Contractor Continuing Education Course Descriptions
Advanced 2017 FBC Significant Code Changes
This course presents the significant code changes from the 2014 Florida Building Code to the 2017 Florida Building Code. The course highlights the differences and includes base code changes in the 2009 International Building Code and the Florida specific changes.
This course will provide contractors, design professionals, and building code professionals with practical information on changes to the 2017 Florida Building Code. Upon completion of this course, participants will understand the changes made to the 2017 Florida Building Code including but not limited to the requirements of occupancy groups, fire resistant construction and fire protection, means of egress, and structural requirements.
Improved Management Techniques
This course is intended to provide attendees with many of the tools and techniques that are needed to help them become more efficient, more productive and more profitable while ultimately increasing the value of their business.
A Journey Through Your Business Lifecycle
We will take a journey through the stages of the business life cycle associated with emerging businesses and how they become successful businesses. We will discuss issues related to business administration, risk management, changing roles of management, growth of employee base, compensation incentives and how to drive revenue. This course concludes with a focus on the mature business. Topics will cover business valuation methods, various forms of succession planning and ways to exit your business when the time comes. We will also review the wealth transfer process associated with the succession plan.
Construction Lien Law
How do YOU get paid….by collecting from your clients? The protection of your income is the FL Construction Lien Laws. Understand the methods necessary to perfect your liens and guarantee payment.
Objective: To educate attendees about the importance of following FL Lien Law procedures when billing for labor or materials.
Business Benchmark
Business Benchmark covers topics relating to the concerns attendees have in regard to the value of their business. This course will teach attendees why it is important to know the value of their business, what purposes this value should be used for, different ways to attain a value and how to increase this value.
Objective: To educate attendees on the need to have a business valuation, how to use it and how to get one completed in a cost efficient manner. Learning the techniques of how to enhance the value of a company will help the contractor learn how to stay in business long-term.
Worksite Safety
This course will inform you about the basic safety requirements necessary for the construction industry. You will learn the components of a successful safety program for your company.
Objective: This workshop will teach you about workplace safety regulations and keep and update you on new laws and regulations that are necessary to operate a successful construction business.
The Tools and Techniques of Business Management
This workshop covers several topics relevant to building and running a construction business. This course is intended to teach you the business side of the construction business. We will discuss the inherent issues that are a part of being a contractor including risk management, worker’s compensation issues, employee growth and retention, tax planning, management of business assets and ways to motivate employees.
Objective: After attending this workshop, you should have a new understanding of what makes your business work financially and how you can improve your bottom line while building strong bonds with your key employees. You will learn about worker’s compensation regulations, how to implement performance based employment contracts that are tied to job specific activities, how to manage various assets of the company, how to mitigate and transfer risks and how to plan for taxes throughout the year instead of just year-end.
Construction Business Management
This workshop consists of an interactive presentation that covers topics relevant to the construction business. This discussion revolves around managing and avoiding the inherent risks of doing business as a contractor, attracting, motivating and retaining quality employees and planning for the future of the business with properly structured business plans. This presentation also covers topics such as preparing for retirement for the contractor and employees and properly managing business assets. The workshop begins with a discussion of the realities of doing business and then moves into strategies to prepare for these realities. It closes by bringing these strategies together to form a proper structure for business success.
Objective: After attending this workshop, you should be able to determine how to improve your company in several ways. We will help you recognize which type of risks you must protect against and which types can be transferred to a third party. We will teach strategies on how to use performance based incentives for key positions in your company. This will help you attract, motivate and retain key employees in a cost efficient manner. You will learn how to plan for the future of your business and how to properly structure a business continuation agreement. Finally, you will learn how to properly manage business assets and the various options that are available to you.
Business Entities
This course covers the various types of business entities that are available to you. You can determine what type of entity may be the best for your specific type of business.
Objective: You will leave this workshop with a good understanding of the various business structures available to you such as a C-Corp, S-Corp, LLC, LLP, etc… We will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each from various perspectives including tax and liability ramifications.
Physical Abilities Testing
This course informs contractors about the regulations surrounding worker’s compensation and how to build a safe workforce that will keep worker’s healthy, claims low and ultimately create a reduction in the cost of insurance.
Objective: This workshop is designed to teach you about physical abilities testing for your workers and how it will help you determine if a worker is in the right position based on their physical attributes. We will discuss worker’s compensation and how by putting individuals in positions they are capable of handling, claims will ultimately be reduced, which are a driving factor of insurance costs.
