This tool can help you develop a deeper understanding of your client’s experience by exploring their emotions, motivations, and attitudes. Recently, my marketing director, Dara Davulcu, suggested that we host facilitated empathy mapping workshops for our firm. Empathy mapping is a tool to understand a client’s needs, fears, and behaviors. This process develops a deeper understanding of the... read more
Construction Dive: Interview with Keyan Zandy on Construction’s Age Problem
Construction’s Age Problem: A Foreboding Exodus of Experience About one in five construction workers is 55 or older. Failing to recruit and retain labor soon could mean a sudden dearth of experienced workers. This Construction Dive article, by Zachary Phillips, explores the problem and possible solutions. Our CEO, Keyan Zandy, and other industry experts discuss ways to enhance recruiting and... read more
Annual Meeting Recap: Celebrating Growth, Gaining Traction, and Mastering Pickleball
We got together a few weeks ago for our annual meeting and had a wonderful time reconnecting. We were fortunate to have Jill Young of EOS Worldwide with us for a keynote and then she led us through some fun teambuilding exercises centered around gaining traction. Our leadership team reviewed the previous fiscal year’s accomplishments, and we explored what’s ahead. Celebrating our achievements, learning,... read more
Annual Awards: Honoring Our Safety Star and Legacy Award Champions
Each year Skiles Group honors two staff members each year who have championed our safety programs and who best embody our core values. As part of our annual meeting in May we revealed this year’s winners. Safety Star Award: Andy Middleton, safety coordinator Skiles Group annually recognizes an individual who has provided an exceptional contribution to our safety program through their leadership,... read more
Constructor: Five Fixes for Construction’s Productivity Predicament
While virtually everything in life seems to be moving faster and expanding in efficiency, productivity—succinctly defined by the Bureau of Labor Statistics as “a measure of economic performance that compares the amount of goods and services produced (output) with the amount of inputs used to produce those goods and services”—in construction is indisputably on the decline. Why? There’s no easy answer... read more
OSHA’s 10th Annual National Safety Stand-Down Recognized on Jobsites
OSHA's 10th annual National Safety Stand-Down was recognized this week on construction sites across the country to increase awareness and help to reduce the number of injuries and fatalities in our industry. Because fatalities caused by falls from elevation continue to be a leading cause of death for construction employees (accounting for 378 of the 986 construction fatalities), Skiles Group hosts National... read more
Construction Dive: Interview with Keyan Zandy on Labor Gap and Hiring Evolution
Construction’s labor gap could bring a hiring evolution As tradesworkers expect more from their jobs, some general contractors could shift toward self-perform. This Construction Dive article, by Zachary Phillips, explores the labor shortage in our industry and how GCs are flexing to fill the gap. Our CEO, Keyan Zandy, and other industry experts discuss how solving this problem could bring about a... read more
Constructor: Myth Busters: Mental Health on the Jobsite
When considering safety in construction, most firms think about OSHA's Focus Four Hazards, the four leading hazards in the construction industry - falls, caught in or between, struck by, and electrocutions. Yet our industry has only recently begun the conversation around the fifth hazard, suicide. It is jarring for many to learn that the suicide rate in construction is about four times greater than the national... read more
Skiles Group Wins AGC’s Build America Award for The Covenant School of Dallas
The Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) Annual Convention was held a few weeks ago in Las Vegas, Nevada, and we were so honored to learn that the The Covenant School of Dallas Rhetoric Building was selected as the winner of the 2023 Construction Risk Partners Build America Award. AGC Vice President Tom Brown and representatives from Construction Risk Partners presented the award to Skiles... read more
Richardson Fire Department Conducts Rescue Simulation Training at Jobsite
The Richardson Fire Department was recently welcomed to our jobsite to complete a high rescue training exercise. Using our tower crane, they descended from the back of the working platform — 200 feet above ground! — to simulate the rescue of an injured person. Our partner in this effort was Uperio USA, with the support of Methodist Richardson Medical Center. We extend our sincere gratitude to Michael... read more