The New Year is here and with it a time to reflect on career goals. Aspiring entrepreneurs who are considering starting a construction small business in 2019 may find encouragement in new survey results from Kabbage. After polling 600 U.S. small business owners, the survey found the majority of successful entrepreneurs got started with little cash and short run rates.

Get ready for the new normal. High tech has met construction, and the marriage has investors salivating, venture capital firms swooning, and offsite construction taking center stage in the industry. 2018 saw $1.24 billion invested in prefabrication start-ups in just the first three quarters of the year.

I hope you are all enjoying the winter season. As you look forward to what is ahead in 2019, I hope you have marked your calendars to attend the CISCA Convention in National Harbor, Maryland, April 22-26. Today, I want to share with you several great opportunities available to CISCA members during the upcoming convention. Please take a minute to read all the opportunities and commit to those you can.

You need to trust your people, but you also need to have a system in place to keep all employees honest. When you trust too much, greed and entitlement can creep into the culture of companies and start to become the norm. 

Given that about three-quarters of construction workers are exposed to noise levels above the recommended limit, 83 percent of the 237 contractors surveyed for a new Dodge Data & Analytics SmartMarket Brief say they’ve purchased quieter equipment, yet well over half of those firms report their company could do better.

Over the last 18 years, LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certifications for new buildings have gone from an idea to a trend and now, a requirement in some cities. This means contractors must have heightened awareness, research and proactivity to be LEED-friendly.

No matter what it is called (digital transformation, telematics or the internet of things), the digitalization of traditional industries such as construction is much more than just the latest muse of marketing hype. IoT solutions deployed for business can lead to real improved business outcomes both for the builders of machines (e.g., scissor lifts), as well as the people who deploy these machines (e.g., contractors), for instance in terms of increased worker productivity, reduced costs and enhanced safety.

Reserve your spot for this year's Convention and INTEX Expo, to be held in National Harbor, Maryland, from April 22 to April 26, 2019! We'll see you then for a full week of education, networking and relationship-building!

As medical and recreational use of marijuana becomes more acceptable — and in some instances, legal — contractors are faced with a growing pool of candidates that are testing positive. Many states in the U.S. have loosened up their regulation and restriction laws related to cannabis, or marijuana, in recent years, with 33 states and Washington, D.C., currently allowing it for medical reasons.

Centurion American Development Group, the new owner of the Collin Creek Mall in Plano, Texas, has revealed its plans for the property's conversion to a $1 billion mixed-use development, The Dallas Morning News reported. The project will consist of some demolition, new construction and the renovation of portions of the existing property.