Vol. 29, No. 4, July/August 2009
The official magazine of the Ohio Home Builders Association
Windows 2009: Give credit where credit’s due
Top 5 mistakes of social media marketing
Delivered to you as a benefit of membership
To build this collection, we went to the best suggestion box of all. Your job site.
©2009 Marvin Windows and Doors. All rights reserved. ®Registered trademark of Marvin Windows and Doors.
Marvin Design Gallery by GRW Industries, Ltd. 24331 Miles Road, Ste. G Warrensville Heights 216-464-5260 marvingallery.com Ansonia Lumber Co. 300 S Main St. Ansonia 937-337-3111 ansonialumber.com
APCO Window & Door 777 Michigan Ave. Columbus 614-224-2345 apco.com Glass City Window & Door 6710 W Central Ave. Toledo 419-517-0040 glasscitywd.com
Hartville Hardware 940 W Maple St. Hartville 330-877-4690
Meet the New Marvin Ultimate Casement Collection The Ultimate Casement Collection is an innovative line inspired by your suggestions. We’ve developed operating sizes as large as 40” x 92”, full-frame and insert application options and revolutionary hardware for the widest open views and unrivaled performance. All that combined with an exclusive wash mode for easy cleaning from the interior makes this new collection truly ultimate.
Call or visit a Marvin retailer for more details.
Marsh Window & Door Classics 2660 Fisher Rd. Columbus 614-272-5577 marshbuild.com Specialty North American 7699 Green Meadows Dr. Lewis Center 740-549-9911 snaohio.com WindowPRO 16900 Bagley Rd. Middleburg Heights 1-866-470-5089 windowpro.com
V ol . 29, N o . 4, J uly /A ugust 2009
The official publication of the Ohio Home Builders Association
2009 OHBA officers Greg Romes, president Stuart Cowan, vice president Charles H. Simms, immediate past president Area vice presidents William Martin, Cleveland Tony Mullet, Wooster William W. Owens, Columbus William B. Paul, Toledo Joel Stile, Akron Executive vice president Vince Squillace Editor Stacey Enesey Klemenc Advertising sales executive JoAnne Smith Advertising sales coordinator Valerie Myers Graphic designer Paige Takach Published by Association Publishing Inc. Sandra Knight Amidon Joyce Frier Hearn, APR 2117 Smith Ave., Chesapeake, Va. 23320 (757) 420-2434 www.associationpublishinginc.com Editorial inquiries can be directed to: 2112 Flowerdew Court, Virginia Beach, Va., 23454, (757) 427-6355, or e-mail to staceyklemenc@cox.net, or Ohio Home Builders Association, 17 S. High St., Suite 700, Columbus, OH 43215, (800) 282-3403. Advertising inquiries can be directed to: 2212 Bayberry St., Virginia Beach, Va. 23451, (888) 412-1051, or e-mail: joanne_smith23451@yahoo.com.
Ohio Builder is published bimonthly for members of the Ohio Home Builders Association and is edited according to AP style. Acceptance of advertising in Ohio Builder does not imply endorsement of the product or service by OHBA. Opinions expressed in articles are those of the authors and people quoted and not necessarily those of OHBA. Mention of specific products or services in editorial content does not imply endorsement by Ohio Builder or OHBA. Nonmember subscriptions are available from the publisher for $18 per year. Since the mailing list used by Ohio Builder is compiled according to membership records, address corrections should be directed to your local association. Affiliated with the No material may be reproduced National Association of Home Builders. for further publication without the express permission of the association and the publisher.
July/August 2009
6
Blogging and windows To better keep in touch with its customers, Marvin Windows and Doors has launched the new MLuxe blog at www.marvinblog.com to offer its take on fine home living and distinctive home styles. The blog is inspired by the company’s guiding principle that each window and door it creates is “Built Around You.” (Photo courtesy of Marvin.)
columns 2 3
Executive VP’s Report by Vincent J. Squillace President’s Perspective by Greg Romes
features
departments
5 Product Roundup: Windows and doors
3 Upcoming events 8 Membership update
6 The top five mistakes of social media marketing According to the Nielsen Research Group, social networks and blogs have moved ahead of personal e-mail among the most popular online activities. If you aren’t engaged in SMM, the time to start is now. But before you do, there are a few things you need to know.
OHBA recognizes its top Spikes for their hard work
10 Stateline
12 Is your business ready for the recovery? Smart businesses are busy preparing for the recovery. These organizations know while business is slack, it’s the ideal time to tune up their operation.
