| In The Mix July 2011- Vol 3, Issue 5 |
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| Officers & Directors | |
President
Preston Sparkman
Quality Precast Co
813-685-5615 ext 2228
email
Vice President
Steve Bishop
Maschmeyer Concrete
561-848-9112
email
Secretary
Wade Mullins
Quality Precast Co
813-685-5615
email
Treasurer
Adam Freeman
A-1 Block
407-422-3768
email
Board of Directors
Jeff Bishop
Maschmeyer Concrete
561-848-9112
email
Bobbi Griswold
Griswold Ready Mix
904-751-3796
email
Freddie Jahna
Jahna Concrete
863-453-5155
email
Mark Smith
Bell Concrete
352-463-6103
email
Gary Clements, Past President
Cement Products &
Supply Company
863-686-5141
email
Executive Director
Michele Stropoli
407-333-4694
email
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 Greetings! |
 As I sit here Sunday afternoon upon returning from our annual convention, I keep thinking just how lucky we are to be associated with the members of FICAP. I think we truly represent our industry on such a personal and unique level. As our industry continues to struggle with the business environment that currently exists, it is truly a pleasure to spend a weekend away with our Producers and Associates to discuss the issues affecting our industry, and having some social time just to kick back is a bonus.
Michele pulled out all the stops this year and again the convention went off without a hitch, or at least that's the way it appeared, which is what I am sure she strives for. Thank you Michele and your group for a flawless weekend.
We had two keynote speakers Friday morning. Dave Ramba, a lobbyist in Tallahassee, provided us with an update on this year's session and what to expect next year. Dave is also representing the State Masonry Check Off Program for next year's session as our industry moves forward to try and get that through the legislature. If you are not familiar with the State Masonry Check Off Program Initiative, please visit that website, www.floridamasonrycheckoff.com where Pat McLaughlin and his team have assembled a wealth of information.
The second presentation was by Mr. Howard Hyden, who provided an enthusiastic and open conversation with our group on customer focus. I can truly say that Mr. Hyden's presentation provided more take aways that we can use in our business than any we have had recently. I think that everyone that attended will be able to go back to their daily activities with some valuable information to keep them focused on the customer. I have to share with you one of the key thoughts that I took back with me. We must provide value to our customers and when I say value I don't mean price, what is referred to as value is how can you differentiate yourself from the competition, in that, what can you bring to the table that will separate you from the rest of the pack and make you and your organization stand out from the rest.
I would be remiss if I did not take a few moments to thank Gary Clements for the outstanding job the he has done for our organization over the last two years. Gary had to tackle some difficult issues and always remained calm and on target. The leadership that Gary provided is a tough act to follow, but the fortunate thing is that he has not gone away, so I will depend on his friendship, help and perspective as we move forward.
We will be renewing our goal groups and setting up some initiatives for the coming year in the next couple of months. I look forward to working with each of the goal groups as we develop these together. The board that was just recently elected for FICAP will prove to be strong and has the leadership to carry our organization ahead far beyond my term of office.
Sincerely,
Preston Sparkman
President, FICAP |
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| FICAP Monthly Meeting & the Future Leaders of Florida Tuesday, August 30 | |
Management Styles
&
the Finances of a Manager
We have an exciting program scheduled for the August monthly meeting, with topics specific to the Future Leaders of Florida. This is an industry wide event and not exclusive to FICAP members. Please spread the word and plan to join us on Tuesday, August 30th, as we learn from experts in their fields...
