Archive/Subscribe | Printer-Friendly | Send to a Friend | www.wrla.org | YardStick WRLA Weekly ToolBox: March 15, 2012
What's Going On

The WRLA membership year is April 1, 2012 – March 31, 2013.

Renewal invoices and verification forms will be in your mailbox in April. Please ensure you return your updates and remit payment quickly upon receipt.

To view the Membership Criteria & Rates for your membership type please follow the links below:

RETAIL MEMBERS
ASSOCIATE MEMBERS
AFFILIATE MEMBERS

The WRLA Directory & Product Source Guide will be updated and distributed to members in July 2012.

WRLA Member enquiry?
Contact Susan at the WRLA office at 800-661-0253 ext. 0 or
slabossiere@wrla.org



BUILD CONNECTIONS TODAY

 

 
ONLINE REGISTRATION OPEN

Estimating Fundamentals, Decks and Garages
April 16 & 17, 2012 (TWO-DAY COURSE) $500 per person
Covers the fundamentals of manual estimating and gives the participants a basic working knowledge of estimating decks and garages. Participants learn to calculate all the necessary components and gain knowledge of products used on these projects. 

Estimating for Residential Construction
April 18 & 19, 2012 (TWO-DAY COURSE) $500 per person
To participate in this course, you should have completed the Estimating Fundamentals course or should have experience with small project estimating at the customer service counter, or job-site experience in residential construction.
•    Quotations vs. Estimate
•    Disclaimers and Structural Specifications
•    Math Skills Review
•    Understanding roofs and calculating waste factors
•    Reading and understanding blueprints
•    Getting started with your "take-off" and checklist of building materials
•    Foundation, beam, floor system, stairs, exterior walls, interior walls, roof system, exterior finish, interior components
•    Qualifying your customers, estimating strategies and estimating tables and charts

Yard Foreman – Operations Manager
April 20, 2012 (ONE-DAY COURSE) $250 per person
A one-day course focusing on the importance of a well-managed yard, storage and delivery operation to a building supply retail business. This course will help participants understand the impact of yard operations on the bottom line. It will look at the principles of efficient warehouse and yard lay-out. The day will also cover all aspects of the job – from inventory management, effective use of equipment, work-place safety – to customer service and employee management.

CLICK HERE to Register Today!

MEMBER REBATE PROGRAM
Due to the wide distribution of members across the prairies, the north and NW Ontario, member rebates are available to offset the cost of travel and expenses to attend these courses. Rebate information and forms are available at www.wrla.org. Please note that courses must be paid in full by course date, and rebate forms sent to the WRLA office no later than 30 days from course completion date.

 
Industry News



David Rae has been appointed Vice President of Operations for Madero Distribution. David has been with Madero for 6 years, moving from Sales to Branch Manager. David’s tenure with the door industry in both the interior and exterior components, have assisted to catapult Madero to a leader in Western Canada.

Tyler Murell moves into the position of Madero Winnipeg Branch Manager. Tyler has over 15 years of experience in the door and hardware industry in sales and program development. In 2011 Madero Winnipeg relocated into a 40,000 sq.ft. warehouse facility and showroom. Madero and Tyler look forward to the growth in Manitoba.

Chris Sexsmith has been appointed Branch Manager of Madero Calgary. Chris started his career 18 years ago with Décor Steel doors in Kelowna, B.C. continuing to work within the Masonite Steel Door Divisions until 2008. In Toronto, Chris remained within the exterior door industry until present. Chris brings a strong sales and operational background to Madero. We welcome Chris to Western Canada.
 

Barry Siskind's trade show training webinars are now available on demand. This is a great opportunity to offer your staff an in-house training session. By ordering one of the webinars listed below, you will have access to the webinar for 30 days.

I encourage you to order one of the on demand webinars by clicking the link
http://www.businessexpertwebinars.com and following these 4 easy steps.

