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December 2011
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CWA’s New E-Learning Program Under Way
By Rolf Fuessler
With the launch of the CWA 2011-2012 E-Learning series, members now have a new educational benefit at their disposal without ever leaving their desk or hopping on a plane.
The series was launched with a free-to-members inaugural webinar in September on use of social media as a media relations vehicle. A second E-learning opportunity for CWA members took place on December 12. Presented by ARTBA and offered free to members, the 90-minute webinar focused on the forecast for the transportation construction market and the outlook for the reauthorization of funding. Both webinars were well attended.
Coming up in the first part of 2012 are three new e-Leaning opportunities:
- “2012 Construction Industry Economic Outlook,” presented by Eugenio J. Aleman, PhD, senior economist, Wells Fargo, noon CST, Jan. 18.
- “Copyright Infringement Issues,” presented by Charles Hanor, JD, Hanor Law Firm, and adjunct law professor, St. Mary’s University, noon CST, Feb. 1.
- “Taking the High Road with Difficult People — Tips to Becoming a Conflict-Component Leader,” presented by Pattie Porter, LCSW, president, Conflict Connections, noon CST, March 21.
The focus of CWA’s E-Learning educational component is to feature presenters with ideas and insight that help members advance in their careers and businesses. The trends, information, and innovative tools and tactics offered will turn your office into a virtual classroom, where you can ask or send in live questions during the presentation. CWA webinars will be interactive and informative.
The 60-minute webinars will be offered on Wednesdays at Noon CST/1:00 p.m. EST/10:00 a.m. PST and cost $49/each for CWA members and $99 for non-CWA members. CWA members can also sign up for a series of three webinars for $100, while non-CWA members can sign up for a series of three webinars for $200.
Mark your calendars with the above dates. For more information or to register online, go to the webinars page under Events on the CWA Web site at www.constructionwriters.org.
The CWA E-Learning Committee is currently developing topics for three webinars in April, May and June. If you have any ideas or would like to recommend speakers or topics, please contact CWA Education Chair Rolf Fuessler at fuessler@fuessler.com or info@constructionwriters.org.
CONNECTED Keynote Speaker Inspires and Educates
By Rolf Fuessler
Former editor and executive vice president of the San Antonio Express-News Robert Rivard kicked off CWA’s 2011 annual conference, CONNECTED, with a riveting and inspiring keynote speech recounting his journey from working class roots as a paperboy growing up in Michigan to a vacuum cleaner salesman without clear goals to the top ranks of journalism. He spoke about his inner compass and drive that helped him move from unfocused career goals toward his love of writing.
The second focus of his talk was the search for Philip True, an Express-News reporter who went missing in the wilds of Mexico in 1998. Rivard told the story of how he personally joined the search for True, helped find his body, and saw True’s killers face justice. Rivard wrote a book about the case called “Trail of Feathers: Searching for Philip True.”
Rivard and True shared similar childhoods, early adult aimlessness, and accidental breaks into journalism. These similarities were what drew Rivard to True and ultimately fueled Rivard’s determination to find True and bring his killers to justice.
Economist Provides Analysis of Current Construction Economy
By Tina Grady Barbaccia
The good news is that the U.S. economy is growing — with the exception of the housing market — but the bad news is we’ve encountered the worst recession since the Great Depression, says Eugenio Aleman, director and senior economist at Wells Fargo.
“We went from -9 percent to almost 3 percent in almost three quarters,” Aleman explained during his “Construction Industry Economic Analysis & Outlook” presentation at the Construction Writers Association’s annual conference, CONNECTED, in October in San Antonio. “The only reason the economy recovered is because the U.S. government intervened. During the Great Depression, the government didn’t intervene.”
Back then, the debt was 145 percent, and it’s rapidly approaching 100 percent, Aleman says. Regardless, it’s going to be very expensive coming out of this recession. “What we have done during the last three years, good or bad, left us very close to another Depression.”
And though the recession is technically over, Aleman says the majority of Americans don’t consider the nation as on the way to recovery, particularly because jobs aren’t being created at a rapid pace. “We lost 9 million jobs in two years,” he says. “If you take 9 million jobs times the per capital income, you can see how bad this has been.”
It will take nearly five years to recover 9 million jobs — even though the economy is growing. Typically, the economy can grow at about 200,000 per month. Then the question of underemployment is raised. Is it really underemployment, Aleman asks, or is it just the new economy? “If you extract how many workers are being laid off by the public sector, you have to add 60,000 more jobs.
The duration of unemployment shows a struggling labor market and the biggest issue is that employment isn’t growing at as fast of a pace as necessary to get the country moving. However, consumer prices are beginning to increase so there are higher prices but less work.
The Humpty-Dumpty Economy
The country has grown into what Aleman calls a “Humpty-Dumpty Economy.” Using a twist on the popular nursery rhyme, Aleman quips:
The U.S. economy sat on a wall,
The U.S economy had a great fall,
All the king’s treasury men,
And all the King’s Federal Reserve men,
Couldn’t put the U.S. economy together again.
