Foundation Supportworks Trains More Than 50 in Atlanta
Foundation Supportworks took residential sales training on the road in February, training more than 50 owners, managers and sales specialists on product information and sales techniques. 
FSI dealers from Florida, Tennessee, Indiana, Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, and Canada attended the two-day workshop. The training included mostly new additions to the FSI dealer network and topics covered included helical piers, push piers, wall stabilization systems, crawl space stabilization systems, marketing and sales. What did the participants have to say about the experience? “Perfect!” “First class products and first class company!” “I’m so proud to be associated with FSI. The products, marketing approach and sales tools are unlike anything else available. Wow!”
Former Owners of Drive Rite Piering Systems Join the Foundation Supportworks Dealer Network
Ben Bayless and Craig Williams, owners of Alabama Foundation Specialists and former owners of Drive Rite Piering Systems, have joined the Foundation Supportworks dealer network along with several other former Drive Rite dealers.
With offices in Birmingham and Huntsville, Alabama Foundation Specialists has been Alabama’s leader in foundation stabilization for over 10 years. Regarding their recent transition, Ben Bayless said, “In addition to owning my own manufacturing company, I’ve worked with and installed products from three other helical pier manufacturers over the years. I thought I’d seen it all until I saw what was going on at Foundation Supportworks. Their products, training, and especially their marketing and sales support are like nothing else in the industry. After personally visiting their facility in Omaha, NE, Craig and I decided that we needed to become an FSI dealer. Our company has experienced steady growth over the past several years, and I’m confident that joining Foundation Supportworks will help us take Alabama Foundation Specialists to new heights.”
Along with the addition of Alabama Foundation Specialists, several other Drive Rite dealers have come on board and helped solidify FSI’s presence in the Southeast. Mike Wegman, Business Development Manager for FSI, said, “The new dealers that have transitioned to Foundation Supportworks have been most impressed with the sophisticated marketing programs that FSI offers. In addition to the products, our new customers are especially excited to hit the streets with more leads and better sales tools than they’ve ever had before”.
These new dealers help to further position Foundation Supportworks as a leader in the foundation stabilization industry as they bring their knowledge, experience and solid reputations to our network.
Foundation Supportworks Dealers End Year with Flurry of Engineering Presentations
November and December were busy months for the FSI engineers and dealers with webinars and presentations. Dealers and FSI staff coordinated the offering of four webinar presentations that allowed dealers to either travel to engineer, architect or general contractor offices, or host these groups at their dealer facilities. Dealers that participated in the webinars included: Complete Basement Systems, Thrasher Basement Systems, Foundation Repair of Western Colorado, MidAmerica Basement Systems, Innovative Foundation Supportworks , and Perma-Seal Foundation Repair and Connecticut Basement Systems.
In addition to webinars, dealers also organized several other presentations.
- On November 6, 2009, Josh Wennmacher of MidAmerica Basement Systems organized for Jeff Kortan, PE to present to a large engineering firm in Rock Island, IL. The presentation was also broadcast to satellite offices in Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Missouri where representatives from Perma-Seal Foundation Repair, Midwest Basement Systems, Foundation Supportworks of Wisconsin, and Woods Basement Systems were also in attendance to provide lunch and answer questions.
- On November 20, 2009, Ken Abud and Mark Foldenauer of Ayers Foundation Supportworks organized for Jeff Kortan, PE and Kyle Olson, PE to present to a large A/E firm in Grand Rapids, MI.
- On December 9, 2009, Jamie Budiac of Foundation Supportworks of Wisconsin organized for Jeff Kortan, PE to present to a large general contractor in Appleton, WI with in-house A/E capabilities.
- On December 16, 2009, Michael Morrow of Kansas Basement and Foundation Repair organized for Jeff Kortan, PE and Don Deardorff, PE to present to the Wichita Chapter of SEAKM (Structural Engineers Association of Kansas and Missouri).
