitchens and bathrooms inside and out,” says Burt Jeske, ASPIRE showroom manager. “They can provide product education, answer installation questions, assist with project management and even suggest upgrades that have both the customers’ and the contractors’ best interests in

845 Berkshire Ln N Carlson Pkwy N

GROW YOURSELF |

Fueling Up For

Hard Work

It isn’t easy to work in the trades. The work is physically taxing, and the workday can stretch on into the evening.

As a result, contractors and other tradespeople often have misconceptions about the food they eat. Either they believe that they can eat anything because they will “burn it off” on the job site, or they settle for whatever food is available because their schedules don’t allow for long breaks.

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TODAY’S MENU Unfortunately, these lines of reasoning often lead to the fast-food drive-up window, where it can be challenging to find a healthy meal. Even with recent trends moving toward more nutritious selections at the restaurants we visit, the fat, calories and salt in some dishes is alarming. For reference, the USDA recommends about 2,800 calories per day for an active 40-year-old male. A Wendy’s Triple with large fries and a Coke delivers a whopping 1,900 calories – nearly 70 percent of the day’s suggested caloric intake in a single meal!

Plus, all that heavy food can slow you down as you go back to work after lunch. It’s hard to concentrate on the task at hand when you’re feeling sluggish, and being tired on the job site can be dangerous for both you and your coworkers.

Productivity also suffers, stretching out projects and squeezing deadlines.

Worst of all, storing those extra calories that you don’t burn up can cause you to become overweight, which increases your chances for heart attack, stroke and respiratory issues. On the other hand, with how much physical activity you can get in the trades, it can be fairly easy to get into shape if you adopt an athlete’s mentality when it comes to eating.

PLAN FOR SUCCESS Thankfully, it’s not nearly as hard as it seems to maintain a smart food plan. Here are some simple tips for eating healthy when you’ve got a tough job and a tight schedule.

Here are some easy food ideas to keep you productive during the workday.

Breakfast: • Oatmeal with fruit • Scrambled egg with toast

Lunch: • Turkey sandwich on whole wheat bread • Tuna pita sandwich (with low-fat dressing) • Chicken wraps with veggies

Snack: • Sliced apples and peanut butter • Almonds

MAKE BREAKFAST A PRIORITY. If you start your day’s input properly, you’ll have plenty of energy until lunch. Give yourself enough time to do this meal right, and you won’t have to grab something unhealthy (donuts have little nutritional value, but neither do some granola bars). Plan ahead, and you won’t be playing catchup, which can cause you to overeat at lunch.

LOOK FOR GOOD CARBS. As much as 85 percent of the calories we burn come from carbohydrates, but not all carbs are the same. “Bad” carbs from foods like sugar and potatoes give us short bursts of energy that fade quickly. Carbs from foods like oats, whole grains and beans last longer, giving you energy for hours.

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PACK YOUR OWN LUNCH. Not only is it easier to control the ingredients, it’s less expensive in the long run. Sandwiches are okay as long as you don’t get carried away with deli meats (which can have a lot of sodium and fat).

Stick with chicken or turkey, and consider whole wheat bread or a tortilla shell. Instead of chips, pack a boiled egg or some vegetables.

DON’T LET SNACKS GET YOU OFF TRACK. Pack easy-to-eat finger foods so you’re not tempted to go for that bag of candy bars somebody brought from home. Fruit is the obvious choice here, with grapes and apples being some of the most convenient. Almonds are also a healthy snack.

WATCH WHAT YOU DRINK. Water is the perfect beverage. Drink plenty of it and do what you can to avoid sugary soda and sports drinks. They don’t do a good job of quenching your thirst, and they can blow up your daily calorie intake pretty quickly.

Also, stay far away from energy drinks that are packed with sugar and caffeine.

Instead of looking at a healthy food plan as giving up the foods you love, look at it as an opportunity to find new foods you love. Just as successful athletes carefully balance their input and output in order to maximize

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their performance, a little planning can give you more energy on the job site and fewer reasons to take sick days.

Sources:http://www.initiafy.com/news/labourers-best-food-to-keepyour-energy-high, http://healthyeating.sfgate.com/constructionworker-lunch-ideas-11067.html, https://www.leaf.tv/articles/ sack-lunch-ideas-for-the-working-man/, http://www.livestrong.com/ article/290380-meal-plans-for-a-man-performing-hard-physicalwork/, https://www.cnpp.usda.gov/sites/default/files/usda_food_ patterns/EstimatedCalorieNeedsPerDayTable.pdf, http://www. today.com/health/14-best-fast-food-meals-under-500-calories1B6066324, http://www.eatthis.com/healthiest-dish-to-order-at-20fast-food-chain

GO FAST WITHOUT GETTING FURIOUS Surprise! There are healthy meals to be found at fast-food restaurants.