1. Click For Registrants
2. Select BEW Speaker Portfolio
3. Click on Barry Siskind
4. Click View My Profile.

From here you can either read the descriptions of the webinars, order an on-demand webinar or read one of the many articles posted by Barry Siskind

The webinar topics currently available are:
How to use Entertainment to Drive Trade Show Booth Traffic
Turn your Trade Show Booth into an Experiential Environment
Developing Powerful Booth Staff
Selecting the Right Show
Turn Trade Show Lead into Sales
Get Real Value from your Trade Show Give-Aways
Drive Trade Show Crowds from the Aisles into your Booth
Create a Simple, Smart and Strategic Exhibit Budget Plan
Create an Experience for all three Generations who Walk the Trade Show Floor
Create a Trade Show Booth that Attendees Cannot Ignore
Measuring the Value of your Trade Show Program

To bring these webinars in-house or to have a customized webinar delivered contact Barbara Siskind at 1-800-358-6079 or
Barbara@siskindtraining.com to discuss your requirements.

 
Construction will continue to be a leading industry in Manitoba over the next decade with the new residential home building and electrical utility sectors reaching record high employment levels. Industrial, commercial and institutional construction will also see steady gains.

The Construction Sector Council's (CSC) just-released Construction Looking Forward, 2012 to 2020 Key Highlights for Manitoba says that the Manitoba construction industry is entering a second decade of strong expansion. Strong gains in both residential and non-residential markets will keep unemployment rates low, and industry may face challenges meeting the expanding demand requirements over the next several years.

"Residential construction continues to grow, creating significant employment opportunities," says Mike Moore, President of the Manitoba Home Builders' Association. "We will need to actively recruit and train new workers to keep pace with the anticipated 40 percent increase in residential employment."

For non-residential construction, activity continues to exhibit steady growth driven by a number of major utilities projects underway and scheduled. "The proposed construction projects translate into strong demand requirements with industry facing the risk of potential skill shortages and recruiting challenges over the next few years," says Dave Martin, Executive Director of the Allied Hydro Council of Manitoba.

"Industry stakeholders will need to carefully manage worker mobility, not only across projects, but across provinces," he says, noting that "the industry has experience in the recent past with recruiting skilled workers from other markets."

The construction labour force is estimated to rise by 9,100 workers from 2012 to 2020 in response to increased construction activity, and 6,900 workers are expected to retire. Industry will need to recruit 16,000 workers over the next decade to meet industry demand requirements. Sustained recruiting efforts that target a variety of sources, including youth, women, Aboriginal people, other industries and immigrants will continue to be a priority for the industry.

"Clearly, labour markets will continue to be tight and stakeholders are focusing on apprenticeship, industry training and immigration processes to help meet emerging requirements," says Ron Hambley, Executive Vice President of the Winnipeg Construction Association. "These types of programs must remain a priority, as construction will be in competition with other industries and regions for workers."

Each year, the CSC releases nine-year labour forecast scenarios following consultations with industry leaders, including owners, contractors and labour groups, as well as governments and educational institutions.

The national and regional reports will be available online at www.csc-ca.org in March/April. Forecast data is also available at www.constructionforecasts.ca. This website allows for instant access to residential and non-residential construction investment data, as well as details on the supply and demand for more than 30 skilled trades and occupations over the next nine years - all broken down by province and region.

The Construction Sector Council is a national industry-led organization committed to the development of a highly skilled workforce that will support the future needs of Canada's construction industry. It is funded by the Government of Canada's Sector Council Program.
 
Calendar of Events

March 22 - 23, 2012

Epicor - LBM Customer Training Conference
Denver, CO
www.epicor.com

March 30-31, 2012
TIM-BR MART National Buying Show
Toronto Congress Centre, Toronto, ON
www.timbrmartshow.ca

April 14 - 16, 2012
TruServ Canada Spring Market
Winnipeg Convention Center, Winnipeg, MB
www.truserv.ca

April 16 - 19, 2012
Manual Estimating
Saskatoon, SK

April 20. 2012
Yard Foreman
Saskatoon, SK

April 22 - 24, 2012
Home Hardware Show
St. Jacobs, ON

August 16-18, 2012
Orgill Spring Market
Las Vegas, NV

Tuesday, August 21, 2012
WRLA Terry Yates Memorial Golf Tournament
Steinbach, MB

Thursday, September 06, 2012
Calgary Classic Golf Tournament
Sundre Golf Course, Sundre, AB

Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Kenossee Golf Tournament
Kenossee SK.

CLICK HERE To view our full events calendar
 
Alliance Designer Products
Westman Steel Industries
Seljax Int'l Inc.
All Weather Windows Ltd.
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If your company has news that you would like to see in The ToolBox, please email your news releases to news@wrla.org
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