On the cover: Members of the crew are busy installing a window at The Lafayette Hotel, one of the few remaining riverboat-era hotels in Ohio. Eventually, all the windows in the historic hotel in Marietta will be replaced with windows from Malta Windows & Doors. (Photo courtesy of Malta Windows & Doors.) Ohio Builder 1
executive vp’s report
For affordable housing OHBA continues to fight the good fight By Vincent J. Squillace, CAE, Executive Vice President
A
s we move to yet another level of this up with a way to explain the efforts of those who Your association has extended downturn, we hope the next turn feel penalizing housing construction is just what been representing the will be a positive one. We are fully aware our state needs today. needs of this industry of the current situation. We have looked for soluI could mention others who stand in the way of for decades. Good tions and programs to alleviate the suffering. No affordable housing progress. But, we know they exist times or bad, your magic cure or solution has been discovered. We and will not go away. That brings me to my point “voice” has been all await the promised recovery. here — our opponents will never disappear. Good advocating for you. Despite this pall of depression, we sense no times or bad, those “bumps in the road” will always let up of those who oppose our efforts to provide manifest themselves in one form or another. We must affordable housing. The code wonks are eager to pass all code be prepared for challenges and confrontations at all times. changes despite any negative impact. They seem mesmerized by Your association has been representing the needs of this industry the ICC label and stand guard to protect its manifestations of for decades. Good times or bad, your “voice” has been advocattough building regulations. Despite the economic downturn, regula- ing for you. Politics is a risky business with high stakes. No one tors seem oblivious to their excess and press their daggers into person or group can go it alone. Like you, we are adjusting our the heart of a housing recovery. budgets, but we steadfastly remain sharp, capable and committed I am not trying to be poetic but I am having trouble coming to do our job.
Strengthen your Position by Marketing It’s easy to let fear set in during times of economic uncertainty, but remember, businesses are built on sales.
Vol. 28 , No. 5, Septemb er/Octo ber 2008
It’s times like these, when business is off, when you need more sales and more customers. Advertising in Ohio Builder is the most effective way to introduce your products and services to more than 8,000 influencial decision-makers in the building industry, 6 times a year! And, because Ohio Builder is the official publication of the Ohio Home Builders Association, you not only benefit from your ad promotions, you help support the efforts of OHBA as well! For more information on how you can increase your sales through effective and targeted marketing, contact:
The of Ohio Ho ficial magazin e of the me Build ers Asso ciation
Chang Systeming with the tim s-built homes es: Here’s to our Spikes Tax cr ! ed
it ime hfor ome b
first-t
uyers
Joanne Smith (888) 412-1051
joanne_smith23451@yahoo.com 2 Ohio Builder
Deliver ed to yo nefit of u membe rship
as a be
July/August 2009
president’s perspective
Proposed energy policies will increase cost of new homes By Greg Romes, 2009 OHBA President
T
he Ohio Home Builders Association was very active in the second quarter of this year. One of the major issues was with the Department of Commerce which continues to work against a fair code adoption process. Although representatives of the department have made promises to Stuart Cowan and me to work with OHBA to develop a fair code process, they have taken the opposite approach and meddled in the affairs of the Ohio Board of Building Standards and the RCAC. As we know, OHBA is the only federation in the state of Ohio that works to keep housing affordable, and it is sad commentary to think that our government is lobbying against these affordable principles. To quote NAHB’s statistics on “affordable housing,” for every $1,000 cost increase in a home, 246,000 home buyers nationally lose the right of owning their dream. With President Barack Obama forcing his new energy policy, new home construction became one of his targets, and he has mandated that new homes must meet the criteria of his
new energy policies. Although it is still unknown, it is expected the new policy will possibly exceed the 2006 energy code by 50 percent. The cost to build or remodel a home under these new government mandates keeps several million people from reaching the dream of affordable home ownership. The International Code Committee, a private organization, has lobbied the department to immediately pass its energy code — an act that comes as no surprise to the industry. ICC has proved to be more concerned with its profits and pushing its code books and education than on the relevance and timeliness of the codes actually being approved. Obama’s proposed energy policy
has given states up to eight years to adopt “an energy code equal to what will become the new national energy code.” It is frustrating when our government works against a democratic and sensible code process. We have already seen many changes by the Obama administration: through government mandates to banks that stifle the economy, a takeover of the auto industry, and many new government regulations on the construction of new homes, to name a few. This is why our efforts at OHBA have become essential to protecting our industry and the rights of homeowners. We appreciate your cooperation and please support Build-PAC. Thank you.
upcoming events July 15 OHBA Summer Board of Trustees Meeting, Hilton Easton, Columbus Sept. 30 – Oct. 4 NAHB Fall Board of Directors Meeting, Chicago Nov. 10-12 OHBA Fall Board of Trustees Meeting, Hilton Easton, Columbus
July/August 2009
Ohio Builder 3
July - September 2009
Safety & Hygiene Training Center
Classes for Ohio Workers Attend one of the more than 60 occupational safety, health and ergonomics courses offered by the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation Division of Safety & Hygiene. Classes are held throughout the state as well as online. The division offers courses at no extra cost to Ohio employers with active workers’ compensation policies. Course Accident Analysis Advanced Ratemaking Asthma! Is Your Company at Risk?
Day (s)
Basic Construction Safety (OSHA 30) Behavior-based Safety Systems
1.0 0.5 1.0 4.5 1.0
Bloodborne Pathogens
0.5
Confined Space Assessment and Work
1.5
Controlling Costs through Claims Management
1.0
Controlling Workers’ Compensation Costs Effective Safety Teams Electrical Hazard Recognition and Abatement Emergency Preparedness Planning Employee Safety for Staffing Companies/PEOs Enhancing Safety through a Drug-free Workplace First Aid in the Workplace Fundamentals of an Effective Safety and Health Program
1.0 1.0 3.5 1.0 0.5 0.5 1.0
Got Mold?
