During "Strategic Issues Facing Construction" Lee will discuss FMI's recently released 2010 U.S. Markets Construction Overview offering insights into some of the construction industry’s most complex business challenges. The Overview includes a comprehensive report on vital construction trends and forecasts the growth or decline in each market segment and geographic region, noting both short-term and long-term considerations. Lee will discuss key strategic issues in the current environment as well as important trends observed in 13 client groups FMI serves.

It’s not easy being an employee these days. The current downturn has brought layoffs, salary cuts, and benefit reductions to virtually every industry. Even those who have not been personally affected are faced with an uncertain economic future, and the fear and stress that such uncertainty breeds.  Little wonder that employee morale is at an all-time low. Business owners recognize that low employee morale can translate into deteriorating productivity and, ultimately, reduced revenue. But what can today’s cash-strapped owners do to re-energize their team while protecting their company’s long-term value? Snell & Wilmer L.L.P. partner Brian J. Burt will discuss ways to motivate your employees. Topics for this complimentary seminar will include:

• Cost-effective ways to improve life at the office
• Benefits that improve quality of life
• Creating job security with employment agreements
• Use of performance and liquidity bonuses
• Giving employees “ownership” without giving up equity
• Making employees owners – stock options and grants
• Ownership without the tax bill - the LLC profits interest

CBIZ Director, Anthony Stagliano presented Strategies For Profitability In A Down Economy Industry Webcast. Mr. Stagliano discussed the importance of integrated financial and project management initiatives, and the application of good cash management. His presentation included real-life case studies as he referenced the characteristics and achievements of profitable contractors. Throughout his presentation, Mr. Stagliano placed emphasis on how to drive and improve profitability in a down economy supported by best practices and industry data.

Stocks have fallen, banks have failed, projects are being delayed and cancelled at an unprecedented rate and bailouts have come. Most sectors of the construction industry are facing their most severe downturn in more than twenty-five years. All of this begs the question, how is the industry responding?

To answer this question, FMI surveyed 230 of the most influential executives in the U.S. construction industry to gauge exactly how executives of the industry’s leading firms were preparing for a rapidly changing landscape. It is clear that the world is changing, and participants in this year’s survey were asked to rate just how much the competitive environment had intensified over the last twelve months. In this hour-long webinar, FMI consultant and author of FMI's 2009 Construction Industry Strategy Survey, Briston Blair, will discuss the findings and implications of the report. According to Briston, “Our findings suggest that while most companies anticipate a high degree of future uncertainty, they have not adapted the way they develop strategy. As uncertainty increases, so too should the level of preparation and depth of analysis that is used to determine a go-forward direction. Far too many contractors have yet to adapt to the changing context.”

Please select the following link to download the FMI Survey in its entirety.

Managing Construction Litigation and Discovery Online and the benefits of using File Transfer Protocol (FTP) and other hosting features to exchange project records and post them for discovery purposes.

Winning today means beating out the competition, capturing the right work and keeping your best customers. Businesses are scrambling to balance all of these during the changing economic times. Learn what it takes to target, strategize and book backlog regardless of the market. Explore techniques to get your phone to ring—opportunities calling you—and how to protect your best customers from competitors. Focus the entire company on customers and winning work.