As I’ve recently caught myself daydreaming about “the day I have my own house,” I started contemplating what I would do to make it eco-friendly.  The curiosity of “green” paints got the best of me, so I did some research.

A popular Web site with eco-conscious articles, Treehugger, gives a great synopsis on the various paints and their potential impact on the atmosphere and your health.

For example, Treehugger says that “of the traditional household paints, latex or water-based paints — especially the latex paints that are largely free of formaldehyde and other chemicals to prevent mildew and mold (‘low biocide’) — have lower amounts of VOCs as compared to oil-based paints.”  They also recommend flat finish verses glossy, and white or pale colors verses the more vivid, if you’re trying to lessen the VOCs emitted.

VOCs, by the way, are “a large group of carbon-based chemicals that are volatile, meaning that they like to exist as a gas.”

A co-worker of mine and interior designer, Sonja Bochart, cautions that low- or no-VOC paints are best, as VOCs can create low-quality indoor air and potential health risks.  She says symptoms from VOCs include respiratory ailments, such as stinging and watery eyes, runny nose, headaches, nausea, dizziness and even memory impairments.

Treehugger suggests that you do some research, as different brands contain different amounts of VOCs, even if they are “natural.” 

From Bochart’s experience, many of the major manufacturers have options for low- or no-VOC paints. “One of the highest quality, safest and healthiest paints currently on the market is AFM Safecoat,” she says.  “This product is a no-VOC and a ‘no additional toxins’ product. Although many other paint companies have the no- or low-VOC option, they still contain unregulated toxic ingredients (such as ammonia, solvents  and other odor-masking products) which can contribute to poor indoor air quality.”

Bochart also recommends being a proactive shopper and reviewing the available Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS).  “This information, which is posted on products, and often on product websites, lists a paint’s chemical ingredients and usually a phone number so that the company can be contacted directly to ask questions about what is in the paint.”  According to the U.S. Green Building Council, she says, a guideline for reviewing VOC levels is finding a level of 50 g/l, which is considered low-VOC for flat paint; for an eggshell finish, this level would be 150g/l.  Still, Bochart confirms, no-VOC is the best option. 

For online resources recommended at the end of this Treehugger article, visit Green Seal and Green Home to compare the amounts of VOCs in different paint samples.

You’ve probably helped to plan umpteen special events for project milestones — groundbreakings, topping out celebrations, ribbon cuttings, grand opening ceremonies.  If you’re like me, you’ve at some point wondered how do you make future events stand out?

Here are some things I’ve learned when it comes to planning events:

1.  Center it around a meaningful theme — Does the name of the building evoke some type of emotion, or is it representative of something symbolic?  Find out what the client/owner is passionate about and try to tie this in to the theme, which will usually have some type of visual associated with it.  For example, it you’re working with an educational institution, tie their learning objectives or mission statement into the theme of the building.  Designers usually have a very specific reason for why certain colors were chosen and why the building is laid out in such a way.  Learn the background of the design and the sentiment behind it, and ideas are sure to come.

2.  Look for a holiday or special occasion — I once helped with a grand opening event that we paired with the autumnal equinox — for a science building!  I wish I could say this was my idea, but it wasn’t.  This was definitely an out-of-the-box idea that ended up being very successful.  The invitation mimicked the theme, and a news station showed up to film a live segment on the building the morning of the event.  Sometimes the unorthodox is the best supplement for a banal milestone.

3.  Look to local businesses — Help your neighbors by boosting their sales, and be a hero in the community.  Local businesses offer some of the best creativity.  A peer of mine mentioned that for an event, they had Urban Cookies screen print the building onto cookies, which of course, was a big hit!  You may pay a little more, but the memoir and the creativity gleaned from partnering with local businesses typically make it worthwhile with impressive results.

4.  Remember being a kid — Cookies, bookmarks, candy — childhood favorites can be great things to draw inspiration from — with an adult twist, of course!

5.  Teamwork does wonders — If your client is willing, schedule planning meetings a few months in advance of major events, which includes the entire team — owner(s), contractor, architect and applicable stakeholders that have authority to make decisions.  The first meeting should be of a brainstorming nature and outline the needs of each entity along with an outline of logistics.  As with anything else, meeting minutes and action items are crucial to having a successful event.  Partnerships like this always make for the best and easiest events.

If you have any other helpful tips, please feel free to comment below!