Here are a few of them: BURGER KING: Hamburger 230 Calories, 9 g fat, 460 mg sodium

MCDONALD’S: Egg McMuffin 300 calories, 12 g fat, 730 mg sodium

TACO BELL: Two Fresco Soft Beef Tacos 470 calories, 17g fat, 1,760 mg sodium

DOMINO’S: Grilled Chicken And Jalapeño Pizza On Brooklyn-style Crust 390 calories, 15 g fat, 1,090 mg sodium (2 slices)

KFC: Kentucky Grilled Chicken Breast With Sweet Corn And Green Beans 340 calories, 7 g fat, 990 mg sodium

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State Of The

INDUSTRY WATERWORKS

Both Oars In The Water WATERWORKS SEGMENT MANAGER MALCOLM MACDONALD

The waterworks industry has seen its normal ebbs and flows this past year. We will always have the need for clean drinking water and proper wastewater management, which means that our field of work stays pretty stable for the most part.

That’s not to say that we don’t have things to prepare for. Aging water and wastewater infrastructure – coupled with rising water rates – are challenging many of us in the waterworks industry. Fortunately, we are seeing some help from the government. The Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) is set to provide $30 million in funding this year, while the Environmental Protection WWW.DAKOTASUPPLYGROUP.COM

Agency’s (EPA) Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) provides more than $5 billion annually. But municipalities and utilities can’t rely on government assistance alone.

Our focus at DSG has been on improving system efficiency for our customers. Some of that comes in the form of energy conservation, but we’ve also been concentrating on helping customers to reduce their nonrevenue water – water that is being used but not measured (and ultimately not paid for).

Advanced technology and new innovations such as ultrasonic smart metering have been extremely effective in these efforts.

Water system maintenance continues to be a challenge for our customers. While it can be difficult to look past the initial investment costs of upgrading to a newer system, when municipalities and utilities look at the total cost of ownership, they find that it’s much easier and more cost effective to maintain a newer, more modern system.

Hurricanes impacted a lot of industries this past summer, and the disruption is presenting some challenges for those of us in the waterworks industry. Specifically, we’ve seen a significant increase in the cost of polyethylene and PVC pipe as resin producers in the South have been closed for cleanup and repairs. Thankfully, DSG’s vendor-partners have had a good supply of both kinds of pipe – and the resin needed to make them – so we haven’t seen delays like some of our competitors.

Overall, I’m excited about what the future has in store for our industry, especially with the rise of smart cities. We’re seeing metering systems and their related AMI networks do more than collect data. They’re allowing cities to control street lights, traffic lights and even pump stations, streamlining their operations and lowering their operating costs. In other words, waterworks is about more than just water nowadays, and I can’t wait to see where we go from here.

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JOB SITE |

G N I R I H R A R E YO U

?

L A G E L L I S INTERVIEW RESUME

o avoid t t a h w s ’ Here licants p p a h t i w g discussin ips on doing t and some right. inter views

Good help is hard to find in the trade industries these days, and as a result, it’s easy for managers to feel the pressure to land the perfect candidate.

This can lead to overly aggressive interview questions that may not only make an applicant feel uncomfortable, but may even cross the line into being illegal. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) enforces laws that prohibit would-be employers from discriminating during the hiring process, and these regulations apply to the interview process as well. You may want to find out everything you can about an applicant, but there are questions that you simply cannot ask in the United States.

Specifically, here’s what the EEOC has to say about the hiring process: It is illegal for an employer to discriminate against a job applicant because of his or her race, color, religion, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and

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pregnancy), national origin, age (40 or older), disability or genetic information. For example, an employer may not refuse to give employment applications to people of a certain race. An employer may not base hiring decisions on stereotypes and assumptions about a person’s race, color, religion, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), national origin, age (40 or older), disability or genetic information.

That seems fairly straightforward, but in practice it can be challenging to make a connection with applicants without stumbling into one of these off-limits topics. You can ask questions that identify whether the candidate has the behaviors, skill and experience needed to succeed in the job you are working to fill. You can also ask questions that help you to identify their strengths and weaknesses. However, you can’t ask questions that probe into the applicant’s personal life. Here

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ON? AT THE QUESTI COULD YOU REPE tions cky – but real – ques are some examples of questions that would be illegal to ask in a job interview: 1. What is your religious affiliation?

2. How old are your children?

3. Are you married?

4. What does your spouse do for a living?

5. When did you graduate from high school?

6. Are you in debt?

7. What is your political affiliation?

8. Where did you live when you were

growing up?

