INFRASTRUCTURE
Thesilentstrength behindU.S. competitiveness
AnaPaulaMontanha,Editor-in-ChiefofHuman CapitalCareerTrendsMagazine,interviewedThais FangerdeCampos,aleaderinsustainablehardwood flooring.Inthisconversation,Mrs.Camposshares insightsfromworkforceinnovationacrossthe Carolinas.
HOWSMALLCONSTRUCTIONFIRMSDRIVEGROWTHFROMTHEGROUNDUP
Beneaththedominantheadlines thatspotlightmultinationaltech giantsandfederalinfrastructure programsliesaquieterforcethat sustainsandstrengthenstheU.S. economy:smallconstructionfirms.These businesses,deeplyrootedwithinlocal communities,playapivotalroleingenerating employment,developingskills,andfostering sustainableeconomicgrowth.Their contributionoftenescapesattentionin nationaldiscourse,yettheircollectiveimpact isfar-reachingandmeasurable.
AccordingtotheU.S.SmallBusiness Administration(2023),Small Businessescomprise99.9%ofallfirms intheUnitedStates,employingover 61.7millionpeople,approximately46% oftheprivateworkforce.
AccordingtotheU.S.SmallBusiness Administration(2023),smallbusinesses comprise99.9%ofallfirmsintheUnited States,employingover61.7millionpeople, approximately46%oftheprivateworkforce.
Ofparticularsignificancewithinthiscategory istheconstructionsector.
In2022,743,600constructionfirmswere operatingnationwide,andnearly90%of thememployedfewerthan20workers(U.S. CensusBureau,2023).
Thesesmallconstructioncompaniesplaya crucialroleingeneratingemployment, developingskills,andfosteringsustainable economicgrowth,acontributionthatoften goesunnoticedinnationaldiscourse.
ThaisFanger deCampos, Vice Presidentof THBFlooring Inc.inNorth Carolina.
TheUnitedStates’constructionmodelcontrasts sharplywiththatofotheradvancedeconomies. Germany,withacomparableGDP,reportedjust 357,000constructionfirmsin2022,reflectinga moreconsolidatedandregulatedindustry landscape(StatistischesBundesamt,2023). Similarly, Canadareportedonly151,000registered constructionfirmsin2021,withlowerselfemploymentratesandlessregionalmarketdiversity (StatisticsCanada,2022).TheU.S.framework,by contrast,ismarkedbyitsflexibility,accessibility,and innovationcapacityatthegrassrootslevel.
Interviewby AnaPaulaMontanha,Editor-in-Chief
MACROECONOMICCONTEXT: CONSTRUCTIONASASTRATEGIC SECTOR
Theconstructionindustrycontributed$2.1trillion totheU.S.grossdomesticproductin2023, accountingfor4.3%ofthenation’stotaloutput (BureauofEconomicAnalysis,2024).
Thisfigureunderscoresthesector’scentralitynot onlytoinfrastructuredevelopmentbuttoeconomic productivityacrossnearlyallregionsofthecountry. Moreimportantly,constructionexhibitsahigh employmentmultipliereffect.
AccordingtotheNationalAssociationofHome Builders(2023),every$1millioninvestedin residentialrenovationcreatesapproximately5.6 full-timeequivalentjobsandgeneratesaround $700,000inadditionallocaleconomicactivity.
Sub-sectorssuchashomeimprovementand flooringareamongthefastest-growing,fueledby post-pandemichousingtrends,increased consumerspendingonresidentialupgrades,and risingenvironmentalstandards. TheU.S.hardwood flooringmarketalonereachedavaluationof$33 billionin2023andisprojectedtogrowata compoundannualgrowthrateof5.8%through 2028(IBISWorld,2024), whichindicatesthe resilienceoftheconstructionindustryandthe scalabilityofconstruction-relatedsmall businesses,particularlythoseequippedtomeet greenbuildingdemands.