Jeff Ruby, Red Rock Leadership, Management Styles
Dr. Lynn Clements, Florida Southern College, Finances of a Manager
Schedule:
1 to 3 Goal Group 3 Meeting
3 to 4 Producer Board Meeting
4 to 4:15 Welcome and Introductions
4:15 to 5:30 Jeff Ruby's Presentation (management styles)
5:30 to 6:15 Reception
6:15 to 7 Dinner and Goal Group Repopulation
7 to 7:45 Lynn Clements Presentation (accounting & finance)
The cost: Price of your dinner, $ 45.00
Register Now
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Convention Overview & Wrap Up Director's Corner |
What a great location for the 2011 FICAP Convention. Hammock Beach Resort provided the perfect atmosphere for a relaxed and fun event. Don't believe me, just look at the pictures and the smiles on everyone's faces...  Hotel & Educational Session Friday Night Calcutta Auction Fishing Tournament Golf Tournament Concretians Saturday Night Banquet If you participated in one of the convention events and you have not completed the convention survey, it's not too late. Please take a moment to do so now. And the Winner Is... Producer of the Year - Gary Clements of Cement Products & Supply Company Associate of the Year - Bob Thomas of Nextran Trucks, Tampa Congratulations to two very deserving men! Special Awards for 2011... Best Fisherman - Debi Corley, E.R. Jahna Chief Bromden Award - Larry Farmer, Cemex USA Metrosexual Award - Chuck Parliment, Parliment Building Products Mr. Squeeky Award - Adam Freeman, A-1 Block Snake Charmer Award - Mark Smith, Bell Concrete Products Best Workhorse Award - Wade Mullins, Quality Precast Best FICAP Cheerleader - Ron Pafford, Suwannee American Cement Best Naked Drinker - Jack Smith, Bell Concrete Products In the Potty Award - Jeff Bishop, Maschmeyer Concrete Chief Parrothead Award - Preston Sparkman, Quality Precast ...and yes, there's a story behind each special award.
The feedback about one of our speakers, Howard Hyden, has been tremendous. I believe the number of take aways surprised even the most cynical of the group. Howard's presentation does not end with the convention, but he also offered to follow up with an article for our next newsletter, and to work with you specifically one on one. Howard practices what he teaches and does Dare to Be Awesome! If you have not already done so, please take a moment to share your take aways and what you plan to implement in an email format to me... michele@ficap.org.
A tremendous THANK YOU to our sponsors. This was an awful year to ask for money, but so many of you came through for FICAP. Thank you! Thank you!
And in keeping with the banquet theme...A Night With the Stars...I wish to close with another famous movie quote... "Show Me the Money."
Can you see me smiling?
Thank you,
Michele
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Around the Industry | |
Florida Senate may focus on Medical Malpractice and PIP next
Florida's Republican-controlled Legislature is already showing signs that it may venture again next year into a host of controversial insurance issues, including medical malpractice and personal injury protection. Read More
New spike seen in high-end home market
Drive around Bird Key and you will get the impression that the Great Recession is receding into memory. Fourteen luxury homes are going up on this tiny island -- representing about 3 percent of its entire housing stock -- and the final cost of their construction is expected to far exceed $14 million. Read More
Housing starts surge in June
New-home construction popped to a five-month high in June, surprising economists and fueling hope that the long-struggling U.S. housing market could at last begin to add strength to the economic recovery. Read More
Senators Try Second Push for Small Business Regulatory Reform
Two prominent Republican lawmakers are pushing a regulatory review bill for the second time, couching the bill and its provisions as economic imperatives. The Freedom from Restrictive Excessive Executive Demands and Onerous Mandates Act, or FREEDOM Act, had previously failed on procedural grounds in the Senate but has gone on to garner a fairly strong level of bipartisan support. Read More
On The Other Hand - (Parliment Pages)
There is a new phenomena raising its ugly head that may help keep some life in the new housing construction market. Many homeowners are realizing that foreclosure is in the future for them. Either they can't afford their payments, are facing mortgage resets, or are just so far upside down that it makes no sense for them to keep paying. Once this realization sets in, many of these people have stopped making their payments and they also have stopped maintaining their properties, living as squatters, rent-free. With the banks in no hurry to take the property, the condition of the homes is fast deteriorating. Read More
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Here's Your Sign | |
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Small business borrowing surges
Borrowing by small businesses rose at a record pace in May, data released by PayNet Inc on Thursday showed, a sign that economic growth is poised to pick up in coming months. Read more
Pending home sales look positive
Sales of pending homes were on the uptick in Broward and Miami-Dade counties.
Pending home sales in Miami-Dade continued their upward trend in May, climbing by 15 percent to 11,936 compared to a year ago, according to a Miami Association of Realtors report.
