How can you tell if your contractor is the right one for you? How do you know that they have the knowledge to not only professionally complete a remodeling project on your home, but have the business knowledge and experience to stand behind their work? Thanks to Stebnitz Builders, author Mel DePaoli and other contractors across the country, the answers to these questions are found in the newly-released book, CONTRACTORS: Doing It Right Not Just Getting It Done.

The book is the result of two years of interviewing contractors nationwide who have a strong culture and brand. As a result of this connection, the selected contractors are considered to be leaders in their industry. The book is a comprehensive look at key elements of success for these companies that have coordinated their external branding programs with the development of a strong corporate culture.

“Working with Mel on her book was a perfect fit for Stebnitz Builders,” said Chris Stebnitz, president of Stebnitz Builders. “We have spent a considerable amount of time and resources ensuring that our business systems support a memorable experience for our clients. Our work with the book gave us insight in to things we had done very well to this point and reinforced our efforts for continual improvement.”

As a professional remodeler working in and around Walworth County for nearly 40 years, Stebnitz Builders specializes in all phases of residential remodeling from major, whole-house projects to small repairs and general maintenance tasks. As a third generation company, this expertise has been passed along and built upon to create a financially-sound and technically excellent remodeling company. After initial interviews with Stebnitz, DePaoli invited Stebnitz to lend their experience to the making of the book.

Omicle LLC based in Seattle, WA helps companies create sustainable success from understanding how the best people, the right processes, the newest technology, and the most clients influence each other. Omicle specializes in working with companies in the construction industry who have 15+ employees.

Mel DePaoli is an author, speaker and expert in innovative branding strategies and is the founder of culture and branding firm, Omicle, LLC. For more information on Stebnitz Builders, visit their website at www.stebnitzbuilders.com or call them at (262) 728-8027.

Since CONTRACTORS: Doing it Right Not Just Getting it Done has just officially gone live! I figured I would start promotion of the book by honoring the three people who wrote the forewords, Iris Harrell, Steve Klein, and Tom Capizzi Jr. Each week I will post a portion of their foreword for you to check out. This week we will meet Iris Harrell!

•  - You can get the book on Amazon.
•  - Learn more about Iris, Steve and Tom here.
•  - I would love hear your opinion on the construction industry and where it is going here.

Here is a sneak peak at Iris's foreword:

Knowing the importance of the hard-to-define culture of our company has helped us not only survive, but thrive these last twenty five years. I’ve often wondered why so few books have been written about culture, as in my opinion, it is the key to business success.

Business culture is especially critical in the world of residential remodeling. Our typical client is often home, watching every move of our employees. Working in a "fish bowl" environment requires the highest level of professional performance on a consistent basis. This may help explain the less-than-stellar regard that is given to our industry at large, as very few people in the construction world can take that kind of pressure.

Starting out with absolutely no business training, I had to learn the technical aspects as well as the business aspects of becoming a remodeler. Having been a former high school teacher and leader of a 5 piece traveling band, I had an established knowledge and framework of how to set goals, motivate drummers and students and influence the behavior of others. Performing music gigs for 5 years straight night after night, town after town, also helped me learn how to perform and deliver, come what may. (If I never enter a bar again, much less play for happy hour, I will not feel deprived. I have done my "time".) . . .