Fromacomparativestandpoint,thedecentralized natureofU.S.construction,unlikethehighly centralizedsystemsofpeernations,allowsformore agileresponsestodemographicshifts,market fluctuations,andlocalizedlaborneeds.This decentralizationalsocreatesopportunitiesfor innovationatthetrimfirmlevel,particularlyin workforcedevelopmentandoperationalefficiency.
CHALLENGESANDINNOVATIONIN SCALINGSMALLFIRMS
Despitetheircriticalimportance,smallconstruction firmsfacesystemicbarriersthathindersustainable growth.
Theseincludelaborshortages,risingmaterial costs,andrestrictedaccesstoaffordable capital.TheBureauofLaborStatistics(2024) reportedthatwhiletheconstructionsector added376,000jobsin2023,theindustry continuestoexperienceannualturnover
ratesbetween20%and25%,particularlyin skilledtrades.
Inresponsetothesepressures,successfulfirmsare adaptingthroughstrategicinnovationinthreekey areas:operationalsystematization,sustainable constructionpractices,andworkforce development.Increasingly,smallbusinessowners areinvestingindigitalsolutionstoautomateHR functions,adoptinglow-emissionandrecycled materialstoalignwithgreenbuildingstandards,and introducingmultilingualtrainingplatformsto accommodateadiversifyinglaborforce.These measuresnotonlyimproveefficiencybutalso elevatethesecompaniesintomodelsofeconomic sustainabilityandcompetitiveness.
Theevolutionfrominformalcontractingto structured,replicablebusinessmodelsreflectthe strategicimportanceofsmallfirmsinachieving nationalemploymentandsustainabilitygoals. Thesefirmsarenotmerelyfillingservicegaps;they areshapingtheoperationalframeworksand workforcestrategiesthatlargerenterprises increasinglyseektoemulate.
EXPERTFOCUS:THAISFANGERDE CAMPOSANDTHBFLOORINGINC.
THBFlooringInc.isafamily-ownedhardwood flooringcompanybasedinCharlotte,North Carolina,servingtheentirestateofSouthCarolina. Withover20yearsofcraftsmanshipexperience, thecompanyhasbuiltareputationforexcellencein theinstallation,sanding,andrefinishingofsolidand exoticwoodflooring,includingstaircasesand handrails.THBFlooringblendstraditional techniqueswithmoderninnovationtodeliverhighend,durableflooringsolutionstailoredto residentialandcommercialclients.Thecompanyis alsoknownforitstransparencyandcustomer engagementthroughanactivesocialmedia presence,whereitshowcasesprojectsand techniques.
Anexemplarycaseofsmallbusinessleadershipisthat ofThaisFangerdeCampos,VicePresidentofTHB FlooringInc.,basedinNorthCarolina.Withmorethan thirteenyearsofexperienceintheconstructionand flooringindustry,shehastransformedaregionalfirm intoascalable,high-performingenterprisegrounded ininnovation,sustainability,andworkforce excellence.
UnderthedirectionofThaisFangerdeCampos,THB FlooringInc.recorded$1.2millioninannualrevenue, surpassingprojectedgrowthtargetsby104%.The companyachievednationalrecognition,consistently rankingamongthetopfiveU.S.flooringcompanies forcustomersatisfaction,operationalefficiency,and salesgrowth.Theseachievementsweremade possiblewithaleanworkforceofjustseventeen employees—demonstratingexceptional organizationalproductivityrelativetonational benchmarks.
Throughafullyintegrated,data-drivenHRstrategy, ThaisFangerdeCamposimplementedasuiteof scalablepracticesthatincludeautomatedapplicant screening,role-specificonboardingmodules, competency-basedtraining,andmultilingual instructioninEnglish,Spanish,andPortuguese.The resultwasa30%increaseinoverallproductivity,a 20%reductioninoperationalcosts,anda15%increase inemployeeretention—aparticularlynotable outcomeinasectorcharacterizedbyhighturnover.
