Flashings

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Construction workers are more likely to suffer attention disorders

According to a survey conducted by the Attention Deficit Disorder Association (ADDA) of individuals in 14 job categories, construction workers are the fifth most likely group to report symptoms associated with adult attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (AD/HD).

Eighteen percent of construction workers polled reported symptoms associated with AD/HD. According to ADDA, about 4.4 percent of all adults are believed to have the disorder, which is characterized by distractibility, procrastination, disorganization, lateness, incompletion of projects and losing things.

SBA launches lending initiative

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has launched a pilot program—the New Markets Lending Initiative—to provide financial assistance to small businesses in economically distressed urban and rural areas. The program is intended to provide incentives for commercial lenders and local development organizations to offer more SBA-guaranteed loans in these communities.

The New Markets Lending Initiative will enable Community Development Entities (CDEs), or investment institutions, to combine the benefits of the New Markets Tax Credit Program and SBA-guaranteed loans to provide inner-city and rural small-business owners greater access to financing and business training. The New Markets Tax Credit Program allows investors to receive credits on their federal taxes of up to 39 percent of investments made in CDEs.

"We are committed to helping U.S. small businesses in economically distressed areas," says SBA Administrator Steven C. Preston. "We believe this initiative can encourage job creation and growth in low-income areas, which is an essential part of President Bush's economic agenda."

Certain restrictions apply to the program. For more information, contact SBA at (800) 827-5722 or visit www.sba.gov.

BASF increases prices

BASF Corp., Hudson Falls, N.J., has increased its prices in North America for all Butofan,® Styrofan® and Styronal® carboxylated styrene-butadiene latex products by 6 cents per dry pound. The increase took effect Nov. 1.

The price increase is said to be driven by increased energy, raw-material and transportation costs.

Tecta America acquires WeatherGuard Roofing

Skokie, Ill.-based Tecta America Corp. has acquired WeatherGuard Roofing Co., Albany, N.Y. With the addition of WeatherGuard Roofing, Tecta America has 26 divisions and 49 operating locations.

Overcome resistance to change

Resistance to change sometimes has to do with the way change is presented rather than with change itself. To overcome your employees' resistance to change, try the following:

• Keep your employees informed. If you catch them off-guard with unexpected decisions or demands, it is likely they will resist.
• Implement changes incrementally. A step-by-step process will allow your employees to understand what is happening and why.
• Encourage your employees to participate in the change process. Involving employees will help them feel less like changes are happening to them.
• Provide necessary training to teach employees about their new responsibilities or roles. Employees will be less likely to resist change if they feel confident about their abilities.

Source: Adapted from Change management: Getting everyone on board the change train as cited by The Manager's Intelligence Report, November issue

Owens Corning emerges from bankruptcy

Toledo, Ohio-based Owens Corning, which filed Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code in 2000 to try to resolve its asbestos liabilities, announced Oct. 31 it has emerged from bankruptcy.

In September, Owens Corning received approval for its plan of reorganization from two federal judges. The company emerged from bankruptcy when a 30-day appeals period following the approvals expired and its plan of reorganization became effective.

Owens Corning says it immediately will begin making $8.6 billion in distributions to its financial creditors, including $5 billion to a trust that will resolve current and future asbestos liability against the company. From 1953 to 1972, the company sold Kaylo brand insulation that contained asbestos.

"We are emerging from Chapter 11 in a strong operational and financial position," says Dave Brown, president and chief executive officer of Owens Corning. "During the past six years, we have continued to grow our businesses around the world and strengthened our financial performance."

DETAILS

Jim Leonard
Founder and chairman of ERSystems Inc. and Prairie Technologies Inc., Rockford, Minn.

What is the most unusual roofing project of which you have been a part?
As part of NRCA's 111th Annual Convention and Exhibit in 1998, ERSystems conducted a demonstration of the restoration of an EPDM roof system on the Boulevard Mall in Las Vegas. We demonstrated low-rise polyurethane adhesive for fastening insulation board, as well as restorations of 20,000 square feet of an aged EPDM system and 80,000 square feet of aged spray polyurethane foam.

Why did you become involved in the roofing industry?
I was involved with the development of some of the earliest acrylic roof coating technology during the late 1970s.

What was your first roofing experience?
My first roofing experience was instal­ling shingles on the porch roof of my family's first home. While assisting me, my 8-year-old son did a "header" off the roof, dropping about 12 feet and landing flat on his stomach. He currently is the chief executive officer of ERSystems and extremely safety conscious.

What do you consider a waste of time?
Chasing people to get them to pay their bills.

What do you consider your most rewarding experiences?
Having a family. Kay and I have five children—all grounded, well-educated, and prepared to do their own things and make their marks.

What is your favorite stress reliever?
Running—my 4- to 5-mile morning routine sets the tone for my day, providing time to organize and prioritize.

What was your first job?
As a youngster, I drove horses and a tractor for a threshing crew. During my summers in college, I drove heavy road building equipment. My first professional job was teaching college chemistry.

What is your favorite vacation?
Time spent on Kaanapali Beach, Maui, with my family and friends.

What is your biggest pet peeve?
People who do not live up to the commitments they make.

If you could invite any three people to dinner (dead or alive), whom would you invite and why?
John F. Kennedy, Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush. It would be fun to hear advice for President Bush from two great presidents.

What is your roofing industry involvement?
I am president of the Reflective Roof Coatings Institute; have served on the board of directors of the Cool Roof Rating Council (CRRC) and NRCA's Energy Awareness Committee; and am a member of RCI Inc.—The Institute of Roofing, Waterproofing and Building Envelope Professionals, The American Institute of Architects, Spray Polyurethane Foam Alliance and CRRC.

People would be surprised to know …
To support myself during college, I worked nights and weekends as a sheriff's deputy. I hardly am the enforcer type—I am built a lot like Barney Fife—but I was given two bullets for my gun!

Stay healthy in the workplace

Flu season is here, so you may get nervous when you hear a co-worker coughing and sneezing near you. Although you can't stop sick co-workers from coming to work, there are a few things you can do to stay healthy in the workplace.

• Keep your desk clean. Disinfect it every day.
• Clean your desktop tools often. Disinfect your telephone, mouse pad and other items you touch frequently.
• Wash your hands regularly—use warm, soapy water and wash for 20-30 seconds.
• Make sure you get enough sleep each night, eat a healthy diet and drink plenty of fluids.
• Maintain cleanliness at all times. Remember, people are contagious before they exhibit symptoms.
• Keep tissues nearby to cover any coughs or sneezes you might have—you don't want to make your co-workers sick.

Source: Adapted from Are your co-workers germy? by First Draft, February issue

Web site provides compliance information

The U.S. federal government has launched a Web site, www.business.gov, which searches the Web sites of federal government agencies for compliance information and resources. The Web site is said to make it easier for business owners to find information about taxes, immigration laws, workplace safety, environmental requirements and other regulations.

Managed by the U.S. Small Business Administration in partnership with 21 other federal agencies, www.business.gov is part of President Bush's Management Agenda.