IN THE KNOWNARI

September / October 2018

Don’t miss the September Dinner Meetingwith Sales Trainer Adrian Miller

Flowerfield Celebrations 199 Mills Pond Road, St. James SEPTEMBER 12TH I 6:00 PM

October Networking MeetingCancos Tile Showroom

1085 Portion Road, FarmingvilleTO BE ANNOUNCED

1ST

SHOWFOR MORE

INFORMATION CALL 631-673-6274

10/11/18 • 11am - 7pmBRUMIDI CATERING SONS OF ITALY

2075 DEER PARK AVENUEDEER PARK, NY 11729annual

EXTERIOR & MILLWORK

LET WENDY INTERIORS BECOME YOUR PARTNER IN DESIGN

INTERIOR DESIGNS FROM FLOORS TO CEILINGS AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN.

CONTRACTORS + WENDY INTERIORSWendy Interiors

PICTURE PERFECT RESULTS!

Here’s why contractors choose Wendy Interiors as their in-house interior designer.

Wendy can speed-up the decision making process by taking clients shopping for new �ooring, cabinets, countertops, lighting, plumbing �xtures, paint colors, furnishings and accessories.

When the majority of the remodeling is complete, we will add the �nishing touches, such as furniture, window treatments, artwork, picture frames, and accessories that will re�ect the client’s personality and style.

Wendy Interiors will also professionally photograph projects, give you a copy and promote contractor and project on social media and other media outlets.

BEST Interior DesignerWENDY INTERIORS

Wendy Interiors has over 20 years of award winning experience, with television appearances on Live It Up!, A Minute Smarter, Fios News1, and published multiple times in various magazines and newspapers.

Designer of the Year2013 / 2016

1st PLACEIMPACT AWARD 2015 CALL ME

Armstrong World Industries

All Island Countertops & Millwork Inc.

Cee Jay Real Estate Development Corp.

CertaPro Painters of Merrick

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Sept. / Oct. 2018NARI IN THE KNOW

EXECUTIVE BOARD

CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARDDaniel Vazquez

Dash Windows of L.I.

PRESIDENTPatrick Bentivegna, CR, CRPM

Benco Construction

VICE PRESIDENTLaurence Carolan, CR, GCP, UDCP

House of Laurence

TREASURERJohn Hogan

Boston Cedar, Inc.

SECRETARYBen Jackson, CR

Ben’s General Contracting Corp.

HISTORIANKerry O’Brien, P.E.

T.F. O’Brien Cooling & Heating

BOARD MEMBERS

Ed AdelmanPODS, Inc.

Wendy LepkoffWendy Interiors, Inc.

George Combs, CRGeorge W. Combs, Inc.

Desmond Greaves, CLC, CR, CRPM,GCP, UDCP

DG Custom Built Homes & Remodeling, LLC

Eric VogelCoastal Cabinet Works

Sheree JeanesSymmetry Closets

Jason BraithwaitePlesser’s Appliances

Dawn CameronHomeBridge Financial Services, Inc.

NARI-IN-THE KNOW

EDITORSharon McGovernWindowRama

CREATIVE DIRECTORBennet GoldGold2 Creative

CALENDAR

NEWMEMBERSGeigel Creative Touch Painting, Inc.

JDG Home Improvements, Inc.

Long Island Craftmaster Corp.

Miele, Inc.

September

Wednesday 9/12 6 PM September Networking Meeting Flowerfield Celebrations 199 Mills Pond Road, St. James

Sponsor: Riverhead Building Supply Speaker: Adrian Miller Back to Business – Sales Renovation Strategies

October

Thursday 10/11 11 AM – 7 PM Exterior & Millwork Expo Brumidi Catering-Sons of Italy 2075 Deer Park Avenue, Deer Park

FREE Admission and Cash Bar Gold Sponsor: Royal Building Products Food Courtesy of BBQ Pitmaster Dean Camastro Sponsor: Hansgrohe