9. Are you a U.S. citizen?

10. Are you pregnant?

BE PREPARED AND STAY FOCUSED

All of these questions are either illegal or imply an illegal motive (which isn’t any better). There are plenty more off-limits questions, of course, but the key is to keep the interview focused on the candidate’s qualifications and behavior, and how those match up to the requirements of the position. Talk about job skills and traits that are essential to the position. Here are some more tips for an acceptable interview: • Prepare your questions in advance – When you have a game plan, you are less likely to find yourself ad-libbing your way onto a potentially illegal topic.

•

Don’t get too informal – You want to be

friendly, of course, but take care not to let the interview turn into a session of chatting and joking. It’s much easier to accidentally ask an illegal question in an informal conversation.

Here are some wa be s ask. They may not that some interviewer e! re are out ther off-limits, but they su

and why?

1. How lucky are you uld you delivery man, how wo 2. If you were a pizza ? benefit from scissors foot?

3. Do you believe in Big fuzzy?

4. Why is a tennis ball y? te thing about humanit 5. What is your favori

that is against the rules for you to ask about. If this happens, immediately steer the conversation back to the job itself. In addition, don’t let the candidate’s comments influence your decision about whether to hire them or not.

Lastly, you may want to get the help of a human resources professional or a labor attorney. Even if you don’t have a dedicated HR department, the advice of an experienced consultant can keep you out of legal problems that you might otherwise not see coming. Have them review your questions and evaluate your interview methods. Not only can they point out possible legal problems, they may be able to offer some helpful tips about questions you can ask, conversation starters that will safely get you the information you are looking for without putting your company at risk.

If you’d like to read more about the EEOC’s rules on hiring and discrimination, go online to www.eeoc.gov/laws/practices.

Sources: https://www.thebalance.com/job-interview-questions-thatare-illegal-1918488, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/04/09/ off-limits-questions-job-interviews_n_7028050.html, https://www.inc.com/adam-vaccaro/25-crazy-interview-questions. html

• If the candidate brings up an illegal topic, change the subject – At times, an applicant will volunteer personal information

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MEET THE DSG TEAM |

Sandy Hrtanek | Operations Manager Every job is important. Each day is a new adventure. As operations manager at DSG’s Rochester, MN, branch, Sandy Hrtanek follows these two mantras every day, always looking to lend a helping hand and putting one energetic step in front of the other.

She joined DSG’s Rochester branch in 2003, then Woodruff Supply, as accounts payable, handling warranty claims and vendor returns.

Prior to that, she worked in accounting and production administrative roles for a sheet metal fabricator for more than 10 years.

Over the years at DSG, her responsibilities have grown, and at the beginning of 2017, she was promoted to operations manager. Today, she wears many hats, working closely with warehouse associates, sales staff and the management team at DSG’s Rochester branch, as well as the company’s Winona and Austin locations.

If Hrtanek is known for one thing at DSG, it’s her willingness to help out her fellow employee owners. At any given time, you may find her answering the phone, handling an IT problem and even serving as safety coordinator. “It’s like family here,” says Hrtanek. “Everyone understands that we’re here to help each other, and it’s a team

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effort. In a pinch, there’s nothing I couldn’t step up and do, and I will always be willing to give something a try.”

If you do ask for her help, know that Hrtanek puts a lot of thought into everything she does. “I process everything, positive and negative, before I move forward,” she says. “Whether I’m going to make a mistake or succeed, I want to feel good knowing that I thought it through.”

When she’s not working at DSG, you’ll still find Hrtanek helping others. She helps her husband restore classic cars, using her experience in sheet metal to assist with body work and more. Most likely, however, you’ll find Hrtanek enjoying her garden. She lives on a small hobby farm near Rochester, MN, complete with chickens, five acres of hay and a one-acre garden plot. It is there that she spends much of her time growing produce to make delicious jams and tasty relish for her friends and family to enjoy.

If you’re in the Rochester area and would like Hrtanek’s help, make sure to stop by DSG.

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GROW YOUR BUSINESS |

SOCIAL PROSPECTS Using Facebook To Recruit Employees Facebook’s numbers are staggering: 1.7 billion users (1.5 billion of whom log in daily on their smartphone or tablet); 87 percent of online users ages 18-29 use the service; 155 friends on the platform for every user (on average). There’s no question that Mark Zuckerberg’s company is the king of the social media hill, but what does that have to do with you and your company? Well, since more than 40 million small businesses have active Facebook pages, it means that more and more people are finding work through this social media powerhouse. Could Facebook help you to overcome your own recruiting challenges? It’s possible.

HERE ARE THREE REASONS TO RECRUIT ON FACEBOOK.

1

Job websites limit your contacts.

