BHA Hosted Regional Meeting in Atlantic City

On September 20-21, 2017 attendees were greeted by the remnants of tropical storm Jose moving along and off the east coast of the United States, while the Tropicana Hotel in Atlantic City served as a gracious host to a very well attended BHA regional meeting. The hotel is comprised of five different guest/ meeting towers and the Havana Tower served as the meeting location. To make your way to the meeting room, attendees were able to walk through a retail section of the hotel with Cuban-themed shops and restaurants depicting the streets of Havana!

Once in the meeting room, it was all business as attendees were introduced to a variety of in-depth breakout sessions covering a wide range of topics.Those present experienced ideas on encapsulating a crawl space, critical ideas and steps on how to implement safety procedures when completing foundation repairs, including audience input on their own experiences. Additional sessions identified benchmarks on how to generate “e-business”, an experienced review of understanding moisture control, a critical review of mold in basements and crawl spaces and a fascinating study/review of structural repair signs and symptoms. The meeting closed with a roundtable discussion on how and when a business owner should consider raising prices.

In a time when all businesses are finding ways to do more with less, this live meeting provided a wide variety of value oriented processes to adapt to your current operations, provided methods to utilize to maximize your Internet presence and how monitor your margins and recognize when you need to make changes.

A BHA New Member

During the BHA regional meeting in Atlantic City, Ms. Susan Bryan was in attendance and decided to join the Association. Being from Houston it seemed very timely to invite Ms.

Bryan to tell us a little more about herself, her company and to provide a first-hand update on what is taking place in Houston since Hurricane Harvey.

Ms. Bryan responded to a series of questions…

How long has your company been in business? Olshan Foundation Repair started in Houston, Texas in 1933.

What prompted you to pursue a business in waterproofing/structural repair/radon or mold remediation, etc.?

As we expanded into new markets, outside of Texas in the early 2000’s, we came across homes that had basements. Naturally in the course of our business we started getting request from customers to help them with their basement waterproofing problems or basement wall problems.

 

What is your market like currently? Olshan Foundation Solutions has offices that service customers in different markets across the country. As a result, market conditions can vary widely from Kansas City to Houston or from Nashville to Jackson, MS. For example, currently in Houston we are working with many customers who are interested in learning about the options for Home Elevation to help avoid future flooding post Hurricane Harvey.

Does Houston need more contractors to help complete this type of work?

There are lots of foundation repair contractors in the Houston area. At one point we counted as many as 132 foundation repair contractors in Houston. With over 95% of the homes being slab on grade there are very few below grade waterproofing problems. It’s been a very wet year in 2017 on top of the prior two wet years so there has been very little differential settlement in Houston area homes from expansive clays, however, post Hurricane Harvey there is an emerging interest from homeowners for Home Elevation Projects. 

Does the greater Houston community need anything specific at the moment? Over the next 5 years?

Elevation. Home Elevation: Post Hurricane Harvey many customers are contemplating elevating their homes above Base Flood Elevation prior to performing the repairs to their home. This is something Olshan of New Orleans did post Hurricane Katrina and we believe is a good option for people who have experienced repetitive loss or have intentions of staying

in their home long term and will realize the ROI and savings from Home Elevation. Using specialized equipment Olshan can elevate a home up to 20’ above the existing grade safely and efficiently. However, most municipalities are asking property owners to lift 1’ – to 2’ above the Base Flood Elevation to help avoid future floods. Most projects take 60-90 days on a turn-key basis but the actual elevation takes place in a day. It’s really quite amazing.

 

Post Hurricane Harvey many customers are contemplating elevating their homes above Base Flood Elevation prior to performing the repairs to their home. This is something Olshan of New Orleans did post Hurricane Katrina and we believe is a good option for people who have experienced repetitive loss or have intentions of staying in their home long term and will realize the ROI and savings from Home

Could you identify the one project that provided the most significant challenge in your career? What was it about that project that almost caused you to leave the industry? That’s a tough one. Our family has been in the business since 1983 and three generations are involved in the business today. One project that sticks out was an underpinning project at a VA

 