Labor and Liability Challenges of Today's Contractor
Labor and Liability Challenges of Today’s Contractor teaches you how to manage and mitigate the labor related risks you face everyday and teaches you how to retain and attract quality employees. We will discuss employee benefit programs and talk about the advantages and disadvantages of using PEO services.
Objective: To educate you about strategies that can improve your business, mitigate risk, reduce labor costs and increase employee moral.
The 10-Hour OSHA Certification Course
This course covers the various sections of OSHA training and meets the requirements for OSHA’s 10-hour certification.
Objective: You will leave this workshop with a good understanding about how OSHA works and you will be educated about proper safety for scaffolding, excavation, cranes, personal protective equipment, hazard communication, fall Protection, stairways, ladders and electricity.
Fall Protection
Attendees will leave this workshop with the ability to identify fall protection responsibilities and they will learn how to identify and protect against fall hazards. Different types of fall protection equipment and their uses will be discussed in detail as well as the regulations mandated by OSHA.
Objective: You will leave this workshop with the ability to determine what is needed to prevent fall hazards and the requirments OSHA requires.
Hazard Recognition
A hazard is defined as any workplace condition which threatens a worker’s safety or health. This course will discuss early detection of a variety of hazards, how to avoid them and what to do when accidents occur.
Objective: This workshop will inform you about workplace situations that are hazardous to your employees. We will point out the most common types of accidents and the best ways to avoid them and handle them if and when they occur.
Business Planning for the Future
This course identifies the key administrative tools that small businesses need to compete against larger businesses or franchises. These tools expand the original Business Plan by creating an Operations Manual that details exactly how the business should be operated and managed.
Florida Building Code Administrative Core Course
This course covers the current Florida Building Code requirements. This course was created by The Florida Department of Community Affairs and meets the 2003 Uniform Building Code requirements.
Objective: You will leave this course educated on the State’s coding changes and satisfying the State’s requirements. This knowledge will have infinite applications as you conduct your business obligations.
Architecture Business Management
This workshop consists of an interactive presentation that covers topics relevant to your architecture business. This discussion revolves around managing and avoiding the inherent risks of doing business as an architect, motivating and retaining quality employees and planning for the future of the business with properly structured business plans. This presentation also covers topics such as preparing for retirement for the architect and employees and properly managing business assets. The workshop begins with a discussion of the realities of doing business and then moves into strategies to prepare for these realities. It closes by bringing these strategies together to form a proper structure for business success.
Objective: After attending this workshop, attendees should be able to determine how to improve their company in several ways. They should be able to recognize which type of risks they must protect against and which types can be transferred to a third party. Attendees should be able to determine how to use performance based incentives with their employees. This will help them attract, motivate and retain employees in a cost efficient manner. Attendees will learn how to plan for the future of their business and how to properly structure a business continuation agreement. Finally, attendees will learn how to properly manage business assets and the various options that are available to them
Modern Compensation Design
Are you allowing the “Market” to dictate how you pay your employees? You will learn the methods used by major firms to improve productivity through your compensation design.
Objective: To educate attendees about the options they have with regards to providing compensation packages for their employees. We will discuss market standards and future trends for various positions based on factors such as the experience and tenure of the employee. We will also discuss how having reduced employee turnover and higher quality employees will positively effect the company’s bottom line profitability.
Construction Contract Pitfalls
You sign them every day. You offer them every day. Why not have a better understanding of the clauses to look for and why they are continually litigated? Whether you are a sub-contractor, General contractor, Design Professional this may be one of the most important course you take this year.
Objective: After attending this workshop, attendees should have a basic understanding about how construction contracts work and what the key points are. More importantly, attendees will understand what types of clauses to be aware of, why they are important and when to seek help.
Risk Management
Gain an understanding of the four methods professional use to handle the risks of doing business. How you can apply them to your firm and increase profits and decrease risk.
Objective: After attending this workshop, attendees should have a basic understanding about how a risk management program works and can be implemented. We will discuss the factors involved and the effect of good and bad programs on the company’s bottom line.
Mold Recognition & Remediation
The most serious risk of the construction industry today is your liability for mold infestation. One of the state recognized experts will describe the mold growth cycle and how to reduce your risk of mold infestation. You can not insure against this risk so understanding and recognition will be the source of your major protection.
