Flashings

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Bradco Supply draws investor

New York-based Apollo Management LP, a private equity, debt and capital markets investor, has made a strategic investment in Bradco Supply Corp., Avenel, N.J. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Bradco Supply recently was recognized as the 200th largest private company in the U.S. by Forbes magazine. The company has more than 150 branches in 30 states.

"We are happy for the relationship with Apollo Management," says Barry Segal, founder and chairman of Bradco Supply. "In a short period of time, we have become comfortable with the chemistry and see this as a great opportunity to significantly grow the company."

Roofing material demand in China is expected to increase

Demand for roofing material in China is expected to increase 4.4 percent per year through 2010 to 2.6 billion square meters according to "Roofing in China," a new study from The Freedonia Group Inc., a Cleveland-based industry research firm. According to the study, the Chinese roofing market will experience the fastest growth among major economies in the world, driven by strong gains in China's building construction activity. Measured in the Chinese yuan, roofing demand is expected to increase 7.4 percent annually through 2010 to 57 billion yuan. $1 equals about 7.8 yuan.

Concrete and clay tiles and bituminous roofing material accounted for more than 80 percent of roofing material demand in China in 2005. However, elastomeric and plastic membranes are expected to have some of the strongest market gains through 2010.

Roofing demand in China's nonresidential building market also is expected to increase almost 5 percent annually through 2010 because of continued industrialization and sustained strength in foreign direct investment.

Encourage employee ideas

Employees are a valuable source for new ideas. However, it is important employees know they can speak up without fear of being ignored or shot down. Share the following guidelines with employees to help them communicate their ideas:

• Put aside self-consciousness and doubt. Success depends on everyone's participation. Don't wait to be asked—take initiative and speak up.
• Share ideas with leaders or at staff or task meetings. Sharing your ideas only with those who can't do anything about them, such as friends or family, will not allow the ideas to be implemented.
• Be respectful of others' ideas. If you respect and build on co-workers' ideas, they likely will return the favor when you make a suggestion.
• Don't let anyone interrupt you. Politely say, "If you don't mind, I'm not quite finished sharing my thoughts."

Source: Adapted from Employees Should Advance Their Ideas at Work as cited by Communication Briefings, February issue

How to handle harrassment

How a manager chooses to handle a sexual-harassment complaint is crucial; mishandling a complaint could result in a lawsuit. Following are points to remember when an employee comes to you with a sexual-harassment complaint:

1. Take every complaint seriously.
2. Contact your human-resources department or consult your employee manual immediately to review company policies for handling sexual-harassment claims.
3. Do not make snap judgments. It is a manager's job to collect the facts of the situation.
4. Document everything as you investigate.
5. Evaluate yourself: Do you have any bias about the complaint?
6. Avoid taking the easy way out. Do not attempt to handle a harassment complaint by transferring the employee who made the complaint—this could result in legal trouble.
7. Follow up with the employee who made the complaint. Make sure the harassment has stopped and the employee is comfortable in the workplace.

Source: Adapted from The Manager's Intelligence Report, sample issue

Details

Geoff Craft
Vice president of OMG Roofing Products, Agawam, Mass.

What is the most unusual roofing project of which you have been a part?
I am proud to have been a part of the Pentagon reroofing project.

Why did you become involved in the roofing industry?
My then fiancée (now my wife) told me I needed to get a "real" job!

What was your first roofing experience?
NRCA President Mark Gaulin, president of Magco Inc., Jessup, Md., a Tecta America company, taking my pull tester and showing me the correct way to use it on a roof.

What are your favorite items on your desk?
Photographs of my three kids from different stages of their lives and my Red Sox World Series ticket.

What do you consider your most rewarding experiences?
Professionally—seeing and being part of the growth of many people at OMG Roofing Products. Personally—raising kind and curious children.

What was your first job?
Paving highways in Rochester, N.Y.

What is your favorite vacation?
Visiting the beaches of Cape Cod, Mass., with my family.

What do you consider a waste of time?
Standing in line drives me crazy!

What is your favorite stress reliever?
Having friends over to play pool and listen to music.

What are your best and worst habits?
My best habit is I love challenges and love to laugh. As for my worst habit, I've been called impatient.

What is your biggest pet peeve?
Rude cell phone users.

If you could invite any three people to dinner (dead or alive), whom would you invite and why?
Jacques Cousteau, to listen to his stories of underwater exploration. Can I count the three members of the band Spinal Tap as the other two?

What are the most challenging aspects of your job?
Hiring, motivating and retaining the best people possible.

What is your roofing industry involvement?
I'm a member of NRCA and The Roofing Industry Alliance for Progress. OMG Roofing Products also is actively involved with SPRI; RCI Inc.—The Institute of Roofing, Waterproofing & Building Envelope Professionals; Construction Specifications Institute; and all the local affiliates.

People would be surprised to know …
I'd rather hang out at a pool or beach than play golf.

Avoid e-mail management errors

E-mail is a convenient tool but can cause problems if not used appropriately when managing employees. Following are common mistakes to avoid when using e-mail:

• Do not use e-mail for performance reviews, disciplinary action or other sensitive matters. Some things should be done face to face.
• E-mail lends itself to informality, but be mindful of what you write. E-mail is a permanent record of written communication and easily retrieved.
• Be aware of the tone of your e-mail messages—as you would with a memo written on paper—to avoid unintentional sarcasm.

Source: Adapted from Managers Aren't Always Able to Get The Right Message Across With E-Mail as cited by The Motivational Manager, sample issue

Conversation is key

Conversation skills are valuable in the workplace and everyday life. Following are tips to help you become a strong conversationalist:

• Don't be shy. Ask an open-ended question to jump start conversation.
• Be inquisitive, and allow your curiosity to drive conversation. People often enjoy answering questions about themselves.
• Talk about something positive, such as a good book you have read recently, place you have visited or activity you have enjoyed.
• Use discretion when discussing your personal life. Although people may be interested in hearing what you have to say, you don't want to reveal everything about yourself.
• End the conversation on a high note.

Source: Adapted from First Draft, February issue