1.0
Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response Awareness Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response Operations Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response Refresher Industrial Hygiene Calibration and Sampling
2.0
Course
Day (s)
Job Safety Analysis
1.0
Laboratory Safety
1.0
Lockout/Tagout and Safety-related Work Practices
0.5
Mechanical Power Press
2.0
NFPA 70E and You: Insight and Implementation Nonviolent Strategies for Caregivers and Other Staff Working Directly with the Public OSHA Recordkeeping Powered Industrial Trucks: Developing a Training Program
1.0
Respiratory Protection
2.5
Safety and Ergonomics for Extended-care Facilities
1.0
Safety Fundamentals Examination (ASP) Review
3.0
Safety Works for Industry Module 1
0.5
Safety Works for Industry Module 2
0.5
Safety Works for Industry Module 3
0.5
Safety Works for Industry Module 4
0.5
1.0 1.0 1.0
Train the Trainer
1.5
0.8
Trenching and Excavation
3.0
2.0
Violence in the Workplace
0.5
Wellness in the Workplace
1.0
1.0 1.0
Online courses
For more information, call 1.800.OHIOBWC. To register for a class online follow directions on reverse side.
4 Ohio Builder
Avoiding Back Trauma Getting Started with Safety Industrial Hygiene Overview Ladder/Stairway Safety Preventing Cuts and Lacerations Preventing Slips/Trips/Falls
July/August 2009
product roundup
Windows and doors change with the times Andersen performance package makes tax credit easy Andersen Windows Inc. recently launched its EcoExcel energy-performance package, a program that makes it easy for builders, remodelers and homeowners to identify products that meet the new stringent tax credit performance criteria. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 allows for federal tax credits of up to $1,500 for qualifying windows, doors and skylights when used for remodeling or replacement in a taxpayer’s primary U.S. residence. The credit is good for qualifying products purchased and installed throughout 2009 and 2010. EcoExcel-branded windows and doors include Andersen products that come in a wide variety of styles and shapes (both custom and standard) from Andersen’s 400 Series, 100 Series and architectural product lines. They do not require expensive upgrades or add-ons to qualify for the tax credit. EcoExcel-branded windows and doors can provide the homeowner with up to 70 percent higher energy efficiency in summer and 45 percent higher energy efficiency in winter. Visit www.andersenwindows.com for more information.
s Andersen’s new EcoExcel package makes qualifying for a $1,500 tax credit easy, without expensive upgrades. The qualifying products come in a wide variety of styles and shapes from Andersen’s 400 Series, 100 Series and architectural product lines. (Photo courtesy of Andersen.)
Malta Windows & Doors undergoes major changes When one door closed, ABC Manufacturing in Malta, Ohio, opened another. In December 2007, ABC Manufacturing acquired Malta Windows & Doors. Originally
In the black Integrity from Marvin Windows and Doors recently added Ebony to its All Ultrex line of replacement windows and doors. The UV-resistant line features units made entirely of Ultrex, a tough pultruded fiberglass material eight times stronger than vinyl. Able to deflect heat up to 350 degrees, Ultrex will maintain its structural integrity under the high temperatures dark frames can reach when continually exposed to the sun. The colors of Evergreen and Cashmere on the exteriors also were recently added to the line. The windows come in a range of sizes and factory-mulled configurations. For more information, visit www.integritywindows.com.
founded in 1889 as the Sash and Door Factory, it is the second-oldest wood window manufacturer in the nation. “The acquisition was an opportunity to rekindle the long tradition of quality craftsmanship, a customer service group that is ready to serve you (with) complete and on-time deliveries, all backed by a lifetime warranty,” says ABC Manufacturing founder and CEO Wade Benjamin, a Malta native who grew up just two blocks from the old Malta plant. “This company is part of our community and should remain as such.” Malta Windows & Doors produces highquality wood windows and doors available in primed wood, aluminum-clad and vinylclad, as well as a 3 ¼-inch aluminum-clad replacement window available in casements, awnings and double-hungs. To manufacture windows and doors faster and more efficiently, the Malta facilities have undergone a complete overhaul, which began as soon as the acquisition was complete. “We’ve remodeled the entire facility,” says Benjamin. “It was built in the 1940s and (See WINDOWS AND DOORS on page 8)
July/August 2009
Ohio Builder 5
The top five mistakes of social media marketing
A by Pam Lontos and Maurice Ramirez
6 Ohio Builder
s a business owner, you already know the importance of utilizing traditional PR — print, radio and TV exposure — to keep your name circulating in the marketplace. Now, however, there’s a new PR outlet you need to become familiar with. It’s called social media marketing, and when combined with your traditional PR efforts, SMM can help you penetrate the marketplace with your message quicker and easier than ever before. What is social media marketing? It’s utilizing the various social networking sites to enforce your brand and market your business. A social networking site is simply an online meeting place. Think of it like an eHarmony or Match.com for business people. On such sites, people can post a profile with the hopes of meeting other likeminded professionals for business reasons. According to the Nielsen Research Group, social networks and blogs have moved ahead of personal e-mail among the most popular online activities people engage in. Additionally, USA Today reports the time spent on these sites is growing three times faster than the overall Internet rate. More than two-thirds of the world’s online population now visits social networking and blogging sites.