Asset Protection for Contractors
Unfortunately we live in a litigious society and contractors are subject to as much if not more liability than the typical business owner. And when a contractor becomes successful lawsuits may become more likely because the legal world tends to bring lawsuits against those that have substantial assets. This course is intended to teach you how to build a legal fortress around your business.
Objective: To educate you about strategies that can protect you against legal claims arising out of issues such as mold liability and wage and hour lawsuits. We will discuss advanced planning techniques, which tend to place assets beyond the reach of any future creditors that may come into play if issues arise. This course will discuss preventative planning ideas that can protect you and your employees and keep you in business.
Business Management for Landscape Architects
This workshop consists of an interactive presentation that covers topics relevant to the Landscape Architecture business. This discussion revolves around managing and avoiding the inherent risks of doing business as a Landscape Architect, attracting, motivating and retaining quality employees and planning for the future of the business with properly structured business plans. This presentation also covers topics such as preparing for retirement for the Landscape Architect and employees and properly managing business assets. The workshop begins with a discussion of the realities of doing business and then moves into strategies to prepare for these realities. It closes by bringing these strategies together to form a proper structure for business success.
Plant Appraisals
The issue of tree appraisals has become increasingly important in the current marketplace. Professionals are frequently being called upon to place values on landscape plants and amenities. These professionals are also being called upon to defend their opinions during the dispute resolution process. Tree appraisal values must be realistic and defend-able. This course offering will explain the various methodologies of plant appraisals and link these methods with actual case law pertinent to the appraisal selection.
Successful Compliance with Tree Ordinances
The purpose of this course offering is to present an effective and seamless transition in successfully acquiring tree removal permits while harmoniously linking tree ordinance compliance to positive public perception of the process. The course will present the latest, research-backed tree preservation methodology coupled with a scientific approach to reducing typical tree assessments associated with monetary removal penalties. The course will provide local governmental enforcement personnel for discussions to update and clarify attendee questions and concerns.
Avoiding the Lawyer's Food Chain
The purpose of this course offering is to teach attendees how to deal with a lawsuit if one occurs. More importantly we will discuss preventative measures to help avoid lawsuits and ways to structure your organization to be protected from claims brought on by a lawsuit. Also discussed are the inherent areas of liability exposure and how to take preventative actions to close the gap on some of these areas of potential exposure.
Lien Law
This course is intended to teach attendees the methods required to perfect their lien rights. This will also teach them the methods necessary to protect their assets from judgments and liens.
Objective: To educate attendees about the importance of following FL Lien Law procedures when billing for labor or materials.
Understanding Worker's Compensation
Worker’s compensation experts will review updates on laws and regulations to keep you in compliance. They will also illustrate effective strategies to reduce costs.
Mold in Damp Buildings
Methods to detect and re-mediate mold in buildings.
Objective: To educate attendees about how to recognize Mold during construction of residential and commercial buildings. The attendees will also learn how to limit the growth of mold in buildings using modern construction techniques. Mold remediation techniques will be described during the workshop for various types of construction. Additional topics include types of mold, their differing growth patterns and their affect on humans.
Florida Laws & Rules
This workshop consists of an interactive presentation that covers the laws and rules of Florida Statute 489, Part I.
Objective: After attending this workshop, attendees should be familiar with the construction laws and rules of the state of Florida with specific reference to Statute 489, part I. Attendees will also learn where to go to access these rules and find helpful information to keep them up-to-date and in compliance.
Wind Mitigation Methodologies
This workshop consists of an interactive presentation that covers the requirements of Rule 61G4-18.001(2) (f), Florida Administrative Code.
Objective: After attending this workshop, attendees should be familiar with the construction requirements, as they relate to wind mitigation retrofitting when reroofing. Attendees will also learn where to go to access these requirements and find helpful information to keep them up-to-date and in compliance.
Preparing Financial Statements
We’ll illustrate how to use various financial reports to identify business issues and opportunities so you can run your business efficiently. We’ll cover the implementation of break-even analysis, overhead factoring and effective job bidding tools to better manage sales revenues and margins for the business.
NEC Update
This is a self study correspondence course that includes a 300+ page in-depth illustrated guide to changes to the National Electric Code. It comes with a 36 question exam to ensure effectiveness of the materials.
Objectives:
After completing this program, students will have the necessary information to understand the changes made to the NEC. The study materials not only include the many code changes, but it also gives advice, tips and cautions regarding these codes and their practical use. It also attempts to clarify any codes, which may be confusing to many.