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Your Roundtables Frequently Asked Questions, Answered
Hundreds of remodeling company owners have found business success through their membership in the peer-review program, Remodelers Advantage Roundtables.Q.
Who is involved in Remodelers Advantage Roundtables
Q.
How many members are currently in Remodelers Advantage Roundtables?
Q: How many companies
are represented in any one group?
Q: Are the groups split up
according to business niche?
Q: What criteria are used
for selecting which group my company will join?
Q: Are there regional
groups?
Q What do you mean by
"non-competitive?"
Q: Who may
attend a Remodelers Advantage Roundtables meeting?
Q: May I bring other key employees
to the Roundtables meeting?
Q: How often will my group
meet?
Q. Where will my group meet?
Q: What is the tone of the
meetings?
Q: Who decides which company
will be the focus of a Case Study?
Q. Can you describe a typical
Case Study Meeting?
Q. The Case Study
Meeting happens only once a year. What happens at the second annual
meeting?
Q.
What if I am unable to attend my scheduled Roundtables Group
meeting?
Q. How am I billed?
Q. Are there other
benefits of membership?
Q. Besides the facilitator
and the members, will anyone else attend my meeting?
Q. Who
are the facilitators?
Q. Do I have any other expenses
besides membership dues?
Q. What do I have to do
to prepare for a meeting?
Q. Do we have input on improving
the program?
Q. Do you offer anything
for our employees?
Q. What other services
are offered?
Q. How do I join?
Q.Who is involved in Remodelers
Advantage?
A. Linda Case and Victoria
Downing are nationally known industry consultants and are co-owners
of Remodelers Advantage Inc. They,
along with an array of other industry experts and top remodelers,
provide a variety of services to remodelers with the goal of enhancing
their lives by improving their businesses.
Q. How many members are in
Roundtables?
A. There are currently 225 members in twenty-two groups. New groups are added regularly as demand is constantly increasing..
Q: How many companies are in a Roundtables
group?
A: For our members to receive the greatest benefit, we believe
that each company deserves quality time in their meetings. For this
reason, we have limited the number of companies represented in any
one group to12.
Q: Are Roundtables groups split up according
to business niche?
A: Most of our Roundtables members operate a full-line remodeling company and our groups reflect
that composition.
Q: What criteria are used for selecting
which Roundtables group my company will join?
A: First, we look
for groups that have openings, then we make sure there are no competitors or other companies from your geographic region in those groups. This is critical to insure confidentiality among
your fellow group members, and for the success of the program as
a whole. Our members must feel totally comfortable disclosing the
intimate details of their business to their peers.
Secondly, the volume of business must be in the same general range as those of the other members. This helps to ensure similar priorities and challenges for the group to focus on and minimizes the amount of time spent on issues not of critical importance for you and your company. Currently, fourteen of our groups are exclusively for owners of companies producing $1,000,000 or more annually. (They actually average about $3,500,000 and up.)
Q: Are there regional groups?
A: No. Remodelers Advantage Roundtables have members from
around the country and, indeed the world, participating
in each group.
Q. What do you mean by "non-competitive?"
A. The membership of any Roundtables
Group will be carefully screened to insure only one member from
any specific geographic area. Because you're not competing with
any of your fellow members, you'll feel more comfortable sharing
the intimate company details which is essential if you're going
to receive the maximum benefit.
Q: Who may attend a Roundtables meeting?
A: Roundtables is an executive-level organization so we require
the company owner to be the main company representative at a Roundtables
meeting.
Q: May I bring other key employees to the
Roundtables meeting?
A. Yes. Check out our two-person membership if you plan to bring a key manager to every meeting. Or you can bring someone to meetings on an ad hoc basis if you like. There is a minimum additional investment of $525/meeting. Remember, this is an
executive-level meeting so only high level management are allowed
to join the group. Also, it is totally open book so be sure that you feel comfortable talking about your salary, profitability issues, and other tricky subjects in front of whoever you bring. To take the power of Roundtables to your staff, Remodelers Advantage also offers PowerMeetings which are described below.
Q: How often will my Roundtables
group meet?
A: Each group meets individually twice a year. One meeting, the
Strategic Focus Meeting, concentrates on a specific area of your
business — sales, training, strategic planning, team building, or
financial management, to name some of the past topics. The second
is a Case Study. This is an in-depth review of one of your fellow
member companies.