Not so long ago, credibility was a byproduct of projects.  Now, with so few projects in the pipeline or under construction in Arizona, it is important that we bolster credibility in alternative ways.

Publicity

A lack of active projects shouldn’t keep you from speaking out.  Publications are in need of content and fewer ad dollars means reduced budgets for staff writers.  This leaves a gap in resources that you can fill.  If you have a staff member with great writing skills, utilize this person or hire a consultant to work with your technical professionals to write articles for publication.  Build relationships with your local editors and show them the quality of your content and writing skill.  Editorial is free and provides far more credibility than paid advertising.

Speaking Opportunities

Technical professionals are the ‘golden geese’ of knowledge.  Get out there and share what you know.  Speaking engagements position your firm as experts on a topic.  Trade associations are always looking for speakers to address their membership with expertise on compelling topics at luncheons, workshops and conferences.

Committees

If you are a member of a trade association, take the extra time afforded by the slow economy to get involved on a deeper level.  Joining a committee will enhance your experience, help to build relationships and give you access to information and opportunities you would not have otherwise but most of all, the extra time and effort you invest volunteering will send a message to your peers that you are committed, capable and trustworthy.

Making lemonade from lemons is not cliché.  We all have a responsibility to respond to the recession with optimism, adding value and capturing opportunities where we can.

Press Release:

(PHOENIX, Ariz.) — The Society for Marketing Professional Services Arizona chapter presents its next monthly program Creating and Building Internal Relationships on Aug. 13, 2009, 7:15–9:00 a.m., at the Radisson Phoenix Airport, 3333 E. University Dr., Phoenix.  The cost of the program is $35 for SMPS members and $50 for non-members before Aug. 10, which includes breakfast and program registration.

Anita Grantham, chief people officer, of Jokake Construction Services will lead program attendees in a round table discussion about communication between operations and marketing staff.  Each attendee is encouraged to ask two questions of their operations staff prior to the program:

1. If you could change one thing to improve how our departments work together, what would that be?
2. What do you feel is the one thing that inhibits our communication and what should we do to improve these items?

Grantham will then lead the group in a discussion on the best ways to improve communication and internal relationships in a professional setting.

To register for this event, please visit www.smpsarizona.org/events.

Anita Grantham is currently Chief People Officer at Jokake Construction. She has worked in the field of organizational and leadership development, strategic planning, training and human resources for eight years. Anita has expertise in the construction, manufacturing and hospitality industries and is passionate about creating great places to work. Recently, Anita is expanding her interests at Jokake into Business Development.  Anita has been a faculty member at the University of Phoenix since 2006, facilitating undergraduate and graduate human resource and leadership courses.

The Society for Marketing Professional Services (www.smps.org) was created in 1973 by a small group of professional services firm leaders who recognized the need to sharpen skills, pool resources and work together to create business opportunities. Today, SMPS represents a dynamic network of over 6,900 marketing and business development professionals from architectural, engineering, planning, interior design, construction and specialty consulting firms located throughout the United States and Canada. The Society and its 53 chapters benefit from the support of 3,250 design and building firms, encompassing 80 percent of the Engineering News-Record Top 500 Design Firms and Top 400 Contractors.  The mission of SMPS is to be the premier source of education and information for marketers of professional services in the built and natural environments.

Who would have thought the social media tool that entered society about as quick as 80’s clothes lasted would be accused of being for “old people” by a teenager?

A 15-year-old in London decided to text some of his friends and do some research, and in a mere day of interning for a banking company, he concluded teenagers aren’t really that in to Twitter.  Some of his other findings?

According to the Times article, “Twitter is for old people, work experience whiz-kid tells bankers,” Matthew Robson claims teenage boys communicate via the latest video game technology, which now allows players to remotely talk with one another while “blowing up terrorists on the action game Call of Duty.”  Conversely, teenage girls communicate on social networking sites.

Has anyone questioned if pure communication is fading away with the lessening of in-person conversations?  I spend hours a day crafting my written communication skills in e-mails, but am I as good a public speaker now as I was, say, 3 or 4 years ago?  It’s a mystery now, but I can’t help but wonder how well people will communicate 30 years from now.  Technology is great, but it shouldn’t ever replace genuine relationships and grass-roots conversational skills and styles.  I’m curious to see the technological advances that are in the works right now when they finally are released.

In the meantime, read the entire list of Robson’s comprehensive report, which he claims is representative of approximately 300 teenagers.