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BUSINESS NEWS TINDALL RANKS AMONG ENR’S TOP SPECIALTY CONTRACTORS Tindall Corporation (Spar- tanburg, SC), a national leader in precast concrete, ranked fifth in the Top 20 Specialty Concrete Contractors in the United States and 77th overall in Engineering News-Record ’s Top 600 Specialty Contractors in 2015. “We’re proud to rank among the best con- tractors and concrete firms in the world,” said Tindall’s president and COO, Greg Force. “We attribute our success to a culture of quality, performance and safety. This is a testament to Tindall’s skilled personnel and over 50-year track record of success. We look forward to building upon this reputation for excellence.” The ENR Top 600 Specialty Contractors is an annual national survey of the US-based spe- cialty trade contractors and subcontractors that ranks companies according to construc- tion trade specialties and total annual revenue. ENR provides relevant news, analysis, com- mentary and data focused on the construction industry. Each year, ENR publishes 13 top lists ranking different types of firms in the design and construction industry based on revenue. STATES ANNOUNCE Q3 PROJECTS, REVENUE In the third quarter of 2015, California saw almost 3,500 projects go out for bid, valued at over $16 billion. Of these projects, more than 500 were privately funded and nearly 3,000 were publicly funded. California high-profile projects out for bid in the third quarter included: San Francisco International Airport Terminal 1 Center, a $700 million demolition and rebuild of an existing terminal structure plus addition – Hensel Phelps Construction

learning center and elementary school in Phoenixville – Schrader Group Architecture LLC , architect, and Boro Construction , general contractor In the third quarter, more than 3,800 construc- tion projects, worth over $17 billion, were ac- tively bidding in Texas. Texas high-profile projects out for bid in the third quarter included: Visual and Performing Arts, STEM Academy and Classroom Addition, a $575 million addition and expansion of an educational facility in Fort Worth – Fort Worth Independent School District, contracts administrator Liberty Mutual Offices at Legacy West, a $325 million office development in Plano – Balfour Beatty , general contractor EATON ANNOUNCES A CALL FOR ENTRIES FOR SOURCE AWARDS NATIONAL LIGHTING DESIGN COMPETITION Power management company Eaton has announced that it’s accepting en- tries for the 39th annual SOURCE Awards na- tional lighting design competition. Professional and student entries can be submitted at The Lighting reSOURCE (TheLightingreSOURCE. eaton.com), Eaton’s new online informational hub. The competition deadline is January 20, 2016. The SOURCE Awards competition, which fo- cuses on furthering the understanding, knowl- edge and function of lighting as a primary ele- ment in design, is open to all lighting design- ers, architects, engineers, professional design- ers and consultants who use Eaton’s lighting and controls products for interior or exterior design projects.

Co. , construction manager EchoWater Project, site work for a $568 million water/sewer project in Elk Grove In Florida, the number of private construction projects that went out for bid in third quarter of 2015 grew 5 percent compared with the previ- ous quarter. Florida high-profile projects out for bid in the third quarter included: Port Redwing Improvements Phase VI, a $1 billion project for additional railroad track for Port Tampa Bay at its Redwing Terminal – Queen City Railroad Construction Inc. , general contractor University of Florida O’Connell Center Expansion and Renovation, a $50 million renovation and expansion of a 10,526-seat arena – Davis Architects Inc. , architect, and Brasfield & Gorrie, construction manager Throughout Pennsylvania, more than 2,600 projects, with a combined contract value of nearly $6 billion, went out for bid in the third quarter of 2015. Compared with the second quarter, the number of Pennsylvania construc- tion projects increased 3 percent. Pennsylvania high-profile projects out for bid in the third quarter included: River Chamber Completion at Charleroi Locks and Dam, a $240 million project in Monongahela River – Trumbull Corporation , general contractor Early Learning Center and Elementary School, a $30.4 million new construction of a 152,000-square-foot early

CHAD CLINEHENS, from page 5

last trendy business management book they read and will simply espouse buzzwords and concepts that are empty and irrelevant. Admittedly, many in this industry do not have much, if any, formal business education, so we get it wherever we can. This includes trendy business management books. Many of these authors and books have great ideas and concepts. Unfortunately, when the lingo of a few billionaires becomes buzzwords we use every day, the overused words begin to lose their meaning. Instead, we should challenge ourselves and encourage our organizations to speak clearly in everyday, simple language. Sharing the strategic plan with all staff is critical for the organization to embrace it. Simple, clear language greatly improves the chances of the plan being embraced by an already skeptical employee. Turn your next planning retreat away from buzzword mania and into a meaningful, data-driven session, where you look each other in the eye and sincerely develop a plan that has clarity and purpose that your organization can embrace. CHAD CLINEHENS is Zweig Group’s executive vice president. Contact him at cec@zweiggroup.com.

emotional terms that lack substance. In other words: The typ- ical facilitator is an expert on buzzwords and generic planning processes, not your business and how to design a meaningful plan. If you need a facilitator, choose carefully. This is an im- portant job and not just something you check the box on. Get someone who understands your business and the industry you operate in. Someone who can collect data and analyze it and provide you true consulting and strategic guidance. Invite the right people to the table. This is always a huge debate when we are working with firms. Firm leaders default to inviting just principals or top management. My advice is to not allow those who will not contribute or those who likely not support and work hard to execute the plan to take up a precious seat at the table. Invite those that can truly affect change in the organization. For example, our research shows that only around half of firms invite the marketing leader into the process. This seems crazy, as marketing usually has a huge role in the execution of any plan that has any meaning- ful growth goals. If you do not have marketing leadership that deserves a seat at this table, you might have the wrong marketing leader. When considering this small but very im- portant group, get those who can look forward, visualize, and execute a meaningful plan. Avoid those who hide behind the

THE ZWEIG LETTER NOVEMBER 30, 2015, ISSUE 1129

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