IMPACT offers professional development education opportunities to support participating ironworking contractors who want to start or advance a business. Since 2013, nearly 6,000 participants have completed IMPACT training courses and attested to their effectiveness.
Training courses have helped many startup and small business contractors stay in business and succeed. Since its inception in July 2015, 465 participants have completed the Construction Contracting Business Fundamentals Academy (BFA), one of the most popular IMPACT training courses, and 91 percent of the participants have reported improvement in job performance and growth. Specifically, they have reported improved confidence in their ability to take on more work, increase efficiency, attract and retain customers, boost profit margins and employ more ironworkers.
Superior Steel Erectors in Kansas saw a significant jump in revenue after participating in IMPACT's training programs. The company reported a gross revenue increase from $13,000 in the first year of participating in IMPACT training to $280,000 in the second year, nearly $700,000 by the fifth year and $1.1 million the following year.
"IMPACT provided the foundation to strengthen our ability to be profitable during the early stage of the company and helped us get established as a successful contractor," said Superior Steel Erectors President and CEO Jodi Ellis.
Mike and Kim Settles of Midwest Premium Contractors Inc. in Iowa found IMPACT's BFA course a godsend when they launched their business three years ago. Mike dreamed of starting his own construction contracting business since beginning his career as an ironworker in 2007. Kim completed the BFA course, where she learned important steps a financial manager should take to avoid bankruptcy and keep a company afloat.
"The BFA course taught me to look at our business from a different perspective," Kim said. "BFA brought some important specifics to my attention that I didn't see before."
The BFA opened new doors for the Settles. The course gave them the confidence they needed to quit their day jobs and commit to making the new business a success.
"The course helped us tap into a higher level and network of clients," Mike said. "Being an ironworking contractor and the great reputation that comes with it helped us secure large-scale clients and projects."
Redinger Steel Erectors Inc. in Michigan had been in business for 20 years when Butch Redinger, a former ironworker with 45 years of experience and president of the company, completed IMPACT business training.
"The BFA course opened my eyes to new opportunities and ways of running a business," Redinger said.
Redinger found the knowledge acquired from the BFA course invaluable. It helped the company implement efficient processes for recordkeeping and financial management. Redinger found his business revenue nearly tripled within a couple years after taking the course. Growth brought some challenges, but IMPACT provided him with guidance along the way.
"IMPACT was just a phone call or email away," Redinger said. "If they didn't have the answer, they knew whom to call in the industry for the advice we needed. You can't learn everything in a week-long class. The support you get from IMPACT after the class is an essential part of the process."
For more information, visit www. impact-net.org or call (202) 393-1147.
