Masonry Magazine January 2005 Page. 52
News
News continued from page 49. Image, ranks among America's most important architects and the first American architect of international stature.
Jefferson stressed two values: durable brick and stone rather than wood for construction, and the Classical Orders of column for ornament. At an early point, he set out to reform the architecture around him in his native Virginia, and later he extended his attempt to this young nation.
In his only published work, "Notes on the State of Virginia," Jefferson clearly stated his feelings about the shortcomings of Virginia architecture. While his comments were directed to his native state, they could well have applied to most of the rest of the country. Specifically, Jefferson lamented the fact that the greater part of our building stock was constructed of wood rather than masonry. He wrote: "A country where buildings are of wood can never increase in its improvements to any considerable degree."
Note: Please send any local, state or regional news to Jennie Farmsworth at jen@lionhrtpub.com or c/o Lionheart Publishing, Inc., 506 Roswell St., Suite 220, Marietta, Ga, 30060.
Industry News
Arnco Names Southwest Territory Sales Manager
Arnco, the world's largest supplier of polyurethane fill for tires on off-road vehicles, has added to its sales staff with the appointment of Kent Dawson as Southwest Territory Sales Manager.
Dawson, who has 20 years experience in the tire and heavy equipment fields, will be responsible for sales in a six-state region, including Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Texas. He joins the company after five years as a sales representative for Stanley Industrial Tires. He also was a sales representative for a tire manufacturer and parts manager for a heavy equipment dealership.
Sanders Saws Inks Eurodima Distributor Pact
On November 18, Sanders Saws entered an agreement with Austrian diamond tool and machinery supplier Eurodima Diamant-Technik to serve as the exclusive North American distributor for the company's Braxx cutting system. The deal is effective immediately.
The Braxx System is a modular, electric power network that converts 460V three-phase power to 1000Hz high-cycle to operate the Braxx diamond wall saw, wire saw and circular saw. These saws traditionally require separate power sources. The Braxx system, which can also be carried, set up and operated by just one person, is the only one of its kind on the market and boasts superior power, efficiency, produc-
Industry News continued on page 52
Only Hire and Promote the Best Players
MASONRY NEWS CONTRACTOR TIP
A few months back I wrote about how a company can benefit by utilizing all the players on the team regardless of whether they are A, B, C or D players. Let's make sure we don't forget that in business we must hire only the best. As for the weaker players, we must make sure they constantly improve, or they have to be let go. Yes, it is sad and difficult, but in order to win the game, it must be done.
Jack Welch, who was the renowned CEO of General Electric for over 20 years, wrote in his book "Straight from the Gut," "In order to win in the game of business, we must only field the best players." I recently had an experience that proved Jack's theory to be true.
I was sitting next to a friend during my nephew's basketball game. My friend has a son in the eighth grade who is also on the team. In the third quarter, my friend's son was still on the bench. I wondered how disheartened my friend must have be that his son wasn't getting to play. I also noticed that the coach was only playing five or six of the 12 players the whole game, which also seemed to be unfair to the other players on the bench. However, since it was a close game, it was obvious that if the coach didn't play his absolute best players his team would lose the game.
In basketball, a coach can only lose so many games until he is replaced. Likewise, in the construction business, we can only lose on so many jobs until we are out of business.
So take it from me. Better yet, take it from Jack Weich. Find the best employees you can and work them. There will always be some on your team who need improvement. Make sure they are willing to improve or replace them. If we don't play the best and improve the rest, our company probably won't survive anyway. In which case, no one will get to play.
Provided by Damian Lang, President of Lang Massery Contractors, Inc. and EZ Groat Corp.
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