Electical Contractor

Many contractors find marketing to be a painful endeavor. Word-of-mouth and repeat business used to be enough to sustain established companies, but increased competition has made selling a requirement-not just an occasional way to drum up business.

The emphasis the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) places on education and training for accident prevention is demonstrated by the number of standards on the topic and the number of citations issued for lack of training.

The intention is for local chapters and their unions to use the initiative, which was recently affirmed by the NECA Board of Governors, as a template in establishing their own drug testing policies.

For the electrical contracting industry to remain strong, the next generation of leaders needs to be educated and cross-trained. Each firm, though, is unique and must develop cross-training and educational programs that meet its specific needs.

Consider experience, skills and personality Judging by some labor shortages, perhaps the drought of work is coming to an end. At the same time, contractors may be considering changes for the better in the estimating department.

Ask half a dozen of Bob Colgan’s acquaintances about the man who has been the Babe Ruth of the Toledo electric community for 40-plus years and you’ll hear two things: “First, he’s an honest man with great integrity whose word is his bond.

In our 2004 Survey of the Electrical Contractor, published in last month’s issue, we found on average 46 percent of our respondents’ revenue came from design-build projects.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a sweeping civil rights legislation that increases contractors’ obligations and risks. Applying civil rights legislation in the context of building and code requirements is inherently uncomfortable and difficult.

New opportunities for ECs continue to emerge in the government market Opportunities abound in the government sector for the knowledgeable and persistent contractor. Most contractors avoid bidding on government projects because they are often complicated and laden with paperwork and procedures.