Where is Spring?
March 2023
who we are
MMCA’s mission is to help its members – builders, developers, remodelers, home improvement contractors, and all the businesses contracting in residential and commercial construction – excel in their business and to represent all contractors and developers in the Twin Cities market.
Our vision is for construction businesses to work together to protect the business opportunity in the local market that they live and work in. MMCA will work with the local government officials to provide members with a competitive advantage by addressing code interpretations, ordinances, policies, and fees. We focus on the issues members face in the communities where they build. www.mnmca.com
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I venture to guess that the number one question that I get asked is:
Why should I join the MN Metro Contractors Association?
To support your trade though a unified voice in legislative, code and business ethics and law.
To utilize the powerful resources locally, state-wide and nationally in order to better grow your business.
To influence our policy makers to best serve the housing construction trades and continue to support all business.
To access education through leadership development, continuing education, and member to member opportunities.
To build valuable relationships with fellow members, vendors, customers, and representatives throughout the state.
To receive qualified referrals from the association through the online directory and/or the MMCA network.
To provide professional recognition as a leader in the industry.
To give back to the community through efforts of the association and memberships.
To take advantage of marketing opportunities online and through printed publications targeting your primary audiences.
To support homeowner education because most audiences will research more about the next car they buy versus the education needed to purchase or own a home.
To take advantage of any of the three rebate/discount programs only offered through the local association (on average, one can save up to $152900 annually)!
To access vital industry information.
Encourage your fellow industry associates to join membership today! Strength comes in numbers...and we need you.
www.mnmca.com/join-today
Dirctor info@mnmca.comBringing ideas to life, Todd Bjerstedt has over 37 years of experience in the home building industry. Achiever of success and solver of problems, Todd is your guy! And, McDonald Remodeling has the ultimate process for easily navigating the maze of construction. Discovery, design, refinement and construction are the four phases of ensuring successful projects.
Taking a floorplan that doesn't work to creating a new plan that meets the homeowner's lifestyle needs is what satisfies his work. Repeat business from a homeowner defines his successes.
Believing it is important to belong to a trade association to learn from other members and work together towards common industry goals, such as Influencing elected officials to vote correctly on important issues that impact businesses.
"I've been involved in the leadership of 2 other trade organizations over the years. The wealth of industry knowledge obtained , and several lifetime friendships gained are priceless."
Four-wheeling, spending time entertaining four grandchildren at the backyard pool or campground in Northern WI is where you can find Todd in his own time
(651) 554-1234
Todd@McDonaldRemodeling.com www.McDonaldRemodeling.com
Todd has served on the MMCA Board of Directors since 2017 and is the current Secretary/Treasurer.
Many members don't take full advantage of the THREE IN ONE Membership that one receives when belonging to MMCA. The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and the Builders Association of Minnesota (BAM) have many resources available to all members. Contracts, advocacy, industry education, code requirements, rebates and discounts and so much more can be accessed through respective websites. If you need log in information, it is separate from MMCA, however, you can contact any of the associations for support.
National Association of Home Builders: https://www.nahb.org/ Builders Association of Minnesota: https://www.bamn.org/ Minnesota Metropolitan Contractors Association: https://mnmca.com/
WRONG! We need you. Your voice tells actual antidotes to influence our representatives and lawmakers. Your voice sharing concerns regarding pricing, taxes, distribution delays, increased regulation, definitions, code and law decisions - your voice makes a huge difference. Get involved with any or all of the associations (We do way more than advocacy work that needs your support too!) Check us out today!
"Why? Someone else will fight this battle."
NAHB is launching the BizTools Video Series this month, through which industry experts will share the latest tips and discuss essential strategies to enhance business operations and boost long-term profitability. Each month, a new video recording will be added to examine topics such as managing cashflow, preparing for disasters, boosting profits and more. Additionally, an article related to each video will be available for NAHB council members in Council Concepts, and a live Shop Talk will be held each month to engage with the featured speakers and ask questions. The first topic of the series will be “A Study in Cash Flow for Builders,” which will be divided into three parts. “Part 1: Two Cash Flows, One Company” features Jake Harris, co-founder and CEO of BuildWallet, as he illustrates how builders utilize both project and process business models and how they work together. Harris provides information both via an instructional video and an educational article through Council Concepts. In addition to this content, Harris and Business Management and Information Technology Committee Member Joyce Duerfeldt will host a Shop Talk on cash flow for builders on April 25 from 3-4 p.m. ET. Participants will dig deeper into project cash flows and process cash flows and how the two work together, so be sure to bring questions to this interactive discussion.
Register now for the BizTools Video Series, which is free to NAHB members and $99 for non-members.
See a quick sneak peek of the first episode below.
https://www.nahb.org/blog/2023/04/new-series-promotesbusiness-management-tools
From the perspective of new member: BONG XIONG
"We are so grateful to have direction from the [IBS Questions Answered] workshop on attending the International Builders Show," said Bong on behalf of himself and two brothers heading off to Las Vegas for the first time. "It really was overwhelming!"
Splitting up, the three brothers decided to focus on as much of the education as they could during the three day event. First class instructors from marketing to business planning to construction 101, host classes throughout the entire show. The most difficult part is choosing which to attend! NAHB has a solution for those who want it all - online videos of the classes are also available.
IBS is the worlds largest trade show. The newest product lines in every area of homebuilding are showcased. And within the three day timespan, it is a challenge to see it all. Advice is to focus your visit on those products that you are most interested in, and see out where to find them.
