What makes Resicom different?

Every company has a distinct culture- the history, the creativity, the ingenuity behind what keeps the company growing and moving forward. We call these legendary stories.

Thanks, in part to Resicom, my brother and I have been able to buy a beautiful home.  The company is about consistency.  Consistency with what we offer clients, but also consistency with employees.  Resicom believes in offering a level of stability to technicians that normally aren’t used to having consistent incomes that can be counted upon.  Resicom doesn’t hire technicians just in the busy season, only to lay them off in the slower months.  I don’t know many other companies in the trades industry that offer salary positions to employees.  But because of this stability offered, I’ve been able to purchase a home, enjoy vacations, and experience a quality of life that I have worked hard to achieve.   I would like to think that I have grown up with Resicom, and I look forward to many more prosperous years.

Resicom is committed to getting better at the things that matter to us.  We call it the bold pursuit of what normal should be.   It should be normal that a company can create opportunities for the employees that help build our business.

Open Position :: Dispatcher

The Dispatcher role in Operations is responsible for logistics coordination of all in-house resources including manpower, fleet, warehouse and stock.  This role reports directly to the Director of Operations.

Ideal candidate skill set

• Solid understanding of work scope within trades industry
• General knowledge base of various trades disciplines
• Familiarity with state labor laws
• Communicates well within different levels of organization
• Excels at relationship management and conflict resolution
• Ability to produce multi-media technician training resources
• Ability to coach technicians and promote development
• Demonstrates company culture, policy and procedure
• Thrives within and produces exemplary results in high pressure situations

Dispatcher is responsible for holding technician team accountable and tracking performance.  Dispatcher KPIs include revenue per technician, capital management and  project expediting.

Interested candidates should send resume and cover letter to likemindedpeople@resicomonline.com.  No phone calls please.

How does changing a 9-volt battery save a facility hundreds of dollars later?

A national retailer needed a systematic inspection of their facilities.  During these visits, it was determined including a procedure to check the battery in the exit door alarm system could prevent a more costly on-demand work ticket when the battery failed.

Scope of the Work

1.  Technicians should carry a supply of 9-volt batteries when conducting preventative maintenance at each location. 

2.  Attach piece of masking tape labeled with date onto battery.

3.  Open battery case for exit alarm system and inspect battery.  Batteries older than a set timeframe should be exchanged. 

Challenges 

1.  Typically a project meets obstacles during preparation or in delivery.  However, in this instance, the challenge of how to cut costs was the issue. This project became a solution to a client need.       

Solutions

1. The solution relied on company differentiators to make the project a success.  
2. Accountability – The client set the standard for at what interval the battery should be changed.  
3. Structure – The procedure was incorporated into the existing Preventative Maintenance Plan so the battery swap was not overlooked.  Checklist documentation ensures that details of systematic inspections are not forgotten.  
4. Communication – A simple piece of tape with the date communicates when to replace saving the client hundreds per location

Summary

By simply checking the shelf life of a battery, the client was protected against a more costly on-demand repair.  When the 9-volt battery fails, the system emits an alarm that must be turned off by an electrician.  This on-demand service cost approximately $200.  Being proactive during PM’s and having a checklist of items to inspect saves the client aggravation and expense.

It should be normal for people to communicate clearly and courageously, and save some of their finite resources.

If you ask anyone in the facility management “What is the most important key to success?” – The resounding answer will be Communication.  This one word is the key ingredient in all successful partnerships.

It is an indisputable fact – poor communication costs time, money, and occasionally even sanity. But how does the concept of good communication become tangible?  The answer is documentation that is relevant and clear.

Action Plans  Accessible information for project execution

Project Scopes can be incredibly detailed- but not all information is relevant to different parties involved.  For example, on-site facility managers need to know where technicians will be working and when.  Resicom has created one-page, color-coded action plans that can be easily posted within the facility.  This keeps everyone on the same page – literally.

