Aug 16

NAWIC Never Disappoints!

This past Saturday, I attended our annual Leadership Training seminar for Region 3.  Time spent with the women of NAWIC is always motivating and uplifting.  The day was filled working on team building exercises and learning what to expect for our upcoming board positions.  Come September I will be the Gainesville chapter’s Vice President,  a role I am proud to fill.

In between the exercises I was able to announce to my NAWIC friends that I my employment status has changed.  I was inundated with congratulations, best wishes and opportunities.  Thanks to one member, I am able to present  my hollow metal line to a large engineering firm that handles projects all over the country.   Thanks Jill!   I was also given many contact names of prospective customers all over the state!  As Sandy Davis from the Tallahassee chapter stated “when you join NAWIC, your company just went national”!  My gratitude goes out to my NAWIC sisters for their loyalty and generosity.

Aug 10

Want your piece of the stimulus pie?

 

A portion of a great article in the NAWIC Image by Robin Fulton Meyer, President of NAWIC (The National Association of Women in Construction).

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) was signed into law on February 17, 2009.  The stimulus bill, almost a year and a half old, is as controversial now as it was when it was first passed.  The Annual report to the President on Progress Implementing the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, released by the White House in February 2010, defends the stimulus against the criticism that it has failed to produce jobs and sheds light on where the $787 billion dollars is now…

…Some of the first infrastructure projects are underway, include adding 35 acres of solar arrays to the Federal Center in Denver, Co.; building the Wounded Warrior complex at Fort Bliss, Texas; projects to bring broadband access to rural communities in Kansas and New York; and building 800 miles of high speed rail in California.  Want to know what is going on in your area or try to get a piece of the stimulus pie?  Go to www.recovery.gov.

My Gainesville distributor supplied doors for two of the jobs that I found on the interactive map.  One project was a medical center in my very small town, the other a computer training center in Gainesville. Use this useful tool and help in stimulating the economy.

Aug 09

Happy Monday!

Wow, I’ve only been a rep for one week and my territory has doubled!  I wanted to start out with a bang, but that’s an explosion.  Not only will I be covering North Florida but also South Georgia. I have two days in the office before heading out again for a quick overnight road trip. Double the travel, double the customers, double the fun.

I’d better get busy, lofty goals for this Monday morning with a to-do list a mile long…wish me luck and Happy Monday to all.

Aug 06

I’m back…

Whew!  Just got back in from my first week of traveling.  What a ride.  I met with great door & hardware distributors all across South Florida.  Can’t wait until Monday morning to roll-up my sleeves and join in their battle to land more work.  If it is at all possible, I am more excited now about my new endeavor, than when I started.  Well, off to unpacking and spending quality time with my family.  Have a great weekend.

Aug 02

My first day…

So, here I am at my desk ready to start my first day of my brand new business. Actually I should be at my desk but what I am really doing is trying to pack for a four day business trip driving about the State of Florida with the current S. Fl. Rep. Clothes are flying between the closet, bed and ironing board trying to figure out what to take with me. Hopefully I won’t have to make a trip to the mall. Future idea for a blog article: the difference between how business men and business women travel.
This trip is to introduce me to Mesker Door Florida Distributors! Can’t wait to meet them and see how I can help them grow their business. Cause really that is what my job is all about now!
Can’t write more – I’m off to the mall!

Jul 19

To LLC or to Inc..that is the question..

Wow, I have just three weeks to have my business ready to call on my first distributor!  My mind is going 100 mph!  Once my company’s name was decided upon I had to then choose between an LLC or Corporation.  I did a lot of research since I haven’t been down this path before.  From my perspective the protection is the same, the main difference is how the income taxes are filed.  My business won’t be going public, so for me, LLC seemed the best fit.  The paperwork complete and sent off I am hoping to have the official documents back next week.  Holy Cow this is really happening!

Living in a small community has many advantages.  Turns out another – I won’t need a city or county occupational license.  I did run a fictitious name notice in my local paper and will need to register my name with the state.  I also have my EIN (employer identification number), which was very easy to get.  The logo needs to be finalized and after that business cards and stationery, website…ooh that’s still a lot!  One step at a time.

Jul 17

Good news for the construction industry?

I have gotten so used to hearing negative news, it was great to find something positive in the latest edition of DHI Industry Watch…

NEW YORKConstruction professionals expect the industry recession to start to turn around by the end of the year… Read more…

I also heard that Sam’s Club is giving small business loans of up to $25,000 to help while banks are still slow to release funds. What a great way to help stimulate the economy.  Check this article for some details.

…Sam’s Club is working with Superior Financial Group to step into a gap small-business owners say is hampering their ability to expand, and in some cases even function—financing. Read more…

Anytime I find positive news I will share it with you.  Like a pebble I hope the good news ripples out to produce more good news and so on.  What is your good news?

“Drop a word of cheer and kindness: just a flash and it is gone;
But there’s half-a-hundred ripples circling on and on and on,
Bearing hope and joy and comfort on each splashing, dashing wave
Till you wouldn’t believe the volume of the one kind word you gave.

Drop a word of cheer and kindness: in a minute you forget;
But there’s gladness still a-swelling, and there’s joy a-circling yet,
And you’ve rolled a wave of comfort whose sweet music can be heard
Over miles and miles of water just by dropping one kind word.”

part of the poem by: James W. Foley

Jul 13

A New Venture…

Its Fourth of July weekend and I’ve used the extra time off to remodel a home office for a new business I’m starting. Some people think I’m crazy for going into business for myself in such a down economy. Especially since the business is construction related. But, I do have a husband and friends (well one friend, my bff) who support the decision and think I will do great.
I’m sitting here at my desk in my unfinished office, full of hopes and dreams, and more than a little fear. But, it is time! I’ve worked as a material supplier for 16 years and I’m making a move to the manufacturer side as an Independent Manufacturer’s Representative. My business, A.G. Wilson Building Solutions, will begin on August 2, 2010. The manufacturers that I will represent will be in the Openings Industry, Division 8 of the Specifications. (ie Doors, Frames, Hinges, Locks, etc).
It has been a whirlwind of activity in the last month getting ready and I’ll be sharing some of the steps for starting my business as well as the progress of my endeavors.
The first task was picking a business name, which my friend came up with one morning while walking from her front door to the car. The A.G. are my first and middle initials, but G is also my friend’s first initial, in hopes that she will join me in this venture when and if she can. Wilson, of course is my last name but also G’s maiden name, which she would go back to if she joins me. “Building Solutions” is what I want to provide. I don’t want to sell material, I want to provide solutions.
There seems to be such a gap in communication between all the entities of the construction industry, ie Architect, Contractor, Material Manufacturer, Material Supplier, and the Owner (end user) of the building. I an inspired to create synergy between all of those involved and fill in those gaps.
Well, that’s all for now as I need to get up from my desk to get ready for fireworks. It is with reluctance that I close my computer as I’m full of ambition and want to get started! But as the fireworks burst in the air I will remember that my hopes and dreams can be a reality because of the great country we live in.
Happy Birthday America, Happy Birthday A.G. Wilson Building Solutions, LLC!

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