This week, we are celebrating another one of my employees who became a U.S. citizen. I commend him for taking the steps to naturalization and committing to not only living here but making this country his own. Understanding Rights and Responsibilities of U.S. Citizenship The U.S. Government has an online download called 10 Steps to Naturalization. Step 10, Understanding U.S. Citizenship, covers an individual’s rights and responsibilities as a U.S. citizen: Citizenship is the common thread that connects all Americans. Below is a list of some of the most important rights and responsibilities ..read more

The banner reads: “Now Hiring Experienced Window and Door Installers (No Stupid People!)” The commentary was better than the banner itself for entertainment, with all different points of view. The sign definitely gains attention and a few laughs. Other hiring managers from trade companies wrote that they get frustrated when inexperienced people apply to their openings. I give the door and window company credit for sharing the culture of the company: that of having zero tolerance for employees who lack emotional intelligence by demonstrating they are poor in judgment or unwise. The way it is wr ..read more

A survey conducted by CareerBuilder in 2020 found that 34% of workers have dated a coworker at some point in their careers, and 24% said they had dated someone from a higher position in the company. My husband and I were introduced to each other by a former co-worker of his.  We will celebrate our 21st wedding anniversary on the 21st of November. That associate married someone working in Construction Management a few years after we were married. In both cases, none of us dated anyone from the companies we employed with, and while we were dating and married to industry professionals, we ..read more

During Easter, ride-sharing companies came up in conversation. We chatted about some of the drivers recently and the various vehicles they arrived in that added or subtracted from the experience itself. Most recently, the best ride my husband and I experienced was when we were picked up by an immaculately detailed white Tesla. In conversation, we learned the driver was from Dubai. He was efficient and careful with our trip—getting us to our destination in record time despite the spring break and heavy weekend traffic. He spoke of his excitement for the new mid- and high-rise construction in So ..read more

Setting Healthy Boundaries in Construction Management Last Friday, our team woke up to a post on Microsoft TEAMS that let us know our team lead, Andreanne, was at the hospital. Later that day, we celebrated—three weeks earlier than anticipated—the arrival of Cole Michael Zislin into the world. Although her husband was at her side, Andreanne’s extended family and friends, both inside and outside of work, were praying for them and offering support with what needed to be done in her absence, inside or outside the office. Andreanne’s responsibilities at home and in the workplace were transferred t ..read more

The dictionary definition of a stranger is “a person one does not know or with whom one is not familiar,” also phrased as a person who does not know or is not known in a particular place or community. Further, the dictionary says it is a person entirely unaccustomed to a feeling, experience, or situation. The words used as similar to strange are unfamiliar with, unused to, unacquainted with, new to, fresh to, unexperienced in, unpracticed in, unversed in, and unconversant in, to name a few. Recently, we have met with several companies that have hired and are now onboarding several new employee ..read more

Proactive Flood Disaster Management An article published by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in August of 2023 is titled “July 2023 Brought Record-High Temperatures, Devasting Floods across the US.” The article states, “Since 1980, the US has sustained 363 separate weather and climate disasters where overall damages/costs reached or exceeded $1 billion (including CPI adjustment to 2023). The total cost of these 363 events exceeds $2.590 trillion.” The article shows a picture of central Vermont, where I grew up, and a paddleboarder floating down the main street. The l ..read more

Earlier this month for date night with my husband, we went to see Stevie Nicks in concert. At 75 now, Stevie is old enough to be my mother, and “well-established” is an understatement for her career. The audience was made up of all ages, from great-grandparents to young adults, all enjoying her timeless music and stories of her journey in life. She spoke about her love and relationship with Tom Petty, which brought back memories for my husband when he and his friends would go see Petty perform in Gainesville while attending UF BCN and Tom was just starting his music career. It wasn’t until alm ..read more

During the first week in March, many in the construction industry celebrate “Women in Construction Week,” an observance dating back to 1960.   The Number of Women in Construction is Growing According to a recent article from FIXR, with data from US Department of Labor, for the last 11 consecutive years, the number of women in the construction industry has increased. Today, 10.8% of those working in the construction industry are women, up from 10.3% last year. Of those, 40% are in management roles, and the increase in women in senior management continues to climb. Many of the companies for ..read more

Navigating Challenges: The Quarterback Role in Construction Project Management Our lives are perpetually changing. Recently, I recalled that during my father’s illness several years ago, my whole family had new restrictions upon us, and after his passing in April 2017, my family had to learn a “new normal” without him. I have often wondered what it would have been like for him to live during the COVID lockdowns; he might have considered the notion of living through no live sports a near-death experience. My father loved watching sports—football, baseball, basketball, golf, and hockey. He ..read more