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1 Three Compensation Points to Ponder The construction industry had a bit of a decrease in starts at the end of 2018 only to again be on the rise as we continue towards the mid-year mark.  According to AGC [...]

The construction industry had a bit of a decrease in starts at the end of 2018 only to again be on the rise as we continue towards the mid-year mark.  According to AGC and Chief Economist Ken Simonson, construction employment […]

1 Three Compensation Points to Ponder The construction industry had a bit of a decrease in starts at the end of 2018 only to again be on the rise as we continue towards the mid-year mark.  According to AGC [...]

Contractors were on site last month doing restorative work to Notre Dame Cathedral when tragically, a fire destroyed a good part of this iconic place of worship, the cause of which is still under investigation. Those of us that […]

Construction hiring managers are finding it more and more difficult to bring in the better qualified and driven candidates, while in-house hiring teams are pressured to get the open positions filled. According to the 2019 Sage Construction Hiring and […]

Warren Alter from Alter Surety Group posted a recommendation to read a book called Presence by Amy Cuddy. It is about bringing your boldest self to your biggest challenges. The book has a full section on interviewing, in which the […]

Profit Fade Profit Fade is a real term used by financial professionals to describe when jobs close with lower gross profit than was originally estimated.  If your company is not maintaining a Work in Progress Report, known as the [...]

When hiring for a position typically three types of candidates apply: The unemployed - seeking a job The currently employed - making a move for something other than money The money chasers - always looking for a bigger paycheck Employers [...]

Joe’s communication style is to never say he knows something until he has all the detail and facts.  Sandra’s communication style is to say she knows how to do it when faced with a challenge.  She will figure it […]

Last Thursday our team members from FLCC attended a leadership event where Don Campion, CEO and Founder of Banyan Air was the guest speaker. He shared with us some of the tidbits of his forty years in business, and focused […]

For over two decades Suzanne Breistol and her network of qualified industry professionals have been working together to help individuals in the construction industry grow their careers. Below is an overview of some of the many programs that Construction [...]

Again this week, we had an employer tell us that one of their new employees, unfortunately, was duped by the gift card scam. If you are not familiar with how the con works, Knowbe4, cyber security specialists, have an [...]

We have a saying in Florida that “they pay in palm trees.” Not really, but it can seem that way for people wanting to relocate here from out of the area.  Often, we get people from New York, California […]

Job Seekers If you are considering a new job look at the total compensation package; challenge, growth and stability of the position.  In addition, the track record of the employer should be evaluated.  Compare where you would be in […]

“I worked for a small construction company and they had cash flow issues.” I never want to work for a small company again. “I worked for a big company and they didn’t care about their employees.” I never want […]

As a Career Matchmaker I get many single professionals asking me if I can also introduce them to the right love match.  There are many similarities with dating for long term relationship and dating for a career match. Although […]

There is a popular social media post that often accompanies someone’s rough day at work or a separation from their employer. The quote is: “Your value does not decrease based on someone’s inability to see your worth” unknown author […]

Every day now a new name pops up announcing their participation or possible participation in the 2020 Presidential race. The announcements all have two things in common: they don’t agree with how the current President of the United States […]

Aristotle once said, “Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom.” The relationship with yourself is one of the most important relationships in your life. I decided to study some of the hundreds of references we have received to better […]

Last week we hosted a private meet and greet for The Bluebook at Construction Connection’s Coaching Center, the SHED, which stands for Sharing Education. The out of town contractor was Life Time Construction, the Construction Management division of Life Time […]

Studies across all industries show that over fifty percent of the workforce would like the opportunity to work from home at least one or two days a week. In construction, often those assigned to the jobsite versus the main […]

Taking care of business in a flash! I never knew this was the coined phrase of Elvis Presley—the King of Rock and Roll—until we arrived at Graceland where it appears often. I am writing to you from the guesthouse […]

What is a SMART goal? How do you write an effective SMART goal? It’s never too late to look at your life and ask yourself “Is my life really how I want it to be?” Each new day can represent […]

Earlier this week I had lunch with newly married Kristi Ronyak, now Kristi Gibbs, Founder of Construction Angels. For those of you not familiar with Construction Angels, they are a National Non-Profit Organization created to provide immediate financial assistance […]

