Roper said the weakest sectors in the construction industry are public safety, educational, and power.

Also at the meeting, CCA members Tom LeDuc and Art Dexter, LeDuc & Dexter, Santa Rosa, Calif., gave an hour-long "Contractor Spotlight" presentation on how they got started 22 years ago and eventually evolved into a $10 million company with 70 employees. The company is involved in both residential and commercial new construction work.

In another session, Rick Dutmer of FMI led CCA in an interactive "Taking Peer Groups to the Next Level" exercise. The group discussed what they would most like to get out of peer groups at this stage in CCA's development, and developed ideas for the future. Dutmer also discussed productivity with the CCA members, stressing that productivity is not a field problem, but rather an important management and leadership issue.

"Hot topic" roundtables generated discussion on subjects such as purchasing best practices, getting into piece work, bonus programs, effective productivity processes, and diversifying your business.

The next CCA meeting is scheduled for Feb. 16-18, 2005, at Melia San Lucas resort, Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. George Hedley of Hardhart Presentations will be the featured speaker.

CCA, an enhanced service group of the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors-National Association, serves larger plumbing and mechanical new construction contractors specializing in residential, industrial, commercial, and institutional construction. For more information, visit www.phccweb.org/servicegroups/index.cfm.

Publication date: 10/18/2004