Three words—learn, build and thrive—marked the theme of this year’s Frame Building Expo, held February 29−March 2 at the America’s Center in St. Louis, Mo. Likewise, three different words—dreams, visions and choices—were key points of this year’s keynote address by Rick Horton, former St. Louis Cardinals pitcher and Major League Baseball color commentator. The first set of words describes post-frame builders’ goals for their business and thriving industry, which is making substantial inroads into the commercial market; the second set signifies life lessons that Horton has learned in his 30 years in baseball and 20 years in sports ministry. To conference attendees, both were inspirational.
Dreams, Visions and Choices
Those listening to Horton share his career stories couldn’t help admiring the boyish enthusiasm he still holds for the world of sports, as well as the humility and insights that he has gained from his many years in that world. “You can learn a lot of lessons, both good and bad, by being around sports,” Horton said, graciously passing around his World Series ring among the more than 300 Expo attendees who attended the early-morning session. “In sports, you learn to deal with failure, success, disappointment and how to build something good.”
Horton emphasized that everyone is a lifelong learner, whether in sports or business. It’s all about team effort, building something important, thriving in your relationships with others—and sometimes just having the chance to show off your talent, he said. He pointed to recent inspirational stories of Knicks point guard Jeremy Lin and Cardinals third baseman David Freese, two athletes who experienced a meteoric rise to stardom. Lin went from benchwarmer (albeit a Harvard-educated one) to top NBA scorer, and Freese became an overnight sensation for his central role in helping the Cardinals win Game 6 of the 2011 World Series in his hometown of St. Louis.
“These [stories] inspire us to think, just maybe, I can have something magical like that happen in my family, neighborhood, community and business,” Horton said. “That’s the great value of sports.”
But success also comes with ethical and moral choices, such as choosing whether to take steroids to enhance athletic performance. “At what price does one do the wrong thing rather than having the character and clear conscience to do the right thing? Do things the right way,” Horton urged. “Dreams, visions and choices: these are three words, in my experience, that hold things together. They are how good teams and businesses are developed and how families function well.”
Everyone, including star pitchers, makes mistakes and encounters humbling experiences, Horton said, noting stories of his own “humblers,” including fair-weather fans. Despite these challenges, he said, think big, have a vision or clear plan to make dreams happen, and make good choices such as surrounding yourself with people who encourage you to follow your passion.
Most important, resist taking shortcuts and undercutting team effort, and always keep your eye on the prize. Horton explains that pitchers do this by aiming for a particular spot on a catcher’s mitt, despite all the noise and distractions around them. “People with vision understand that the more you center your vision, the more [likely that] you will fulfill your dreams.”
Learn, Build and Thrive
Some highlights of the 3-day event:
• Eighteen hours of valuable educational sessions and information on the latest industry advancements, plus competitions, product demonstrations, networking opportunities, music, and nearly 110 company exhibits on the trade show floor provided value to attendees.
• Harvey Manbeck, PhD PE, professor emeritus at Penn State University, was recognized for his many years of distinguished service for the NFBA. Harvey has served on NFBA’s Technical & Research Committee since 1986 and as NFBA’s technical advisor since 2007.
• The NFBA luncheon honored NFBA Building of the Year contestants; the winner of the 2011 Bernon G. Perkins Award (Leo Shirek, Wick Buildings); the American Building Components’ Crew Foreman of the Year (Jason Potts, FBi Buildings Inc.); and Rural Builder Hall of Fame inductees (John Darrah of McElroy Metal; Steve Eversole of Eversole Builders; and Ted Funk of University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign).
• A special 4-hour workshop, The Application, Design, and Specification of Post-Frame Buildings, gave attendees the opportunity to earn American Institute of Architects (AIA) credits. Other sessions focused on topics in construction practices, sales and marketing, and management/leadership/operations.
• The 2012 Frame Building Expo trade show floor served as venue for product demonstrations, evening hospitality events sponsored by Wheeling Corrugating Company and Plyco, daily prize drawings, and the annual screw-driving competition sponsored by Atlas Bolt & Screw Company and a nail-pounding competition sponsored by Maze Nails. Another popular Expo attraction was the Christians in Construction Reception, which featured music by the Steve Woolley Band.
“Our small-business owners’ breakfast on Friday was a huge success. We got a lot of great ideas from the guys, and I think you will be seeing some of these at next year’s Expo in Memphis,” said NFBA Board Chair Larry Edema of Wick Buildings. “Many of the breakout sessions were standing room only, and everyone enjoyed the NFBA Awards Luncheon where many great-looking post-frame buildings were honored.” Edema also thanked Ken Gieseke of McElroy Metal for hosting the luncheon.
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