To Be Announced October Networking Meeting Cancos Tile Showroom, 1085 Portion Road, Farmingville

November

Friday 11/9 6:30 PM Evening of Excellence CotY and Buzz Awards The Piermont 494 Fire Island Avenue, Babylon

EVENING OFEXCELLENCE BUZZ

AWARDSNYC/LI NARI CHAPTER

FEATURING UPPERCUT BANDFRIDAY 11/9 • 6:30PM-11:00PM • THE PIERMONT • 494 FIRE ISLAND AVENUE • BABYLON

Get more information and enter at nari-ny.org/awards.Need Help? We can answer any question you might have!

Please do not hesitate to contact the NARI office at 631-673-6274.

Now Is the Time! How do I start planning?• Keep notes about the design, planning and construction phases of the job.

• Take plenty of before pictures and from all anglesof the location.

• Take pictures during the job to show difficultiesand obstacles.

• Never show any identifying logos, job signs, workers or company vehicles in the pictures.

• Make sure that your before, during and after pictures are all from the same angle.

• Keep track of your costs and the homeowner’s contribution as far as any items they provided. All must be included in your final cost and this will affect the category you enter.

The Buzz Is On! How do I enter?Any NARI Member who does any of the marketingand/or design for their firms - from one-personshops to the largest remodeling firms – report thatwinning an award is a major factor in enhancingtheir image within the industry and with prospectivecustomers. The numerous marketing and design opportunities available to BUZZ winners help setyour business apart from other remodeling and design companies, and NARI helps by providingtools and resources to make the most of this distinguished honor.

Sept. / Oct. 2018NARI IN THE KNOW

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CotY & BUZZ AWARDS

The prestigious Contractor of the Year (CotY) and Buzz Awards (new this year) are presentedto NYC/LI Members who have demonstrated outstanding work through their remodeling, design and marketing achievements.

Why Enter?Winning an award separates you from the “every day contractor or remodeling professional” and gives you asense of pride and accomplishment. Your customers will appreciate the dedication you put into your work . . .shown by this award!

Contractor of the Year (CotY) and Buzz Marketing & Design Awards

BUZZAWARDS

NYC/LI NARI CHAPTER

Keep current on the latest materials and time-saving trends—for one stop

shopping, come out to the NARI Exterior & Millwork Show. We'll have BBQ

from 4pm - 7pm — and food throughout the day.

1st Annual Exteriorand Millwork Show

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Sept. / Oct. 2018NARI IN THE KNOWEXPO

CEU SCHEDULE:

Presenter Title CEU Credits

Hansgrohe Behind the Wall: Plumbing Secrets Course: 1 LU/HSW

Boral Composites, Inc. Understanding Poly-Ash Siding and the Other Categories of the Siding Market Course: TES001 1 LU/HSW

Royal Building Products Architectural and Performance Benefits of Cellular PVC Cladding Course: Royal BP18-005 1 LU/HSW

Danver Outdoor Kitchen Design with Stainless Steel Cabinetry Course: DBJOK101 1 LU/HSW

FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL

631-673-6274

Gold Sponsor

BeverageSponsor

Food Sponsor

6

Sept. / Oct. 2018NARI IN THE KNOW GOLF OUTING

It was a beautiful day at the Woodside Club in

Muttontown for NYC/LI NARI’s annual golf outing.

Thanks to Golf Committee Chairman George Vale

of V. Garofalo Carting, his team and our many

sponsors for making the event such a success.

NYC/LI NARI’s 41st Annual Golf Classic

7

Sept. / Oct. 2018NARI IN THE KNOW

Congress and President Trump signed the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act the first week of August 2018.The legislation is a reauthorization of the Carl D.Perkins Career and Technical Education Act, a $1.2billion program last overhauled by Congress in 2006.The reauthorization gradually increases annual

funding and allows states to set their own goals forcareer and technical education programs.

