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Walls & Ceilings 'If Walls Could Talk'
Welcome to “If Walls Could Talk” where Walls & Ceilings magazine is out to discover just that.
Listen as W&C talks with influencers in the industry who are making an impact. We are helping educate and entertain the wall and ceiling industry as only W&C can do. What brought these people to the industry? What’s in store for the contractor? And “If Walls Could Talk,” what stories would they tell? Find out all of this and more on each episode.
In this exclusive episode, Walls & Ceilings Legal Insights Expert Trent Cotney, partner with Adams & Reese, highlights some recent calls he’s taken from contractors when it comes to sales representatives. He breaks down the difference between 1099 and W-2 workers when it comes to sales, recorded at Florida Roofing and Sheet Metal Association Expo in Kissimmee, Florida. Listen to the full conversation here.
The 2024 presidential election brought significant changes in media consumption and marketing strategies, with a notable shift toward leveraging podcasters and influencers alongside mainstream media. Anna Anderson, CEO of Art Unlimited, discusses these trends and their implications for contractors, emphasizing the importance of reassessing marketing channels to avoid competition with political campaigns. As trust in traditional media reaches an all-time low, Anderson highlights the need to adapt marketing strategies to resonate with audiences increasingly influenced by alternative platforms.
Walls & Ceilings has named Curtis Partition as its Contractor of 2024, recognizing the New York-based company for its exceptional industry practices, quality craftsmanship, and employee-focused approach. President and CEO Ajay Narula reflected on the honor, sharing plans for the company’s future and insights into the industry’s direction.
In this episode of If Walls Could Talk, Tom Harris, owner of Tom Harris PUR Consulting, discusses how the SPF industry may be impacted by new leadership. He highlights cautious optimism about a more focused leadership approach while addressing key industry concerns: labor, tariffs and taxes, and energy policy, emphasizing the need for continued federal support for energy conservation programs.
W&C Group Publisher Jill Bloom interviews Steve Slepcevic, CEO of Strategic Response Partners, about best practices for contractors to prepare for major storms. Slepcevic emphasizes the importance of having a comprehensive plan in place for individuals, families, and businesses, as well as maintaining proper communication tools like satellite phones. He also discusses the impact of weather phenomena like "bomb cyclones" on the West Coast and the need for proactive measures to manage water flow and prevent flooding.
Looking for new ways to save energy and meet decarbonization goals? Learn how phase change material in ceilings is helping building operators reduce energy cost and usage and contributes to improved indoor environmental quality.
Speaking from an actual jobsite, Health, Safety, & Compliance expert Tammy Clark emphasizes the importance of tailored safety approaches rather than one-size-fits-all solutions, which can inadvertently create greater risks. She highlights the role of a "Competent Person" (CP) in identifying and mitigating hazards and criticizes general contractors for imposing blanket safety requirements, such as mandatory steel-toed boots, which may increase risks for certain workers like roofers.