While working with my CEO coach in 2015, he suggested we make it a point to review our working relationship with our current CPA firm. Our CPA firm at the time had worked with us for over a decade. […]

We are Career Coaches and Matchmakers in Construction We work with Currently Employed Construction Management Professionals to help them achieve their career goals: Better workplace communication Shortening your daily commute Taking on More Challenge Continuing Your Education Diversifying Your […]

Last week my husband and I attended a funeral for a man who was one of the first people I met in our industry after moving to South Florida in 1992. Over the years, he became a friend and […]

Sitting in my backyard—enjoying the 75°F mid-November clear sky—makes the social media posts from family and friends of their recent snowfalls seem surreal. Having spent my first twenty-five years of life in the harsh New England winters, I can’t […]

When you look up the meaning of thankful, the synonyms are what you would expect: appreciative, grateful, and well pleased.  A surprise to me was in addition to the expected descriptions, the word “relieved” is listed as a synonym […]

With modern life moving faster than ever, Thanksgiving gives us a day to take a collective breath, reconnect with loved ones and remember just how much we have to be thankful for. At Florida Construction Connection we are thankful [...]

November is here and well underway. We all have less than two full months before we usher in a new calendar year. Somehow—with our days and weeks already jam-packed—we make time for celebrating the holidays. Accompanied with these holidays […]

Every week I interview someone who has successfully immigrated to the United States. The majority of these construction management professionals did so legally— often sacrificing fulfilling careers in their native countries while knowing full well that their credentials may […]

Recently, I tuned into PBS to watch an episode of Impossible Builds about One Thousand Museum—a project also coined the “Scorpion Tower”. Not only did the Pritzker Prize winning Architect Zaha Hadid pass away during the construction, the job […]

Just a few days ago on Wednesday, October 10th, one of the most powerful storms in US history made landfall and struck the Florida Panhandle. Hurricane Michael caused mass destruction and wiped out the entirety of Mexico Beach, Florida [...]

While out for a Sunday evening boat ride just before sundown, my husband and I noticed one of the new intracoastal homes under construction left wide open with no workers in sight. No builders sign was present with a […]

Quite often we have candidates that have worked in the construction industry emphasize their qualifications and value by stating how many years they have worked in the industry. We often hear a candidate tell us that they have 25+ […]

This year we had a vacancy in Accounting and HR within our company due to an employee moving out of the area. We evaluated our needs for this position and determined that the right person with the interest ability […]

John and I recently have updated our wills and trust now that our children are grown and don’t require guardianship if something happens to us. At the same time, we had to update our plan for what happens to […]

It is common for me to hear from a new client that they and the candidate have agreed on terms of employment. After speaking with both sides, there is ambiguity to what was discussed and what was processed and what [...]

Several times over the years clients have contracted us for DiSC coaching with project team members who are antagonizing to others. Three of these particular instances the employee had already pushed the other party’s buttons enough where it had become […]

Twice in the last month, two candidates were not asked back for a second interview due to a noticeable behavior. They both had the right skills set for the positions they interviewed for.  They both presented well and showed […]

Construction is an action result industry filled with people wired for action working in a business model driven by a schedule, balanced with quality and budget.  A good share of the projects over budget are due to people taking […]

Recently we have been helping our clients fill key leadership roles within their Construction and Real Estate Development firms also known as “C Level”. These roles are the roles directly connected to the CEO/President of the company assisting the […]

Last night I watched on PBS the 10 Modern Marvels that Changed America. It was about the building of the Hoover Dam, our interstate highway system and eight other major design-build projects that were revolutionary even to this day.  […]

The majority of construction companies in America have all but the necessary few employees costed to projects. Executive, Estimating, Safety, Accounting, General Administrative, Human Resources, and Business Development are typically the roles that may be overhead or only partially […]

by Christopher T. Marrie, HBK CPAs & Consultants Cost accumulation and management is critical to a strong financial reporting system in any industry. For construction contractors of any size it is one of the most essential functions of the business. […]

Career - A job is what you do to earn compensation.  A career is what you build to increase the value of your compensation. Building requires new materials to stand the test of time. Offer - An offer does [...]

