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NAHB Helped Me Make the Move from Carpenter to Successful Businessman
By Mike DuKate, CGR, CGB, CAPS

About three years ago, I hung up my tool belt and began my transition from being a carpenter to becoming a businessman with my own remodeling firm.

Thanks to my participation in the NAHB designations programs, my transition has been successful. During the past three years, my company has more than doubled in size — and the growth has more than doubled our need to systematize and increase our professional approach. I was able to to put put more professionalism in our business processes because of what I learned from taking the designation courses.

I took 14 classes and earned my designations as a Certified Graduate Remodelor™ (CGR), Certified Graduate Builder (CGB) and Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS). I not only received valuable, pragmatic help through these courses, the information I brought back helped stir my employees to raise the bar and think outside the box.

The classes also provided a great opportunity for me to network with other remodelers and learn even more. Fellow remodelers who had already tackled the same sets of challenges I was facing encouraged me and offered solutions. In addition, with the knowledge I gained, I was able to expand the scope of our approaches to business.

With the knowledge I took back, we have instituted changes in accounting, estimating, production, scheduling and overall administration — all of which  improved our cash flow. We restructured our contracts, schedules and note draws on customer schedules. We also improved our purchase order process to better prevent funds from slipping through the cracks, which helped our  bottom line.

We improved our job logs and other documentation in order to create a stronger financial safety net. This also helped us increase efficiency, eliminate errors and better assist our customers with clarification of their insurance claims. We've even used job logs and schedules as a marketing tool to give prospective clients the knowledge and security that we are professional and fulfill our commitments.

Material selection sheets cut losses that were caused by poor communication. Getting a better handle on our financial management also has given us direction, and that reflects well on our financial health and enables us to communicate more effectively with our accountant, lawyer and banker.

Personally, learning has energized and challenged me. Work is more enjoyable. I shifted some of my responsibilities to my employees and now wear wear fewer hats as a business owner. This enables me to focus more of my time — with less frustration — on priority issues. And, giving my employees more control and ownership of projects has been a boost to them, as well.

In summary, obtaining my CGR, CGB and CAPS designations has made deep in-roads into the culture and performance of our company. I think it is important to earn the right to be heard.

Mike DuKate, CGR, CGB, CAPS, is president of DuKate Fine Remodeling, Inc. of Franklin, IN.

The NAHB University of Housing Offers Designation Programs and Other Courses

The NAHB University of Housing offers CGR, CGB, CAPS and a variety of other professional designation programs and business management courses that set builders and remodelers apart from the competition.

For a complete list of all current education offerings, click here.

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