Masonry Magazine May 2006 Page. 19
Schmitt: We have a shortage of qualified people up here.
Schmitt: We have a shortage of qualified people up here. I had travelers in for the first time ever this year. I had people from Chicago, Kansas City, Mo, and Springfield, III., up here working for us. I can't say enough about it. It's just really hard to find people who care and who are qualified, trained and want to learn, and want to be responsible for what they do. That is our constant, No. 1 battle in this company. No longer is it to get the work. No longer is it the administrative aspects, logistics or equipment. It's to find people that care-people that you trust will do the work. We're constantly going through the pool. For every 10, we're lucky if we can find one or two keepers. That's our continuing battle.
Masonry: What do you think will be the masonry industry's biggest competitor in 10 years?
Masonry: What do you think will be the masonry industry's biggest competitor in 10 years?
Schmitt: Precast. EIFS is also getting bigger and bigger in this area as well. I know it's big down south and has its place. There have been a lot of problems and a lot of success with it, and it's still going up for reasons of cost and, I suppose, insulation values. It seems to be working. I am just not sure for how long as opposed to masonry. We're getting a new stadium in St. Louis; they came in and used these simulated brick panels that are pre-cast. I've got to tell you, driving down the street, you can't tell it's concrete. I think things like that are getting so much better. And, again, it's always going to come down to cost.
Masonry: What do you feel are the most critical issues you'll face with future government regulations?
Masonry: What do you feel are the most critical issues you'll face with future government regulations?
Schmitt: For my industry, it's going to be the silica issue. I'm on a committee with mason contractors here and that thing could be explosive. I don't know where it all stands, but I see it being huge. If the things in that standard come about ... wow! It's not just going to affect the brick business. Anybody who takes a concrete saw or broom and those costs that would be thrown onto the contractors and eventually the consumers - would be absolutely huge.
Masonry: What do you like most about being a member of MCAA?
Masonry: What do you like most about being a member of MCAA?
Schmitt: The networking aspect - just being involved locally with other contractors and trading ideas. We're all friends and everybody gets along. We trade ideas and stay in touch with one another keep everyone abreast on what's going on. Collectively, hopefully, we can force some change, like with the silica issues. We're all equally concerned. We all have an equal stake.
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