You work hard. You have earned and want a more expensive house. You purchase that more expensive house and move in. After you get the house you realize it requires more time, energy and expertise to maintain. It may even […]

During interview candidates often answer questions referring to we did this, or we did that.  I compliment them on being a team player then remind the candidate an employer is most interested in what they alone took responsibility for. […]

The new Tommy Bahama magazine came in the mail, and the front cover in 3” bold letters says “YOUR SUMMER STARTS HERE.” Our summer in Florida usually starts with rain, rain, rain and preparing for hurricane season while those […]

This Memorial Day weekend I experienced holding new life as I met our little granddaughter for the first time. Ten perfect fingers and ten perfect toes.  She already has a personality all of her own and her preferences as […]

After twenty plus years of coaching and staffing in the construction and development, I have spoken with multiple people that report to the same Executive. It fascinates me to hear from one person that the person is a micro-manager […]

The saying “Life Happens” is more realistic than most of us want to face.  An unexpected car accident, family illness or death, our ailments are the ones we hope to avoid.  Vacation, training, corporate events are some of the [...]

One of our clients suggested the topic of culture vs. compensation. Their company has been in business for over forty years.  Many of their employees have remained employed with them for a decade or more. They kept the majority […]

The majority of candidates we have matched with companies for employment over the years are individuals who were already working in construction in Florida.  A fourth of the people we place are those relocating to Florida.  If they have […]

When the recession hit its peak in 2007-2010 next to the call from individuals needing jobs I received calls from employers for advice on reducing labor burden, aka “Who gets let go.”  Most of them had already cut back […]

Today as my husband and I lovingly parted ways for the day, he shared with me a dream he had about getting in an accident that seemed so real. He followed it with how many accidents there were on his […]

The afternoon of March 15th I walked out of an appointment to the receptionist telling me the new FIU bridge had collapsed. My heart sank as I prayed there were no fatalities which of course I knew was most […]

Traditionally in construction, employers offer separate paid time off benefits to employees which including paid vacation, sick leave and personal days. However, in the past decade, many employers in our industry have moved to a Paid Time Off or […]

All of us have inborn stressors. Each person’s stressors vary depending on how you profile. How and when we react to our inherent stress triggers, control our behavior towards stress and allow us to logically or illogically make business […]

Do you run a Meritocracy at your company? Once you do, it will be simple for you to answer the question I often ask employers regarding their uncertain employees. “Do they make you money, save you money or not? […]

Sad to say we have many people in our workforce that were born and raised right here in the US that have less than acceptable written communication skills. Many employers when interviewing take a candidate’s word to their ability […]

by Ernesto Garcia I recently joined FLCC and as some of you may know our primary objective is to find leadership talent that helps corporations build different type, of projects. It’s been fascinating to learn about how a group […]

Credibility is trustworthiness, reliability, integrity. It’s the process of being believed in. Construction is an industry that moves at the speed of light. It takes coordination and communication with multiple parties to complete many of the next steps. The […]

Does your day ever go by so fast that you look back and wonder what you missed? Often in construction we miss getting a sub-contractor what they need to move the project forward. Conscious not to be confused with […]

Remember the first grade Valentine’s day parties? It was required you bring a card for everyone in the class. Even at that formative age, giving a valentine to someone that might not be so sweet stirred emotions, as did […]

This past year was a particularly tough year for me losing four close family members including my dad.  Most people associate grieving strictly with death.  On the contrary death just tops the list of the many life events we [...]

DiSC for Workplace Priority Scale for D Profile After many years now of administering the DiSC profile assessment to leaders in the construction industry we have discovered the majority of them profile with the Dominant (D) at the forefront. [...]

By Shane M. Finn and Christopher Marrie With the cost of doing business constantly on the rise and as it becomes more difficult to find quality employees, there is no better time to pursue employment-based tax credits. There are […]

As the calendar turns to 2018, there clearly is a renewed focus on sexual harassment in the workplace. Indeed, from the high profile cases coming out of our political arena in Washington, DC, to the outing of high profile [...]

