The Last Word: The Last Word on The First Trade Show Joe Kannapell, PE After this year’s BCMC, it’s worth considering how far our industry has progressed since we first went to a trade show. The year was 1958, and the National Association of Home Builders Show (NAHB now IBS) was the only way to reach a national audience. Fortunately, we had one... Read More October 2022 Issue #14279 Page 142
Advertiser Forum: Of Legacies and Emerging Leaders Anna Stamm All industries are filled with a colorful cast of characters — but it is how you remember them and how you learn from them that will make a difference in an industry’s continuing trajectory. In this month’s issue, we are able to remember a legend as we look forward to our... Read More March 2022 Issue #14272 Page 6
How to Build Strong Employer/Employee Relationships Don Groom Building a strong employer/employee relationship is probably one of the biggest challenges that leaders face in any organization. I have never met any manager or leader of any company who does not want to improve in this area. There are so many books, seminars, and other resource materials... Read More March 2022 Issue #14272 Page 66
In Memoriam: The Lasting Impression of Dickie Vail I am just one of many people who had the privilege of calling Richard “Dickie” Vail my friend. Working with him over the years as a recruiter at TheJobLine.com, while he was at Trussway and then at Panel Truss, I was always impressed with his exceptionally detailed questioning about... Read More March 2022 Issue #14272 Page 76
Sixty Years of Machines, Part XXVI: Competing in Columbus Joe Kannapell, PE Two linear saws were set to battle one other at BCMC: Alpine’s, never having operated in a truss plant, vs. TCT’s, running in 10 truss plants. But few expected the competition at the 2002 Show. Alpine’s entry was the result of a crash effort, largely behind the scenes, to... Read More January 2022 Issue #14270 Page 10
John Calvin “Cal” Jureit’s Original Gang-Nail Connector Plate & Patent Come “Home” to MiTek Katie Kormann MiTek welcomed Marie Jureit-Beamish, widow of John Calvin “Cal” Jureit, inventor of the Gang-Nail connector plate, on Wednesday, December 15, 2021, at its global headquarters in Chesterfield, Missouri. Jureit-Beamish transferred ownership of the original Gang-Nail connector plate and... Read More January 2022 Issue #14270 Page 58
In Memoriam: Remembering Lecil Alexander, P.E. Joe Kannapell, PE A Journeyman Engineer of some 50 years, Lecil Alexander left us suddenly on December 6, 2021, after a tragic bout with pancreatic cancer. Lecil came to our industry as an Engineering Manager at Clary Corporation in Texas, having already earned his professional standing. After that formative... Read More January 2022 Issue #14270 Page 67
The Last Word: The Last Word on What’s Ahead Joe Kannapell, PE The best news for 2022 will be on the job front, and I plan on keeping mine, working these pages. Please stayed tuned as we uncover much more about our unique niche in the off-site construction industry, including developments on the following, evolving topics: Robotics: How will the two... Read More January 2022 Issue #14270 Page 126
Sixty Years of Machines, Part XXV: A Hail Mary Pass Joe Kannapell, PE Alpine Engineered Products’ new owners greenlighted both a new linear saw and a major upgrade to their component saw, but they gave Dave McAdoo a nearly impossible deadline. He would have to deliver both by BCMC 2002, just 3½ months away. And the most difficult of these, the linear... Read More December 2021 Issue #13269 Page 10
One Hundred Five Days in 2002 Dave McAdoo The true story of how Alpine revolutionized saws In early 2000, sales of truss equipment began to taper off. By the end of the year, the Equipment Division had reduced its employment by more than half and had shrunk its occupied floor space by 40%. The most dramatic reduction took place in... Read More December 2021 Issue #13269 Page 88