Celebrating National Construction Appreciation Week

The third week in September is National Construction Appreciation Week! Construction isn’t an industry for the faint-hearted; in many cases, it calls for physical strength, mental fortitude, creativity, foresight, and someone who is quick on their feet—just to name the bare bones. It’s easy for those on the outside looking in to reduce construction work down to small teams of guys on the side of the road and call it a day. However, your average Joe may not realize that, without the construction industry, the world as we know it would crumble or quite simply not exist.

The construction industry is one of the most essential contributors to society, keeping our infrastructure updated and our communities growing. In honor of National Construction Appreciation Week this week, we spoke with two of our local industry leaders and incredible clients to talk about what the construction industry means to them and what they love about the industry. Enjoy this look into what makes the construction industry full of some of the best leaders in the nation.

Contributors to our National Construction Appreciation Week Conversation

Corey Hines	Monica Harris
Corey Hines is the general manager for Houston-based roofing & water restoration company, Sol Restoration LLC. Both Sol Restoration and Hines are leading presences in restoration and are trusted community resources for excellent work and expert insight.	Monica Harris has been the president of Accu Aire Mechanical LLC, an HVAC company that provides commercial heating and air conditioning services, for the last seventeen years. During this time, she has served as a prominent leader within her company and among her local construction community, and she has a great deal of industry wisdom to offer her peers in the trades.

What motivated you to get into construction?

I like the idea of having a final product at the end of a project and being able to see the tangible results of my efforts. And it feels rewarding to do a great job for a property owner who is generally calling us to help after some kind of a loss.

—Corey Hines, Sol Restoration, LLC

How do you mentor new employees?

I believe the best way to mentor our new employees is to first be transparent about our own previous experiences and challenge them to get out of their comfort zone and just shine!

—Monica Harris, Accu Aire Mechanical LLC

We have an extensive training program for all new hires before they’d be allowed to represent our company. New employees will all start off working directly with me at first until they’re ready to assume the full responsibilities of the new role. Then, she or he would be encouraged to pursue continuing education to continue to grow with us.

—Corey Hines, Sol Restoration, LLC

Is there anyone in the industry who you look up to or go to for advice?

I’m fortunate to have a number of advisors who allow me to call upon them for counsel in their respective areas of expertise. Plus, involvement in different organizations like the Houston Area Roofing Contractors Association (HARCA) has given me access to a huge community of fellow contractors.

—Corey Hines, Sol Restoration, LLC

What advice would you give to your younger self?

I would tell my younger self to be confident and learn to just let go since there are things you can’t control. I would read more books, try to just live in the present moment, and remind myself that both patience and persistence pay off. Dreams do come true.

—Monica Harris, Accu Aire Mechanical LLC

What do you think is the #1 attribute a successful construction professional should have?

The attribute I’d choose for a construction professional is a detail-oriented personality. The meticulous approach allows a construction professional to see ahead around corners on each project to avoid errors or delays, and the customer ultimately ends up with a better final product when the contractor has a mastery of the details related to the project.

—Corey Hines, Sol Restoration, LLC

Do you think the average person understands how crucial construction workers are to our communities? Why or why not?

I really don’t believe the average person understands how crucial construction workers are to our communities. Most of the time when they see “construction” going on, they feel bothered and aggravated by the noise, mess, or detours they encounter during this phase of the process.  At no point are they really understanding or realizing that what is going on is always better for the community.

—Monica Harris, Accu Aire Mechanical LLC

Where do you think the construction industry is headed in the next 5 – 10 years?

I think the construction industry will continue to thrive and be the leading factor in how we live and work. There will always be new government, state, or local cities spending on infrastructure to better our way of living.

—Monica Harris, Accu Aire Mechanical LLC

I won’t predict where the entire industry is headed overall other than to hypothesize that the amount of uncertainty about “business as usual” will continue to increase over time. Things like worsening material shortages, changes in the insurance industry, and major storm activity could significantly impact the construction industry within the next 10 years.

—Corey Hines, Sol Restoration, LLC

What is one of the biggest challenges you’ve had to face while working in construction?

The biggest challenges I have had to face while working in the construction industry are labor shortages, both in a lack of skills and motivation. Since the beginning, we have always struggled with finding loyalty in this industry.

—Monica Harris, Accu Aire Mechanical LLC

What political moves would you like to see being made for the advancement of the construction industry?

I believe stronger laws protecting contractors and their business interests would be a great advancement for the construction industry. In doing so, it could greatly strengthen relationships in operations and in the field.

—Monica Harris, Accu Aire Mechanical LLC

I’d like to see political moves to create incentives for higher-quality and longer-lasting construction materials. We choose as a society to subsidize many things like foods and fuels, and I think greater attention is due to how we build our structures. New materials and techniques are now available, but the cost premiums are often too great for the property owner to choose them. I’d like to see greater financial incentives for property owners to choose longer lasting and more environmentally friendly building materials.

—Corey Hines, Sol Restoration, LLC

In Conclusion

Here at TCLF, we have the privilege to work with some of the absolute best and brightest in the construction industry. This prestigious community especially includes our interviewees for this blog, to whom we send our thanks: Monica M. Harris, President of Accu Aire Mechanical LLC and Corey Hines, the General Manager at Sol Restoration LLC. Their insights are a testament to the powerful character and integrity of construction professionals across the country.

This incredible industry of folks we fondly refer to as the “Get Shit Done” Tribe inspires our team every day to educate and elevate the construction community in all we do. We thank you, construction professionals, for all you do to empower our communities and help us build a better tomorrow. Have an awesome National Construction Appreciation Week and remember to tell the next construction pro you see that you appreciate them.

This article is intended as a general educational overview of the subject matter and is not intended to be a comprehensive survey of recent jurisprudence, nor a substitute for legal advice for a specific legal matter. If you have a legal issue, consult an attorney.