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Operationalizing Unreasonable Hospitality: Building Systems That Care

Culture isn’t built by chance. It’s built by design, one intentional system at a time. In our last newsletter, we explored how the philosophy of unreasonable hospitality begins by elevating every employee and customer touchpoint. But touchpoints alone are just moments. To create lasting impact, those moments need to be part of something bigger: a system of care. As one of only a few certified coaches in Will Guidara’s Unreasonable Hospitality methodology, I help companies take this from concept to

May is Wildfire Awareness Month - Let’s Get Prepared, Together

Wildfire Awareness Month is here, and there’s no better time to take action. May marks the start of peak wildfire season in California — a critical window for communities, contractors, and builders to strengthen fire resilience through education, collaboration, and proactive planning. This month, we’re highlighting tools and trainings to support you and your clients in reducing wildfire risk: California Fire Safe Council Vendors List A curated list of wildfire resilience products and professionals is

Safety & Training Short: Trenching and Shoring - Access, Egress, and Crossings

Objective: To reinforce awareness about the technical requirements for trench access points and surface crossings.Access and Egress: A stairway, ladder, or ramp must be present in excavations that are four feet deep or more. Do not enter a trench without an established means of egress. Stairways, ladders, or ramps must be located within 25 feet of employees.Ladders must extend 3 feet above the excavation.Ladders must be a single piece of equipment. Do not lash multiple ladders together to meet height

Remodeling in a Fear Economy - 5 Top Takeaways by Alisa Hoffman, Design Set Match

While I don't claim to be an economist or political expert, I can tell you that the remodeling industry has entered what I'm calling a "Fear Economy." This term describes the current climate of uncertainty and reactive purchasing behavior we're witnessing in the home improvement sector. Since the recent presidential election, clients have been asking what we're doing about impending tariffs and how they should approach their home projects. Initially, the answer was straightforward: remodel now because

Big Skills Tiny Home is Looking for Learning Leaders

Get Ready for Our May Complimentary Workshop - Kickstart to Power BI

Get Ready for Our May Complimentary Workshop - Kickstart to Power BI We’re excited to offer live, instructor-led workshops designed to help you and your team get the most out of Microsoft’s most powerful tools. These hands-on sessions cover Excel, Power BI, Microsoft Forms, OneDrive, SharePoint, and more—providing the skills you need to work smarter and boost productivity. Upcoming Live Workshop: Kickstart to Power BI ?? Date & Time: Friday, May 30 · 11am – 12pm PDT ?? Learn more &

Safety & Training Short: Electrical Safety - Energized Electrical Work

Objective: To reinforce proper preparation procedures for instances when working with energized work is necessary.Electrical equipment must be worked on in a de-energized state unless you are qualified and properly equipped to work on it when energized: Employees face potential arc flash and shock injuries from energized equipment when equipment is not properly guarded against shock hazards, or when not locked out and tagged-out in its de-energized state. Qualified persons may work on systems when

Workers Comp Insurance Fraud: It costs more than you think

For more information, download this printable brochure here or contact: Marin County District Attorney's Office Attn: Insurance Fraud Unit 3501 Civic Center Drive, Room 130 San Rafael, CA 94903 415.473.6450co.marin.ca.us/da  

Every Touchpoint Matters: The Secret to Creating Remarkable Employee & Customer Experiences

Unreasonable Hospitality in Action: Turning Everyday Moments into Extraordinary Culture Will Guidara’s philosophy of unreasonable hospitality isn’t about grand gestures, it’s about intentionality. At his restaurant, Eleven Madison Park, the number one restaurant in the world, the team examined every single touchpoint a guest might encounter and asked: “How can we make this better?” Imagine applying that same lens to your business, not just for customers, but for your employees too. As one of only a

Enhancing Employee Well-being and Reducing Healthcare Costs Through Blood Pressure Management

Invest in your employees' well-being and manage long-term healthcare costs by proactively addressing a major health risk: high blood pressure.   Affecting nearly half of U.S. adults and significantly increasing the risk of costly conditions like heart disease and stroke, uncontrolled high blood pressure represents a substantial health burden for employees and a potential financial strain for employers. Blood pressure measures the force of blood against artery walls. Maintaining healthy levels is crucial

Bid Faster and Win More Jobs with AI Estimating from KonstructIQ: Free Webinar

Creating accurate estimates used to take hours of manual work and endless spreadsheet tweaking. Now, with KonstructIQ’s new AI Estimating feature, all you need is a short project description to generate a detailed, editable estimate in minutes. Whether you're remodeling a kitchen or building a new home, you can now build accurate estimates faster, win more jobs, and save time. Describe. Review. Finalize. Just enter a brief project description and KonstructIQ instantly generates a full scope of work.