The increased funding will hopefully help to alleviatethe construction industry's labor burden in the comingyears, allowing more students to receive training fortrade jobs. (BUILDER Online, August 1, 2018).

GOVERNMENTAFFAIRS

Local Government Affairs

Nassau County Office of ConsumerAffairs Commissioner Gregory A.May and Deputy CommissionerKenneth M. Heino attended NYC/LINARI’s Government Affairs Committee meeting on August 7that the invitation of Ben Jackson, CR,Ben’s General Contracting Corp.Ben chairs the Government Affairs committee and the NassauCounty Home Improvement Industry Board. NYC/LI NARI members Laurence Carolan, CR,GCP, UDCP of House of Laurence,Joe Brazil of Mainline Construction,Tony Tiso, MCR, CKBR of JarroBuilding Industries Corp. andAdam Browser of Ruskin MoscouFaltischek P.C. also sit on the Nassau County Home ImprovementIndustry Board.

Commissioner Maydiscussed his majorinitiatives since taking over the department, and reinforced that Nassau County Executive LauraCurran is striving to have a ‘business-friendly’ administration.

• Move from a paper based, to acomputerized system. May’s ultimate goal is to have the licensing process online so applicants don’t have to come to the office.

• Inspectors can now submit complaints and violations fromthe field, speeding up the reviewprocess.

• May has also introduced a newprocedure: independent 3rd partycounty personnel are now hearingcomplaints, rather than someonewho could be directly involvedwith case, to remove any possiblebias. Nassau County ConsumerAffairs is also introducing ‘pre-hearings’ to try and resolvea case before it goes to court.

The Commissioner and DeputyCommissioner also answered specific questions asked by con-tractors at the meeting regardinglicensing and homeowner complaint procedures.

“I think this demonstrates howNARI contractors work well withNassau County Consumer Affairs.We are basically on the samepage, we both want to improveour industry. I thought it was greatthat we both asked what we cando for the other,” said Ben Jackson.

U.S. Government Signs Legislation to Strengthen Technical Education

FOR DIRECTIONS & SHOWROOM HOURS, PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE

LINDENHURST

LakevilleIndustries.com

A TRADITION OF DESIGN EXCELLENCE 100 South Smith St. | 631.957.6495

SMITHTOWN 45 Southern Blvd. | 631.656.0936

Watch For The Grand Opening of our Beautiful New Kitchen & Bath Design Center in 2018!

Timeless Designs...A Lakeville Kitchen Tradition!Long Island's first name in Kitchens & Baths since 1935

Sept. / Oct. 2018NARI IN THE KNOW

CURE WINDOW PAIN WITH THE MARVIN FAMILY OF BRANDS

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SUPPLIERSPOTLIGHT

Super Enterprises, Distributor of Marvin Window & DoorProducts wants to make remodeler’s jobs a little easier thisyear. When you build with Marvin or Integrity Windows andDoors, they will offer you free replacement on any unit forany reason.

Here’s why: A recent study they conducted reported that ordering windows was atop pain point for builders and remodelers. So, they developed a program to alleviate the pain while demonstrating to the trade whyMarvin/Integrity is a brand you can trust. “If a window and door supplier along with their local Dealer can take that worry off builders’minds, why wouldn’t they want to give us a try,” said Doug Reigle, VPof Sales at Super Enterprises. “After all, building relationships and trust is the foundation of this industry, and we hope this programstrengthens existing relationships and enables us to form new ones.”The program is only available in Nassau and Suffolk counties at participating Marvin Dealers.

