February business meeting

    Alan Whitson gave a great presentation on moves.  Sixty people turned out, and if you didn't get there by 1130, you were late and sat with your back to the speaker.  These few notes do not do any justice to his fast talking example filled words of wisdom.  Here's a few notes.

    Consider a major move as a partnership with your vendor.  To help you compare bids, you might compare cost per truck load.  A vendor could miss the number of truck loads, but they know their cost per truck.  Take each vendor through your area on separate tours.  You can get a better feel for their capability and their capacity when they can talk freely.
    Keep your people informed via newsletters, videos, mock-ups and models, and give them a tour of the 'new' facility.  Before the movers arrive, have a purge party; get rid of all that computer paper 'trash' etc.  Moving plants is a pain; so, if your contract allows for changing out plants, now is the time, or let employees move them if they want them.  There are three keys to effective communication: keep employee and management informed, gather and monitor feedback, keep messages consistent. 
    Keys are always a problem, so devise a system rather than let it happen.  To save the cabinet, take the files out of the drawers, and maybe some of it will be thrown away.
    Build a punch list and have the items fixed before you move.  Expect that walls will be marked up.  (If your walls have a flat finish paint, shoot someone; it's too tough to clean. Next time use eggshell).  Plan for damage.   Schedule people, elevators, parking, new furniture install, telephones, computers, common areas, keys, unpacking, cleanup and passes.
    During the move, establish a command post.  Supervise the move on both ends.  Have an action plan, phone list, and floor plan, directional signs, and a lost and found.  Security should know who and what goes in and out.  Feed the troops; keep them together (they might not come back after lunch or supper)
    After the move, set up support areas.  Have coffee, telephone directories, mini floor plans, and local area stuff (a welcome package) ready on the first day.  Someone should check each person's chair height.
    Verry important; post move follow-up.  Go through a punch list for construction, furniture, telephones, computers, security systems etc.  Call the first week, a shake down period, to lower expectations, because there hasn't been a perfect move.  Conduct a post occupancy evaluation. Get their feedback.  You will learn something, and they can vent to the right person.
This was one great program.

    During the business meeting, Ed Garcia presented Cindy Stewart with an outstanding person award for all her work for the Habitat for Humanity House that IFMA sponsored.  She was always there.

    Everyone was encouraged to turn in the yellow paper with your lunch money.  There's also two very good questions that you could answer.  "Do you have any suggestions for a future meeting?  Would you or your company be interested in presenting a program?  ______subject: ____________"  Please let us know what you want.

    Bob Payne handed out flyers on the golf tournament.  Want to be a sponsor?  There are lots of prizes . Some of the profit will go to the Blood and Tissue Center of Central Texas.  Bob gave out $5 gift certificates to play golf at the Blackhawk Golf Course.

    Ed briefed us on the recent leadership conference in Houston.  The attendees had a good time and learned allot especially about finance.  One key idea he absorbed was the need to be positive, always.

The following corporations sponsored the seminars.

Shaw Contract Group
512-244-5968
Brent Davis

Holocom Networks
713-461-7205
Leanne Linden

Intertech Flooring
512-385-4574
Bill Imhoff

Graebel Movers
800-332-2449
Dale Messerle/Michelle Landreth

The Corporate Realty, Design & Management's web site:    www.squarefootage.net