HOW DO YOU GET STARTED? Follow these easy steps:

When you post a job on one of these sites, you only get people who are currently looking for a job. That may sound obvious, but what about all of those potential employees who are restless in their current job but not actively looking to change? That’s an even larger pool of prospects than those currently on the hunt for new work.

2

Facebook includes both men and women.

It is one of the most evenly split social media platforms, with 53 percent of users being female and 47 percent being male. That gives your recruitment a very broad base to work in.

3

Facebook can be inexpensive to use.

Taking out the equivalent of a “help wanted” ad on Facebook isn’t free, but by narrowing down your search to specific people (men between the ages of 20 and 40 who love hunting and fishing, for example), you can eliminate a lot of the waste suffered by oldfashioned media like newspapers. “Spreading the word” via friends and family, on the other hand, is still free and relatively effective.

1

First of all, you will need a Facebook page for your company.

Technically, you can still use the platform without one, but it can get complicated. Even worse, you won’t have access to some of Facebook’s most powerful tools. You don’t need to post something on your page every day – just a few times a week to keep it somewhat fresh. Once you get the hang of it, you’ll find that the more you post, the more engaged your connections on social media will be.

2

Add a “Jobs” tab.

It only takes a few clicks to add a “Jobs” tab where you can post your openings and opportunities.

Prospects can then click on “Apply Now” and send you their application information directly through Facebook Messenger. Anyone you designate as a page administrator will see an alert when there is an application to be reviewed. The whole process is free.

3

Be direct and be creative.

Each of your job posts should answer the question “Why would you want to work here?” Do you have the latest gear? Do you have a flexible schedule?

Are you known for your prestigious projects? Is the environment fun? Tell prospects what sets you apart.

4

Consider taking out an ad.

While posting a job opening is free, it won’t necessarily get your message out in front of prospects – especially prospects who don’t already have some connection to your business. To overcome this, Facebook will allow you to “boost” your job posts. You get to set a budget, choose a schedule and identify your target audience (so that only the most promising candidates see your ad).

If you are looking for workers, why not start where almost 25 percent of the people in the world hang out every day? Facebook shouldn’t be the only place you post your jobs, but it can certainly become an important one. Start small, but be consistent. Before long, you’ll find that connecting with prospects is one of social media’s most valuable benefits.

OTHER PLACES TO POST Facebook isn’t the only social media platform that allows you to post job openings. Here are a few others.

LinkedIn This platform is the most focused on jobs and careers of any social media service. However, it does tend to focus on the suit and tie crowd.

Twitter It’s easy to use hashtags to point people at your job posts, but this service is still finding its way when it comes to recruitment.

YouTube Video can be a powerful tool, especially when it comes to recruitment. Have fun, and tell people why they should come to work for you.

Apply At DSG

5

Try indirect methods.

Don’t stop with job postings. Use the posts on your Facebook page to show off how great your company is to work for. Post employee recognition and make sure to share photos of fun company events. The more appealing you can make your company, the more applicants you will get.

DSG uses Facebook to recruit new talent. Just click on the Jobs tab to see openings, and send us an application.

Sources: https://resources.workable.com/tutorial/recruiton-facebook, https://www.betterteam.com/blog/facebookrecruiting, https://www.omnicoreagency.com/facebookstatistics/

WATER METER CHANGEOUT GUIDE

Things to consider when a municipality is getting ready to make a switch.

For communities that are looking to change out their water meters, this can be an overwhelming process.

Metering systems are only changed out every 15-20 years, so the endeavor is often unchartered territory for the person spearheading the project. For municipalities and rural water utilities that are thinking about an upcoming water meter changeout in the next five years, here are some things to consider.

METER TYPE The two most popular types of water meters are mechanical meters and solid-state meters. Traditional mechanical meters have been used throughout the United States for more than 100 years. They are manually read by either using a walk-by or drive-by meter reading system.

Solid-state meters (sometimes referred to as “smart” meters) are a more modern metering option.

These meters don’t contain moving parts so they provide highly accurate readings with less wear and tear. Solid-state meters do tend to cost more up front, but their advanced alarms and remote reading capabilities can mean big savings in the long run.

For example, smart meters are highly effective at reducing nonrevenue water, an objective that DSG Territory Manager and metering specialist Brad Simms says should be a major focus of all modern water utilities. “Upgrading a meter system used to be about saving manpower,” he says. “Now the attention really needs to be on capturing nonrevenue water by using precise reading methods, identifying leaks and preventing tampering.”

If you think that a solid-state meter is the best fit for your operation, you’ll need to decide between an ultrasonic solid-state meter and an electromagnetic solid-state meter. The main difference is how the meters measure water flow.