Memorial. Olshan Golden Triangle was hired to underpin a fighter plane that was on exhibit. The entire platform was sinking. It was a unique project to begin with because it was not your normal home or commercial building, but in What have you enjoyed
the most in doing what you do? Helping people is the greatest satisfaction, personally or professionally. Whether it’s seeing a customer’s face when they see the driving phase of the project the pilings were going more than 85 feet deep. The project was
completed successfully but took much longer than we ever dreamed it would. What would be your advice to someone considering starting a business in your line of work? Start with good people. We are very proud that we have team members we have worked with
since the day we got into the business. As a service business, you can have the best products in the world but without the right people installing them and the right people working with your customers you won’t be successful. The people make the difference.
their problem fixed and their home put back together or an employee who worked hard, got a promotion and sees a future for him and his family. It’s really all about the people. You attended the BHA event in Atlantic City, and joined during the session,
we appreciate your response and joining BHA. Did the meeting in Atlantic City meet your expectations? This was my first time to a BHA meeting in some time (all the way back to it being the NAWSRC). I thought the meeting in Atlantic City offered great
educational topics and a welcoming and open atmosphere for professional development and networking with other business owners, suppliers and vendors.

Basement Health Association Winter Meeting Las Vegas, January 23-25, 2018

The Basement Health Association (BHA) is a Co-Sponsor of the World of Concrete and we want to encourage all members to join us at our 2018 Winter Meeting taking place during the World of Concrete in Las Vegas.

Our meetings will be held at the Las Vegas Convention Center and we have breakout sessions scheduled for: Tuesday January 23, 8:30 am to 12:30 pm. Wednesday January 24, 8:30 am to 12:30 pm, and Thursday January 25, our member luncheon at Lawry’s Steak House from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm.

Bally’s Las Vegas Hotel and Casino located on the strip has been our location of choice in recent years for the evening receptions. This year is no different. The exact location will be provided later, however join us Monday, 

Tuesday and Wednesday evenings on the 26th floor at Bally’s, where food, spirits, prizes and an exciting time is to be had by all.

 

Winter meeting registration includes all meeting sessions, receptions; Thursday’s lunch and an entrance pass to the exhibit hall. An exceptional value!

Throughout these BHA-hosted activities,

attendees will be able to visit the World ofConcrete exhibition floor with show hours of

9:00 AM – 5:00 PM Tuesday – Thursday and 9:00

AM – 1:00 PM on Friday.

For more information visit the website: www.basementhealth.org or contact us at: info@basementhealth.org

We cannot wait to see you all in Las Vegas!

BHA Receives Warm and Supportive Comments from a New Member

In Atlantic City in September, the firm H2O Pro, LLC arrived as a non-member but the husband and wife team joined BHA while attending the regional meeting. In a follow up dialogue with Carole Smith, a BHA board member who was attending with her husband,
Liz Keefer from H2O Pro, LLC, submitted the following comments about BHA and the regional meeting. It was a true pleasure meeting both you and your husband at the regional meeting. Coming into a new association in which we did not know anyone, you made
us feel so at home. Thank you! 
“As a new member to the Basement Health Association, all I can say is I wish I had joined sooner. Both my husband and I recently attended the fall regional meeting in Atlantic City and were blown away by the knowledge in the rooms. I am an Indoor Environmental
Professional, and my husband owns a waterproofing company. There was information for us both which helps balance the industry from all perspectives. What a breath of fresh air to see IAQ, mold remediation, waterproofing, and structural support professionals
come together creating healthy homes.” – Liz Keefer

Association Proudly Offers Four Certifications for Professionals

The Basement Health Association (BHA) proudly provides four different certifications for member company’s personnel experienced in field operations. Currently we offer Specialist Certification in the following: Waterproofing, Structural Repair, Egress Installation and Basement Air Quality. The certification exams are for individuals not for member companies. So an individual becomes certified and the company can then promote that they have a certified specialist on staff. The BHA certification exam is a best practice type exam. While BHA provides study guide material to assist with exam preparation, we do not provide academic style or hands-on style training geared toward specifically passing an exam. To be eligible to sit for a BHA certification exam, the member company should have been a member of the association for at least one year. Depending on the certification desired, it is expected that substantial field experience would be part of the certification applicant’s background, usually 2-5 years or more. Certification exams are $500 per person, per exam. Once successfully completed, the fee is good for the credential holder’s lifetime, if the individual maintains 15 certification credits every two years. A schedule of certification credits is available from the national office as is an exam application. For example attending one live regional meeting is typically worth 6-8 certification points. Attending the mid-year winter meeting during the World of Concrete is typically worth 10-12 certification points. Writing articles for the newsletter, serving as a chair of a standing committee or attending industry education sessions outside of the association are also eligible for certification credits. BHA certification allows an individual to demonstrate their respective skill-set in the trade. For most, this certification represents an achievement in their professional career. If you are interested in obtaining a BHA certification application and study guide, please contact the BHA national office at
(800) 245-6292 or info@basementhealth.org.