“We have been on a brick wall for 11 years trying not to fall,” Aleman says. “On one side of the wall there is a 1930s/Japan-like Depression. On the other side of the wall, there is inflation and stagnation, which equals stagflation. It’s going to be tough to pull out of it, but the other side could go on for 20 years.”
The “cash is king” will remain the economic mantra, Aleman notes. “It’s very difficult to get a loan now,” he says. “You have to have a job, you have to have 20 percent down. Banks are turning away customers. They don’t want their money, because lending is no longer a business.”
Aleman refers to the Federal Reserve balance sheet as a “monetary tsunami.” During economic times like this, the Federal Reserve lowers interest rates to reflate the economy. It did this during the last recession, Aleman says, and only one sector reflated: housing. “That bubble burst and we went into a recession,” he says. “That’s where we are now.”
Although new home sales are very depressed, interest rates are at an all-time low, and credit-card lending is “non-existent,” there are some signs of stabilization, Aleman says. “The good news is that the economy is growing,” he points out. “Manufacturing has expanded for the past two years. The service sector is in expansion mode.”
Aleman is also confident that the he housing market, which sets the tone for much of the construction market, will come back. “Home prices are going to come back,” he says. “Don’t ask me when, but they will. We can’t outsource home-buying to China, so it has to come back.”
Habitat for Humanity Project a Rewarding Pre-Conference Experience
CWA’s 2011 conference, CONNECTED, started with a bang — several, in fact. Bangs from hammers, as well as the din of busy circular saws, echoed across a multi-home jobsite under a hot San Antonio sky on Oct. 24, where attendees worked together at CWA’s first-ever Habitat for Humanity volunteer project.
The event was sponsored by Case Construction Equipment, which contributed $1,000 to CWA and provided a $4,000 donation to the Habitat for Humanity of San Antonio.
“We as an association are really grateful to Case for helping us take an idea and turning it into a fun and meaningful reality,” said conference planning chair Kim Phelan, editor of CED magazine, published by Associated Equipment Distributors.
The group — editors, journalists, public relations, marketing and communications professionals — cut and hammered siding and roofing boards for a three-bedroom home built at the corner of Peace Path and Wisdom Ridge.
“The whole experience was even better than I had hoped,” Phelan said. “It was so great getting to know each other better through this hands-on effort, which was not only related to our industry, but was actually going to help someone out. At first, I was nervous about making a mistake, but when I saw some of my friends up there hammering away, I thought, ‘If they can do that, I can too!’”
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Photos by Todd Razor
CONNECTED Participants Learn About ‘Taking the High Road’
By Nathan Petrillo
When it comes to working with difficult people, taking the high road is essential. Pattie Porter, LCSW, president, Conflict Connections, Inc., provided tips on handling conflicts during a workshop at CWA’s annual conference, CONNECTED, in October in San Antonio.
Porter, who has more than 17 years of experience in the field of dispute resolution, discussed the importance of identifying one’s own emotional triggers, whether they are words or non-verbal cues, in order to respond in a more productive and thoughtful manner. “When we’re triggered, we tend to take the low road,” Porter said. To handle conflict more effectively, it is essential to take the high road. “It’s the road less traveled,” she noted.
It is also important to reflect on how or why we label people. Porter suggested moving away from labeling the difficult person, otherwise one will see that person only through the lens of that label (e.g., bully or manipulator), and it will be difficult to change one’s own attitude and behavior.
Think about what is motivating your trigger behaviors as well as that of the difficult person, she explained, offering strategies to better handle these situations. First, manage oneself to avoid reacting when triggered, she advised. Take a break from the situation to gain composure and slow down your thinking, and then respond constructively, with respect and intent. On the flip side, it is important to manage the difficult person. Porter suggested looking at a situation from the other’s perspective, refraining from “blame and shame,” setting boundaries and listening to understand.
Shades of Green: Panel ‘LEEDs’ Discussion at CONNECTED Conference
By Susan Garritano
What is “green building” today? What might appear to be a simple question generated a lively panel discussion during the CWA annual conference, CONNECTED, in October in San Antonio. Representing a wide range of perspectives, panelists discussed the latest trends in green building and what they see as the future for sustainability.
While LEED® certification through the U.S. Green Building Council may have served as the “faucet” to help get high-performance building off and running, many additional factors are serving to keep this momentum strong. Government support initially helped incentivize the industry through funding and rebates. Today, legislation, including new energy codes and green mandates on federal projects, continue to help propel the industry forward. In addition, panelists are now seeing a strong shift to green building in the private sector as well.
The “marketing” value of building green remains a significant driver in the decision to incorporate sustainability, but economics are also playing a larger role. One panelist noted, “The current economy forces us to be smarter and do things that make sense.” For example, incorporating energy-saving features into a new project or renovation can have a significant business impact and companies are recognizing this. In the San Antonio region, water conservation is a critical issue that cannot be ignored. The design and construction industries have responded to this demand. The question for A/E/C firms is no longer, “Do you do it?” but rather, “Do you do it well?”