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Ultrasonic meters use sound waves to communicate usage, while electromagnetic meters use a magnetic field to measure water flow. DSG metering specialists can help you determine which is best.

METER MATERIAL When choosing a meter, water utilities will want to consider what the meter is made out of. The Reduction of Lead in Drinking Water Act mandates that all wetted surfaces must be lead-free, and that includes water meters. Lead-free, according to this mandate, doesn’t mean completely free of lead but instead that the material does not contain “more than a weighted average of 0.25 percent lead.”

While mechanical meters are primarily made out of bronze, they do comply with the Act. However, solid-state meters are typically made

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of either reinforced fiberglass composite or stainless steel, making these types of meters a relatively safe choice over the long haul.

AMR VERSUS AMI AMR stands for Automated Meter Reading, while AMI means Advanced Metering Infrastructure. Both have been instrumental in allowing water utilities to move away from manual reading (where a meter reader is required to approach a residence), significantly reducing time and labor costs while improving safety.

For the most part, the difference between AMR and AMI comes down to whether the utility needs to go and get data or whether the data comes to them. Most of the time, AMR systems will require meter readers to stop at each residence while the meter is being read by either using a handheld or a mobile device.

Some systems, however, let you read meters hands-free while driving at posted speeds. AMI systems, on the other hand, give you real-time data, meaning that you can get information on water meter usage on a daily

or even hourly basis without visiting the premises. Utilities’ needs vary, but typically AMR is a better fit for smaller utilities, while AMI is usually suited for the needs of larger utilities.

“If you think AMR is the right system for your utility, you may want to select one that can be easily migrated to an AMI system in the future,” says Simms. “Our metering specialists at DSG can help utilities determine what system is the best method.”

COST When it comes to cost, it’s important to look at the total cost of ownership, not just the initial purchase price. Some systems may require replacing hardware or upgrading software on a regular basis, or they may require an annual hosting and support agreement. “Sometimes the initial cost may be cheaper,” says Simms, “but over the life of the system, utilities may end up paying more on maintenance.

It’s important to take a longterm, big-picture look at a system before buying.”

As a water utility looks to get started on the meter changeout process, DSG metering experts can offer guidance, helping to design a system that fits their community. For more information, contact your local DSG waterworks representative.

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JOB SITE |

Looking Good Is Good For Business Uniforms might provide just the boost your company is looking for.

There are a lot of regulations in the trade industries. Every day, electricians, plumbers and HVAC/R technicians follow enough federal, state and local building codes to fill a bookshelf. Yet, with all of this consistency in the trades, there are significant disparities in how tradespeople present themselves. Call three plumbers, and you will likely see completely different looks. One company might have branded uniforms, a second might simply require T-shirts with the company logo and a third may let its techs wear whatever they like (usually resulting in an old T-shirt and jeans).

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If one were to look at the differences in the companies and how they match up to their clothing choices, you would likely find that larger businesses tend to require uniforms. However, cause or effect is harder to determine: Do companies graduate to uniforms once they become successful? Or do uniforms help companies to succeed?

A good number of experts believe the latter. Here are some of the reasons that more and more contractors are opting for uniforms – no matter how small of a company they are.

UNIFORMS WILL STRENGTHEN YOUR BRAND Having shirts with your logo on them helps the public remember your name. In addition, having a team that looks professional makes your company look professional, which is what all of us want.

UNIFORMS CAN STRENGTHEN YOUR BOTTOM LINE If you look like the best electrician in town, it will help you to charge like the best

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electrician in town. You need to be trustworthy and earn those dollars, of course, but the perceived value of professionalism cannot be denied.

UNIFORMS RESULT IN LESS EMPLOYEE CONFLICT Nobody wants to send a worker home to change, but an offensive T-shirt or inappropriately ripped jeans might force just that kind of response. With uniforms, everybody dresses the same.

No favoritism and no excuses mean fewer uncomfortable conversations about fashion choices.

UNIFORMS CAN IMPROVE SAFETY Not only can good uniforms reduce accidents by staying out of the way as techs work (unlike overly baggy pants or a long T-shirt), consistent dress helps your team to quickly identify non-crew members if they wander onto the job site.

These might be inattentive pedestrians who need to be rerouted or even would-be thieves planning to walk off with your power tools.

UNIFORMS WILL ENCOURAGE TEAMWORK Well-made uniforms can foster a sense of camaraderie among your crew members. By dressing the same, workers feel more accepted into the group, developing a feeling of pride in their workplace team.

DRESS FOR SUCCESS Uniforms are not free, but they may not be as expensive as you think. While some contractors provide uniforms for their employees, others pay for half of the uniforms while the employee pays the rest. Not only does this reduce costs for employers, it inspires techs to take care of their own property.