Let’s start your year off with an assessment to see how you rate on preparing to hire for your company. The unemployment rate is down. Top performers are difficult to find and they are more likely to hire on […]

Our Career Matchmaking team at Florida Construction Connection celebrates this holiday season with thankfulness to each person that chose to work with us for your hiring needs or right career match. We appreciate your ongoing gift of referrals and […]

As we gather for our year end festivities and express our gratitude for the people we work with, it is an excellent occasion to share the successes of the company with the team. In addition the end of the […]

Many construction companies share the successes of the year by gifting employees with a cash gift or bonus during the holiday season. It is a token of appreciation for the hard work each person put in during the year. […]

As the year draws to a close, you are likely taking some time to review the good, the bad, and the ugly of 2017 as you plan for next year. Such introspection and planning is important to maintaining a […]

For a military member, the transition from their military career to a civilian career can be quite jarring. For many service members the only experience they have with an employer is what they have gained in the military, which […]

Within the fabric of the military structure, the Civil Engineering career field is the military’s equivalent to the construction industry. Civil engineering in our armed forces includes numerous sub-industries such as: electrical work, construction of roads and bridges, construction for […]

There are many factors today which affect your ability to find a job right for you and securing the position.  Let’s discuss some of those elements and address how you can increase your odds of going back to work. […]

Natural disasters seem to be happening more often across the country. From the fires on the west coast and the hurricanes slamming the south east to the barrage of snowstorms we can expect as winter approaches, there will certainly be […]

As we begin to near the end of what is potentially the costliest hurricane season on record, those affected are left thinking, what now? In the construction industry, this question can be particularly troublesome.  Hurricanes bring projects to a [...]

As per HurricaneSafety.org, Hurricane Preparedness Plan does not end at home. An often over-looked segment of hurricane safety is the workplace. Whether or not you are an employee or an employer, it is essential to take proactive steps in […]

When a natural disaster strikes there is often a significant amount of uncertainty regarding how to handle absenteeism related to the natural disaster. Before hurricane Irma slammed South Florida, many residents chose to evacuate the area rather than stay […]

Our neighborhood participates in a private social network called Nextdoor.  It has been fascinating to watch the different posts before and after IRMA made landfall and observing the differing attitudes among the posters regarding the contractors who answered the […]

After many years of DiSC coaching, specifically for the Construction Industry, looking back there is a pattern with the majority of individuals we profile as a "D". D is known as a dominant profile, and those that do not [...]

Patrick Lencioni, author of the top selling book, The Five Dysfunctions of a Team, describes the 5 dysfunctions of a team and uses a pyramid to show the levels: Absence of Trust Fear of Conflict Lack of Commitment Avoidance [...]

The Model introduces The Five Behaviors model in the context of a real team. It explains how the behaviors derive from The Five Dysfunctions of a Team, by New York Times best-selling author, Patrick Lencioni, and describes how critical [...]

So what is Everything DiSC? Everything DiSC is a simple,  powerful model of human behavior – helping you to understand yourself and others better. It's possible to have a stronger, more efficient work team, and  the DiSC model is the secret! DiSC has [...]

It amazes me how many times a wealthy individual who is involved in financing a project will get into the minutiae of construction when they have a contractor working for them that is a practiced professional in construction. In […]

by Suzanne Breistol My husband John, President of a Real Estate Development firm, with a foundation in construction management, was coaching our talent acquisition team with me recently. We were discussing the different characteristics that make an estimator successful […]

Many interviewers get caught up in what a person has been doing in their most recent position and never move beyond that.  They rule someone in or out based on assuming that person can’t, or won’t, be able to [...]

Back in 2014, I wrote an article for ASPE National’s newsletter titled: Estimators, You’re on the Top Occupations List! The prediction by the US Department of Labor is that 40,000 new estimating jobs would be created in the construction industry [...]

Estimating and preconstruction titles. They are used in crossover often, yet someone can work in preconstruction and not ever have prepared a detailed estimate before. Where did the crossover come in? The crossover came in when the majority of [...]

This article was published by Estimating Today on February 2014 Edition. To see full magazine, click here. In 2010, at the height of the recession, I was asked to do a presentation for ASPE (American Society of Professional Estimators) […]

Having over 20 years of construction staffing, along with education, volunteer service and work experience in the construction industry, weeding through resumes is still challenging. I often say; some of the best candidates have the worst resumes and some […]

Yes or No Do I have someone in my organization that is responsible for Human Resources (HR), whether officially titled HR or not? If answered yes: Is this person responsible for keeping my organization staffed? Is this person responsible [...]

