Featured Articles

The Three Stages of a Customer

The Three Stages of a Customer

A Handy Tool to Identify Your Customer’s Financial Condition Over the years I have found customers fall into three specific stages while doing business on open credit with our clients. Learning how to identify these stages “arms” my clients so they know exactly what to do and when – and their …

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Employee or Independent Contractor?

Employee or Independent Contractor?

Costly Consequences for Worker Misclassification When business is growing and companies are adding workers, classifying employment status of each one can be tricky. Accidental misclassification of workers carries penalties and payment of back wages. Intentional misclassification of workers can carry criminal penalties and back wages. Since the Fair Labor Standards …

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Convention Exhibit Hall Sell Out!

Convention Exhibit Hall Sell Out!

Packed Exhibition Complements Seminars, Social Events The American Fire Sprinkler Association’s (AFSA) 2015 convention, AFSA in Phoenix: Rising to Excellence, provides numerous ways to grow your business: 55 hours of educational seminars, many networking opportunities, and a sold-out exhibit hall. Offering the latest products and services available to the fire …

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Ten Strategic Questions for the Next Generation

Ten Strategic Questions for the Next Generation

Reaching a Consensus on Strategic Direction Among the many issues that confront family businesses in times of generational transition, strategic direction can be crucial. The strategy that has provided direction for the business during the incumbent generation’s watch may be faltering or tired or largely completed. Strategic modifications, reinvigoration or …

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Classifying Mixed Commodities

Classifying Mixed Commodities

The Impact of Group A Plastics One of the most critical variables necessary to define the right design basis for the protection of storage is the commodity classification. In evaluating an individual pallet load, Class III and IV commodities have pretty much always been allowed to have some Group A …

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Bretey Captures Craft Championship

Bretey Captures Craft Championship

AFSA Members Sweep ABC Contest A field of 187 craft trainees competed for top honors in 15 contests representing 12 crafts during the 2015 Associated Builders & Contractors’ (ABC) National Craft Championships (NCC). The event took place during the association’s Workforce Development Conference, March 3-6, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Competitors …

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Got Obstructions?

Got Obstructions?

How to Get Them Before They Get You! I had a great dream the other night. We had just completed a flawless installation. We had coordinated every detail with the design team up front. The MEP foremen had worked with us every step of the way. The architectural and structural …

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