Knowing this, it’s clear if you haven’t yet engaged in SMM, the time to start is now. But before you do, be aware of the top mistakes businesses make with this PR outlet so you can avoid them and get the biggest return for your marketing investment.
Mistake #1: Having more than one face on the Internet. When you’re engaging in SMM you’re really building your image from the ground up. SMM’s goal is to virally spread parts of your image across the Internet. The word “parts” is important. Basically, you’re starting with a holographic image of yourself in the virtual world, breaking it apart and finding appropriate places on the Internet where you can frame certain pieces. When someone looks at all the pieces at the various sites, they should be able to put them together to see a single whole. They shouldn’t see multiple images of who you are, as that would ruin your credibility. Therefore, if you have multiple Facebook accounts, for example, your personal one has to be hidden and by invitation only. You don’t want that other image out there confusing people and possibly diminishing your reputation.
July/August 2009
Mistake #2: Collecting friends. SMM is how you create instant buzz on the Internet by getting the same message out over and over. It’s spreading your message and getting yourself branded so you can get more business. Social networking, on the other hand, is about making friends. For example, you’ve likely seen someone on LinkedIn who has 25,000-plus contacts. That’s great, but what do you do with all those contacts? Remember, just because you have a phone book in your office doesn’t mean you can open the book at random, pick names, and call them for business. When you collect a contact, you’re supposed to be opening the door to exchange information and build a relationship. Think of it as relationship marketing in the 21st century, and the same rules apply. The only difference is that you’re building the relationship online rather than over coffee.
Mistake #3: Putting out the wrong messages. You’ve likely seen people put posts on Twitter or Facebook that say something like, “John Smith is watching a great movie and eating popcorn.” Such messages may be fine for personal networks, but for business networks you need to put out useful messages to your readers. In other words, don’t talk about yourself. You want to give valuable tips and advice so people who read your posts want to repost them to their own sites. That’s how your message spreads virally. So keep your messages consistent. Remember people are subscribing to various feeds in order to get your information. They are essentially saying your message has value. That’s why you can’t do a series of sales tips and then post a couple of your favorite omelet recipes. You have to stay on message, and your message has to be for your readers. With that said, it is OK to occasionally have a press release-type message that says something like, “John Smith is speaking at ABC Convention on employee productivity today.” Such a message does two things: 1) It tells people they might not get a tip July/August 2009
today or tomorrow because you’re busy, and 2) It shows that other big-wigs out there think your message is important. It’s a positive reinforcement that boosts your credibility, as long as you don’t do it too frequently.
Mistake #4: Posting inappropriate information. Don’t allow yourself or anyone on your site to post anything online you don’t want your most conservative client to see. You never know where something will end up, especially since the nature of the Internet is for things to spread virally. For example, a CEO of a corporation had a picture of himself and his girlfriend on a topless beach in Mexico. In the photo she’s riding on his shoulders with her breasts exposed. For some reason, he decided to post the photo on his personal invitation-only Facebook site. The only problem is that he was married. His wife (or rather, his now ex-wife) saw the photo. How? Someone on his invitation-only Facebook account thought it was a great picture and decided to repost it on the public Internet. To top it all off, his board of directors got wind of the photo and fired him. The moral of this story: Never post anything on any site that you wouldn’t personally show your own grandmother.
Mistake #5: Assuming it’s better to have your message in only one place on the Internet. In the “old days” of the Internet, people believed they had to keep all their content on their own Web site. The theory was that spreading it out ruined your credibility and diminished your reputation as being a unique speaker. Not so today. In fact, with SMM, the opposite is true. The more places you can get your message to appear simultaneously, the more effective your message will be. Think of it as constructing a funnel. You want to lay several trails of information, all of which lead to your main site. Therefore, no matter how someone stumbles upon you, as long as they “follow the trail,” they’ll
eventually find you. That’s essentially what you’re doing with your Twitters and other SMM messages. You’re putting out kernels of information. If someone wants the next kernel, they have to follow the trail. Eventually it funnels them to one Web site, which is where you wanted them to be anyway. You’re creating an environment where people see your message everywhere. As a result, you have their attention and you have the opportunity to sell your product, your services or whatever you’re selling. Here’s an example of the power of funneling: Recently Aaron Chronester posted a message on Twitter. Someone saw his post and reposted it on their blog. CNN and The New York Times found the post interesting and reported on it. Because of that exposure, Chronester got a book deal from Simon and Schuster. So, what was his post about? Current events? Global warming? A tell-all celebrity biography? Nope. It was a Twitter post with a unique bacon recipe, as Chronester was trying to get publicity for a barbeque club he belonged to. That’s how powerful funneling your message can be.
Get noticed with SMM The marketplace is changing, and you have to change with it. Your name has to be everywhere — in print, on radio, on TV and on the social networking sites. The more you can get your name and message circulating in the various mediums, the higher your chances of clients seeing your information and ultimately hiring you. Thanks to SMM you can get your message out to thousands of people in an instant. And the results are greater credibility, more exposure and higher sales — all of which positively impact your bottom line. (Pam Lontos is president of PR/ PR Public Relations and author of “I See Your Name Everywhere.” Maurice Ramirez, Ph.D., is the chief strategist for social media at PR/PR and a renowned speaker. For a free publicity consultation, e-mail Pam@prpr.net or call [407] 299-6128. To receive free publicity tips, go to www. PRPR.net and register for the monthly e-newsletter, “PR/PR Pulse!”)