There are even companies that rent uniforms, and some that go so far as to provide laundering services as well (your location and company size will likely determine availability).

It may take some getting used to, but the benefits of a uniform policy are clear for most contractors. Dressing up a little can make a big difference in your bottom line.

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“Wait” Loss Products Expand An Interconnected Smoke Alarm System Without Extra Wiring!

Wireless AC Powered Smoke Alarm From Kidde • When one alarm sounds they all do • Interconnect without wires – simply replace one interconnected smoke alarm with the Kidde Wireless AC powered alarm • Install in minutes, anywhere in the home • Less cost and less hassle than re-wiring

Faster, Better Butt Splicing

SpliceLine™ In-Line Wire Connectors From Ideal • Crimp-free, push-in butt splice • 2X faster than traditional butt-splice installations • Low insertion force for fast connections • Easily passes through 1/2" knockouts • End-to-end connection ideal for pre-fab operations • Transparent polycarbonate window for visual inspection of connection

Quickly Turn A One-Gang Floor Box Into A Twoor Three-Gang Box!

880MP Modulink Multi-Service Rectangular Floor Box From Wiremold • Multi-service capability eliminates the cost of a separate floor box and cover to accommodate communication service • Depth markings on exterior of the box make floor box depth calculations quick and easy • 2" [51mm] conduit openings provide the largest conduit feed in the industry • Ratchet adjusting ring allows connection of cover flange without glue or mechanical fasteners

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It’s hard to find help nowadays, which makes it even more important for your team to be as efficient and productive as possible. The key is finding products that can help you to optimize tasks, speed up jobs and minimize downtime. With the right tool or part, workers can finish projects faster and better, and that’s good for your bottom line. Here are just a few.

Connects In 1/2 The Time

Kwik-Couple® GRC From Allied Tube & Conduit • No separate couplings to purchase, store, carry or install • High-grade durable and ductile steel for long life • Corrosion-resistant exterior and interior finishes • UL listed and manufactured in accordance with ANSI standards

Cut, Crimp & Punch: One Tool Does It All! TaskMaster® From Ilsco

• Eliminate the need for multiple tools to achieve a variety of tasks • Works with a large range of connectors • Durable high-strength cutting blades • Precision knockouts provide clean, quick holes • Allows access to tighter spaces • Versatile and easy tool alignment • Prolonged use without recharging • Rugged tool construction for longer life

Check out these products and more in our online “Wait” Loss product guide at www.dsgwaitloss.com.

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I DIDN’T KNOW DSG DID THAT! DSG’S BARCODE ADVANTAGE Program

Maintaining product inventory takes time and manpower, two things that are hard to come by for contractors these days. To make it easier and quicker to replenish inventory and place orders, DSG offers what it calls the Barcode Advantage Program: a simple-to-use, two-part system that utilizes barcodes and an online form. Since its launch in 2015, customers from across DSG’s service area have taken advantage of the Barcode Advantage Program, reducing errors, saving time and simplifying their overall ordering process.

DSG first saw the potential for the Barcode Advantage Program when it employed a barcoding system itself in 2013. “We saw what the use of barcodes did for us in terms of accuracy,” says Jay

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Tupa, outside sales representative and Barcode Advantage Program expert for DSG. “We knew firsthand how well barcoding worked, and we knew that we needed to offer the benefits of barcoding to our customers in some way.”

When a customer chooses to utilize the Barcode Advantage Program, the first step involves a quick meeting with a DSG representative to evaluate the current inventory replenishment process and discuss any issues that the existing system imposes. “This is an important step in determining how the Barcode Advantage Program can be customized to best suit a customer’s unique situation,” Tupa adds. “For example, setting up minimum and maximum quantity levels for

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DSG does more than supply products. We also offer services and expertise that may not be as visible as our warehouses or our trucks.

Here is just one of our capabilities that might surprise you.

products is a good way to help you maintain the optimum number of parts or products that you keep on hand.”

From that meeting, the DSG team will produce the materials needed to implement the system.

Specifically, they create barcodes and an online form. DSG will print labels to adhere to the shelving unit associated with each product. Each label includes a barcode, a short description of the product, DSG’s part number and the number of products per a full box. Minimum and maximum quantities can be included on this label as well.

Once the barcodes are in place, a DSG representative will help users download an easy-touse app called ProntoForms. With ProntoForms, a user simply takes a photo of the barcode with a smartphone or tablet and types in the desired quantity, repeating the step for each product that needs to be ordered. Once the order is complete, users can add any special comments or notes and then send the order to his or her DSG

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salesperson via email with just a tap of their finger.

