Boots on the Ground

The closing speaker at the annual meeting of the North Carolina Subcontractors Alliance was Rick Handford, president of Myers and Chapman, Inc. Myers and Chapman is one of the larger general contractors based in Charlotte and serves North Carolina and the surrounding states. Mr. Handford has been and is very supportive of subcontractors in general and the NCSA in particular, which endowed him with their Golden Boot award in November, 2013.

Mr. Handford began by stating that Myers and Chapman, like most commercial general contractors today, does not do any of the work. Their function is to facilitate the construction of a building. They put together the bid, negotiate the contracts, manage the actual construction and manage the risks. The actual work is done by subcontractors and their suppliers. Without subcontractors, the general contractors would be unable to perform their job. And, without outstanding subcontractors, the jobs can’t be performed on time, as specified and profitable.

He said that Myers and Chapman believes that the Charlotte market has depleted its inventory of desirable commercial properties and is predicting a ten year period of continuous growth. He also believes, based on past experience, that this will be a perilous time for subcontractors and encouraged the NCSA to reach out to the small subcontractors that will attempt to perform larger work and residential subcontractors that attempt to move up to commercial work without the proper knowledge.

He also cautions subcontractors to not try to take on more work than they can do comfortably. There is a shortage of skilled tradesmen, and vendors have longer lead times and are raising prices. And, the big thing is you may end up with all your working capital tied up in inventory and retainage. Without available working capital, you are out of business.

Mr. Handford also presented a poster that hangs in Myers & Chapman jobsite trailers. It details what Myers and Chapman expects from subcontractors and what it takes to be on their team:

1. Are committed to safety. – The costs of safety and insurance can be substantial.
2. Communicate well with the team. – Advise them if there are delivery or money problems, they may be able to help you through a temporary condition.
3. Meet schedules. – The schedule is important to the profitability of the job and the failure to meet them impacts everyone who comes after you.
4. Know the job. – Your workmen should arrive with drawings and all the tools and equipment to do their job.
5. Do it right the first time. – The cost of doing it right is always less than re-doing defective work.
6. Represent us well with our clients. – Workmen should always be presentable and respectful on the job. They not only represent the subcontractor, but Myers and Chapman as well.

I put a copy of these in my company’s conference/training room and I strongly advise everyone to do likewise.