Smart Sheets  Real time updates available online

Updates required hourly, daily or at pre-determined intervals can be easily accessed through web-based smart sheets.

Before and After Photos  Picture worth a thousand words

Technicians equipped with iPhones are able to send detailed before and after photos and video of project completion.  Supplemental information can be directly displayed on photos using geo-tagging and Jing programs

“Sometimes You Have to Look Over the Edge and Not Blink”

Resicom CEO, John Fairclough’s featured article on About.com recalls the moment he 

thought the company might not survive.  Many businesses, with Resicom being no exception, 

felt the strain of the economic downturn.  In May of 2009, two critical clients for the national 

facility maintenance company cut spend by 80% and 90% respectively.  The effect could have 

been catastrophic to Resicom forcing the company to close its doors. 

What could have been a devastating blow instead became Resicom’s finest hour.  From self- 

awareness came a structured recovery plan that addressed all areas of the company. 

Transparency within all levels of the company was key, and with full visibility, employees 

became part of the solution.

To view the entire story visit Business Cliffhangers on About.com.

It should be normal for people to know where they stand in the company and know how they are performing.

At employee reviews, one of the biggest sources of tension is when an employee feels misunderstood and that efforts and results have not been acknowledged.  When someone is blindsided in terms of performance, it is more likely that they will defend themselves aggressively. By communicating well and establishing a process on which people can depend diminishes misunderstanding.

Establishing a scorecard helps provide clarity when an employee begins a new position.  Each position within a company needs a scorecard.  It is a tangible that provides parameters for how an employee is expected to perform. A scorecard removes subjective conversations and discussions such as “I feel like you are not doing a great job”. Basically it helps manage without emotion.

Every other month employees meet with their coach (one’s supervisor).  A fixed agenda included scorecard review (the objective side of management) and the core value evaluation (where the coach provides feedback related to our core values). The coach’s role is to give feedback and find out how to remove obstacles that are hindering performance.

On the opposite months, employees meet with a mentor (an upper management person to whom the employee does not directly report, preferably someone from a different area of the company – for example, head of sales mentors operation project managers). This meeting agenda is set by the mentee and the conversation can cover current challenges, career development or other pertinent topics.

By executing the above items well, the employee is informed and engaged regarding their performance. This diffuses any misunderstandings about performance and “blind-sided” reviews.  When a situation arises where a person is under performing or a policy is violated, we execute the following “Performance Improvement Plan” strategy:

o      Outline improvements needed and what a successful improvement will look like

o      Set clear expectation for amount of time given to make the improvement

o      It is clearly outlined what consequences will be if not met

o      It is clearly outlined what benefits will be experienced if they are met

o      PIP delivered by head of HR and manager

o      Follow up – manager and HR touch base with the person independently at pre-determined intervals.

If someone is released, the discussion is not about them not performing well – they are well aware

Resicom CEO, John Fairclough, has been nominated for The 2010 Business Ledger Entrepreneurial Excellence Award.

A strategically innovative entrepreneur and business owner, Fairclough enjoys a level of success that transcends monetary reward and instead empowers both communities and individuals.  Fairclough is motivated to experience share with other first-level entrepreneurs in assist catapulting their business to the next level. Fairclough is excited to witness employees and peers become better leaders.

At 24, Fairclough launched the first Resicom office from the basement of his future in-laws. By age 30, Resicom had earned substantial, continuing to surpass set benchmarks.   Today, Resicom has leap frogged in size and revenue, now occupying a 15K square foot facility in Lemont.  Fairclough measures true success at providing opportunities and options for both client and employees that other companies can’t.

Nominees were selected because of having demonstrated exemplary traits in entrepreneurship, perseverance, business creativity, and determined drive and risk taking.  Award recipients will be honored at a reception on September 16^th, 2010 at the Danada House in Wheaton.  Honorees will be featured in a special business section of the October 18^th issue of the Business Ledger.  Judges are comprised from a selection committee from representatives of event sponsorship, local business associations, and members of the Business Ledger editorial staff.

