Foundation Repair Companies Attend Shotcrete Training in Omaha, NE
Over 30 owners, production managers, and foremen from throughout the Foundation Supportworks dealer network participated in shotcrete training during the week of May 14th. The four day training covered various topics related to the shotcrete process, including different methods on installing shotcrete, equipment needs, applications, proper concrete mix designs, efficient installations, and effectively selling the shotcrete system. The attendees were able to gain hands on experience spraying shotcrete on multiple jobsites, while also completing an entire shotcrete wall restoration project from start to finish.
In addition to the classroom and field training, those in attendance observed a presentation by Ray Schallom III, who has more than 35 years of shotcrete experience as a project manager, superintendent, and business owner. Ray is a former president of the American Shotcrete Association (ASA) and also a Certified Nozzleman through the American Concrete Institute (ACI). He is both an approved shotcrete trainer through the ASA as well as an approved shotcrete examiner through the ACI. Ray’s experience and expertise proved invaluable throughout the training.
Underpinning Contractors and Engineers Attend Foundation Repair Conference
On April 26th and 27th, Foundation Supportworks exhibited at the Foundation Repair Association’s annual conference where they displayed their line of foundation stabilization systems. Throughout the event, many engineers, architects, and foundation repair contractors visited with Foundation Supportworks about the benefits of their systems and the various applications where they can be used to permanently stabilize settling structures.
The event was held in San Antonio, TX and was attended by more than 160 engineers, architects, and geotechnical contractors from around the United States. The conference was divided into social, educational, and professional segments to highlight the advancements in the foundation repair industry. Among the topics that were presented during the short course seminars included Proper Foundation Design, Engineering Ethics, and Foundation Repair Methods.
The Foundation Repair Association (FRA) is a national organization that exists to promote high ethical standards in the practice of foundation repair, and to promote cooperation between the foundation repair industry and government.
Foundation Repair Contractors Attend Training Seminar in Omaha, NE
During the week of April 16th, more than 60 foundation repair contractors from throughout the United States and Canada attended training at Foundation Supportworks in Omaha, NE. Throughout the week, attendees were trained in the areas of marketing, sales and installation of Foundation Supportworks products. In addition to classroom and field training, the attendees also benefited from the opportunity to network with other foundation repair companies throughout North America.
The four-day installation training included hands-on training at several different jobsites, where the attendees received firsthand experience installing push piers, helical piers, slab piers, Geo-Lock™ wall anchors, CarbonArmor™ and PowerBraces™. 
The installation training also included 5 hours of classroom training where the attendees learned about the more technical aspects of the product installation.
The three-day sales training covered topics such as product features and benefits, interviewing the customer to learn about their wants and needs, proper diagnosing and inspection, and presenting solutions to the customer. Sales training attendees were also encouraged to bring their laptops to receive hands-on training on the exclusive Foundation Supportworks sales presentation and proposal generating software program.
Annual Owner’s Meeting Brings Sun, Fun and New Ideas For the Coming Year
Owners from across the Foundation Supportworks dealer network recently attended the 2012 Owner’s Meeting on the Caribbean Island of St. Maarten. We had a record turnout at this year’s event, with more than 70 dealer offices represented and over 140 attendees.
It’s not very often that a group of business owners are able to come together, share successes, get advice about common challenges, learn about new tools available, and strengthen the connection they feel to one another. One can really feel the power that a network of the best foundation repair contractors in North America truly has at these events.
Foundation Supportworks presented on topics such as the impact of accountability within an organization, new sales and installation tools to help our businesses be more efficient, recruiting and hiring the most talented employees, internet marketing strategies, and much more. The Owner’s Meeting gave attendees some well deserved relaxation and sunshine, great laughs, and most importantly, a lot of good insight on how to reach new levels of success within their business!
Foundation Supportworks Receives Gold Award for Advertising Excellence
Foundation Supportworks is proud to have been presented with a Gold Award by the 9th Annual Service Industry Advertising Awards (SIAA). The SIAA recognizes advertising excellence in the service industry. A national panel of judges reviewed every entry for execution, creativity, quality, consumer appeal and overall break through advertising content. This year they received over 2,000 entries from all over the country, and of those 2,000 entries, they awarded Foundation Supportworks with the Gold Award! This award exemplifies Foundation Supportworks’ mission: To be the industry leader, relentless in our pursuit to be extraordinary with support, service, training and products that inspire success.
Foundation Supportworks Becomes an Approved Provider of Continuing Education Through the AIA CES
Foundation Supportworks was recently accepted as an approved continuing education provider through the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Continuing Education System (CES). 
With nearly 300 state and local chapters, the AIA has been the leading professional membership association for licensed architects, emerging professionals, and allied partners since 1857. The AIA CES is a thriving, multifaceted professional development program and the largest source of education specifically targeted to the design and building industry. Its mission is to support AIA members in mastering new knowledge and skills to meet the changing requirements of the profession and to responsibly meet the role that society entrusts to architects.