Ohio Builder 7
membership update
OHBA recognizes its top Spikes for their hard work By Fred Tobin, 2009 Membership Chairman
I
Recruiting new members is special and can certainly be rewarding for the OHBA volunteer ambassadors who recruit the most members each year. The deserving 2008 membership recruitment winners were treated to three nights at the Mirage on the Las Vegas strip and enjoyed dinner at Kokomo’s Restaurant — thanks to Whirlpool Corp., which sponsored the 2008 Membership Recruitment Contest. Seen here (from left) are the OHBA recruitment winners, with their wives: Jim and Teri Grantz, T.J. and Katie Murphy, “Top Gun” winner Michael Cumberledge, Kathy and Tom Ashpaw, and Nancy and Fred Tobin, membership chairman. Grantz, Murphy and Ashpaw were repeat winners from the 2007 contest.
Windows and doors (continued from page 5) was long overdue for equipment upgrades, cosmetic and structural improvements. Our new facility is a place that our employees are proud to work and serves as a great showpiece for the company and the investment we’ve made in our product line.” The facility now houses Malta’s new corporate offices, a 4,000-square-foot showroom, state-of-the-art manufacturing lines which include a “green” environmentally friendly powder-coat paint line and a dust-collection system. For more information, visit www. maltawindows.net or call (877) 9562582.
n this issue of Ohio Builder, we want to recognize our top 100 Spikes. These folks continue to recruit new members and help retain the member companies in our local associations. In these unprecedented, challenging times, the Membership Committee also would like to thank all of our recruiters at any level, who help keep our local associations strong. As our local associations are experiencing a decline in membership numbers to levels we’ve not seen in many years, we know that as housing starts grow in the future so will our memberships. November is Spike Recognition month when our local associations pay tribute to those recruiters who keep the lifeblood of our associations alive. But during these summer months, let us not forget to recognize our Spikes, as well as any other member who has recruited even one new member this year. As of press time, the names on the facing page are the top 100 OHBA Spikes:
One less thing to replace A new door stop introduced at the 2009 International Builders’ Show may make those pesky rubber bumpers — a common choking hazard for children and pets — a thing of the past. Perfect Products’ innovative design of the
8 Ohio Builder
A one-time regional manufacturer,
DoorSaver2 enables a door’s motion to be absorbed into
Malta Windows & Doors in Ohio
the hinge, effectively eliminating the need for bumpers
has now expanded its market reach
found on other base- and hinge-mount doorstops. The new
to cover more than three quarters
doorstop simply replaces one hinge pin on any residential
of the U.S. market. The company
or commercial door, interior or exterior. It never touches
is known for its high-quality wood
the door, wall casing or baseboard. For more information,
products.
visit www.doorsaver.com or call (877) 366-7728.
July/August 2009
membership update
HBA Name
1 HBA of Dayton & Miami Valley 2 HBA of Greater Toledo Inc 3 HBA of Greater Toledo Inc 4 Medina County HBA 5 HBA of Greater Cincinnati 6 BIA of Stark County 7 HBA of Greater Cleveland 8 BIA of Stark County 9 HBA of Greater Cincinnati 10 HBA of Portage & Summit Counties 11 HBA of Greater Cincinnati 12 HBA of Mahoning Valley 13 HBA of Greater Cincinnati 14 HBA of Greater Cleveland 15 HBA of Greater Cleveland 16 BIA of Central Ohio 17 North Coast BIA 18 HBA of Dayton & Miami Valley 19 HBA of Greater Toledo Inc 20 HBA of Dayton & Miami Valley 21 HBA of Greater Cincinnati 22 HBA of Northwestern Ohio 23 HBA of Portage & Summit Counties 24 HBA of Portage & Summit Counties 25 HBA of Greater Cincinnati 26 BIA of North Central OH 27 HBA of Portage & Summit Counties 28 BIA of Stark County 29 North Coast BIA 30 HBA of Greater Toledo Inc 31 HBA of Dayton & Miami Valley 32 HBA of Hancock County 33 HBA of Portage & Summit Counties 34 