It should be normal for a vendor to help a facility maintenance professionals spend their money better. They face the uphill battle of protecting their brand while balancing the needs of operations and finance. This program provides the accountability, communication, and structure needed to protect your brand cost effectively.

There are three basic tenets of the program:

-Accountability. The plan is dependent on establishing what success looks like – we call it setting the standard. Here is where we learn what triggers action items, what the proper communication methods are, and how we will be graded. All of this needs to be understood up front.

-Communication. If the Standard is misunderstood, full benefits will not be realized. Proper communication involves using multiple tools, including video, documentation, emails, and phone calls. Poor communication costs time, money, and occasionally even sanity.

-Structure. A successful program requires the right structure. Knowledge must be gained at each project and stored in a hub that is accessible for technicians completing projects. We call this hub a “Knowledge Bank”. Material specifications, how to repair instructions, and the other “setting the standard” information is stored here. This is leveraged in the different plug and play components of the program listed here:

SMARTvisit: 

This component answers the question “How can I get more value from each on-demand work order?” It should be normal for a company to maximize value delivered on each interaction.

SMARTscope:                                                                                                                                           

 This component answers the question “How can I gain visibility of the condition of my stores and bundle the repairs cost effectively?” It should be normal for a vendor to understand its clients needs and provide a report designed around the client’s standards.

SMARTplan:

This component integrates SMARTvisit and SMARTscope. It combines the preventative, bundled approach to the on-demand component, effectively absorbing work orders into on demand visits.

SMARTfit:

This component answers the question “How can I complete a roll-out project cost effectively, with the right visibility?” It should be normal for clients and vendor partners to collaborate on the most effective way to execute a project.

This program creates a framework that helps leverage accountability, communication, and structure, boosting effectiveness. Protecting brands requires balancing the needs of Marketing, Finance, and Operations. SMARTspend simplifies this.

It should be normal that a company can offer its employees unique, life-changing experiences.

Aruba, Jamaica- Ooh, I wanna take ya.  Key Largo, Montego, Baby why don’t we go?

Congratulations to Resicom Employee Contest winner Paul Romanowski.  Paul and his fiancé won their choice of a domestic Starwood vacation destination with airfare.  The winning entry was randomly chosen from all Resicom employees who entered the marketing campaign “Fun in the Sun” contest.  Each entry required idea submissions for Resicom legendary stories and “It Should Be Normal” taglines. 

Stories submitted included funny, inspiring and determined recounts from over a decade of Resicom’s history in commercial facility maintenance. 

Paul is one of Resicom’s newest technicians, with a background in paint & fine arts execution and professional graphic design.  Resicom is honored to be able to present a honeymoon option to Paul and his fiancé for their milestone event.

R&D for a construction services company? R&D usually focuses on products and packaging.  How about R&D for challenges and choices?

It is official! The company that boldly pursues what normal should be has formalized its R&D department. It is headed by the curious Michael Fairclough, Executive VP that has yet to find a challenge he didn’t like. Most people prefer working on things they know. Michael is one of those rare people that gets energized by the things he does not know. His ideal day includes researching, testing, and discussing other people’s challenges. He believes it should be normal for our company to be a ready resource to solve our clients’ challenges.

Michael is armed with the support from every division of the company. Please send over any situation that has to have a better solution than what is currently in use.

See if your challenge can stump him. Warning! Mike may help you dream bigger.

A facility required the aluminum window mullions on the building exterior painted. What made the project scope unique is that execution needed to be completed during normal business hours.  Traditional spray equipment would be too disruptive during regular hours of operations, as the overspray could not be contained.  A durable product to prevent pealing and color fading against the elements was also a prerequisite. Resicom presented the option of using electrostatic spray equipment. The benefits of this system featuring low paint overspray and mess, cost effective use of material, and the “wrap” effect in which the paint appears to bend around corners.

