Effective community service is an essential part of every company’s resume, and it has been an active portion of our extra-curricular efforts over the last 25 years. Community service does several different things simultaneously: Foremost, it helps whichever organization or charity we are supporting It helps bond my team in a setting outside of the …
A small but growing portion of our business is what I would call “green building.” After the construction of our new LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) silver certified office building last year, we have been exploring several other projects in the Birmingham area as a way to diversify our business, encourage environmental sustainability …
Every once in a while someone comes along in my life so inspiring and benevolent that it makes me ask the great introspective questions about who I am and what the real purposes of life are. The person motivates me to be a better individual, and when faced with a dilemma, I ask myself, “what …
Being prepared is something that I can never get too much of. In business this means always looking around the corner to find the next job or being careful not to spend foolishly, and at home it means having that rainy day fund for when the unexpected happens. I’ve been involved with the Boy Scouts …
When supporting conservation in the developing world, many people prefer to make handouts or writing checks to their favorite organization of merit. While there is a place for this type of giving, I also like to travel to places in need, find small businesses that are doing the right thing environmentally and support these shops …
For the past three years I have watched many municipalities around the Southeast consistently run low with their water resources during the summer months. New dams can be built, but populations will continue to grow, which should make conserving this resource an extremely important goal for everyone. When we built our new barn adjoining our …
I was drinking a bottle of water the other day and read the label. It claimed to be “green” and great for the environment where it was bottled in Viti Levu, Fiji. Then I got to thinking about the millions of pounds of fuel they probably burn every year shipping it to the U.S. for …
While traveling to project sites, I like to take the side roads “the roads less traveled” instead of the interstate, so I can get a better feel for the communities we are impacting. Along the way, I have come to know and support many local craftsmen and artists. Their unique pieces give me a chance …
Mixed-used development has gained much ground in many of our suburban communities. I think that people are starting to see the light about how living closer to town and closer to the places we shop and work makes a lot of sense. While mixed-use is not the lion’s share of new developments, it is something …
When I think of my contacts, I tend to think of people within my industry or those having something to do with construction. However, I’ve met some of my best connections through work. These are often the most enriching encounters and lead to the most one-of-a-kind experiences for my clients and me. When you meet …
Working in the construction industry, I am constantly torn about what to wear to work. Should I be in our office wearing a suit, or out in the field in jeans? While most businesses are content to be removed in their office towers where the work environment consists of copiers, printers and conference calls, I …
In the construction industry, project managers and superintendents sometimes do not get to spend much casual time together, but we all know that jobs run more efficiently if each understands the importance of the other’s role and both strive to work as a team. When I started brainstorming ways to bring Stewart Perry together, my …