“Some customers are hesitant because it is new and different, but it becomes second nature very quickly,” says Tupa. “It takes just minutes to place an order via the form. I tell customers to try it out on their top 10 or 20 products first and see how they like it. Then once they’ve gotten used to it, they can request as many more barcode labels as they need.”

Once the system is set up and tested, almost anyone can use it. “Someone with no product knowledge can easily handle it,” says Tupa. “It’s a great opportunity to shift the responsibility from the business owner to someone non-billable, freeing up more time that can be spent out in the field or at home with their family.”

One of the biggest benefits of the Barcode Advantage Program is the accuracy that it provides.

It eliminates the uncertainty that comes from handwritten notes and cumbersome part numbers.

“By using a universal barcode, there’s no confusion on what product our customers are trying to order,” says Tupa. “And that means we spend less time interrupting them during the job to follow up on orders.”

For contractors who want to be more organized with their inventory and simplify their overall workload, DSG’s Barcode Advantage Program is a great tool. To learn more about the program or to get started, contact your local DSG representative.

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MEET THE DSG TEAM |

Steve Dulac | Warehouse Manager Steve Dulac has worked for DSG for most of his adult life. Thanks to a neighbor, Dulac took an internship opportunity at DSG in 1996 (then Pipeline Supply) while in high school, and he has been with the company ever since.

Dulac got his start in shipping and delivery roles, and today he’s the warehouse manager at the new Plymouth location, overseeing all of the inner workings of the company’s central distribution center. He played an important part in the facility’s design, all 135,000 square feet of it.

However, he redirects much of the praise regarding its construction to his fellow warehouse crew. “Watching how hard our employees worked together to get this up and running was amazing to see,” says Dulac. “I’m so proud of our team.”

With the brand-new warehouse in full operation, Dulac is excited to spend more time focusing on DSG’s customers – the part of his job that he likes best. “I love getting to work with such a diverse group of businesses,” he says. “I’ve known some of our customers since I was 16.

It’s been satisfying to see them get their start and then watch them grow into the successful companies they are today.”

When you’ve worked in the industry for as long as Dulac has, 44

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you’re bound to see some changes.

“I remember when there was a lot less competition, job sites were much smaller and things were less technological,” he recollects.

“We used to write tickets by hand and carry cast iron pipe on our shoulders.”

Changes aren’t always easy and oftentimes come with additional work, but that doesn’t bother Dulac.

He prides himself on his energetic personality and is someone who likes to keep busy. For example, despite working full time at DSG, he also owns his own lawn care and snow removal business called Neighborhood Lawn Care, which he operates on nights and weekends.

“I can never sit still,” says Dulac.

“I always want to be fixing this or tinkering with that.”

When he does get a free moment, Dulac enjoys transforming pallets into furniture. He also volunteered with community response teams in search-and-rescue efforts for a few years. Each July, you’ll find him helping out at the Hopkins Raspberry Festival, a beloved tradition in the Hopkins area dating back to the 1930s.

The next time you’re in the Plymouth area, stop by and check out DSG’s new warehouse and put some of Dulac’s energy to work for you.

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WINNING WITH DSG Every year, DSG gets to celebrate with those customers who win our various promotions. Here are two examples from 2017:

AFTER HOURS EXPERT CONTEST Ryan Nelson | Electrician at Rudy’s Electric in Alexandria, MN Ryan Nelson won a three-night trip for two – complete with airfare, hotel accommodations and some spending cash – to Las Vegas.

“I NEVER WIN ANYTHING LIKE THIS,” SAYS NELSON. “I STOPPED IN TO DSG AND THE GUYS SAID JESSE [STREED] HAD SOMETHING FOR ME. IT WAS A TOTAL SURPRISE.” DSG’s Jesse Streed (right) presents Ryan Nelson with his trip certificate.

Nelson hopes to take his dad, Randy (owner of Rudy’s Electric), on the trip with him sometime in the fall or winter. Sightseeing is on the list of planned activities.

Rudy’s Electric provides full-service electrical work for both residential and commercial applications to the Alexandria, MN, area. It has worked with DSG since DSG opened its doors in Alexandria in 2007.

KOHLER OUTDOOR ADVENTURE PROMOTION Jim Casper | Owner of Casper Plumbing & Heating in Decorah, IA

(From left to right) Jim Casper, Brian Eubanks, Karl Wrobel and Andrew Casper take a timeout from golf for a photo.

Jim Casper won a trip for two to Whistling Straits golf course in Sheboygan, WI, which hosted PGA Championships in 2004 and 2010 and will be home to the 2020 Ryder Cup. He was joined by his son (and avid golfer) Andrew, along with DSG’s Brian Eubanks and Karl Wrobel from the La Crosse branch.