New Members

Dave Bramer
ABT Foundation Solutions, Inc.
8718 State Road 76
Neenah, WI 54956
(920) 733-4228
Brad Huxol
Accelerated Development Group
600 SW Jefferson Street, #302
Lees Summit, MO 64063
(816) 803-4554

Robert Wright
Advanced Polyzone Inc
180 S. Western Ave. #305
Carpentersville, IL 60110
(847) 669-1100
Todd Bumbarger
All Dry Basement
118 Woodlawn Avenue
Saratoga Springs, NY 12866
(518) 669-5607
Alex Maia
All Dry Basement Systems
34-J Keeler Street
Danbury, CT 06810
(203) 482-7911
Rob Dunham
All-Star Basements, LLC
6011 Countryview Court, NW
Rochester, MN 55901
(507) 259-7776
Tom Gallagher
AquaGuard Systems, Inc.
4240 Greenburg Pike, Suite 101
Pittsburgh, PA 15221
(412) 242-6500
Mark Williams
B.A.M.! Basements and Masons
7535 NE 19th Street
Ankeny, IA 50021
(515) 963-0226
Peter Westera
Basement Systems USA, Inc.
2092 East Old Philadelphia Road
Elkton, MD 21921
(443) 504-2263
Andrew Altman
Best Buy Waterproofing, LLC
8950 Route 108, Suite 221
Columbia, MD 21045
(844) 980-3707

Michael Blake
Cornerstone Cleaning & Restoration, Inc
P.O. Box 1010
Sugar Grove, IL 60554
(630) 557-2000
Aaron Raymond
DECO Products
7900 E. 40th Avenue
Denver, CO 80207
(303) 316-4820
Sam Rathbun
Earth Contact Products
15612 South Keeler Terrace
Olathe, KS 66062
(913) 393-0007

Sabrina Hebert
Foundation Finance Company
7802 Meadow Rock Drive
Weston, WI 54476
(715) 573-4535
Robert Keefer
H2O Pro, LLC
31765 Hickory Manor Road
Frankford, DE 19945
(302) 321-7077
Brett Symes
HomeAdvisor
14023 Denver West Parkway
Golden, CO 80401
(303) 963-8368
Ron Lucien
Hudy Waterproofing Services, LLC
21782 Lorain Road
Fairview Park, OH 44126
(440) 842-3978
Kevin McPherson
Hydro Channel, LLC
9579 Hess Road
Edwardsville, IL 62025
(618) 887-4774
Erica Walter
I’m The Guy, LLC
315 Point Township Drive
Northumberland, PA 17857
(877) 576-1193
Stephen LaKari
Lakari Waterproofing
3308 Charlotte Street
Erie, PA 16508
(814) 392-2209

Ron Greenbaum
Nash Distribution
13659 East Main Street
Reynoldsburg, OH 43068
(800) 288-0831
Susan Bryan
Olshan Foundation Solutions
8400 N. Sam Houston Parkway W., #200
Houston, TX 77064
(281) 664-8412
Dave Hutcher
Poseidon Waterproofing, LLC
90 Christy Park Drive
Indiana, PA 15701
(814) 880-4408
Nick Delia
Saber Concrete Repair
7 Simeon Lane
Litchfield, NH 03052
(603) 262-5406
Ari Moskowitz
SEC America, LLC
P.O. Box 2266
South Burlington, VT 05407
(802) 865-8388
Mark Minton
Stay Dry Waterproofing
24509 Holycross Epps Drive
Marysville, OH 43040
(614) 339-3434
Shelly Masone
The Blue Book
P.O. Box 500
Jefferson Valley NJ 10535
(800) 922-9962
Jim Parks
UniPar Inc.
130 Royal Street
Reedsville, PA 17084
(717) 994-7346
Wes Golden
Warden Companies
P.O. Box 280
Lincolnton, NC 28093
Matthew Flynn
Wisconsin Home Services
W226 N880 Eastmound Drive
Waukesha, WI 53186
(262) 650-1006

John Bryant

President
AquaGuard Waterproofing Corp. 6820 Distribution Drive Beltsville, MD 20705 T (301) 595-9670 jbryant@aquaguardwaterproofing.com