Anexemplarycaseofsmallbusiness leadershipisthatofThaisFangerde Campos,VicePresidentofTHBFlooring Inc.,basedinNorthCarolina.Withmore thanthirteenyearsofexperienceinthe constructionandflooringindustry,shehas transformedaregionalfirmintoascalable, high-performingenterprisegroundedin innovation,sustainability,andworkforce excellence.
Hercommitmenttoenvironmentalstandardshasalso beeninstrumentalindrivingcompetitiveadvantage. THBFlooringInc.usesreclaimedwood,low-VOC adhesives,andenergy-efficientinstallation techniques,aligningwiththeLeadershipinEnergy andEnvironmentalDesign(LEED)framework(U.S. GreenBuildingCouncil,2023).Thisstrategyresponds directlytoevolvingconsumerpreferences,with73% ofhomebuyersin2023expressingapreferencefor green-certifiedbuildingmaterials(National AssociationofHomeBuilders,2023).
THBFlooringInc.isalsorenownedforitsexpertise inexoticwoods,includingBrazilianCherry(Jatoba), BrazilianWalnut(Ipe),andTigerwood.These premiummaterialsrequireskilledinstallationand finishingmethods.Thecompany’ssanding techniciansbringovertwodecadesofexperienceto eachproject,preservingtraditionalcraftsmanship inanindustryincreasinglydominatedbysynthetic productssuchasLuxuryVinylPlank(LVP),whichis oftenimportedfromChina.
EXPANSIONPLAN
Inthenextphaseofherexpansionplan, ThaisFanger deCamposisoverseeingthelaunchofaflagship retailandtrainingcenterdesignedtoserveboth customersandtradeprofessionals.Herprojection todoublestaffwithintwoyearsalignswithU.S. CensusBureau(2023)datashowingthatfirms scalingfrom10to20employeesexperienceamong thehighestratesofnetjobcreation.
Additionally,theoperationalframeworksshehas developedarealreadybeingreplicatedbypeer companiesintheCarolinas,confirmingtheir adaptabilityandimpact.Herprofessionalaffiliations withtheNationalAssociationofWomenin Construction(NAWIC)andtheSocietyforHuman ResourceManagement(SHRM)underscoreher influenceatboththeindustryandnationallevels.
INDUSTRYREPORT
Q&AWITHTHAISFANGERDECAMPOS: STRATEGICLEADERSHIPINTHEU.S. CONSTRUCTIONECONOMY
AspartofHumanCapital’songoingserieson executiveleadershipandindustrytransformation, Editor-in-ChiefAnaPaulaMontanhaspeakswith expertsshapingthefutureoftheirfields.Inthis interview, ThaisFangerdeCampos,VicePresident ofTHBFlooringInc.,offersherperspectiveonthe evolvingroleofsmallconstructionfirmsinthe Americaneconomy. Withmorethanadecadeof leadershipexperience,sheaddressescriticalissues suchasworkforcedevelopment,capitalaccess, environmentalcompliance,andsustainablescaling.
Howdoyoudefinethestrategicroleofsmall constructionfirmsinadvancingU.S.economic competitiveness?
Smallconstructionfirmsoperateatadifferentscale thannationalcontractors,butoureconomicfootprint isnolesssignificant.Wearepositionedtorespond quicklytolocalmarketneeds,absorbdisplacedlabor, andfosterentrepreneurship.
AtTHBFlooringInc.,wehavecreatedfull-time positionswithbenefits,upskillingpaths,and communitypartnershipsthatgobeyondthe transactionalnatureofcontracting.Oursector providesacriticalmechanismforinclusivegrowth, particularlyinregionsthatdonotbenefitfromlarge federalprojectsorcorporateinvestments.National competitivenessisnotonlybuiltatthetop;itis reinforcedatthefoundation,andthatiswherefirms likeoursdeliverresults.
Whatarethecorepillarsofyourworkforce strategy,andhowhavetheyevolved?
Ourworkforcestrategyisgroundedinthree objectives:skillsdevelopment,inclusion,and retention.WhenIjoinedTHBFlooringInc.,wehad traditionaltrainingapproachesthatlacked adaptability.