Q. Where will my Roundtables
group meet?
A. The meeting locations can be anywhere in the
country. For Case Study meetings - during which we visit a member
company - we'll obviously go wherever that company is located. For
other meetings, we typically choose locations that have a vacation
flavor such as Santa Fe, NM; Jeckyll Island, GA; Captiva Island,
FL for example.
Q: What is the tone of Roundtables meetings?
A: The atmosphere at Remodelers Advantage
Roundtables meetings is fun, casual, challenging, intense,
and caring. Intimate details of your company and the financials
will be discussed in the meeting. Every member receives between
45 minutes to an hour as the focus of the group at which time you
have the opportunity to ask for advice and input on issues of concern.
You will also be questioned and challenged by your fellow members
to make sure your plans are sound and realistic.
Members are direct and brutally honest. You should enter the group with a very open mind, try not to rebut suggestions, and be willing to change and innovate.
Q: Who decides which company will be the
focus of a Case Study?
A: Those owners who would like the group
to visit have the opportunity to invite their Remodelers
Advantage Roundtables group to their company. Then your fellow
group members vote on which company they would like to visit. While
their decision may take seniority into consideration, there is no
guarantee that every company will have a Case Study review.
Q: Can you describe a typical Case Study
Meeting.
A: A Case Study meeting lasts for three days. The first meeting day is dedicated to the Case Study Host Company. Click here for a typical Roundtables agenda.
During the Case Study meeting, our goal is to help the owner identify strengths and uncover weaknesses and then to create an action plan to help the host company owner improve the company.
Day 2 of the meeting begins at 8:00 am. This day is mainly spent in Company Focus Sessions - each company owner in turn has the opportunity to ask the rest of the group for input and advice on any and all areas of the business. In addition, the group has the opportunity to ask questions, challenge assumptions and push the owner into thinking outside of the box.
The meeting adjourns for the day at approximately 5:00 PM. During a Case Study Meeting, it's typical for the host company to take everyone to dinner this evening.
Day 3 of the meeting begins at 8:00 am. During this day, we conclude the Company Focus time for each company. Any additional time is spent discussing topics of interest to all or taking advantage of an interactive exercise developed by Remodelers Advantage to maximize your opportunity to gather information. The meeting ends variably between 2:30 pm and 5:00 pm.
Q. What is the second Roundtables meeting like?
A.
At this meeting, we focus on an area of business management
for one full day. Topics we've covered include sales management/training,
strategic planning, team building, leadership, and Personal and
Business Planning. No matter what the topic, you can be sure that
it will help you focus on developing a company that will be instrumental
in helping you reach your personal goals as well. During the second
and third days of the meeting, we'll once again focus on each company
in turn during the Company Focus Sessions. Click here for a typical Roundtables agenda.
Q: What if I am unable to attend my scheduled
Roundtables meeting?
A: Remodelers
Advantage Roundtables is a membership program. We expect
all members to attend all meetings. We do understand that emergencies
occur so if you have to miss a meeting due to an emergency please
let us know as soon as possible.
As a member of Remodelers Advantage Roundtables, we do expect you to make attendance at your group's meeting a priority so while we understand missing one meeting, missing more than two consecutive meetings may be cause to terminate your membership.
In the case that you do miss a meeting, we'll work with you to provide you with the opportunity to make up a meeting by attending a meeting with another group within the same cycle (Fall or Spring). This make-up meeting will be selected by you and Remodelers Advantage.
Q. How will I be billed for
Roundtables membership dues?
A. After your initiation fee, you will
receive invoices semi-annually. You can request an automatic payment
to credit card, or simply send a check. We work to make our systems
easy and hassle-free for you.
Q: Are there any other benefits of membership
in Roundtables?
A: Yes! A long list of Member Benefits:
- Highly Experienced Facilitator Team
- Recognized Industry Experts participate in every meeting
- Expansive Network
- Gain access to our ever-expanding network of business leaders who stand ready to share their knowledge and experience with fellow members.
- Web-based Resource Library
- more than 250 documents --Job descriptions, spreadsheets, checklists and more – at your fingertips.