Sustainable and high-performance activity is being pushed forward by increasing public demand for residential green options, industry-leading businesses stepping up to develop green prototype projects, the creation of “green” jobs in response to new opportunities, and the greening of existing jobs in response to demand. Success, however, will not be attributed to one area on its own. All panelists agreed that a comprehensive approach including government policy, community awareness and education, access to capital, research and development and work force development are all required.
Panel participants fueling this exciting conversation were: Jeff Coyle, director of public affairs/government relations, KGBTexas; Edgar Farrera, director, sustainable design, Marmon Mok Architecture; Alison Rivenburgh, CEO, Sustainable Perspectives Group; and Larry Zinn, chairman, Green Jobs Leadership Council, city of San Antonio. USGBC Central Texas Executive Director Jane Baxter Lynn served as the panel moderator.
‘Writing for the Web-Telling It in Ten’ Panel Receives Good Marks
By Deborah J. Hodges
Are multiple media platforms dying or gaining adoption? This was only one of the questions answered by the panel of speakers in the “Writing for the Web: Tell It in Ten” session at CONNECTED. Four issues, blogging, search engine optimization, infringement issues, and social media, were addressed and received good marks from the attendees. There are many options now and addressing all of them can be daunting yet, a panel of speakers provided insights and some tips to get a handle on it.
There is tremendous interest in blogging and it will continue since it is providing benefits to readers and publications. The major benefit is its continuous print cycle provides timely fresh content. Tudor Van Hampton of ENR also shared that we blog to engage readers and to find new audiences. This motivation is driving page views now. According to the Pew Research Center, Twitter is used as a microblog and interest is fluctuating; however, it is gaining mainstream adoption. The number one reason marketer’s are blogging is to “build a community.” Van Hampton stated that next issue facing bloggers is developing strategies to expand the effectiveness of blogging and audiences. This is building a positive on-line social media culture.
Search Engine Optimization(SEO) is an area that is highly used in digital marketing and writing for content. Joanne Costin of Costin Custom Communications talked about having an awareness of content and metrics. It was suggested to look at issues such as authority, relevancy, and search volume when managing SEO. Also, by writing good content, we can manage and improve responses. As an example, building inbound links are important to driving traffic to your website. Users may want to check out Hub Spot’s keyword grader-a helpful on-line system. Not to be missed is HubSpot’s website grader that is good and user-friendly. Their content management system is relatively easy to use.
Charles W. Hanor, JD, of Hanor Law, practices intellectual property litigation and patent and trademark prosecution for over 30 years. He discussed infringement issues and shared how easy it is to create copyrights today. More discussion covered exclusive rights and derivative works. Another area that prompted discussion was the use of information copied from the internet. He stated that permission is often needed and to be careful to avoid damages. Since questions often arise on photo credits, Hanor suggested to check out PicScout ImageExchange. It instantly IDs images on the web and provides information to image licensors. Users can also use Google and Yahoo Images for this purpose.
Social Media and the types of social media engagement were presented by Kimberly Kayler of Constructive Communication, Inc. She discussed the numerous forms of social media engagement such as convening, sharing, connecting, and listening. Her suggestions included to look at Concrete 2.0 LinkedIn as a resource and example of social media’s power. This site is an open forum from today’s concrete producers and discussions focus on adjusting to structural changes. There are numerous B2B sites that offer information like this one. In addition to avid discussion groups, crisis management is a rising issue. People can respond to a “flashpoint;” therefore, it was suggested that groups actively monitor sites to maintain and manage good communications.
All of these new innovative ideas are enhancing our business of sharing news and making it better than ever.
Welcome New Members
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Cynthia Lewis
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Lydia D. Steinberg
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Career Center-Post Your Resume Anonymously-Look for the Perfect Job
Great news-you can add your resume or search for a job with CWA's Career Center now. Keep your membership current because the CWA logo is automatically added to your posted resume signaling prospective employers that you are a CWA member. Members can post their resumes anonymously, set-up a personal jobs alert account, and check out the job listings with the new on-line service. It's easy. Employers can search for the right people to fill their important positions and post a job. Send this news to your editor and human resources executive team. http://www.jobtarget.com/home/index.cfm?site_id=9168
Events and Important Dates
January 23 - 27, 2012 World of Concrete at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, NV. For more information, visit http://www.worldofconcrete.com.
January 25, 2012 CWA Social Networking Night at the World of Concrete in Las Vegas, NV. Check back for more details soon.
March 4-7, 2012 PDC 2012 International Conference and Exhibition on Health Facility Planning Design and Construction in Phoenix, AZ. For more information, visit www.ashe.org.
May 6-8, 2012 Construction Management Association of America (CMAA) 2012 Leadership Forum at the Hyatt Regency in Long Beach, CA. For information, visit http://www.cmaanet.org/national-conference.
May 17-19, 2012 American Institute of Architects (AIA) 2012 National Convention and Design Exposition in Washington, DC. For information, visit http://www.aia.org/conferences/nationalconvention/index.htm.
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Published and distributed by the Construction Writers Association. Copyright 2011.