Adam Grant, an organizational psychologist and bestselling author, recently featured Simpson Strong-Tie Vice President of Engineering Annie Kao on his TED original podcast WorkLife. Adam and Annie were joined by Berkeley Haas Associate Dean for Academic Affairs Jenny Chatman (full disclosure,...

A few years ago, my neighbors left their teenage daughter home alone on a Friday night…so of course she had a party. It wasn’t the kind of epic party you see in the movies, but it was fairly loud around their pool that night. I wasn’t surprised by any of that, but the surprise...

“We were pleased to welcome 77 individuals to the MSR Workshop in Salt Lake City this past April,” reports MSRLPC President George Hamilton of Canfor Southern Pine. “It was wonderful to be together again with a great group of industry members – from MSR producers, to...

As I was sitting in my sister’s ICU room hoping she would stabilize and make it through the night, people were telling me to “take care of myself” too. Well, at that time, I didn’t give a [bleep] about myself, because my focus was protecting her. The experience left me...

In a recent article in MoneyWise, the top states for relocation to and from were listed and many of them were as expected: Arizona, Alabama, Texas, Florida, which are all warm states that draw northerners. BUT, some of the states were unexpected: Idaho, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, and...

Visual tools are essential throughout the different phases of design and construction. Today, 3D models play a major role in construction projects, as they help improve productivity. Component manufacturing is no exception. The 3D Viewer Tool was developed and modernized to help component...

When a candidate interviews with a company, they expect tough questions to determine their fit for the position. Employers want to know if the candidate has the skills, experience, and desire to fulfill their needs, both short and long term. The candidate should be frank about their abilities as...

A second sales pro reacted to Jim Urmson’s Florida saw blitz, the redoubtable (now deceased) Jere Broedling. Few knew Florida CMs better than Jere, first as Gang Nail’s sales manager, then as Bemax salesman, and finally as a MiTek rep. Like Randy Yost, he relentlessly prodded his...

Starting in the maintenance field in the mid-1980s was an eye opener for me, to say the least I was very green. The manager of the truss plant could see I had mechanical aptitude and was driven to learn – but he also saw that I had no practical experience about troubleshooting machinery....

Who is the most important person in your truss operation? The designer who creates the projects? The guy who signs the check? Without sales there is no business, so is it sales? Let’s make an argument for someone you might take for granted. There is a person who looks at every job –...