- Private Discussion Forums
- Ask for input on specific issues from the entire community
- PowerMeetings & Workshops
- Production Managers PowerMeeting
- Building a Winning Sales Team Workshop
- Administration PowerMeeting
- Couples Workshop
- Expert Speaker Workshops
- Recognized experts in critical business topics deliver fresh perspectives and practical insights, and inspire breakthrough ideas.
- Expanded Network of Experts
- GuildQuality
- Continuum Marketing
- EasyBackgrounds.com
- AdminiStaff
- And many more!
- From the Business Leaders Audio Series
- Each month, business leaders share their thoughts, ideas and strategies for building highly successful remodeling businesses.
- Listen to Sal Alfano, Editorial Director of Remodeling Magazine. This is just one sample of many audio sessions From the Business Leaders. Be patient, it's a large file and may take a minute or two to download and open.
- Annual Financial Comparison Survey
- Are you as profitable as you should be?
- How do you compare to the best in the industry?
- Human Resource Data Comparison
- Pay scales for key employees
- Benefit package data
- Publicity Opportunities
- Because of the high caliber of our members, editors from industry publications across North America look to Remodelers Advantage for editorial resources. Watch for Publicity Blasts in your email and give the industry the benefit of your experience!
- Advantage Report
- An information packed monthly newsletter exclusively for our members.
Q: Besides the facilitator and the members,
will anyone else attend my Remodelers Advantage
Roundtables meeting?
A: From time to time, you will have guests at your meeting. We have
a program called the Remodelers Advantage
Roundtables Insider Program which allows one representative
from a national company to participate in a meeting. The goal of
this representative is to learn as much as they possibly can about
the challenges facing remodeling contractors. With this information,
theyre able to develop programs which will help remodelers while
increasing sales. These representatives are not flies on the wall
but active participants. They are vowed to confidentiality and are
given limited access to the member's financial information.
From time to time, a representative from another organization or industry publication may attend to experience the power of Remodelers Advantage Roundtables firsthand.
Q: Who are the facilitators
of the Remodelers Advantage Roundtables
meetings?
A: In addition to founder, Linda
Case and president, Victoria
Downing, our facilitators also include Judith Miller, Paul Winans, Jim Strite and David Bryan.. Learn more about our facilitators here.
Q: Do I have any other expenses besides
membership dues?
A: Remodelers Advantage covers all meeting costs and many of your
meals. You are responsible for your own hotel and transportation
to the meeting. While we negotiate with the headquarters hotel for
the best rates and guaranteed room availability, you are responsible
for making your own hotel reservation by the cut off date. These
dates are published on our web site and are available 24/7.
Q: What do I have to do to prepare for
a Remodelers Advantage Roundtables
meeting?
A: You are required to complete our Company Focus Form
and submit it along with other pertinent company information including
detailed financial statements by the deadline, also published on
the web. At the advice of our members, we've instituted a "fee"
structure for those who are late with their forms, collecting a
minimum fine which is then added to the Remodelers Advantage Charity
Fund and distributed through programs like the
Remodelers Advantage Roundtables SafetyNet
Program.
Q: Do we have input on improving the program?
A: We are always looking for ways to improve Remodelers
Advantage Roundtables and have found that the best ideas
often come from our members. If you have ideas that you feel would
add value to the meetings, we want to hear from you. In addition,
we try to hold a meeting of an Remodelers
Advantage Roundtables Advisory Board each year. It is typically
held immediately preceding or during a major industry event such
as The Remodelers Show or Remodeling magazine's Leadership Conference.
Q: Do you offer anything for our employees?
A: Yes! We're so enthusiastic about the power of Remodelers
Advantage Roundtables that we're always looking for ways
to bring it to your employees. With this in mind, we created PowerMeetings,
focused conferences dedicated to your key employees that are available
for an additional investment.
Q: What other services are offered by
Remodelers Advantage?
A: Remodelers Advantage is dedicated to helping remodelers enhance
their lives by improving their businesses. To do this, we deliver
information, ideas and direction through a variety of services:
Q: How do I join Remodelers
Advantage Roundtables?
A: Simply complete this form and one of our team members will be in touch with you within 48 business hours to explore your current situation, your goals, to discuss your challenges and to see if Remodelers Advantage is right for you.
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Official Charity of 2008
Remodelers Advantage Inc.
535 Main Street, Suite 211
Laurel, MD 20707
301-490-5620
Info@RemodelersAdvantage.com