Masonry Magazine May 2010 Page. 43
Eric Haskins, United States,
Whole Building Design
Gary Vincent, United States,
Whole Building Design
For additional information, visit
www.brickstainable.com.
Acme Brick 'President's
Club Ring of Honor' Awards
Since 1984, Acme Brick Co. and its affiliated companies have honored individuals who achieved or exceeded their annual sales goals. Some 668 recipients have been honored in the last 24 years. For 2009, 10 individuals (nine from Acme Brick and one from American Tile Supply) qualified for this special honor.
The recipients were: Brent Keesee, Aaron Keng, David Sterne, William James, Brad Montgomery, Eddie Seiling, Gary Pearce, Larry Chennault, Brad Burkes and Scott Rowe (American Tile Supply).
Brad Montgomery was a first-time recipient. Brad Burkes marks his 17th time to win this honor, and for Larry Chennault, it was his 18th time to be so honored.
MGA Cast Stone Receives
Certification
Cast Stone Inc. has recently been certified to manufacture photocatalysis cement induced concrete. Produced by Essroc Italcementi Group under the name TX Active, this cement imparts, into concrete, properties enabling it to abate noxious substances produced by human activities such as industry, transport and residential heating systems. Using light energy, photocatalysis can induce the formation of strong oxidizing reagents, which decompose some organic and inorganic substances in the atmosphere by oxidation.
Photocatalysis accelerates the oxidation process that already exists in nature, promoting faster decomposition of pollutants, and prevents them from accumulating. For more than a decade, photocatalysis has been applied to various materials, including glass, ceramics and cementious binders, to obtain a "self-cleaning" effect.
The use of TX Active cement in the construction of "green" buildings can earn nine to 15 LEED credits.
Fraco Opens Window in
Arabian Peninsula
Fraco Products Ltd. has been approved as the preferred supplier of mast-climbing work platforms for the Barwa Commercial Avenue mega project in Doha, Qatar.
Fraco was selected by Alumco Qatar and Reem Emirates Aluminum LLC, the façades sub-contractors who will provide aluminum cladding, curtain walls and glazing works for all five types (phases) of an eight-kilometer-long façade. The contract first concerns the delivery of 20 units of the ACT-8 platform, Fraco's leading mast climbing work platform model. Fraco expects to deliver an additional lot of 54 units by July 2010.
The whole contract exceeds a value of 57 million. As mentioned by Armand Rainville, chairman of Fraco, "That agreement is the result of two years of tireless efforts by our dealer in Qatar, SkyClimbers Limited, to position Fraco's equipment in the Arabian Peninsula. Being involved in the development
If you want the job, ask for it!
CONTRACTOR TIP OF THE MONTH
Do you close the deal and get that contract? Or, do you just send out the bid in hopes that the owner or general contractor received it and will give you the job? If you aren't asking for the job, and the customer doesn't know how bad you want it, your odds of getting it are greatly reduced.
My masonry contracting firm was recently awarded a large project that we thought we had no chance of getting. How'd we do it? Simply by following up on the status of the project. In fact, when our estimator called, the GC said the mason contractor who previously had the job had gone out of business. Also, he said he never had our proposal from the bid a year earlier. So we sent him a copy of the proposal and were awarded the job. (Leamed a lesson here: If you want something, ask for it!)
Last month, my daughter, Amy, wrote a letter to the Easter Bunny. Little did I know what Amy really wanted for Easter until I found this: "Dear, Easter Bunny, thank you for all the things you gave me last year. Easter is my favorite holiday. Thanks for the ducks you gave me last year. But they aren't at my Dad's house, they are at the pond. I kinda want a bunny for Easter, but I better forget it because I don't think my Dad likes animals. But a bunny would be nice, because I get lonely around the house because my Dad won't let me have animals, just ducks for the pond. But I do have Spunky (her dog) but that's all. I wish my bunny was still living. If it was I would be playing with him now. I didn't tell my Dad I wanted a bunny, because he would yell at me and say he doesn't like inside pets. I had a dream that my Dad got me a bunny. I wasn't happy when I woke up because I figured out it was just a dream. I used to get bunnies every single Easter but now I'm getting ducks. I mean I love my ducks but I never get to see them anymore.
Every time I go to the pet store I never can get one. So I'm just asking you please can I have a bunny that's all I want for Easter. But If I don't get one it's okay because your probally busy, and have other things to do. Thank you!! Love, Amy."
Amy didn't get her bunny for Easter for this letter never got to the Easter Bunny (me). In fact, on the night before Easter, knowing she had written a letter to the Easter Bunny that wasn't on the fireplace hearth; I checked the trash and found it there. It was crinkled up and scribbled out but still legible enough for me to read. She never gave the letter out for fear of the unknown. Some day I plan to show her this un-sent letter and explain to her that if you want something, you must ask for it. By the time I (the Easter Bunny) got the note, it was too late to get her a bunny, or you can bet she would have woken up to one.
It's amazing how our kids can remind us of the simple lessons in life. When you write up a proposal or submit an estimate, make sure the customer gets it and understands why you are the best fit for the job. Ask for it! Pick up the phone, and start calling customers to see what they have in the pipelines. You may find some new work by just staying in touch with them. If they know what you want, they may just give it to you!
Damian Lang is a mason contractor in southeast Ohio and inventor of many labor-saving systems and products. He is also the author of the book "Rewarding and Challenging Employees for Profits in Masonry." To order his book or to attend one of his seminars held specifically for mason contractors, call Sherry Wittekind at Lang Masonry, 800-417-9272.
Provided by Damian Lang, President of Lang Massery Contractors, Inc., and EZ Grost Corp.
READER SERVICE #314
www.masonrymagazine.com
May 2010
MASONRY 41