FSI Engineers from left to right: Don Deardorff, Kyle Olson, Jeff Kortan
The webinars and presentations focused on educating the audience about helical foundation systems, push pier systems, wall anchor systems, and supplemental crawl-space support systems. Presentations on helical foundation systems included helical terminology, advantages and disadvantages of round and square shaft helical piers and tiebacks, typical applications, calculation and verification of helical pile capacity, load tests per ASTM standards, and the International Code Council Evaluation Service, Inc. (ICC-ES) Acceptance Criteria 358.
Foundation Supportworks Continues Growth with New Hire, Mike Wegman, as Business Development Manager
Foundation Supportworks, Inc. (FSI) is pleased to announce the hiring of Mike Wegman, former National Sales Manager for Drive Rite Piering Systems, effective January 1, 2010. Mike will join FSI as a Business Development Manager with a focus on dealer recruitment, training and support.
Dave Thrasher, Director of Business Development for Foundation Supportworks, states, “We are thrilled to have Mike join the FSI team. His knowledge and experience in the civil construction industry will be of great benefit to both FSI and our rapidly expanding network of installation contractors
.”
Mike was hired by Drive Rite Piering Systems in August 2005 as their National Sales Manager. Prior to his position at Drive Rite, Mike worked from 2003 to 2005 as the Civil Construction Market Manager for one of MacLean-Dixie’s largest distributors, where he assisted in the re-introduction of the Dixie HFS product line to the eastern half of the United States.
Mike’s commitment to his customers is exactly why he is excited to work for FSI. “Foundation Supportworks has a truly unique business model that not only offers a complete line of foundation stabilization products, but the FSI marketing, training and engineering support is really what separates them from any other manufacturer in the industry. I thought I understood the meaning of dealer support until I spent a few days at the FSI facility and with the FSI staff. Foundation Supportworks is already light years ahead of the industry and I am looking forward to introducing my customers to FSI and all they have to offer. With the available tools, trainings, and other offerings, FSI contractors have a real advantage over their competition.”
Mike graduated from the University of Missouri with a Bachelor’s degree in Economics. He then obtained a Master’s degree in Business Administration at Lindenwood University in St. Louis, Missouri. Outside of work, Mike enjoys spending time with wife and three children at their home near Nashville, Tennessee.
You can contact Mike at 800-281-8545 or at mike.wegman@foundationsupportworks.com.
Larry Janesky Publishes His Newest Book, “The Highest Calling”
Larry Janesky, Co-Founder of Foundation Supportworks, is an authority on creating and growing businesses for the benefit of business owners, employees and customers. Larry is a highly successful author of five books, acclaimed speaker, inventor with 24 patents, business leader with 27 years of real world accountability and success, and has big plans for the future.
His latest highly anticipated book, “The Highest Calling,” an inspirational novel about business and life, struggle and success, can be ordered now at TheHighestCallingBook.com. The book is more than an inspirational book. For those that seek, it is a powerful entrepreneurial education; one that will improve lives and make a difference in businesses around the world.
Larry’s vision and leadership is part of what makes Foundation Supportworks a leader in the foundation stabilization industry. Foundation Supportworks offers a complete line of foundation products including helical pile, helical anchor, and push pier systems that support residential and commercial buildings, stabilize foundation and retaining walls, support tower foundations and many other deep foundation applications.
Foundation Supportworks Published for Second Time in NAHI Forum Magazine
The NAHI Forum, a quarterly publication from the National Association of Home Inspectors, published a second consecutive article from Foundation Supportworks called “Identifying Conditions for Structural Concerns.” This article focused on the symptoms, causes and options for repair for cracked, bowing and leaning foundation walls. Jeff Kortan, P.E., Director of Engineering for Foundation Supportworks, authored the article aimed to educate home inspectors on properly diagnosing failing foundation walls.
More Than 60 Attend Foundation Supportworks Training
More than 60 owners, managers, sales representatives, and installers from various FSI dealer offices across North America attended training at the Foundation Supportworks headquarters in Omaha, Nebraska during the week of November 16, 2009. 