Andre Lacroix

Vice President
EZ Breathe Healthy Home Solutions, LLC 349 Highland Road E. Macedonia, OH 44056 T (330) 468-6500 andrel@ezbreathe.com

Jason Weinstein

Secretary/Treasurer
Budget Dry Waterproofing 158 Route 81 Killingworth, CT 06419 T (203) 421-8560 jason@budgetdry.com

John BryantBill Crawford

Director

Alan Chandler

Director

Hugo D’Esposito

Director

Jerome Fokas

Director

Dave Hill

Director

Dan Jaggers

Director

Sean Worthington

Director

Robert LanFrank

Director

Luke Secrest

Director

Jeff Roberts

Association Executive

Melissa Morton

Newsletter Editor Media relations

Basement Health Association 2018 Committees

Vice President

Andre Lacroix

EZ Breathe Healthy Home Solutions, LLC 349 Highland Road E. Macedonia, OH 44056

  • (330) 468-6500 andrel@ezbreathe.com

DIRECTOR

David Hill

Spruce Environmental/RadonAway

3 Saber Way

Ward Hill, MA 01835

  • (800) 767-3703 dhill@spruce.com

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

John Bryant (President)

Andre Lacroix (Vice President)

Jason Weinstein (Secretary/Treasurer)

 

BUDGET COMMITTEE Alan Chandler (Chair)

SECRETARY/TREASURER

Jason Weinstein, CWS, CES

 

Budget Dry Waterproofing 158 Route 81 Killingworth, CT 06419

 

  • (203) 421-8560 jason@budgetdry.com

DIRECTOR

Dan Jaggers, CSRS, CFRS

CL Support Services, LLC

8400 N. Sam Houston Pkwy W.

Houston, TX 77064

 

  • (281) 664-8443 djaggers@cablelock.com

EDUCATION COMMITTEE

Hugo D’Esposito (Chair), Andre Lacroix, Sean Worthington

 

MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE

 

Robert Lanfrank (Co-Chair) and Rick Frack, Ed Stolba, Marc Weinstein

 

CERTIFICATION COMMITTEE Jerome Fokas (Chair)

DIRECTOR

 

Luke Secrest CWS

 

Rhino Products USA, Inc.

1633 Thornwood Drive

 

Heath OH. 43056

 

888-684-3889

 

lsecrest@rhinocarbonfiber.com

DIRECTOR

Sean Worthington, CWS

Worthington Waterproofing System 404 Edgewood Drive Exton, PA 19341

 

  • (610) 280-777 sean@worthingtonwaterproofing.com

NOMINATING COMMITTEE Dan Jaggers (Chair)

 

GRIEVANCE & STANDARDS COMMITTEE

 

President, Vice President, Treasurer

 

PUBLICATIONS

 

Melissa Morton (Chair), Dan Jaggers

DIRECTOR

Alan Chandler, CWS, CSRS

All Dry, Inc.

P.O. Box 148266

Nashville, TN 37214

 

alan@alldrysolutions.com

DIRECTOR

Robert Lanfrank, CWS

Healthy Way Waterproofing & Mold

Remediation, LLC

1901 Route 71, Suite 2D

Wall, NJ 07719

  • (732)741-1103 rlanfrank@healthywaynj.com

INTERNET/WEB COMMITTEE

 

Bill Crawford

 

WOC & REGIONAL MEETINGS COMMITTEE

 

Alan Chandler (Chair)

 

STAR AWARD COMMITTEE

Tara Hoey (Chair), Cynthia Keegan

DIRECTOR

Hugo D’Esposito, CWS, CES

  1. M. Shield Corporation 33 Albertson Avenue Albertson, NY 11507

 

  • (516) 294-8400 hugo@amshieldcorp.com

Director

Bill Crawford, CWS

Rainmaker Internet Marketing 217 South Main Street Wheaton, IL 60187

 

  • (630) 929-7246 bill@rainmakerinternetmarketing.com

SPONSOR RELATIONS COMMITTEE

 

Marc Weinstein

 

ASSOCIATION OUTREACH

COMMITTEE

 

Bryce Skeeters (Chair)

Find a Pro Near You!

Need Help?

Need help finding a high quality contractor in your area? Simply use the search box to the left to find your nearest Basement Health Professional! If you need additional assistance or have a question, call us!

(800) 245-6292

contractors, click here

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