Wetransitionedtoadata-informedsystemthattracks competencies,onboardingprogress,andperformance metricsinrealtime.Thisallowedustoidentifytraining bottlenecks,reduceramp-uptime,andelevatethe performanceofeachnewhire.Wealsoimplemented role,specificlearningtracksinmultiplelanguages, English,Spanish,andPortuguese,becausethelabor forceinthissector
Theconstructionindustryisunderpressureto adoptenvironmentallyresponsiblepractices. Howdoesyourfirmapproachsustainabilityas abusinessstrategy?
Wehaveintegratedsustainabilitynotasamarketing anglebutasastrategicimperative.Ourclients— particularlycommercialandinstitutional—are increasinglyaligningwithLEEDandWELL certificationstandards.
Tomeetthatdemand,wehaverestructuredour materialsourcing.Weworkwithsupplierswho provideverifiedlow-VOCadhesivesandresponsibly harvestedwood.Ourcrewsaretrainedintechniques thatreducewasteandenergyusageduring installation.Thesechangesimprovejobsitesafety, lowerlifecyclecostsforclients,andalignwiththe broaderregulatoryenvironment.
AccordingtotheU.S.GreenBuildingCouncil(2023), green-certifiedbuildingsreportloweroperatingcosts andhigheroccupancyrates,whichmeansourclients alsoseelong-termvalue.Thesustainabilitytransition isacceleratingacrossallconstructionverticals,and firmsthatadaptnowwillmaintainmarketshareas codestightenandconsumerexpectationsevolve.
Franchisinginconstructionislesscommon thaninotherindustries.Whatmotivatesyour interestinthatmodel,andhowareyou approachingit?
Franchisingintheconstructionindustryrequires precision,asqualitycontrolandcompliancearenonnegotiable.Ourapproachistofranchisethe operationalmodel,notjustthebrand.Weare developingaplaybookthatincludesdigitalHRtools, standardizedsafetyprocedures,clientservicescripts, andtechnicaltrainingmodules.
Thisframeworkwillallowalicensedoperatorto replicateoursuccesswhileadaptingtotheirregional market.Ourgoalistoexpandresponsiblyinto underservedareaswheredemandexistsbutwhere smallbusinessecosystemsareunderdeveloped.
TheU.S.CensusBureau(2023)hasshownthatfirms growingfrom10to20employeescontribute disproportionatelytonetjobcreation.Weprojectthat eachnewfranchisewillsupport8–12localjobsinits first18months,inadditiontoourcentralizedsupport staff.
Whatchallengesdoyoufaceinaccessing capitalforthistypeofgrowth,andwhatpolicy adjustmentswouldmakeadifference?
Capitalremainsthemostsignificantgrowthbarrier.
Traditionalbanksoftenassessconstruction companiesbasedonoutdatedriskprofiles.Evenwith provenrevenueandfinancialcontrols,weareviewed ashigh-riskduetothenatureofourcontractsand paymentcycles.Additionally,SBA-backedloansare limitedbythresholdsthatexcludemanyambitious expansionplans.Federalandstateprogramscould bettersupportfirmslikeoursbyofferingfinancing mechanismstailoredtogrowth-stageservice providersinconstruction.GrantsupportforHR automation,greenbuildingcertification,orworkforce trainingwouldyieldimmediatereturns.
ResearchfromtheNationalBureauofEconomic Research(2021)showsthattargetedcapitalsupport forimmigrant-andminority-ownedbusinesses acceleratesjobcreation.Iwouldwelcomeapolicythat reflectsthisevidence.
Asanimmigrantentrepreneur,howhasyour personalbackgroundinfluencedyour leadershipapproachandbusinessphilosophy?
Myexperienceasanimmigranthastaughtmeto navigatecomplexityanduncertaintywithdiscipline. Buildingabusinessinanewcountrymeans understandingnotonlyregulationsandmarketsbut alsoculturaldynamics,financialsystems,and employmentlaws.Ihadtoadaptquickly,make efficientdecisions,andconstantlyproveourvalueto customersandvendors.
