Category Archives: Contractor Business Operations

The Sound of a Stagnant Economy

Posted on July 13, 2011 by John M Grau

Thud! The national jobs report has landed and it’s not an encouraging sound. Instead of gaining ground on job growth and lowering the unemployment rate, we’re moving backwards. The rounds of self-analysis and blame have begun. The timing was good for the Jobs for America Summit which I attended earlier this week. It made national … Read more »

Posted in Contractor Business Operations, Legislation, Market Recovery and tagged , , , .

‘Tis the Season

Posted on November 21, 2008 by John M Grau

No. not that season. At least not quite yet. It’s the season for 2009 construction economic forecasts. The reports are coming across my desk, and they don’t paint a pretty picture. I mainly rely on the annual forecast produced by McGraw-Hill Construction. Other groups that try to crystal ball the construction economy are the U.S. … Read more »

Posted in Contractor Business Operations, Industry Trends, Productivity, Project Management.

Pension Perils

Posted on October 27, 2008 by John M Grau

I hate to add to the pile of bad financial news, but have you checked your local defined benefit pension plan lately? If it wasn’t underwater before this current stock market crisis, it is now. At least in terms of the funding standards under the new pension regulations established a couple years ago. Add private … Read more »

Posted in Contractor Business Operations, Employee Relations, Human Resources, Industry Index.

Family Business, Family Association

Posted on July 8, 2008 by John M Grau

On a recent NECA trip, I headed downstairs to the hotel bar at the end of the meeting to see who might be there. I ran into a NECA-member contractor and sat down to have a drink with him.  Our conversation drifted onto the subject of his business and some challenges he was facing. His workers’ comp … Read more »

Posted in Contractor Business Operations, Executive, Manpower, Strategic Planning.

Next Generation of Project Managers

Posted on June 12, 2008 by John M Grau

The Academy of Electric Contracting held its annual meeting at a resort near Austin, Texas, last week. The working group session at the meeting featured a presentation by Dr. Cindy Menches of the University of Texas. The subject was “Hiring the Next Generation of Project Managers.” The most interesting part of the session was when … Read more »

Posted in Contractor Business Operations.

Crystal Ball or Construction Forecast?

Posted on April 15, 2008 by John M Grau

In the last six weeks, I’ve attended meetings in Chicago, Hawaii, New Orleans and Florida (twice).  I’ve participated in 10 conference calls with local NECA chapter boards of directors. I mingled with industry leaders from across the country at former IBEW International Secretary-Treasurer Jon Walters’ retirement dinner, and I talked with local business agents at the … Read more »

Posted in Contractor Business Operations, Executive, Industry Status and Trends, Market Development.

Field Rep 2010

Posted on April 7, 2008 by John M Grau

In my last two posts, I’ve written about the NECA Field Service – its history and the challenges it confronts today. But what about the future? Will the job description for a NECA field representative of 2008 meet the needs of NECA members and chapters in the years 2010 and beyond? What will be expected of field … Read more »

Posted in Agreements (local), Contractor Business Operations, Education/Training, Labor Relations, Market Recovery.