Masonry Magazine February 2006 Page. 15
But in our company, for instance, with OSHA and the Chase-Wisconsin partnership program, we're taking that head on. I don't believe in leaving these issues for somebody else to figure out. We try to face up to them.
Succession planning is pretty tough. It turns into a huge tax issue for closely held businesses like mine, where it's going to get passed on to the next generation. You have these huge tax impediments to doing that.
The other thing is that there are a lot of [regulations]. Talk about EPA issues- I've got 25 forklifts and if I have to go in and start retrofitting all of them to burn low-sulfur diesel, all that kind of stuff is an expense.
The list goes on and on. You have to stay on top of it.
Masonry: Which group do you feel has the bigger impact on masonry's future: architects, engineers or general contractors?
Kinateder: I would probably say general contractors. Engineers basically don't know much about masonry, one way or the other. They don't have the opportunities in engineering school to take masonry courses. You're always up against engineers because they design basically with steel or concrete.
Most architects love masonry. They like the way it looks, they like the things you can do with it, and that it's such a variable product. There are so many ways that they can achieve the look they're going for.
General contractors are really the ones who are the problem for mason contractors. It really should be general contractors/construction managers, because with the advent of construction managers in the last 20 years, we find ourselves getting value-engineered out, or a portion of our work being value-engineered out. There again, it's not a value for the long run- it's just an up-front cost that they figure they can cut, so, they hurt us more than anybody.
Masonry: What do you like most about being a member of MCAA?
Kinateder: The information you can get from dealing with other contractors from other parts of the country that have the same problems, or are in the same boat that you're in. When we go to the annual meeting, I talk to a lot of the guys and see how they handle things, and it gives me another way to look at it. Or I find out how they're doing things in other areas different from what I'm doing, and I think, "Well, I can change that." I would say it's the camaraderie, or dealing with peers on a level where we're not in competition. It really helps. I know it helps me in my business.
Kennison
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February 2006
Masonry 13