ThatmindsetinfluenceshowwerunTHBFlooringInc. Weemphasizeadaptability,documentation,and internalcontrols.Atatimewhenimmigrationisoften politicized,Ithinkitisimportanttorememberthat immigrantsbringmorethanstories—theybring scalablesystems,internationalstandards,anddeep motivationtosucceed.
AccordingtotheU.S.SmallBusinessAdministration (2023),immigrantsaremorelikelytostartbusinesses thannative-borncitizens,particularlyinthe constructionandlogisticssectors.Iamproudtobe partofthatstatistic,andIbelievewecandomoreto recognizeandsupportthiscontribution.
Lookingahead,howdoyoudefinesuccessfor THBFlooringInc.overthenextfiveyears?
Successwillmeanhavingmultipleoperationalhubs acrossdifferentstates,eachwithalocalworkforce trainedthroughourinternalacademy. Wewantto buildanationalnetworkthatpreservesthequalityand customerexperiencethatearnedourreputationwhile adaptingtolocalmarketneeds.Ialsoenvisionformal partnershipswithtradeschoolsandvocational institutionstoofferinternships,apprenticeships,and scholarships.Workforceshortageswillcontinue,and wewanttobepartofthesolutionbyinvestingin people.Lastly,Iwantoursustainabilitypracticestobe recognizednotjustascompliant,butasforwardthinking.Weaimtobeamodelofwhatasmall businesscandowhenitalignsgrowthwithvaluesand strategy.
Interviewby AnaPaulaMontanha,Editor-in-Chief
REFERENCES
BureauofEconomicAnalysis.(2024).Valueaddedby industry:Construction.
https://www.bea.gov/data/gdp/gdp-industry
BureauofLaborStatistics.(2024).Employment situationsummary.
https://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.nr0.htm
IBISWorld.(2024).Hardwoodflooringmanufacturing intheUS-MarketSize2005–2028.
https://www.ibisworld.com/united-states/marketresearch-reports/hardwood-flooringmanufacturing-industry/
NationalAssociationofHomeBuilders.(2023). Economicimpactofresidentialconstruction. https://www.nahb.org/news-andeconomics/housing-economics
StatistischesBundesamt.(2023).Bauhauptgewerbe: UnternehmenundBeschäftigte. https://www.destatis.de/EN/Themes/EconomicSectors-Enterprises/Construction/ConstructionIndustry/_node.html
StatisticsCanada.(2022).Constructionsector businesscounts.
https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action? pid=3310026701
SocietyforHumanResourceManagement.(2023). Retentionandonboardingmetrics. https://www.shrm.org/hr-today/trends-andforecasting/research-andsurveys/pages/default.aspx
CONCLUSION:LOCALINFRASTRUCTURE, NATIONALCONSEQUENCES
Smallconstructionfirms,suchasTHBFlooringInc., ledbyprofessionalslikeThaisFangerdeCampos, represent morethanlocalizedsuccessstories,they are structuralcontributorstoU.S.economic resilience. Asdecentralizedhubsofemployment, innovation,andsustainability,theyofferascalable modelforbottom-updevelopmentthatcomplements nationalstrategies.Supportingthegrowthofsuch firmsthroughimprovedaccesstocapital,targeted grantsformodernization,andworkforcealignment programscanyieldsignificanteconomicbenefits.As internationalcompetitionacceleratesanddomestic needsevolve,thesebusinessescanplayadecisive roleinensuringtheUnitedStatesremains competitive,inclusive,andinnovative.
U.S.CensusBureau.(2023).Annualbusinesssurvey: Characteristicsofemployerbusinesses. https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/abs.html
U.S.GreenBuildingCouncil.(2023).LEEDinmotion: Residential. https://www.usgbc.org/articles/leedmotion-residential
U.S.SmallBusinessAdministration.(2023).2023 smallbusinessprofiles. https://advocacy.sba.gov/2023/04/12/2023-smallbusiness-profiles-for-the-states-and-territories/