Flashings

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The Dow Chemical Co. announces cutbacks

The Dow Chemical Co., Midland, Mich., recently announced it plans to shut down a number of its assets, which will result in a loss of about 1,000 jobs across several functions, geographies and businesses.

The Dow Chemical Co. expects to incur a cost of $500 million to $600 million, including severance and write-down expenses. The company anticipates the effort will save $180 million annually when completed.

As part of this effort, The Dow Chemical Co. plans to exit the automotive sealers business in North America, Asia Pacific and Latin America; close its manufacturing site in Lauterbourg, France; and suspend production at its polypropylene manufacturing facility in Hahnville, La.

According to Andrew N. Liveris, The Dow Chemical Co.'s chairman and chief executive officer, the effort "reflects our commitment to prune businesses that are not delivering appropriate value and tackle tasks more efficiently across the entire organization. Our focus on financial discipline and low cost to serve remains as sharp as ever, and we will continue to seek ways to refine our organizational structure, asset base and business portfolio to ensure The Dow Chemical Co.'s competitiveness on the world stage."

Encourage employees' performance

Proper motivation can help employees reach their full potential. Here are some tips for sharpening your motivational skills:

• Focus on your goals. Don't allow meetings with employees to get off track. Remember, your mission is to guide employees toward improved performance.
• Prepare a response. Employees will respond differently to your coaching efforts. Have a response ready for employees who are not willing to accept your guidance.
• Maintain a positive tone. If an employee has done something to make you angry, postpone meeting with that employee until after you've had a chance to process the situation. An encouraging tone often is more effective than a disapproving tone.

Source: Adapted from The Motivational Manager, December 2007 issue

ABC Supply's founder passes away

Ken Hendricks, founder, chairman and chief executive officer of Beloit, Wis.-based ABC Supply Co., died Dec. 21, 2007, after falling from a flooring deck at a construction site at his home. He was 66.

Hendricks founded ABC Supply in 1982. Under his leadership, the company grew to be the largest wholesale roofing products distributor in the U.S. ABC Supply employs 6,000 employees and includes 390 locations in 46 states and the District of Columbia. Hendricks also invested in a number of rehabilitation projects in the Beloit area and served many organizations, including the National Roofers & Distributors Council, Hendricks Foundation, Beloit 2000, Independent Disability Services, United Way and the Greater Beloit Chamber of Commerce.

Hendricks is survived by his wife, Diane, their seven children and their children's families.

BASF increases prices

Florham Park, N.J.-based BASF Corp. has increased prices for its Acronal Optive® all-acrylic latex and Acronal® styrene-acrylic latex products by 5 cents per wet pound. The products are used in the adhesives and fiber bonding, architectural coatings and construction markets in Canada and the U.S. The price increases went into effect Dec. 14, 2007.

BASF cites increased raw material, feedstock, freight and energy costs as reasons for the price increases.

Hiring outlook appears steady

According to the seasonally adjusted results of the latest Manpower Employment Outlook Survey conducted quarterly by Milwaukee-based Manpower Inc., U.S. employers plan to maintain steady hiring practices during the first quarter of 2008. Of the 14,000 employers surveyed, 22 percent expect to hire employees during early 2008, 12 percent expect to reduce their staffs and 60 percent expect to make no changes to their staff size.

The survey indicates hiring activity is expected to maintain or increase in half the industry sectors compared with the fourth quarter of 2007. However, employers in construction, nondurable goods manufacturing, education, services and public administration sectors report a decline in hiring confidence.

The survey also indicates minimal changes in hiring expectations at the regional level. Survey participants in the West appear the most confident about hiring, and those in the Northeast appear the least confident.

The U.S. Manpower Employment Outlook Survey's complete results are available at www.us.manpower.com/pressroom.

DETAILS

Jim Ramser
Vice president of Highland Roofing Co. Inc., Louisville, Ky.

What is the most unusual roofing project you've performed?
'Unusually difficult' would be more descriptive of replacing a 2,000-square coal-tar built-up roof system on a 'live' mall. The mall's management wanted a new roof system but didn't want to see, hear or smell anything. That was a long project.

Why did you become a roofing contractor?
It must be in my blood. I am a fourth-generation roofing contractor and worked in the business through my college years. After earning a mechanical engineering degree, I decided to stay in roofing. I have a lot of pride in running a business my great-grandfather started 118 years ago and have never regretted my decision.

What was your first roofing experience?
Tearing off a coal-tar built-up roof system on a telephone company's building. Some first experiences you never forget.

What are your favorite items on your desk?
Photographs of my wife and three kids. They mean everything to me.

What do you consider your most rewarding experiences?
On the personal side, raising my two sons and daughter to be good kids. From a professional perspective, running a highly regarded, successful business.

What was your first job?
Working around the shop when I was 15.

What are your favorite stress relievers?
A quiet night at home with my family and 30 minutes on my drum set. These do not happen concurrently.

What are the most challenging aspects of our job?
Crew management. Making sure the job gets done right the first time and making a fair profit.

If you could invite any three people to dinner (dead or alive), whom would you invite and why?
Jesus Christ (my inspiration), my father (I miss him) and Chris Farley (the comedian). I figure that would be one interesting dinner.

What is your favorite vacation?
A family vacation to somewhere we have never been. Relaxing on the beach is great, but I would rather go somewhere different and learn something.

What are your best and worst habits?
My best habit is living my life with a sense of purpose. My worst is I probably work too hard for my own good.

What is your biggest pet peeve?
People with their mouths open and their ears closed.

What do you consider a waste of time?
Explaining my expectations more than once.

What is your roofing industry involvement?
I have been on the Midwest Roofing Contractors Association's board of directors for eight years, and I am currently serving as secretary/treasurer. I am a past president of the Kentucky Roofing Contractors Association.

People would be surprised to know …
I'm a rock star! Well, not really. I play drums in a rock band that performs around L.A. (that's Louisville Area).

Small businesses create U.S. jobs

The updated United States Small Business Profile, released in October 2007 by the U.S. Small Business Administration's (SBA's) Office of Advocacy, states small businesses added 1.9 million net new jobs during 2004, which is the most recent year studied. For research purposes, SBA defines a small business as an independent business having fewer than 500 employees.

Other data recently released by SBA's Office of Advocacy reveal the U.S. had an estimated 26.8 million small businesses in 2006, of which 6.1 million were employer-owned. Additionally, small businesses employed 50.9 percent of the country's nonfarm private work force in 2004.

"Small businesses are America's job-creating dynamo," says Chad Moutray, the Office of Advocacy's chief economist. "Policymakers need to consider their effect on small businesses when they are making policy decisions."

More statistics about U.S. small businesses can be viewed at www.sba.gov.

Cities establish green building programs

According to Local Leaders in Sustainability, a recent study commissioned by The American Institute of Architects (AIA), the number of U.S. cities with green building programs has increased 418 percent from 22 to 92 since 2003.

The study focuses on the growth and effectiveness of the green building policies of 661 communities with populations of more than 50,000. Of the communities surveyed, one in seven has a green building program, with current projections indicating this will increase to one in five by 2009. Thirty-six of the communities surveyed are in advanced stages of developing green building programs.

"Sustainable design practices have the ability to transform the built environment from an energy-intensive past to a more energy-efficient, green future," says Paul Mendelsohn, AIA's vice president of government and community relations. "Technological advances allow for the design of buildings that are efficient and modern, possess great aesthetics and are financially viable."

AIA's complete Local Leaders in Sustainability report can be viewed at AIA's Web site, www.aia.org/adv_sustainability.