Posts Tagged foundation repair
Foundation Supportworks Annual Convention is Attended by Nearly 800 Foundation Contractors
Nearly 800 foundation repair contractors from throughout North America attended the Foundation Supportworks annual dealer convention during the week of August 15th. The Foundation Supportworks convention is an outstanding opportunity for Foundation Supportworks dealers to network with other foundation repair contractors, celebrate their achievements, receive ongoing training and renew their energy and excitement about their business.
In addition to rolling out many new products, marketing tools, sales tools, and production tools, the 3-day event included more than 80 unique training sessions to provide continuing education opportunities and enhance the knowledge and abilities of each Foundation Supportworks dealer. Dealers were also treated to an entertaining keynote speaker, Larry Winget, who is known as the “pitbull of personal development.” Larry’s energizing speech and direct approach spoke to the importance of personal responsibility while providing an evening full of laughter and fellowship.
Foundation Repair Contractors Receive Training about Various Foundation Repair Methods
Jeff Kortan, P.E., Director of Engineering for Foundation Supportworks, presented at the Foundation Repair Association’s annual conference last week in Houston, TX. The Foundation Repair Association is a professional organization that exists to promote high ethical standards in the practice of foundation repair and to promote cooperation between the foundation repair industry and government.
At the conference, Jeff presented about two common foundation repair methods: Push Pier Systems and Helical Pier Systems. The push pier presentation discussed how push pier systems are designed and tested, the proper way to install push pier systems, and how the systems develop a factor of safety. The presentation about helical pier systems explained common helical pier terminology, typical applications, how capacity is determined and verified, load testing, and ICC-ES Acceptance Criteria 358, which outlines the proper design and testing of helical foundation systems.
Engineering Seminar in Denver, CO Educates Design Professionals on Helical Foundation Systems
Complete Structural Systems, a division of Complete Basement Systems in Denver, CO, recently hosted a 5-hour engineering seminar for design professionals from across the state. Complete Structural Systems has been providing engineers, architects, general contractors and homeowners with foundation repair and stabilization solutions throughout Colorado for more than a decade. The seminar was held on March 10th, and attracted over 65 engineers looking to increase their understanding of deep foundation solutions, while also earning 5 professional development hours. 
Foundation Supportworks, a leading manufacturer and distributor of foundation stabilization equipment headquartered in Omaha, NE, was represented by their Director of Engineering, Jeff Kortan, PE. Jeff facilitated the event, which enabled attendees to ask questions and interact throughout the seminar. His presentation allowed the engineers in attendance to expand their knowledge about typical applications, design considerations, capacity calculations, and material selection for Foundation Supportworks helical foundation systems, helical soil nails, and push (resistance) pier systems.
Over 25 Attend Management Training at Foundation Supportworks
More than twenty-five owners and managers from fourteen Foundation Supportworks dealer offices attended Management Training in Omaha, NE last week. Attendees discussed topics such as leading vs. managing, recruiting talented individuals, hiring tough, 
orienting new hires, retaining top talent, handling employees with attitude and/or performance problems, writing effective performance appraisals, rewarding and recognizing effectively and much more. Rather than traditional learning techniques such as lecture, participants also held many small group discussions, observed demonstrations and used a variety of hands-on activities to solidify the concepts and apply them to real-world examples. This highly interactive training event created opportunities for in-depth discussion on real-world employee problems and opportunities, role playing on how to address common employee situations, and group brainstorming on ideas and best practices that could be shared throughout the Foundation Supportworks dealer network.
Owners and Marketing Directors Attend FSI’s Residential Marketing Training
Residential Marketing Training was held at the Foundation Supportworks Corporate Headquarters in Omaha, NE this week.
Many owners and marketing directors attended the two-day training to learn about the marketing strategies to employ for varying sizes of business.
Topics covered included tracking lead sources, effective trade show displays, internet marketing, grass-roots efforts, multi-media marketing mix, and much more.
