by David Chapman
Staff Writer
Foundations aren’t always made with concrete and steel.
They’re made with the right mixture of professions working together, ensuring the structural integrity of the homes and businesses they support are sound. Once completed, it’s another foundation of craftsmen that decorate, design and personalize the structure to an owner’s liking.
To find the right business partners, though, it takes the right type of networking – the goal of the Northeast Florida Builders Association Construction Industry Trade Expo.
In its 41st year, Thursday’s expo at the Morocco Shrine Center offered area construction and building industry members an opportunity to network with colleagues and others in the industry.
From banks and building supply distributors to roofing and tile companies, the expo offered over 70 booths of different homebuilding wares and services to other industry members.
“It’s a great networking opportunity,” said Rick Woods, owner of Woodsman Kitchen and Floors. “To get your name out there further in front of your peers and build relationships is invaluable in our industry.”
Woods’ business of 25 years serves homebuilders, homeowners and remodeling contractors and he’s been a part of the expo for just under 10 years.
City Council President and NEFBA Executive Director Daniel Davis took part as an ambassador during the event, where he welcomed the attendees.
“We had a good turnout this year,” said Davis, referring to the number of industry booths and crowd. “People here, like in any industry, are making the best of a bad situation.”
The building industry has taken its lumps since the housing boom began to fade in 2006, but Thursday’s expo booth numbers and visitors were comparable to years’ past, said Davis.
The event attracted contractors like Matt Scott.
“I come every year to learn about the new products,” said Scott, who does stonework at the Beaches and attended several expos. “I always learn a lot and meet new people in the industry.”
It wasn’t all shop talk for attendees, though. Prizes such as TVs, gift baskets and gift certificates were some of the door prizes given away through the night to those who registered.
But for many of the booth occupants, it was a business affair.
“We wanted to get our name out there to people in the industry who might not know about us,” said Tyler Reglin of Alpha Environmental Management Corporation, a stormwater management company. “It’s all about meeting people and building those business relationships.”
For more information on Thursday’s NEFBA Construction Industry Trade Show, call 725-4355.