HBA of Portage & Summit Counties 35 North Coast BIA 36 HBA of Greater Cleveland 37 HBA of Dayton & Miami Valley 38 HBA of Greater Cleveland 39 BIA of Central Ohio 40 HBA of Mahoning Valley 41 HBA of Greater Cleveland 42 HBA of Greater Cleveland 43 HBA of Portage & Summit Counties 44 HBA of Dayton & Miami Valley 45 HBA of Dayton & Miami Valley 46 Buckeye Valley BIA 47 HBA of Greater Cincinnati 48 HBA of Greater Cleveland 49 HBA of Greater Cincinnati 50 HBA of Greater Cincinnati 51 North Coast BIA 52 HBA of Greater Toledo Inc 53 HBA of Greater Toledo Inc 54 HBA of Mahoning Valley 55 BIA of Stark County 56 HBA of Greater Cincinnati July/August 2009
Total
Name
HBA Name
1226 1133.5 1011 1009 938.5 824 770 737 704.5 694 626 618.5 577 570.5 561.5 555 552 550.5 536.5 507 500.5 474 466 441 440 437 415.5 404.5 399 396 396 386.5 367.5 365 357 356.75 352.5 349.25 349 347.5 344 341 340.25 338 336 330 317 316.5 316 314 306.5 296 289 287.5 286.5 284.5
Tom Peebles Richard Germana Tim Nichter Ken Cleveland Tom Ashpaw Fred Tobin Rocco Puzzitiello Melanie Krantz Timothy Murphy Don Lucas Carey Fitzpatrick Ray Kashmiry Jack Wieland Anthony Latina Richard Puzzitiello David Wickline Calvin Smith George Oberer Frank Szymanski Mark Brainard Tim Cassady Richard Kahle Joe Payne Ted Kirn Georg Meinhardt Paul Getz Bill Zoltai Steve Smith Bob Yost Joe Brown James Ernst William Johns William Kremer Donald Shultz Terry Goode Gregory Romes Gary Thibo Kevin Kanareff Vince Ghiloni Jerry Carleton Chuck Kuenzig Perry Troiano Nancy Migal Robert Tanner Charles Simms Lew Claggett Darlene Steffen Cliff Shandle Robert Lucke Jerry Honerlaw Ken Oswald Richard Moses Bailey Stanbery David Marino Doug Prestier Dave Estes
57 HBA of Wayne and Holmes Cos 58 HBA of Greater Toledo Inc 59 BIA of Stark County 60 Seneca County HBA 61 HBA of Mahoning Valley 62 HBA of Greater Cleveland 63 HBA of Portage & Summit Counties 64 HBA of Portage & Summit Counties 65 HBA of Portage & Summit Counties 66 HBA of Miami County 67 HBA of Dayton & Miami Valley 68 BIA of Central Ohio 69 Ohio HBA (State) 70 HBA of Miami County 71 HBA of Dayton & Miami Valley 72 HBA of Greater Cleveland 73 HBA of Greater Toledo Inc 74 HBA of Mahoning Valley 75 HBA of Greater Cleveland 76 HBA of Portage & Summit Counties 77 HBA of Mahoning Valley 78 HBA of Portage & Summit Counties 79 HBA of Dayton & Miami Valley 80 BIA of Central Ohio 81 HBA of Greater Cleveland 82 HBA of Mahoning Valley 83 North Coast BIA 84 HBA of Mahoning Valley 85 HBA of Mahoning Valley 86 HBA of Greater Cleveland 87 HBA of Greater Toledo Inc 88 HBA of Mahoning Valley 89 HBA of Miami County 90 HBA of Greater Cincinnati 91 HBA of Dayton & Miami Valley 92 BIA of Central Ohio 93 HBA of Greater Toledo Inc 94 BIA of Stark County 95 BIA of Central Ohio 96 Buckeye Valley BIA 97 BIA of Stark County 98 HBA of Dayton & Miami Valley 99 Buckeye Valley BIA 100 North Coast BIA
Total
Name
284 283 282.5 279 277.5 274 268 267.5 264.5 261 256.5 253.5 252.25 251 250.5 247 246.5 236.5 235.5 229.5 228 219 216.5 215.5 213 209.5 209 207 206.5 206.5 206 205 205 204.5 203.5 203 201.5 200 200 198 194.5 193.5 192.5 192
Terry Pol Gary Mossing Greg Kauth Thomas Daniel Andy Profanchik Darryl Mancini Michael Luisi Roy Payne Paul Testa David Dodd Adam Cristo William Fannin Donald Barr Roger Hawk Ron Diorio Richard Puzzitiello Dawson Baker Kenneth Hunter John Zillich Joe Marchetta Elton Kuszmaul Helen Scott J. Dungan W. Roger Hatch Daniel Bailey Don Walter Dale Yost James Grantz James Carsone Bill Sanderson Tim Brown Roger Crowell Jim Godfrey Donald Misrach Richard Duggan Adam Lewin Gary Obenauf Scott McCue Eric Schottenstein Mike Gorius David Mathie Robert Rhoads Mac Kennedy William Perritt
Ohio Builder 9
stateline principals, Al Scott and T. Richard Bailey. NAHB indicated this year’s Pillars judges were impressed by NRP’s community involvement, management expertise and commitment to affordable housing. The NRP Group was chosen on the basis of consistently being ranked annually in the Top 30 Multifamily Developers and a No. 1 ranking for affordable housing developer for 2006 and 2007 by Affordable Housing Finance.