Casper had a choice between a fishing, hunting, golf or wine tasting adventure, but the choice to golf was an easy one for him.

“MY SON SAID I HAD TO PLAY WHISTLING STRAITS,” SAYS CASPER. “I DON’T NORMALLY GET TO PLAY A COURSE LIKE THIS, AND THE TRIP WAS WONDERFUL. I FELT A LITTLE BAD BECAUSE THEY HAD SUCH BEAUTIFUL FAIRWAYS, BUT I WASN’T ON THEM VERY OFTEN.”

Casper Plumbing and Heating is a respected plumbing and heating contractor serving northeast Iowa.

Casper and his crew have been working with DSG for more than 30 years.

NEWS WIRE |

NAED’s “30 Under 35” Award: Two DSG

Employee Owners Named To The List Of Winners

This past summer, two employee owners from DSG were honored as “30 Under 35” winners by the National Association of Electrical Distributors (NAED)’s tED magazine. Jase Rosendahl, branch manager of DSG’s Rochester, Winona and Austin locations, and Michael Grossman, quotations specialist at DSG’s Fargo branch, were both acknowledged as representing today’s top emerging leaders in the electrical industry.

“We’re extremely proud of Jase and Mike,” says Todd Kumm, CEO of DSG. “It’s going to be exciting to see how these young gentlemen use their talents and leadership to help our customers succeed.”

According to NAED, this award is given to those who possess the initiative, drive, integrity and creativity to power the industry forward. The awards are open to NAED members ages 34 and younger, and the association received a record number of nominations in 2017.

JASE ROSENDAHL BRANCH MANAGER ROCHESTER, WINONA AND AUSTIN, MN

MICHAEL GROSSMAN QUOTATIONS SPECIALIST FARGO, ND

DSG Named 2017 Supply House Of The Year

By Supply House Times

DSG was recently honored as the 2017 Supply House of the Year by Supply House Times magazine.

Featuring DSG in the October 2017 issue of its magazine, Supply House Times praises DSG for the various customer-focused programs that the company employs, including its Customer Service Guarantee program, P4 Learning Lab training events, After Hours Experts phone service and its Kids Club. The magazine also compliments DSG on the success of its Employee Ownership Stock Program (or ESOP, for short), which means that every employee owns a part of the company.

“We are very proud to receive this award from such a respected publication,” says Todd Kumm, CEO of DSG. “It’s nice to be recognized for our efforts in providing our customers with the best experience possible, but it doesn’t mean we’re going to rest on our laurels. Instead, we’re going to use this as motivation to improve and evolve in even more aspects of our business.”

To learn more, check out the article in the October 2017 issue of Supply House Times at www.supplyht.com.

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ONE GREAT LAKE,

TWO AWESOME LOCATIONS

Ballard’s Resort Minnesota | 218.634.1849 | BallardsResort.com

Ballard’s Black Island Resort Ontario | 218.634.1996 | BlackIsland.com

LAKE OF THE WOODS

North Dakota: Bismarck (800) 363-7112 Bismarck Waterworks (855) 337-9258 Dickinson (855) 245-2098 Fargo (800) 437-4702 Fargo Waterworks (800) 342-4676 Grand Forks (800) 633-2211 Minot (800) 472-2145 Williston (800) 637-0170

P.O. Box 13573 Grand Forks, ND 58208-3573

South Dakota: Aberdeen (800) 660-5532 Mitchell (800) 660-5534 Pierre (800) 660-5537 Rapid City (800) 660-5538 Sioux Falls (800) 540-8215 Sioux Falls Waterworks (800) 660-5531

Minnesota: Alexandria (800) 345-0094 Austin (800) 521-6747 Bemidji (866) 506-0280 Grand Rapids (877) 327-1454 Ham Lake (763) 784-4478 Monticello (888) 295-9355 Oakdale (651) 777-1044 Plymouth (800) 328-3976 Rochester (800) 562-1784 St. Paul (800) 652-9784 Winona (800) 237-0470

Wisconsin: La Crosse (800) 279-2726 Plover (800) 472-1661 Rice Lake (800) 962-2759

Montana: Billings (844) 753-9120 Bozeman (800) 416-0005 Helena (800) 697-0005 Kalispell (800) 949-0005 Missoula (888) 865-0005

Minot Williston Grand Forks Dickinson

Kalispell Missoula

Helena Bozeman

Bismarck Billings

FARGO

Aberdeen Rapid City

Pierre Mitchell Sioux Falls

Bemidji Grand Rapids Alexandria Twin Cities

Rice Lake

Plover Winona La Crosse Rochester Austin

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Ham Lake Monticello Oakdale Plymouth St. Paul