Participants also spent time determining their own, specific marketing budgets for 2011 and applying those budget numbers to marketing strategies that make sense for their size of business.
Foundation Supportworks Publishes “Foundation Repair Science” Book
Seeing a need to educate homeowners on the causes, symptoms and solutions to foundation problems, Foundation Supportworks wrote and published a book called “Foundation Repair Science: What to Have Done With Your Structural Problem…and Why.” The book was co-authored by three of Foundation Supportworks’ founding members – David Thrasher, Director of Business Development; Amanda Harrington, Director of Training & Development; and Larry Janesky, co-owner and Vice President. The book was officially released in August 2010, selling more than 16,000 copies in its first month! The book is now available on Amazon.com for $14.95.
To purchase a copy of the book, click here: http://www.amazon.com/Foundation-Repair-Science-What/dp/0977645770/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1286206190&sr=8-1
More than 70 Attend Sales & Installation Training
Foundation Supportworks dealers are ready to hit the ground running this fall after attending sales and installation training in Omaha, Nebraska this month. More than 70 owners, sales managers, production managers, sales representatives and foremen from coast to coast attended training to learn the latest sales and installation techniques.
The four-day installation training included hands-on training at four different sites, where the attendees received first-hand experience installing push piers, helical piers, Geo-Lock™ wall anchors, and PowerBraces™.
The three-day sales training covered topics such as product features and benefits, interviewing the customer to learn about their wants and needs, proper diagnosing and inspection and presenting solutions. Sales training attendees were also encouraged to bring their laptops to receive hands-on training on the exclusive Foundation Supportworks sales presentation and proposal generating software program.
Engineers Throughout Alabama Learn About Helical Foundation Systems
More than 60 engineers attended seminars hosted by Alabama Foundation Specialists in both Huntsville and Birmingham, Alabama. Foundation Supportworks’ Director of Engineering, Jeff Kortan, P.E., facilitated the sessions which discussed the benefits, applications, capacities and testing requirements for helical foundation systems, helical soil nails and push pier systems. The five hour long presentations allowed for a great deal of interaction, question and answer time, and networking for the engineers. While many of the engineers in attendance had experience specifying helical and push pier systems in commercial projects in the past, some were excited to learn about this deep foundation alternative for the first time and saw immediate applications on current projects. Alabama Foundation Specialists is the leading structural contractor in the Alabama area, servicing communities such as Huntsville, Birmingham and Montgomery, AL as well as Columbus, GA and Chattanooga, TN. 
To find out about other engineering seminars offered throughout the country by Foundation Supportworks, please visit the “Upcoming Events” tab on our website.
Foundation Supportworks Dealer Recognized as a Business Leader and Innovator
Jesse Waltz, P.E., Founder and President of JES Construction, a leading engineering solutions company specializing in foundation repair, basement waterproofing and crawlspace moisture control, was recently recognized as a 2010 Excellence Award Winner and a finalist for the 2010 Entrepreneur of the Year by Inside Business, the Hampton Roads business journal. This award recognizes individuals whose entrepreneurial spirit and hard work have resulted in significant accomplishments in Hampton Roads, VA.
Established in 1993, JES has grown from one employee into a company with three locations and over 100 employees, with more than $15 million in revenue in 2009. Throughout the company’s history, Waltz has consulted with foundation contractors around the country on foundation repair and business management, but still wanted to monitor his own business while away from the office. As a result, Waltz developed BizWiz®, a Web-based business management system designed for the foundation repair industry and other home improvement industries. According to Waltz, “With BizWiz®, I can determine at the touch of a button, while anywhere in the world, what is happening at JES.” Currently this management system is being used by more than 40 Foundation Supportworks and Basement Systems dealers throughout the United States and Canada, and it is revolutionizing the way they do business.
Foundation Supportworks is proud to be partners with Jesse Waltz and his team at JES Construction. To view the full article in the Hampton Roads Business Journal, click here. Congratulations to everyone at TEAM JES!
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.