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Blogs: Desertropolis

Desertropolis, one of our new blogs, examines the most interesting projects, issues and controversies within the design, development and contracting industries of the Desert Southwest; it's written by Southwest Contractor’s senior regional editor, Scott Blair.
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Blogs: Neon Desert

Tony Illia is a Las Vegas-based journalist and ENR Special Correspondent. He has been contributing to the magazine since 2000. This blog covers everything happening in Vegas of interest to the A/E/C community.
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Insurance

Insurance for Contractors - What you need to know
As every contractor who has recently gone through an insurance renewal knows,
cost is (way) up and coverage is (way) down. With very few exceptions, most small
to medium size contractors are now or will be upon renewal, in the Excess and
Surplus market. Basically there are two distinct markets providing insurance for
contractors.
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Finance

Confronting Turnaround Situations
Far
too many contractors have faced revenue shortfalls of 20 percent or greater within
the past year or two. Yet in many cases, they suffer silently as if there were
few options available. The non-residential construction boom peaked in 2000, and
for the majority of contractors, times were as good as they could get. The boom
has been followed by three straight years of declining non-residential activity,
but it hasn't had as broad an impact on contractors as the comprehensive boom
did. Full Story >>
Buy-Sell Agreements "It's just not fair.
I know the business is worth much more than what I'm getting from the Buy-Sell
agreement," explained the widow who just lost her husband. "I know,"
stated her deceased husband's business partner. "The problem is, the buy-sell
was drafted over 10 years ago, and it hasn't been updated since then. In order
to give you your fair share of what this company is worth I would have to sell
the business, and then I would loose everything I worked so hard for." "I'm
not trying to be difficult," the widow replied, "But I have a mortgage
and three kids. I think I'm going to have to talk to an attorney." Full
Story >> It's Never Too Early for Estate Planning
For many people in their 20s and 30s, "estate planning" may not yet
be a priority. As a matter of fact, the term often conjures up images of older,
wealthy investors with mansions passing along their estates to their numerous
heirs. What most people don't realize is that estate planning can truly be for
everyone. Here are a few pointers to demystify the estate-planning process and
help get you started. Full
Story >> CONTINUITY PLANNING: IS YOUR COMPANY
READY FOR THE UNEXPECTED? The tragedy of 911 confirms that anything
can happen. We know that it is impossible to prevent certain events from taking
place. However, one can be ready for the unexpected. If a business is not prepared,
how would unexpected death or disability of an owner affect the business? Full
Story >> Green Building

The Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design
(LEED™) Program
In June of 2000 the United States Green Building Council
(USGBC) introduced the 2.0 version of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental
Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System for commercial, institutional,
and high-rise residential buildings. LEED evaluates environmental performance
from a "whole building" perspective over a building's life cycle. The
program has grown tremendously since then by proving itself a viable method of
providing a third-party green building certification tool designed to ensure building
owners and occupants that their building meets stringent standards of performance. Full Story >>
What IS "Green Building?" What IS "Green
Building?" It's a question that's asked frequently throughout the architecture,
engineering and construction industry during the last few years, and our goal
at Southwest Contractor is to answer the question in a detailed, contractor-focused
manner. Full
Story >> Study Proves Green Buildings are
Highly Cost Effective Washington, DC - October 17, 2003 - Investments
in green buildings pay for themselves 10 times over, according to a new study
for 40 California agencies. The study, by the Capital E group, Lawrence Berkley
Laboratory and participating California state agencies, is the most definitive
cost-benefit analysis of green building ever conducted. Full
Story >> Marketing

Integrating Marketing Efforts into Operations
When construction companies initiate marketing and business development efforts,
the other employees typically resent this new kid on the block. Everyone notices
that not only does the Owner and Managers lend helping hands to promote this person's
success, but this person expects everyone else to lend a helping hand, too. This
does not normally sit well with Estimators, Project Managers, and Accounting personnel
since they were originally thrown to the wolves and asked to figure out what their
jobs should be. Where were their "helping hands" within the company
when they needed them ? Full
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Marketing Challenges Within the Construction
Industry Before construction companies decide to take on the challenge
of implementing a marketing function, becoming more formal and serious about the
marketing function, hiring a key management individual, or increasing awareness
of their company within the marketplace, it is healthy to take a step back and
acknowledge the looming pitfalls and obstacles that will likely plague companies
over the next few years as they proceed with implementation. Full
Story >> Do I Know You? Do we really
know ourselves? This may seem like a silly topic for this publication, but knowing
ourselves helps us work and play better. It can help you find a better job, the
right friends, and social activities that make you feel good and relax. Without
knowing yourself, you never quite fit in and you spend precious time and energy
doing stuff that doesn't really mean anything to you. Full
Story >> Acts of Kindness Shouldn't Be Random
Before construction companies decide to take on the challenge of implementing
a It's a rough world out there. Many agencies and businesses are shrinking their
staffs, while still servicing the same number of people or clients. We keep being
told we have to find balance in our lives. But, with demands of work, leisure
and family, we may be pushing our time limits even further. Other than our sanity,
what gives next? Is there enough time for kindness? Full
Story >>
Scott Blair
Senior Regional Editor, Southwest Contractor magazine
480-656-7615
scott_blair@mcgraw-hill.com
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