Posted by Melissa Bunis, Boston Stone Restoration, EM NARI PR Committee Member
Thanks to everyone who attended EM NARI’s networking hour. It’s always nice to see our members connect, help each other with business issues and give updates for the remodeling industry.
Justin Zeller started the March meeting by introducing one of our new members David Cannata of LeadSmart Training Solutions. David let EM NARI members know of the lead paint classes as well as other educational opportunities his organization has to offer.
Phil Cherkas informed the members about the $1500 EM NARI Family Scholarship available to an immediate family member of an owner or employee of an EM NARI company. This applicant must be a graduating senior who has been accepted as a full-time student attending an accredited college or university. The $1500 James Marcotte EM NARI Trade Scholarship will be awarded to a graduating senior committed to entering a career in the remodeling industry. The Scholarship Deadline has been extended to May 1st. For more details please visit EM NARI Scholarship Fund Page.
The dinner program was led by our dynamic speaker Doug Howard from Remodelers Advantage who entertained and educated us on some very important business concepts. This meeting was held before the Coronavirus disruption, so now, while many contracting businesses are forced to shut down or slow down, many members have time to think about their business (big picture and long term) and how to stay profitable during these uncertain times.
Doug Howard has been a business consultant for over 25 years and currently specializes in helping remodeling companies develop strategic plans, streamline processes, improve profitability and navigate growth. He also helps owners transition out of their businesses.
Some of the topics covered were defining your business goals, using SWOT analysis and creating a PACT for success. For goal setting, he suggested looking 5 years out and sharing the vision for revenue, types of work, and the company structure. To connect where the business is today with the future vision, Doug suggests using a SWOT analysis. SWOT stands for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats. PACT stands for Process Improvement, Accountability, Communication and Telling a better story. It is important to find ways to measure progress toward the future vision using KPIs. For more information on his presentation, details, and tools are available on the Remodelers Advantage Website – 5 Keys to Strategic Planning for Your Remodeling Business.
It was a very informative and helpful evening!
