Flashings

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Government expands small-business Web site

Business.gov, the official business link to the U.S. government, has been expanded to make it easier for small-business owners to access forms, licenses, permits and regulatory information from government agencies.

Additions to Business.gov include the Google™ Custom Search Engine and expanded Small Business Guide. The Web site also has expanded its content's scope to include more than 8,000 state, territory, county and city government Web sites that provide infor­mation about government regulations related to business management.

"These expanded services are additional steps we're taking to give business owners a true one-stop resource for helping them comply with government regulations," says Nancy Sternberg, program manager for the Business Gateway Initiative, the government organization that manages Business.gov. "The inclusion of state and local content on Business.gov means small-business owners can go to one Web site to find what they need to successfully manage their operations."

Falls from roofs increase

The U.S. Department of Labor's (DOL's) Bureau of Labor Statistics has released its preliminary report of work-related fatalities that occurred during 2006. The report states fatalities caused by falls increased 5 percent during 2006, and roofing worker fatalities totaled 100—80 of which were from falls alone.

Work-related fatalities in the construction industry increased 3 percent to a total of 1,226 during 2006. Specialty trade contractors experienced a 6 percent increase to 721 fatalities primarily because of higher numbers of fatal work injuries among building finishing contractors and roofing contractors.

Despite the increase in work-related fatalities within the roofing and construction industries, overall workplace fatalities decreased. According to the report, there were 5,703 work-related fatalities during 2006, which is 31 less than during 2005 and the lowest total recorded since the census began in 1992.

DOL's Bureau of Labor Statistics is scheduled to update the preliminary numbers next month.

Stevens Roofing Systems names president

Holyoke, Mass.-based Stevens Roofing Systems, a division of JPS Industries Inc., Bristol, N.H., has named Peter A. Kesser president of Stevens Roofing Systems & Geomembranes. Kesser has more than 20 years' experience in the building materials industry, including his most recent position as vice president of sales and marketing. His primary office will be in Westfield, N.C.

"Peter brings a wide range of experience uniquely suited to this position," says Michael L. Fullbright, JPS Industries' chairman and chief executive officer. "We're pleased to have someone with Peter's background and management experience to assume the important leadership role of our Stevens Roofing and Geomembrane Systems business unit."

Additionally, Stevens Roofing Systems has announced price increases of 4 to 8 percent on all of its TPO, Hypalon® and PVC products.

The company cites rising raw material, energy, production and operating costs as reasons for the price increases, which became effective Feb. 1.

DETAILS

Bill Baley
Owner and president of C.I. Services Inc., Mission Viejo, Calif.

What is the most unusual roofing project you've performed?
Waterproofing and top-coat painting an 80-foot-tall tower above a Regal Theatre complex; it had multilevel exterior insulation finish systems.

Why did you become a roofing contractor?
I left college with a business/marketing degree and was hired by Owens Corning Fiberglas® Corp., Toledo, Ohio. They told me I was going to become a roofing expert—who'd have guessed?

What was your first roofing experience?
I remember selling a customer on the proven performance and merits of a polymer-modified bitumen roof system—I had never seen one before! (We did get the sale, though.)

What are your favorite items on your desk?
Photos of my family and my Chicago Bears memorabilia.

What do you consider your most rewarding experience?
The most rewarding experience in my life so far has been seeing my daughter Susan go off to college and do so well.

What was your first job?
I was a pizza delivery boy at the age of 16. I had my driver's license for one whole month before starting that job!

What is your favorite vacation?
Anywhere there is sun, surf and a lounge chair.

What do you consider a waste of time?
Dwelling over how a problem happened. Life's all about recovery—move on and solve the problem.

What are your best and worst habits?
My best habit is I always try to be a man of my word. My worst habit is tardiness. I hate being late, but I constantly try to jam one more thing in.

What is your biggest pet peeve?
People who complain that they do not have it as good as the other guy. Make the best of what you have!

If you could invite any three people to dinner (dead or alive), whom would you invite and why?
John Lennon—that would be an interesting discussion! Abraham Lincoln—my favorite president. I would love to talk with a man of such high integrity and principle who stood by his beliefs when the whole country questioned what he was doing. And the Apostle Paul—I would love to hear what his life must have been like! (I don't know how well he and Lennon would get along, though.)

What are your favorite stress relievers?
A relaxing evening at home with a good meal and a great movie.

What are the most challenging aspects of your job?
Finding qualified people who can absorb our business culture and trying to safely grow our business.

What is your roofing industry involvement?
I am a vice president of the Western States Roofing Contractors Association. I also am a member of NRCA and RCI Inc.

People would be surprised to know …
Paul McCartney once sang "Won't You Come Home Bill Bailey" to me!

Report forecasts construction growth

Raleigh, N.C.-based FMI, a construction industry consulting and investment firm, recently released its 2008 U.S. Construction Overview, which forecasts growth or decline in construction trends based on long- and short-term considerations. The report states that though construction declined 3.7 percent during 2007, the industry is poised to increase 5.8 percent this year.

The report also indicates green, nonresidential construction practices, which totaled $13.4 billion in 2006, are projected to increase 58 percent to $21.2 billion in 2008.

Additionally, the report highlights trends affecting the construction work force and states that 2.9 million, or 25 percent, of the 11.8 million workers in the construction industry in 2006 were Hispanic. This trend is not expected to change during 2008.

"The 2008 construction forecast is generally positive, and many sectors of the construction industry will remain healthy, despite the continuing drag of the housing downturn," says Heather Jones, construction economist for FMI's Research Services. "In terms of trends, the aging of the population, immigration and deteriorating infrastructure will drive much of this growth. The health care, public safety, office and transportation segments will see the strongest growth in 2008."

FMI's U.S. 2008 Construction Overview is available for purchase at www.fminet.com.

The Dow Chemical Co. increases price

The Dow Chemical Co., Midland, Mich., has increased its price for VORANATE™ toluene diisocyanate by 20 cents per pound.

The price increase became effective Jan. 1 and applies to all market segments and end-use applications in the U.S.