It has been a busy summer and certainly an eventful one in our world.
In late July, I attended the Florida Wall & Ceiling Contractors’ Association’s Annual Convention and Trade Show in Jacksonville. One of the big topics at the show was how the Florida economy and much of the East Coast was affected by steel shortages that happened earlier this year. I think many Floridians are breathing a sigh of relief these days after a scarcity in the spring caused prices to jump by as much as two and even three times. The steel shortages resulted in construction delays of eight to 16 weeks. Happily, steel prices and inventories seem to be back to normal levels now.
The conference was well-attended, and I want to thank the FWCCA for hosting what turned out to be a very eventful show.
On another front, the AWCI’s captive insurance account will do some growing this year, although we expect it will be three to five years before we can cover all our members’ needs. We’re making some positive steps and will keep the membership updated on our progress this year.
Meanwhile, I encourage all of you to vote in the upcoming federal election. It’s a particularly important time and while I’m not a pessimist about the economic future of our country, I think that if we don’t select a strong and balanced team of leaders, we could be in for some tough times. In many regions, infrastructure is in dire need of repair, but how to come up with the money is the big question. Many of us feel over-taxed. We need very good leaders that put serious thought into the decisions that will keep the economy on a steady keel.
I remind everyone that AWCI’s Industry Executives’ Conference & Committee Week is coming up Sept. 28–Oct. 2 at the Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort & Spa near Phoenix. It will be a great opportunity to hear the latest about the steel and gypsum industries. As well, a keynote speech about a subject on a lot of older contractors’ minds will be addressed: How to assess the value of your company for resale. It should be an eventful fall.
