2012 World of Concrete Demonstrations and FAQs

World of Concrete 2012 - I hope that everyone at some time and point in their career gets to experience what I have in the last week.  I have never been more proud of my company, employees or the products HMI manufactures. This last week, HMI gave the World of Concrete a lift!  Over the course of three and a half days HMI completed 77 demonstrations to thousands of attendees at the World of Concrete.   HMI was the first company... Read more...

Make More Money With Your Spray Foam Equipment

A typical story – “I own $50K worth of spray foam equipment. I get work but in today’s economy I am not booked out and often do not have a backlog. I feel like I am just getting by with no solution in sight.”  I have heard this story countless times in recent years from spray foam contractors seeking a solution to the economic reality we now live with. Fortunately – I have an answer.

How to maximize your... Read more...

AN UNDER WATER FOAM! – ANOTHER HMI INNOVATION!

AN UNDER WATER FOAM! – ANOTHER HMI INNOVATION!

Can polyurethane set up, lift concrete and maintain its compressive strength when pumped under slabs where water is present? At HMI it can! RR401g is the latest HMI innovation in perfecting specialized foams for residential, commercial and DOT contractors who lift and level concrete slabs. This 3-4 pound hydrophobic/hydro-insensitive foam is again a two component polyurethane foam product, best delivered by HMI equipment, which sets up, lifts concrete and maintains compressive strength... Read more...

THE “REAL” SECRET OF BUSINESS SUCCESS

A stroll through any book store will bombard you with scores of business books about  “must know” techniques, processes and strategies. We sell a turnkey business package and recently began thinking about the common traits of our most successful customers. Despite an effort to put the ideas in fancy “hot” business terms our conclusion was the secrets of success are: 1)    Learning From Mistakes 2)    Logically and Systematically Solving Problems 3)    Interfacing with People   With more than a half century of business experience... Read more...

VETERANS DOING OUR PART AT HMI!

Last night I listened to President Obama announce the pending return of tens of thousands of young Americans who risked their lives to protect us. This morning I heard the featured news story about the high unemployment of Persian Gulf Veterans. I remember the Vietnam era and the plight of returning Veterans of that time. Unlike that period, it appears to me that our country is rallying around the troops irrespective of political perspective. My chest swelled recently when I was... Read more...

THE NEW MARKETING COMPLEXITY

“How you get the work has changed as much as how you do the work!”

As I was sitting back and observing the recent April HMI Training Seminar, two thoughts came to mind: 1.      How you get the work has changed as much as how you do the work! 2.      When you consider; marketing, estimating, and sales HMI devotes as much time in our seminar on getting the work as we do training future equipment owners on how to do... Read more...

Buying A Career

There are many reasons for starting a business; to make money, to be independent, to be your own boss and to follow the American dream. At least that is how it used to be. Now with a struggling economy and continued down sizing of corporate America, the reason to start a business is to buy a career. Parents are helping their graduating children buy franchise businesses to make sure that they are employed after graduation. ... Read more...

WOC 2011 – Ernie Cvetezar Is Excited!

I am excited!!!!!!   It’s true!!!!!! In the coming weeks the HMI team and I will be heading to my 23rd  World of Concrete. It is not unreasonable to suspect that I would have a ho hum perspective after so many years of potential setbacks that are a result of our economic environment.  Why am I excited? - FIX vs. POUR – The economy for concrete lifters and levelers is sound. With new construction down and budgets tight; fixing and efficiency are what... Read more...

The HMI Training Seminar Experience

The HMI team recently conducted its first training seminar on concrete raising and leveling using either the traditional mudjacking method or our NEW polyurethane concrete lifting system.  Participants came from varied walks of life and brought varied experiences to our headquarters in Manitowoc, WI.  We enjoyed the participation of:  engineers, entrepreneurs, current contractors, retired professionals and some folks who are about to retire.

WHY THEY CAME

– When asked why they came to the HMI seminar three main... Read more...

A little knowledge goes a long way! Learn how to raise concrete in 2 days!

LEARNING TO LIFT & LEVEL CONCRETE
36 Years of Experience in 2 Days

I’ve been asked to give a 3 minute speech on the history of my companies for the introduction segment of our NEW upcoming TRAINING SEMINARS.  WOW -  did that request get me thinking.  I laughed to myself thinking how I could probably talk “for hours” on how I got started in business or how I learned how to mudjack or what my business philosophy is and... Read more...