Scope of Work

1.  Paint aluminum window mullions on building exterior.

2.  Prepare surface so that paint adheres properly.

Challenges

The constraints of the project include:

1. Paint needed to be applied during business hours, making overspray of paint a concern.

1. Paint needed to bond to to aluminum which typically is not an ideal surface to paint.

How can a movie theater retrofit the ticket counter without changing the integrity of the ticket booth?

An entertainment company owns movie theaters throughout the country, many of which were purchased from original owners. While each theater has unique characteristics and nostalgic styling, few meet today’s ADA compliance standards. The client needed a sliding tray installed in a ticket booth and counter access retrofitted to meet current height guidelines.

Scope of the Work

1. Install an ADA compliant sliding tray in the ticket booth to meet height requirements.

2. Position tray so that it does not alter the function of the cash drawers, ticket dispensers or computer systems.

3. Reposition access for electric and computer system wiring.

Challenges

The constraints of the project include:

1. Cabinetry within the booth needed modification to accommodate the sliding counter tray.

2. In order to install the new tray, access repositioning for computer system wiring was needed.

3. The positioning of the cash drawer itself was an obstacle.

Solutions

1. Cabinet doors were shortened to provide the additional access space under the counter top.

2. Tile work was required so that an access hole for the wiring could be cut. A diamond tip grinding wheel was used to make the precise cut needed. New grommet holes we created so that the entire system could be re-wired.

3. Although the location of the cash drawer was cumbersome, it was determined that the system could be installed underneath.

4. Once the drawer was installed a security panel was fabricated and installed to deter theft.

Summary

This specialty project was unique because each ticket booth had different specifications and measurements. The overall integrity of the booth needed to be preserved while meeting modern compliance metrics. Each retrofit required astute examination of cabinetry placement, technology systems and security issues. Providing options to the client is critical when involved in speciality projects. It should be normal that the company hired to complete the retrofit presents effective approaches for a solution.

Resicom believes in the bold pursuit of what normal should be.

It should be normal that the companies you hire make you better.

It should be normal that the people you bring into your organization strengthen your company.

This purpose breathes throughout the company and directs how we approach both client relationships and recruiting talented professionals.  This message needs to resonate in not only our actions, but also our strategic marketing goals.

Resicom is now actively recruiting marketing interns to help us expand projects as defined by our current marketing objectives.  The purpose of the internship program at Resicom is to provide an authentic work environment in the profession as an enhancement to the student’s academic instructions. Interested applicants should send letter of interest and resume to likemindedpeople@resicomonline.com.

A secondary journalism internship is also available to help with writing efforts for press releases, blog posts, and copywriting for support materials.

“Our expanded internship program is something about which we are very enthusiastic,” says Laurie Ledonne.  “Resicom is able to position students and recent graduates to gain valuable insight to not just our industry, but marketable business skills.  In turn, the students provide members of Resicom’s team the opportunity to strengthen their team leadership and project management skills, while offering fresh perspective to our marketing projects and materials.”

Resicom believes in the bold pursuit of what normal should be.

It should be normal that the companies you hire make you better.

It should be normal that the people you bring into your organization strengthen your company.

This purpose breathes throughout the company and directs how we approach both client relationships and recruiting talented professionals.  This message needs to resonate in not only our actions, but also our external communication.

Resicom is now actively recruiting journalism interns to help us write press releases, blog postings, marketing support materials, and other communications.   Interested applicants should have an academic background in Journalism, English, and/or Communications.  Letter of interest, resume and writing samples should be sent likemindedpeople@resicomonline.com.

A secondary internship is also available in the marketing department.

“Our expanded internship program is something about which we are very enthusiastic,” says Laurie Ledonne.  “Resicom is able to position students and recent graduates to gain valuable insight to not just our industry, but marketable business skills.  In turn, the students provide members of Resicom’s team the opportunity to strengthen their team leadership and project management skills, while offering fresh perspective to our communication projects and materials.”