Obituary Jacque Sheley, 1930-2009 Jacque R. Sheley, a long-time executive director of the HBA of Dayton and Miami Valley, passed away April 18 at the age of 78. Sheley was born in Hamilton, Ohio, Oct. 4, 1930, and since 1963 resided in Centerville. He began his career in association Sheley management as an assistant director of the HBA of Greater Cincinnati in 1959. In 1963 he became the executive director of the HBA of Dayton and the Miami Valley, a position he held until he retired in 1990. He was designated a Life Member of the association and its board of directors. He also served as president of the Dayton Society of Association Executives in 1972. In 1976 Sheley was president of the National Association of Home Builders Executive Officers Council. He also was an NAHB Life Director. Sheley received the Ohio Home Builders Association’s highest honor, the GarsonMcDaniel Award, for his loyal support and contributions to OHBA. He was preceded in death by his wife of 53 years, Martha Ann (Kraus) Sheley. He is survived by his daughter, son, sister, treasured grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Boehner addresses Cincinnati HBA Rep. John Boehner, R-Ohio, was the featured speaker at the HBA of Greater Cincinnati’s spring general meeting in May at the Savannah Center in West Chester. At the event, Boehner’s talk focused on the economy. He said he firmly believes the housing sector is a necessary component to economic recovery due to its large contribution to gross domestic products and its leadership out of past downturns. He also renewed his opposition to the Employee Freedom of Choice Act, which contains the controversial “card check” rule. The act 10 Ohio Builder
Audio Video Interiors honored for excellence s HBA of Greater Cincinnati President Joe Cristo of Cristo Homes (left) poses with Rep. John Boehner, who was the guest speaker at the local’s spring meeting.
would allow labor unions to organize workers without holding a vote by secret ballot. After his talk, Boehner fielded questions and addressed availability problems with acquisition, development and construction loans by saying he thought bank regulators and the treasury department need to communicate more closely about how federal money should be used. He said it’s not fair for banks to label all AD&C loans as bad investments and that bank regulators ought to allow banks to use new capital to issue new loans.
NRP Group wins prestigious NAHB multifamily award The NRP Group LLC — a full-service developer, general contractor and property manager with offices in Cleveland among other places — was honored in March with the Multifamily Development Firm of the Year Award from the National Association of Home Builders at the annual Pillars of the Industry Awards program in San Diego. The NAHB Pillars Awards promotes excellence in apartment and condo design, development, marketing and management. It is considered the most prestigious and coveted multifamily recognition program of its kind and a showcase of future trends in successful multifamily housing. NRP Principal J. David Heller accepted the award on behalf of The NRP Group and co-
Audio Video Interiors, a member of the HBA of Portage & Summit Counties, won the platinum award for Best Lighting Design in the Mark of Excellence Awards program presented by the Consumer Electronics Association’s TechHome Division. The program recognizes the best custom home electronics products, services and installations. The Ohio-based company competed with technology companies nationwide. The winning project, located in Rochester, N.Y., has garnered the company three national awards for the home’s residential lighting control system. This is the sixth award Audio Video Interiors has won in the last two years.
Parade is on The HBA of Wayne & Holmes Counties will hold its 2009 Parade of Homes July 24-26, July 31 and Aug. 1-2. Nine builders will participate in the scattered-site parade with homes in Marshallville, Dalton, Orrville, West Salem and Wooster. Admission is free. For updates and a map, visit www.whhba.com.
Great Traditions reaps cache of awards Winning 26 awards for sales, design and marketing, Blue Ash-based Great Traditions Land & Development Co. and Great Traditions Homes celebrated their joint success at the HBA of Greater Cincinnati’s annual Sales and Marketing Awards luncheon at Kenwood Country Club in March. Among the top SAM awards were Developer of the Year, Marketer of the Year, The July/August 2009
stateline
s Seen here are the Great Traditions sales and marketing team (top row, from left) Chip Browne, Linda Watts, Jim Sullivan, Jill Robb, Jim Kiefer, Tina Compton, Ted Hoerstmann and Doug Hinger and (bottom row, from left) Jamie Humes, Laura Turton, Lisa Barto, Nancy Young, Eve Goeddel and Betty Vance.
July/August 2009
There’s never been a more important time for your business to cut costs. Now is the perfect time to get your workers’ compensation costs headed in the right direction. The Ohio Home Builders Association has a group rating program that can help employers significantly lower their Ohio premium. Our program administrator, CareWorks Consultants, Inc. (CCI), offers multiple saving levels up to the BWC maximum discount. Get started on a no-obligation analysis by visiting www.cciworkerscomp.com/groupratingapplication/ ohiohomebuilders. Or, learn more by calling CCI’s Mike Dove, toll-free, at 1800-837-3200, Ext. 7108, or via email to mike.dove@ccitpa.com.
1-800-837-3200 | www.cciworkerscomp.com | info@ccitpa.com
©2009 CareWorks Consultants, Inc.
President’s Award for Creative Achievement and Top Sales Performance. The Great Traditions’ development company won the Master Planned Community of the Year award for The Vintage Club of Montgomery. Great Traditions Homes received multiple awards for its 2008 Cincinnati Magazine Design Home at The Vintage Club, including Best Product Design and Best Interior Merchandising by Hoffman and Albers Designers. The impressive Vintage Club Clubhouse and Sales Center also earned design awards. Among the other award-winning GT communities with homes and sites available are Chestnut Hill in Mason, Harbour Town Village of West Chester, Eagle’s Watch of Anderson Township, Legendary Run in Pierce Township, SaddleCreek in Centerville and Stetson Square in Corryville.