Newer dealers received training on the various deep foundation solutions offered by FSI, how to market structural work effectively, and tips on running an efficient foundation repair business. Other dealers in attendance received either hands-on training at actual job sites or classroom-type training on sales techniques, depending on their role. Those attending sales training left equipped to diagnose foundation problems and how to explain to customers the features and benefits of Foundation Supportworks push piers, helical piers, wall anchors, slab piers and crawlspace stabilization systems.
Some comments from those in attendance include:
- “It is incredible how professional and talented the FSI staff is. I’ve learned I really need to work on training my employees better and implementing follow-up procedures.”
- “I have taken so much away this time that I am having a hard time pinpointing something that would improve the value.”
- “The training helped to bring some of the pieces together for me. I’ve seen bits and pieces, but this brought it together.”
Geotechnical Engineer Don Deardorff, P.E. Joins Foundation Supportworks, Inc.
Foundation Supportworks, Inc. (FSI) is pleased to announce that Don Deardorff, P.E., former Senior Engineer for Chance Civil Construction, will join the FSI engineering department as a Senior Application Engineer, effective December 1, 2009. Don’s work will be focused in the areas of product development, product verification testing, preliminary design applications, and the development of technical documents and presentations. 
Jeff Kortan, P.E., Director of Engineering for Foundation Supportworks, welcomes Don to the team. “We are eager to have Don join the FSI team. His product knowledge from past research and testing and his overall experience with the design and installation of helical foundation systems make Don an exciting addition to our growing company. Don’s hire further positions FSI as a leader in the foundation stabilization industry.”
“I am very excited about joining this outstanding, forward-thinking company,” says Deardorff. “Foundation Supportworks has developed a competitive business model with a dedicated focus on their customers. I am honored to be a part of the company’s continued growth.”
Don attended the University of Missouri-Rolla and graduated in 1993 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering. After obtaining his Bachelor’s degree, he worked as a consulting environmental and geotechnical engineer in Missouri and Wisconsin.
Don was hired by Hubbell Power Systems/Chance Civil Construction in January 2005 as a Senior Engineer. He continued with graduate studies and obtained his Master of Science degree in Engineering in 2007. He is currently in the dissertation phase of the Ph.D. program.
Foundation Supportworks experienced exponential then continued, steady growth since its inception less than two years ago and is already a leading supplier of helical piles, helical tiebacks, and hydraulically-driven push pier systems throughout North America.
Foundation Supportworks of NJ holds business planning meeting in New York
Foundation Supportworks of New Jersey, a division of Quality 1st Basement Systems, held a business planning event at the ESPN Zone on Times Square in New York last week. Members of the Quality 1st management team, along with corporate representatives from Foundation Supportworks and Basement Systems, discussed ways to continue developing their business in the foundation stabilization and basement waterproofing industries. Foundation Supportworks of NJ/Quality 1st Basement Systems is one of the largest basement waterproofing and foundation repair contractors in the Northeastern United States and their team is continually building toward the future.
The meeting at ESPN Zone also served as a place for celebration after a great year in 2009 and allowed owner, Tom Roman, to reward his team and prepare for continued growth in 2010. Another item that was discussed at the meeting was the addition of Mark Caverly to the Foundation Supportworks of NJ team. Mark will focus mainly on the commercial foundation division
where he will work with engineers, architects and general contractors on projects requiring deep foundations and tieback anchors in New Jersey and New York. Mark’s focus will primarily involve helical piles, helical anchors and push (resistance) piers to support foundations in new construction and retrofit applications in areas like Newark, Patterson, New Brunswick, Bronx, Brooklyn, and Staten Island.
Foundation Supportworks Publishes Article in NAHI Forum Magazine
NAHI Article About Foundation Repair
Jeff Kortan, PE, Director of Engineering for Foundation Supportworks, published the first of four articles in the NAHI Forum Magazine. NAHI, the National Association of Home Inspectors, is a national non-profit organization which develops and promotes home inspectors in the professional home inspection industry. The article, titled “Identifying Conditions for Structural Concerns,” was part one of a four part series of articles. The article series focuses on the causes, symptoms and solutions to common structural problems and serves as an educational tool for home inspectors across the nation.