Like Bong, first timers are often taken aback by all there is to see and do. None-the-less, it is an adventure of a lifetime. Wearing the best shoes, taking breaks, and planning for the day are just three top considerations for attendees. Be aware of transportation and congested areas also. The Vegas Convention Center is over twenty acres and getting from one end to the other can take some time!
Overall, the brothers had a great time, taking in a few extra evening events balanced out the trip. "Every builder should be planning their next trip to IBS! It was well worth the experience!" -
Bong Xiong
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Greetings to you all from your 2023 BAM president!
Being selected as BAM’s president is an honor, and a privilege It comes with duties that I take very seriously And I’ll fulfill those duties to the very best of my abilities
We all know that these are challenging times We were all forced into bunkers by COVID We’ve had some internal issues that have knocked us about And I’d bet that, personally, each one of us has been wondering how on earth we ’ re going to manage our hectic schedules and live up to our commitments to our families, our customers, and ourselves
I think we have an agenda for the coming year that is going to really improve our associations, how they work together, and how they serve builders throughout the state of Minnesota Gerry Traut, Grace Keliher, the executive committee, and the board have done a good job setting the groundwork for next year ’ s happenings And I hope I will do the same for John McGuine’s administration in 2024 This process is never going to end, folks There’s always more work to be done
You all know that BAM is part of a multilevel coalition It starts with thousands of individual members who are the true lifeblood of our industry Those members are gathered together and served most directly by the (number) local associations BAM combines the power of the local associations at the state level to create a unified voice at the legislature it also provides a set of tools that members can use to enhance their businesses throughout the state And NAHB provides a similar function at the national level
We must remember that these three levels of organization all serve the same purpose. To make life better for the builders of the State of Minnesota. Each level does jobs that it’s just not practical for the others to perform. And they must work together as a team.
And for all the fuss and controversy that sometimes occurs, we must remember our accomplishments. I’m not going to go into the minute details of the past year, but there’s one event that stood out - how BAM dealt with proposed changes to the rules for lead abatement. Toward the end of August, the Minnesota Department of Health proposed a tightening of the rules for lead abatement. And further, they proposed that Minnesota rules would automatically tighten further whenever the federal rules tightened. This change would have taken effect automatically unless enough people requested a public hearing. BAM raised an alarm, and so many of us sent in letters of objection that the Department cancelled the proposal almost immediately.
This was not a one-off event. It was the result of years of consistent work that has given BAM a reputation for integrity and legitimacy as the voice of builders throughout the state.
We have some specific programs that have been set up in 2022 and will be implemented in 2023.
First, BAM will be rolling out a social media and communications program that will bolster messaging and the industry image across the state. The goal there is to increase awareness of the industry to the public and policy makers. And also to explain the importance of the builders associations to our peers who have not yet joined.
Secondly, there will also be a marketing campaign focused on bringing new members to local associations and to BAM.
These two things will bring in new members and new energy. But more importantly than even that, I would like to see a focus from all of us on bringing forward new ideas and better communication throughout our organizations.
Here are some specifics:
1. BAM will provide more consistent and unified messaging on legal and legislative initiatives. This will be delivered simultaneously to each of the local leaders and executive officers. And possibly also to the general membership.
2 BAM’s elected officers will increase their participation with local associations What form will this take? I’m not sure. But I can tell you for myself that I would love to attend some local association board meetings or events and hear what people are thinking directly. If you’d like me to come, let me know. If you have ideas on how this communication is best facilitated, let me, Grace, or someone on the Executive Committee know.
3 Finally, I’d like to make it clear that BAM is not intended to be a top-down, do-what-theleadersip-says, type of structure. If you have an idea, and especially if you think something is wrong and needs to be changed, let us know! I personally won’t mind even if you tell me“that’s a really dumb idea you had there, Jody.” Though I hope you’ll be civil. A frank and open exchange of ideas is what we need to break old patterns and create a new path.
Executive Committee meetings are generally open to the membership and held via Zoom. Same thing with the political action committee. Anyone in membership is welcome to sit in. Contact the BAM office if you need specific information on how to do it.
So that’s my message for the start of the year. Let’s look forward to a great 2023!
With the end of the legislative session less than a month away, the most controversial proposals are accelerating toward final votes This includes the 24-week, $1 5 billion paid leave mandate on all businesses, as well an additional $2.3 billion of tax increases despite a $17.5 billion surplus. These tax increase and mandate proposals will impact all businesses around the state. The time is now to tell your legislators to VOTE NO on the 24-week paid leave mandate and $2.3 billion tax increase. Tell legislators and Governor Walz to oppose proposals that will hurt every employer in Minnesota.
The 24-week, $1.5 billion paid leave mandate could be heard on the House floor as early as this week Every employer and employee in the state – private sector businesses, local governments, public schools and universities, and nonprofits – will be impacted by this expansive state mandate.
BAM has teamed up with the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce to get your concerns over these bills out to your Representative, Senator and the Governor Click below and it will take you to the Chambers site. The form only takes 3 minutes to fill out!
The strength of the MMCA begins with membership. We count on you to help recruit new members. Please consider inviting your vendors and suppliers, subcontractors, builders and remodelers, lenders, accountants, realtors, architects and designers to join you in discovering all the rewards of being a member.
15612 Highway 7 Suite 310
Minnetonka, MN 55345
Phone: 218.940.2469 Direct to EO 763.301.9676 Office
Email: Info@MNMCA.com
web: www.MNMCA.com
