AIA COURSE

TECHNICAL PAPERS

SMA store

classified ads

sma e-newsletter

January 2011 eNews

president's letter

What's Really Important in Our Business
Nick Brown, Merlex

After you've worked in the stucco industry a while, you begin to notice changes. The biggest thing I've noticed is the change in people and the spirit they bring to work. No one shows this better than Bob Anderson, who retired this month after a long career supplying stucco manufacturers with sand.

Bob started in the sand business in 1959 by joining Ottawa Silica (Crystal Silica) in Oceanside, CA. When Crystal Silica ceased operations in 1991, Bob joined P.W. Gillibrand Co., Inc. of Simi Valley.  When he came to see you, it was with a warmth and support that told you he really was there to do whatever he could to help your business. He told you the truth, unvarnished, but without any negativity toward his competition or anyone else. And when the inevitable problem popped up, he was all over it, helping to identify the root cause, get the plant back up and running, and make sure it never happened again. And pricing was never a main topic of conversation.

Guys like Bob Anderson are in short supply in our industry these days. Today, many salespeople seem to focus on price first and the warm handshake and support last. Bob was successful, and I believe our industry has been successful, because of a focus on building real relationships between people and businesses that we can depend on to help everyone get through the tough times. I think that with Bob's retirement, it is an opportunity to reflect on what's really important in our business, our relationships, and what our industry should look like when we retire. Let's hope it's a tightly knit industry of businesses that deal honestly with one another, support the industry, and add value like Bob Anderson did for over 50 years. Congratulations, Bob.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank our outgoing SMA President, Todd Martin (Omega Products International) for his service last year and in years prior. It is largely because of his leadership that SMA is in good financial standing, finding new ways to spread the stucco message, including the DVDs, website, AIA on-line course, interesting meetings, and this e-newsletter. Thanks go also to last year's board members Ted Jones (Parex), Ben Garcia (Expo), Ed Gorter (California Stucco), Sherry Davis (Carmeuse), and Mike Duarte (P.T. Hutchins).

feature articles

Hopeful Signs for California Builders
Christopher Thornberg, PhD, Principal, Beacon Economics
The recent swoon in home sales that hit California and the rest of the nation in July caused the markets to tumble and fears among builders to climb. Why this is the case remains a bit of a mystery to us, as this was one of the least surprising surprises in the news lately. read more ...

[Former] Governor Schwarzenegger Announced First-in-the-Nation Statewide Green Building
Standards Code
Continuing California's efforts to fight climate change and protect the environment, [former] Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger announced the California Building Standards Commission unanimously adopted the first-in-the-nation mandatory Green Building Standards Code. read more ...

Member News
After 59 years in the sales profession, Bob Anderson of P.W. Gillibrand Co., Inc. retired on December 31, 2010. read more ...

It’s That Time of Year Again for Efflorescence in California
Kenneth Parks, CEMEX Technical Services Manager
The California rainy season has come early this year.  One of the phenomenons that begin to appear more frequently in the fall for California homeowners and Contractors is efflorescence. read more ...

Silos: Not Just for Grain Anymore
Jerry L. Pozo, BMI Products
Silo, when I hear the term, my mind conjures up our great American Midwest or California's Central Valley. Rustic silos ... those towering structures alongside a barn, on some back road through American farmlands. read more ...

Survival in Today's Challenging Times
Jamie Makuuchi, Director of Marketing, Parex USA and LaHabra Stucco
If you are still in business today, congratulations, you are a survivor. There is a high probability you will make it through to see better days. The good news is that the worst is behind us. The bad news is that it is not going to go up as fast as it fell. read more ...

Recycled Content - A Key "Green Product" Attribute
Ben Garcia, Expo Stucco Products
In a recovering economy we are all looking for ways to take advantage of the growing portions of our industry. Offering "green" alternatives gives us an opportunity to join in this growing building trend. read more ...

Rock Science, Not Rocket Science
A summary of the SMA meeting held at Carmeuse's facility in San Juan Capistrano on aggregates in plaster. read more ...

Volunteers Needed in Haiti to Aid Earthquake Relief
Shelter2Home, LLC is looking for volunteers (traditional stucco applicators/installers) to go to Haiti for a minimum of seven days to assist in training Haitian youth in the application of two- and three-coat stucco. read more ...

Join SMA & get FREE advertising for your company!

Join SMA now and you will receive an immediate member benefit -- one month FREE half-tower ad on SMA's website. Call Executive Director at 949.640.9902 or email info@stuccomfgassoc.com.