The craftsmanship gene is strong in my family. My grandfather was a master woodworker. My uncles were tradesmen and fabricators. My father was a draftsman.
They were born to build. Me? Not so much.
Lest you think the craftsmanship gene skips a generation, let me assure you that is not the case in my family: My brother can fix almost anything. My sister is a farrier extraordinaire.
I do respect deeply those blessed with the craftsmanship gene (perhaps I’m slightly envious).
I can craft some things: Sentences, for example, and logical and emotional arguments. I can build things, too, including effective marketing plans and websites. I am blessed with the ability to help construction professionals tell their stories by developing powerful case studies. I’m a good educator and presenter and an even better editor.
The late Paul Ridilla called me a natural-born construction marketer – high praise from one of Construction’s brightest and best. Nature or nurture, here is how I became one of construction’s go-to guys for marketing, business communication, and profitable organizational growth.
Out of the Chute
My business career began at age four in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Though most of our neighborhood’s budding entrepreneurs opened lemonade stands, my brother, Roger Jr., and I opted to start a successful newspaper recycling business. We earned as much as a penny a pound on good days.
My chief responsibilities were twofold: (1) Look cute and be quiet while my brother asked neighbors to save their old newspapers for us and (2) On pick-up day, help keep newspapers loaded inside our coaster wagon from blowing away.
This is the only time I was ever deadweight on a project team.
Entering the Sales-force
Two years later, I moved into sales, peddling Christmas cards door-to-door. I exceeded my sales quota and met my goal – earning enough points to acquire a Cox, gas-powered tether car.
Into Construction
Age 10 marked my entry into the construction industry. I started a home-based landscaping business, specializing in lawn care and snow removal. Eight years later I closed this business to accept a part-time, janitorial/delivery position with a local sheet metal firm.
My business career exploded post-college (BA/General Studies with a Mass Communication emphasis). Each job prepared me to help others succeed.
Each job was the best I ever had.
Stepping Stones to Consultancy
My work as a real estate sales associate helped families realize their dreams and helped me develop key skills, including research, organization, consultative sales, telephone, negotiation, merchandising, copywriting, referral marketing, signage, accounting, and customer service.
My work as a business development coordinator for a major design/build contractor helped project owners and taxpayers get the most for their construction services investments and taught me market and public relations planning, database management, sales correspondence, brochure development, and the benefits of newsletters for customer cultivation.
My work as marketing manager for a statewide trade association increased demand for ready-mixed concrete in Wisconsin and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and helped me improve my consultation, marketing, public relations, meeting, budgeting, proposal, grant writing, planning, presentation, networking, event, trade show, and project management skills.
My work as vice president of new business development for a ready-mixed concrete producer supported customer and shareholder success and helped me develop web communication and customer education skills while refining my people and project management, customer service, trade show, merchandising, database management, copywriting, newsletter, planning, budgeting, negotiation, writing, public relations, and consultation skills.
Self-directed Learning
A passionate commitment to after-hours, life-long learning puts me in position to monitor trends and engage research, technology, and change. This self-directed learning helps me help customers grow their firms or organizations in our digital age and improve business communication using inbound marketing strategies and social media.
Skills + Education + Experience = Customer Success
Work at my namesake consultancy has united these skills, education, and experiences, helping me help construction professionals to stop struggling and profitably grow their businesses and organizations through effective marketing and business communication investments.
I have helped association flip markets, building material manufacturers and suppliers bring new technologies to the marketplace, technical and sales representatives improve earnings, and companies increase profits (and shareholder value).
That’s my story … what’s yours? Are you (or do you know someone who is):
• frustrated with business or membership growth?
• struggling to develop, document, or execute effective construction marketing or businesscommunication strategies and plans?
• lacking inclination towards research, analysis, or project ex*****on?
• struggling with written communication?
• unhappy with your current messaging, presentations, website, trade show promotion, or social media presence?
• too busy with other duties to give marketing your construction business or organization the priority-attention it deserves?
A beagle like me (born without the craftsmanship gene but with construction marketing instincts) can likely help. Let’s connect.