Flash back 30 years or more in the construction industry and you will find that the majority of the individuals that started at that time had to, as it was called, “pay their dues”.   The interesting part about that […]

Rarely within construction companies today do you see official written and followed mentoring programs. If you currently have a mentor or mentors that you communicate with on a regular basis, then you are fortunate.  You have probably already realized […]

Ask the best leaders in any organization how they learned to be successful, and you often hear the same answer: they had a good mentor. Mentoring 101 is a very short and practical read authored by a well-known expert on […]

Passover, or Pesach in Hebrew, is an eight-day spring holiday that celebrates the Israelites’ exodus from Egypt. Easter, derived from Hebrew: פֶּסַח‎ Pesaḥ is a Christian festival and holiday celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ on the third day after his crucifixion at Calvary as described in the New Testament. Easter is the culmination of the Passion of Christ, preceded [...]

The DBIA, in a publication titled “ Design Build Done Right”  , define project delivery as “a comprehensive process including planning, design and construction required to execute and complete a building facility or other type of project.” Choosing a […]

What size company do you feel is best for you to work with? Under 10 Million Under 10-25 Million 25-50 Million 50-100 Million 100+ Million How this question is answered often reflects someone’s perception of what a company doing […]

Thanks to everyone who participated and helped make this contest a success! Congratulations Diana V., the winner of the $100 Bass Pro Shop Gift Card - Safety Poll contest! Here are the results of all your answers: Are you OSHA Certified?OSHA [...]

The President of the Company greets you at the door for your interview. You see their project signs everywhere. You can’t believe he is personally taking time to interview you and you have an opportunity to work for this [...]

January: the month of review and the most common month to analyze our lives over the past year and add the totals of gains and losses. When it comes to employment, often we discover that another year flew by, […]

Just when you think the team is all moving in the right direction an unexpected resignation comes your way. Your first reaction is to try to get them to stay anyway possible. Sometimes it works. Sometimes it doesn’t. Either […]

Valentine's Day is around the corner, and with it comes the challenge of finding a very special way to tell your partner that you love him or her. This is particularly tricky for people who are being careful about [...]

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Fear “Fear of failure must never be a reason not to try something.” ~Frederick Smith When fear enters a person’s thoughts causing unsure feelings they tend to stay in their comfort zone and not explore options. When you are […]

By Suzanne Breistol It is proven through many research studies that few people set goals and a high percentage of those that set goals rarely keep them. It is proven that just by setting the goals, even if you […]

By Suzanne Breistol The old saying “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know” has a lot of truth to it. Maintaining relationships and not burning bridges is key to building both a career and a company. Staying […]

It is easier to say who the buck should not lie with from an overall company stand point. That would be anyone who is not solely dedicated to a safety director or risk manager job. Too often a dual […]

  The push for safety awareness for the construction industry in the US is up. The 14,000 average deaths a year has not gone down in over a decade and it is not because people in the industry are […]

Back in 2012 before the election we wrote an article titled “Do you Approach Voting and Hiring in the Same Way?” In the article we mention: “ The right candidate is the one that not only has the top […]

Who do the two personality types below sound like to you? The first one: Is the most fast-paced of the styles. They are quick to act. They are often the most charming of this style, probably because it’s easier […]

In 1887 Alexander Tyler, a Scottish history professor at the University of Edinburgh, had this to say about the fall of the Athenian Republic some 2,000 years prior: “A democracy is always temporary in nature; it simply cannot exist [...]

A key person leaves the company. A client defaults on a contract. The company is part of a lawsuit, receives a safety fine or gets hit with an unexpected tax liability. These are just a few of the things [...]

Many are still suffering from the aftermath of the recession, yet for most in our industry, their personal approach is that it will never happen again in their lifetime. If you are under the age of fifty-three, with the [...]

It may seem as if skills and experience are the most important characteristics of an employee, but attitude plays just as big of a role. After all, what good are great professional skills without the attitude to see it [...]

I celebrate with you for the work and jobs now available in our industry and feel for you with the challenges that go with sustainable growth and personal life balance.  Unexpected circumstances are a way of life these days […]

Are you trying to scream ,“ I can’t type, even with two fingers”?   If so, keep your cap locks on when you are sending e-mails and completing information online, whether for a job application or anything else. To the […]