Field Notes & Industry Insights
A colleague bought a new truck. The conversation turned to floor mats. And that turned into the best analogy I have for why builders who've seen offsite construction can't go back to the mud.
My shop is basically a DeWalt showroom. But if you're still cutting your walls stick by stick on site, I've got something better for you — and those photos of lumber scraps in the mud tell the whole story.
Walking out of our UFP Site Built plant in Lafayette, Colorado, I spotted a BELIEVE sign on the wall. What Ted Lasso reminded me about curiosity, leadership, and the people around us.
Too many of us are still using AI like it's a fancier Google. When you slow down, give it real context, and treat it like a collaborator, that's when things get interesting.
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Dave's Auto Center out of Centerville, Utah is a reminder of what the trades actually offer. He has young guys in their 20's earning what most college grads spend a decade chasing.
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At IBS 2026, Zach McAuley, National VP of Sales for UFP Site Built, breaks down what FRAME FORWARD SYSTEMS™ means for the framing community and the future of the industry.
Proud of Mike Ellerbrook for stepping outside his comfort zone at NAHB IBS 2026 and joining Simpson Strong-Tie's Strong Conversations podcast with host Sam Marcoux.
Visited Steve's Sugar Shack in Westhampton — a great reminder that sometimes the biggest challenge for a business isn't quality. It's visibility, awareness, and owning the story.
Trade jobs are in demand — and for good reason. What's going to keep this industry moving forward isn't more talk. It's the "can do" attitude showing up every single day, paired with systems that make the job easier, safer, and faster.
In a world full of emails, texts, and instant messages, a handwritten thank-you note hit different this week. A small thing — and exactly the reminder I needed.
I opened The Home Depot app this morning and got hit with two words that stopped me cold. A masterclass in emotional branding — and a question worth sitting with all weekend.
Like most teams, we use AI to work smarter and move faster. But every once in a while, it's okay to have a little fun with it, too.
Proud of our Endurable team for the work they do every day — manufacturing prefabricated aluminum decks, balconies, railings, stairs, and canopies. From design support to delivery, this crew keeps projects moving and exterior spaces looking sharp.