Masonry Magazine February 2001 Page. 10
CONTRACTOR TO CONTRACTOR
A Member's Perspective
Contractor to Contractor is submitted to bring contractors closer together. By sharing thoughts and ideas, mason contractors will find that we all have common bonds and can benefit by sharing with each other. Contractors featured in this column are all members of the MCAA and vary in size, type of masonry performed, and operations style. The purpose of the column is to bring out the common problems, concerns, and positive experiences in the industry. If you would like more information about having your company featured, please contact Jeff Buczkiewicz at 1-800-536-2225.
PROFILE: Jerry Painter
Painter Masonry, Inc.
LOCATION: 2425 Ν.Ε. 19th Drive
Gainesville, Florida 32606
SALES VOLUME: $1-$5 million
Jerry Painter
1. What is your biggest challenge that you face as a mason contractor?
Recruiting, training, and maintaining a competent work-force is the number one challenge for Painter Masonry. The loss of masons is primarily due to retirement and/or other employment opportunities. We must rebuild this work force to survive.
2. If I could change one thing about the industry it would be?
If we could only change one thing in the masonry industry it would be to put our craft back into its high level of public perception. We could do this by renewing pride in ones self and ones ability. The trickle down benefits of this would be an improvement in quality, productivity, and our ability to recruit new workers.
3. What do you like most about being a contractor in the masonry industry?
The benefit of seeing one dimensional ideas transformed into three dimensional functional facilities for public use. Okay, try this. The daily challenge of orchestrating the ideas of designers, the products of manufacturers, and the artistry of the craftsman to create harmonious monuments of proper function and permanent existence. Wow! Ok, ok, I'll try again. There really is a lot of satisfaction and pride in working through the challenge of seeing a building project develop daily, to see and enjoy the finished product, and to know you've done your best.
4. Project most proud of is...
The V.A. National Cemetery in Sumter County, Florida was a new full service cemetery. We've installed a wide variety of material that included:
* Granite Paving
* Granite Curbing
* Limestone Cladding
* Polished Granite Coping
* Reinforced CMU
* Concrete Brick Veneer
* Cut Coral Paving
While this was not our largest, it was the most diverse job. Most of our projects included reinforced CMU, brick veneer, and cast stone or cut limestone.
5. The most innovative thing about my company is ...
The innovativeness of Painter Masonry is not limited to one item. Through the experience and knowledge of our employees we are able assist in the design, selection, and use of masonry products on all types of projects. We are able to use this same experience and knowledge to create new and improve old means and methods of material handling and installation.
We owned and operated a concrete block plant for a time and understand all potential production and delivery problems. We also have a rental fleet of hydraulic truck cranes that we use to maximize our material handling and installation ability.