Welcome to “If Walls Could Talk” where Walls & Ceilings is out to discover just that.
Listen as W&C talks with influencers in the industry who are making an impact. We are helping educate and entertain the wall and ceiling industry as only W&C can do. What brought these people to the industry? What’s in store for the contractor? And “If Walls Could Talk,” what stories would they tell? Find out all of this and more on each episode.
The Association for Financial Professionals' annual survey highlights a significant rise in payment fraud, with 80 percent of businesses falling victim in 2023, particularly through checks and ACH credits. In an interview with W&C Group Publisher Jill Bloom, Thea Dudley discusses these findings and offers roofing contractors practical advice on enhancing their financial security, including cyber security training and using payment portals. Despite the alarming statistics, there is hope, as 41 percent of fraud victims managed to recover most of their lost funds.
In this episode of If Walls Could Talk, Walls & Ceilings Editor John Wyatt interviews Tom Harris of Tom Harris PUR Consulting about the significance of retrofit roofing in resilient construction. Harris highlights that while repairing and upgrading commercial roofs is beneficial for addressing local issues like leaks, there is a greater opportunity to consider energy conservation and environmental impact. He emphasizes the need for roofing contractors to be knowledgeable about the energy savings and CO2 reduction from added insulation.
In this special episode of If Walls Could Talk, Walls & Ceilings Associate Editor Michael Levitt speaks with Elva Jimenez of Partner’s Insulation. The company, which is based in Boise, Idaho, is on the cover of W&C’s June issue and has been able to grow to 62 employees and three locations in just six years.
In this exclusive episode, Walls & Ceilings Legal Insights Expert Trent Cotney, partner with Adams & Reese, highlights some recent calls he’s taken from contractors when it comes to sales representatives. He breaks down the difference between 1099 and W-2 workers when it comes to sales, recorded at Florida Roofing and Sheet Metal Association Expo in Kissimmee, Florida. Listen to the full conversation here.
In this episode of “If Walls Could Talk,” Jill Bloom talks with Matt DiBara of The Contractor Consultants about the critical process of hiring new employees. DiBara, a fourth-generation contractor, shares three essential tips: considering the candidates' perspective, crafting compelling job ads, and carefully evaluating interview performance against actual work quality. Tune in to hear DiBara's detailed advice on skill assessment and making informed hiring decisions.
Contracting may not seem like the most obvious place where artificial intelligence can be useful, but if contractors are open-minded, they’ll find AI can make them more productive. In this episode, Anna Anderson, CEO of Art Unlimited, explains how AI can be used to assist in marketing efforts.
In the latest episode of “If Walls Could Talk,” W&C’s Jill Bloom and John Wyatt speak with Stephen Sears, CEO and executive director of EIMA, about the association’s initiatives and the status of their goals. Sears provides an update on this year’s EIMA event in Texas, including the renaming of their competition to the EIFS Excellence Awards, membership growth, and educational courses. He also discusses the Arcadis 2024 International Construction Costs report and how EIFS can offer long-term benefits for building owners, sharing his thoughts on the future of the system and the industry.