Broward recorded an upward trend, too, with pending homes sales, including both single-family homes and condos, increasing by 4.8 percent to 8,413 compared to a year ago. Read More
A Dream Not Deferred
There are those who say homeownership should not just be a dream deferred, it should be a nightmare to avoid. Nonetheless, many Americans still see it as a part of the American Dream that they still want to live out, according to a poll conducted on behalf of the National Association of Home Builders. Read More
Why economists see a stronger second half for 2011
Farewell and good riddance to the first half of 2011 - six months that are ending as sour for the economy as they began. Most analysts say economic growth will perk up in the second half of the year. Read More
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| Another Funny Sign | |
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Targeting Small Business - Again
There is always a lot of thunder and lightning when the issue of taxation is raised and to listen to the rhetoric one would think this is all about the upper income earners - the 1% at the top. There is much bombast about those billionaires and their toys. I would seem that the deficit issue can be solved by simply taxing Warren Buffett, Bill Gates and Paris Hilton. Then one looks more closely at the plans and that assumption begins to erode. There is a provision in the Democratic plan that is of special concern to the entire small business community. Read More
"Wait and See" Approach Persists for Third Month in July CMI
The best that can be said about this month's Credit Managers' Index (CMI) is that things did not get appreciably worse. The latest data suggest a third month of slump, and it appears the economy is languishing in a state that is not quite in crisis but which isn't showing energy either. For the third month in a row, the overall index was slightly over 54. The fact that it went up by 0.4 is nothing much to cheer, as the overall index had been over 55 for the six months prior to May's slip. "If there is anything to be somewhat encouraged by it is that manufacturing improved over the really down month last July, but at the same time there was weakness in the service sector that didn't appear the previous month," said Chris Kuehl, PhD, managing director of Armada Corporate Intelligence and economic advisor to the National Association of Credit Management (NACM). Read More
Huge Orange developments may be revived
A more growth-friendly Orange County Commission plans to consider whether to revive two massive development proposals in the sensitive Econlockhatchee River region, both of which were voted down last year.
One is Innovation Way East, a 6,343-home project that also includes2.2 million square feet of research, office and retail space. The other, Rybolt Park, is a 5,000-unit proposal with similar commercial designs, which also called for a two-lane bridge over the Econ, a protected Outstanding Florida Water body. Read More
Survey Says Job Growth Stronger than Expected
Private sector employers added 157,000 jobs from May to June, private payroll processor ADP estimated in its influential monthly report released this morning. That's more than double what economists were expecting, and while it doesn't always track with government figures, it could be a good harbinger of the government's official jobs report to be released Friday. Economists had expected ADP to report job gains of 68,000, Reuters reports. Read More
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Do I See New Concrete Signs on the Horizon... | |
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With the economy suffering from weak job creation and households focused on improving household finances, a sustained improvement in housing construction will take hold in the multifamily sector before the single-family market. NAHB estimates that there are approximately2.1 million potential households that constitute pent-up housing demand, and these deferred household formations will emerge as renters before existing renters and first-time homebuyers have a significant impact in the for-sale housing market. Read More
Clear CapitalŪ Home Data Index Forecast Reveals Further Price Declines for Second Half of 2011
Price increase of 0.9% in second quarter 2011 helps stabilize market, but U.S. prices expected to fall another 2.4% by year's end. Read More
The Next Big Boom Towns In The U.S.
What cities are best positioned to grow and prosper in the coming decade? Read More
Thanking Your Customers
"No one ever attains very eminent success by simply doing what is required of him; it is the amount and excellence of what is over and above the required that determines the greatness of ultimate distinction." ~Charles Francis Adams
Showing your customers you appreciate them goes a long way to instilling loyalty, yet so few businesses make this extra effort. Just look at it from the customer's perspective. If all you ever see or hear from a company is a bill, you are not going to feel a particularly strong sense of endearment to that company. Read More
Orlando home listings keep shrinking
The Orlando area's inventory of houses listed for sale is the smallest it has been December 2005, according to a report released Wednesday by the Orlando Regional Realtor Association. Read More
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