Safety & Training Short: Pressure Washers

Objective: To ensure safe operation, pressure washer users must be trained, inspect equipment before use, wear appropriate PPE, and follow safety precautions to mitigate potential hazards. A pressure washer is a mechanical sprayer that uses increased water pressure to clean surfaces. If not used properly, pressure washers can cause injuries. Before using a pressure washer, prepare for its potential hazards.   Possible hazards include: Excessive noise and flying debris, which can affect both you and

Capitol Connection #1407

Capitol Connection Q&A for Contractors Week of 3/31/2025 593 Words By Shauna Krause, President, Capitol Services, Inc.  Word of mouth, rumor and conflicting views of the complex rules of contracting don’t always pan out, so how about an expert opinion? Let’s start with RMO rules, advise business leadership and ‘hazard’ an answer on a question arising from the Los Angeles area fire disaster… Q: I am a business broker and one of my clients is looking to buy a contracting business and hire a Responsible

Smith Currie Oles' Procurement Playbook: Contracting in the Age of Trump Updates

Federal government contracting is impacted each time there is a change in administration in the White House. This year will be no different. We will be monitoring daily the Executive Orders and policy changes coming from the Trump administration that will impact you and your projects. You will likely receive a flurry of information as we keep you updated on these important changes that will be coming frequently over the next several days. Click here to access the Procurement Playbook and subscribe here to

Safety & Training Short: Bloodborne Pathogens - Sharps Safety

Objective: To raise awareness of sharps hazards and safe handling practices. Improper handling or disposal of needles and other sharps, such as scalpels, broken glass, and razors, can result in serious infections, including the Hepatitis B virus (HBV), the Hepatitis C virus (HBC), and the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), which causes AIDS. If you work around sharps, take precautions to limit your exposure. In addition, follow universal precautions: treat all blood and other potentially infectious

OSHA’s Final PPE Rule for Construction: What Contractors Need to Know

On January 13, 2025, OSHA’s final rule took effect regarding the standard for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in the construction industry. PPE, which includes hard hats, gloves, goggles, safety shoes, safety glasses, welding helmets, hearing protection, respirators, coveralls, vests, harnesses, and full body suits, is now required to be made available in proper sizes by companies in the construction industry to their workforces. Previously, the construction industry was excluded from the proper fitting

Marin Housing Authority Requests Bids on Several Projects

Marin Housing Authority is seeking a range of services, from electricians, to general contractors, to painters and several others. Solicitations can be found here: https://www.marinhousing.org/bids.

City of Novato Launches Express Building Permit Service

City Launches Express Building Permit ServiceStreamlined permitting process for registered and licensed contractors The City of Novato is thrilled to announce the launch of our new Express Permit Service for registered and licensed contractors. This service is designed to streamline and expedite the permitting process for select residential projects, saving you valuable time and effort. What is Express Permit Service?  Express Permit Service provides a faster and more convenient option for minor

Permit Archive: Marin County & City Building Permits

Please find a current list of permits published and provided by the County of Marin. To search by a specific jurisdiction click here and contact the appropriate office. If what you're looking for is not listed below, please don't hesitate to call our offices directly at 415.462.1220 or email us at mba@marinbuilders.com.   County of Marin Building Permits Report Powered by Socrata Click Here to View the 2024 Permit Archive

Marin County Office of Education School to Career Partnership: Internship Opportunity

Developing Our Workforce The Marin County Office of Education (MCOE) is actively seeking civic-oriented businesses to host spring and summer internships for students at San Rafael High, Terra Linda High, Novato High, and San Marin High Schools. MCOE's School to Career Partnership provides students with direct support to engage in hands-on work-based learning experience and career exploration, leading to high-demand, high-wage jobs. Student's interests cover a broad scope of industries. Your participation

Home Hardening in Action

When wildfire swept through Camarillo, California, Steven Snyder’s fire-hardened home emerged unscathed amid widespread destruction in his neighborhood. By choosing to build with fire-resistant materials—Class A roofing, fireproof siding, ember-resistant vents, and a fully cleared defensible space—Snyder’s home stood resilient against the flames. His story underscores the critical role of wildfire-ready construction as California’s seasons grow more intense, especially in high-risk areas like Marin

2024 Marin County & City Building Permits

Click the links below to view a current list of permit reports published and provided by the County of Marin and the individual cities/towns including Corte Madera, Larkspur, Mill Valley, Novato, Ross, San Anselmo, San Rafael, Sausalito and Tiburon. If what you're looking for is not listed below, please don't hesitate to call our offices directly at 415.462.1220 or contact Gabriela Shea at mba@marinbuilders.com. Important Note: This list is updated monthly with the most current information we receive from

Liens & Completions 2023 - 2024

Click the links below to view a current list of Liens & Completions published and provided by the County of Marin. If what you're looking for is not listed below, please don't hesitate to call our offices directly at 415.462.1220 or contact Paula Krause

Biggest Workers’ Compensation Mistakes by Contractors

In this crazy time of the COVID-19, it is not the time to cut corners to your detriment. While well intentioned contractors are always attempting to keep costs down to make a profit, they make some mistakes regarding workers’ compensation insurance.   Most common mistakes are:Certifying with the Contractors License Board that they do not need workers’ compensation insurance as they have no employees when they may have employees or use day laborers. . Not checking the sub-contractors to make sure they are