As the CEO/Chairman of a construction software company for the past 26 years, I have met and talked with literally thousands of construction professionals. Over a drink or dinner, at sporting events, in a field trailer, on the phone, or at their CPA's office, I have come to know what matters most (and least) to contractors. Everyone I have met - from owners & presidents, project managers & estimators, payroll clerks, receptionists, CFOs and bookkeepers - has helped me to know the industry. In addition, my relationships with construction CPAs, sureties, consultants, bankers, technology providers, suppliers and vendors have given me an outside-in view of the contracting world.
Along the way, I've made many friends and acquaintances, and sadly, a few enemies. I've seen some great success stories. And unfortunately, I have met hundreds of contractors that went out of business. From the "mom and pop" plumbing contractor to the multi-state heavy highway construction company, these businesses have been an important part of my business.
This Blog - Construction Business News & Views by Fred - is my way of sharing these experiences with you. My entries will be short and to the point. Hopefully, readers will find something useful and interesting now and again. Each month I will share with you the following entries:
Construction Interview Series - I will interview someone with an expertise in the construction industry - owners, project managers, CPAs, consultants and the like. The interview will consist of a short biographical section that will give the reader the human side of the story - a glimpse into the person. The other part of the interview will provide insight into their views on the construction industry. Ideally, readers will walk away with some practical advice or a unique perspective that will help us all become better at what we do - or at the very least more knowledgeable.
Articles on Business - I have always considered myself a businessperson first and a technology person second. In addition to my direct experiences in the construction industry, I have read over a thousand business books, articles and studies. I have also authored countless construction articles pertaining to business. I plan to share, what I believe, are some practical and common sense approaches to successfully run a business. In these short (and hopefully) informative articles I will explain my thoughts on business. If it has to do with the business side of construction...it’s up for discussion.
Views by Fred - On occasion, I will share some of my personal thoughts and experiences- always with a tie back to business and construction. For example, in my first "Views by Fred" post I will discuss my backpacking trip and how it provided me with a new sense of clarity and enthusiasm - something I applied back to my business and where I also came up with this idea for a Blog.
So, there you have it. Welcome to my blog - Construction Business News & Views by Fred. Please feel free to share your thoughts with me and the other readers by posting a comment or emailing me directly.
Subscribe to this blogIf you're new here, you may want to subscribe to this blog via email so that you don't miss anything! An email subscription is easy to do (just click on the word "Subscribe" above or type your email address into the box over to the right of the blog.) After subscribing, you will receive an email notifying you of each new post (only 3 new posts monthly). Or, if you have an RSS reader, you can sign up for full RSS feed. Thanks for reading!
What's Coming
On March 17th I will be posting the first of the interview series. This initial interview will be with John Corcoran, CICPAC Executive Director and will focus on the evolving world of construction accounting. Don't miss this post!