Ohio Builder 11
Is your business ready for the recovery? by Jay Arthur
J
ust like the seasons, economic busts turn into economic booms. Whether the economy or the stock market has bottomed out is irrelevant — one day soon the economy will turn around. Will your business be ready to handle the increasing volume of orders smoothly and efficiently, or will you find yourself back in firefighting mode, scrambling to deliver? While most businesses are whining about the recession, a few are preparing for the recovery. They know the ideal time to tune up their operation is now while business is slack. Don’t waste this opportunity. If you want to be ready for the recovery, the time has come to simplify, streamline and optimize your organization to prepare for the future.
Step 1: Simplify Over the years, every business collects clutter: unused materials and machines that muck up daily operations. The solution: Spring cleaning! Go through every nook and cranny and throw out anything out of date or unused. Organize what’s left so anyone can find it when they need it. Label the locations of all materials and tools to make them easy to find.
Step 2: Streamline Businesses grow organically, not systematically. So they often look more like a gnarly tree than a set of railroad tracks. This convoluted workflow takes too much time and causes preventable errors. Eliminate unnecessary movement. Unnecessary movement of people, machines or materials is wasteful and slow. Reorganize the flow of work to eliminate unnecessary travel. Eliminate unnecessary delays. Remove the delays between steps in the workflow. In most businesses, the product or service spends 57 minutes out of every hour waiting for the next employee to do something with it. When businesses eliminate the delays between steps, they can reduce turnaround times by 50 percent or more, double productivity and increase profits by 20 percent or more. Companies that eliminate unnecessary delays also grow three times faster than their competitors. The mistake most managers make is looking at their employees and thinking: “Our people are busy.” And they are, but the product or service isn’t busy most of the time. When you eliminate the delays and unnecessary travel, employees don’t have to work any harder, yet the product starts working much harder. Eliminate unnecessary inventory. Hold onto this thought: 12 Ohio Builder
Inventory is evil. Raw materials and finished but unsold goods take up space, time and money. In most businesses, some level of inventory is necessary, but companies often stockpile materials they rarely need. Figure out how to get them when you need them. Shift to one-piece flow. Most of us grew up learning about mass production and the economies of scale. While useful at the time, the Toyota Production System has taught the world about the economies of speed. If a customer only wants one of your products, it doesn’t matter if you can produce 10,000 quickly. They only want one and you end up with 9,999 in inventory. Figure out how to redesign and reconfigure machines and processes to produce any number quickly and easily. This simplifies production scheduling and reduces time to deliver. Once the business operation is simplified and streamlined, it’s time to optimize the process.
Step 3: Optimize Every business makes mistakes, errors or defects. Even productive, profitable businesses can have 3-6-9 percent error rates. Unfortunately, most managers blame employees for errors when it’s not the people at fault. Instead, blame the process. Processes let people fail. Processes can be set up to prevent failures in such a way that anyone could do the job. Count and categorize mistakes and errors. When businesses take the time to count and categorize their errors, they quickly discover where most of the errors occur. Figure out a way to mistake-proof the process to eliminate most of the errors. Mistake-proof the process. Mistake-proofing makes it impossible for an employee to make an error. Examples surround us. Modern cars won’t start unless the transmission is in park. Electrical plugs have a fat and slender prong so people can’t plug them in incorrectly. Any process can benefit from mistake-proofing. It just takes a little imagination to figure out how to change the process so it becomes impossible to make a mistake. While the economic downturn has been painful, it also has given every business an unparalleled opportunity to simplify, streamline and optimize in preparation for the recovery. Can you use this time to become faster, better and cheaper than the competition? When the economy recovers, will you be ready? (Jay Arthur has spent the last 20 years helping companies maximize their revenue. To plug the leaks in your cash flow, sign up for free lessons online at www.qimacros.com/freestuff. html or call [888] 468-1537.) July/August 2009
Value. Beauty. Quality. Made in Ohio
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ALUMINUM CL AD, VINYL CL AD, PRIMED WO OD WIND OWS & PATIO D O ORS
The name Malta has been associated with windows since 1889. Malta Windows and Doors has brought the latest manufacturing techniques to the second oldest window manufacture in the U.S. All of us at Malta Windows and Doors thrive on quality craftsmanship, a customer service group that is ready to serve you, complete and on time deliveries and a lifetime warranty. We are ready to earn your business! To find the dealer nearest you go to our website www.maltawindows.net. For Dealer inquires call 740.962.3350 and mention you saw this ad in the Ohio Builder magazine. 210 13th Street, Malta, OH 43758 • 740.962.3350 • 877.95.MALTA • www.maltawindows.net
July/August 2009
Ohio Builder 13
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Works well in really big places. Like your imagination. Dramatic sizes, graceful shapes, exotic woods, elegant adornments. Andersen® architectural entranceways showcase artistry, intricacy and handcrafted beauty. For the bold introductions that your home demands, architectural entranceways come through in a big way.
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Eastern Avenue Lumber Chillicothe 804 Eastern Ave. (740) 773-2274
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Gerber Lumber & Hardware Kidron 4918 Kidron Road (330) 857-2021
Keim Lumber Co. Charm 4465 State Route 557 (330) 893-2251
Thomas LumberTown Zanesville 3100 Dillon Falls Road (740) 454-0146
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Worch Lumber Versailles 36 N. Steffin St. (937) 526-4501
LInworth Lumber Co. (single dealer) Worthington 2310 W. Dublin Granville Road (614) 885-9543
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July/August 2009