RSVP TO LISA AT 631-673-6274 OR LAMATO@NARI-NY.ORGRESERVATIONS NOT CANCELLED 24 HOURS IN ADVANCE WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYMENT

APPLIANCE WORLD414 New York Ave. • Huntington, NY

FOOD STATIONSBEER & WINE

HOLIDAY MERRIMENT

December 13th @ 6:30pm

SAVE THE DATE

HOLIDAY PARTY$40 PRE-REGISTERED

MEMBER PRICE

$50 NON-MEMBER AND WALK-INS

Visit www.marvinexperts.com/CureWindowPain to learn more and see participating dealers on Long Island.

www.slantfin.comAmerica’s HeatingCompany

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SEP 24MONDAY | 2018

STONEBRIDGECOUNTRY CLUB2000 Raynors Way | Smithtown NY, 11787

www.habitatgolf.eventbrite.com

FOR ONLINE REGISTRATION & SPONSORSHIP LISTINGS, PLEASE VISIT:

20th Annual

Shotgun 3PM | Cocktails 5:30PM

For More Information Please Contact : les@habitatsuffolk.org | (631) 422-4828 x105

Lee SilbermanChief Executive O�cer

The Robert Allen Duralee Group

ReStore Partner of the Year

Stephen A. Antaki Memorial Partner of the Year

2018 HONOREES

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Sept. / Oct. 2018NARI IN THE KNOW

Tailgate Talk with

Joe Walker of Double Check BuildersPast NYC/LI NARI President 1996-1998

How did you get started in yourremodeling career?I am originally from Buffalo, NY.When I was dating my future wife, Iwould come down to Long Island tovisit. Since I didn’t know many peo-ple, I would sit around. My future father-in-law, the original owner ofDouble Check Builders since 1958,took me on a sales call and saw I hadpotential; after all, I am masters educated. I started working for thecompany and bought it myself in1989 after he passed away.

Do you have any formal training?I worked in steel fabrication before Ijoined Double Check Builders, so Ihad a basic knowledge of structuralcomponents. I am also a Certified Remodeler.

What are the top 3 skills every remodeler should have?1. Self control2. Good money management skills3. Good writing skills (the ability to clearly outline customer expectations)

What is your biggest success, or adefining moment in your career?My biggest success was purchasingthe business from my father-in-law. Iproved to myself that I wanted to, andcould, run a successful business. Mysons also saw a future for themselvesin the business, and my son Matthewworks with me today; my son David isa consultant.

What is your biggest failure, andwhat did you learn from it?You have to keep your customers satisfied. Many years ago, I did notcomplete a change order and the jobwent bad. It’s important to learn everyposition in the company – failure always comes back to one person –the owner.

Looking back, what advice would yougive your future self about a career inremodeling?My advice would be: prepare yourbusiness for its future sale - whetherto a family member or a total sellout.Your business is a separate entity,and as an owner, you should be able to market your business to potential buyers by showing its profitability and good standing in the community.

What’s your criteria for a successfulproject?Satisfied customers, good reviewsand a good gross-margin mark-up.

What technologies have you intro-duced that have had the greatestpositive impact on your business?The cell phone has probably had thegreatest impact – you can take photos, communicate instantly andorder products from the jobsite.

What is the best advice you have everreceived?‘If you don’t collect it, you didn’t sellit.’ Meaning, if you don’t collect the

final payment, the job was not successful.

In your opinion, what is the biggestchallenge facing the remodeling industry today?Regulations from local town governments. Regulations drive upthe costs of a project to the pointwhere a homeowner may decide theycan no longer afford the originalscope of the renovation. Remodelersthen are doing more smaller jobs atless gross profit.

How many people in your crew andoffice staff?Four people.

How many jobs per year?We do an average of 20 – 25 jobs per year and specialize in mother-daughter/2-family renovations. Manyhomes are now multi-generationaland require adaptations for aging-in-place.

Favorite Tool?My pen.

Most innovative product used thisyear and why?Systems that prevent water intrusion.You can build a beautiful room, but ifthere is a leak in the ceiling from theroof, you’re setting yourself up forcall-backs.

Chevy, Ford or Dodge?Chevy

Favorite type of jobsite tunes?The crew shuts off the rap musicwhen I get to the site - I don’t like distractions.

Greatest benefit from being a NARImember?Getting advice from other remodel-ers. We all have similar problems, it’s great to get another person’s perspective on solving problems,whether I take their advice or not.