Amanda Harrington, Director of Training and Development for Foundation Supportworks, said, “We are excited to have been recognized by the American Institute of Architects as an approved provider for their Continuing Education System. The goal of our coursework is to educate the architectural community on various deep foundation solutions that are available and how those solutions interface with structures in varying soil conditions. We are honored to have received this approval through the AIA CES.”
Foundation Stabilization Companies Attend Management Training
Nearly 30 owners and managers from across the Foundation Supportworks dealer network participated in Management Training in Omaha, Nebraska during the week of February 20th. The three day training covered a variety of topics and challenges that business owners and their management teams face on a daily basis within their foundation repair companies. 
Among the topics attendees discussed included: Understanding the strengths and weaknesses of different leadership styles, The hiring process and how to effectively recruit and retain top talent, Orienting new hires, Methods and practices to fairly evaluate employee performance, Effective ways to manage varying performance levels, Understanding how to recognize and reward employees, and much more.
Along with the traditional format of classroom lecture, participants also held many small group discussions, observed demonstrations, and used a variety of hands-on activities to solidify the concepts and apply them to real-world examples. This highly interactive training event created opportunities for in-depth discussion on employee problems and opportunities, role playing on how to address common employee situations, and brainstorming on ideas and best practices that could be shared throughout the Foundation Supportworks dealer network.
Foundation Repair Contractors Attend Sales Training in Omaha, NE
During the week of January 16th, more than 45 foundation repair specialists from across the United States and Canada attended training at Foundation Supportworks in Omaha, Nebraska. Throughout the week, attendees were trained in all areas of the sales process related to Foundation Supportworks line of stabilization systems. In addition to classroom training, the attendees also benefited from the opportunity to network with other foundation repair contractors throughout North America.
The three-day sales training covered topics such as product features and benefits, interviewing the customer to learn about their wants and needs, proper diagnosing and inspection of foundation related issues, and presenting solutions to the customer. Sales training attendees were also encouraged to bring their laptops to receive hands-on training on the exclusive Foundation Supportworks sales presentation and proposal generating software program. The software allows the sales professionals to effectively communicate and educate a homeowner on the unique features and benefits of each of Foundation Supportworks products.
Home Inspectors Receive Training on Foundation Repair Solutions
Jeff Kortan, Director of Engineering for Foundation Supportworks®, presented to over 70 home inspectors at InspectionWorld® in Phoenix, Arizona on January 5th. His educational session, “Common Foundation Problems – Causes, Signs & Solutions,” took an in-depth look at how to identify foundation settlement 
problems, bowing basement walls, and settling columns or sagging beams in a crawlspace. The attendees were educated on the common causes and solutions to these structural problems, while also earning two hours of ASHI continuing education credits for their participation.
InspectionWorld® is the annual home inspector conference presented by the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI). The event, which took place January 4th-7th, was attended by more than 350 professional home inspectors from throughout North America. The attendees were provided with 45 education courses in five different specialty tracks, plus a sixth track devoted to the 2012 International Residential Code. The event also featured an exhibitor expo, where participants had the opportunity to learn about products and services being offered by more than 60 companies from across the country.
The American Society of Home Inspectors was formed in 1976 and is the oldest and most respected non-profit professional society for home inspectors in North America. With over 6,000 members and 80 chapters, ASHI has provided home inspectors with the best in education, resources and professional networking opportunities. Its mission is to meet the needs of its membership, while promoting excellence and exemplary practice within the home inspection profession.
Foundation Repair Contractor in Denver, CO Receives ACE Award
Complete Basement Systems was recently honored with the Associated General Contractors ACE silver award for “Meeting the Challenge of a Difficult Job.” The foundation repair company located in Denver, CO was recognized for their work installing helical piles on the Alta Vista Charter School in southeast Colorado.
The award was presented to Complete Basement Systems on
November 4th at the 2011 Associated General Contractors ACE awards banquet. The banquet was attended by more than 550 contractors and industry leaders who gathered to recognize and celebrate the outstanding commercial construction projects completed within the last year. The AGC of Colorado presented a total of thirty-one awards at the ceremony, including 14 ACE awards. The 36 entries in 14 categories, submitted by 27 AGC member companies, demonstrate the outstanding creativity, skill and excellence of Colorado’s builders, architects, engineers, and subcontractors.
The Alta Vista Charter School was constructed in 1917. In 2011, the school planned a “historic” renovation to 6,240 square feet of the existing building as well as construction of a new addition of 18,000 square feet (view case study). Helical piles were selected as the ideal deep foundation stabilization option for this site given the subsurface conditions, groundwater levels, ease of installation and ability to efficiently size the piles for the various design working loads that were needed. The team at Complete Basement Systems completed the job by installing 136 piles in approximately two weeks.