Walls & Ceilings ‘If Walls Could Talk’

EIMA’s Executive Director Stephen Sears shares updates on the association’s evolving governance structure and collaborative efforts with industry partners, while also highlighting its selection for a $2.2 million EPA grant to support environmental product declarations for EIFS. Additionally, EIMA is gearing up for its 44th Annual Meeting in March 2025 near Orlando, Florida, offering industry education, networking, and its signature golf tournament.

In this episode of If Walls Could Talk, John Wyatt talks with Tom Harris about the record-breaking success of February’s Spray Foam Convention & Expo in Daytona Beach. Harris highlights impressive attendance, packed breakout sessions, and the strong industry interest in spray foam education, with presentation materials expected to be available online soon.

Group publisher Jill Bloom speaks with legal expert Trent Cotney about the impact of new tariffs and labor challenges on the construction industry. Cotney explains how rising tariffs on materials from Canada, Mexico, and China, combined with labor shortages and increasing costs, are creating significant challenges for contractors, urging them to focus on strong bidding, contract management, and price acceleration strategies.

John Wyatt interviews Michael Kwart, executive director of the ICAA, about the Top 25 Insulation Contractors list featured in the February issue. Kwart discusses the selection criteria, suggests expanding the list to 50, and highlights the upcoming ICAA show in Orlando, offering something for both contractors and their families.

IIBEC’s Convention & Trade Show is coming up March 6-9, in Orlando, Fla. Recently, W&C’s Group Publisher Jill Bloom sat down with IIBEC’s EVP and CEO Brian Pallasch to highlight what attendees can expect to see at this year’s show.

Post-holiday payment delays are hitting contractors hard. The "holiday hangover" impacts bill paying, stretching payment cycles beyond the typical 45 days. In this brief episode, Thea Dudley, the "Credit Overlord," reveals how contractors can navigate cash flow, credit card usage and the rise of automated payment systems.

President Donald Trump’s first round of executive orders since taking office for the second time called for some weeping changes across the federal government on important issues that impact workforce and overall commerce. In this brief episode, W&C Legal Insights Expert Trent Cotney has tried hard to stay on top of it all and discusses what he thinks are the main takeaways from the action in the Oval Office, and what roofing entrepreneurs can expect in his second term.

CISCA’s newly appointed Executive Director, Jim Moody, brings extensive experience from the construction and building materials industries, including 17 years with the Construction Suppliers Association. As he transitions into the role, he aims to build on the strong foundation set by his predecessor, Shirley Wodynski, who will remain with CISCA until June to ensure a smooth handover.

G&G Insulation, founded in 1951 in Meridian, Idaho, is a trusted provider of thermal and acoustical insulation, firestopping, and custom solutions for residential and commercial projects. Co-owner Brandon Gallegos, who took over in 2010, has expanded the business by focusing on energy efficiency and custom home projects while maintaining its reputation for quality and dependability.

In this episode of If Walls Could Talk, John Wyatt from Walls & Ceilings interviews Tom Harris of Tom Harris PUR Consulting about the upcoming Spray Foam Convention & Expo in Daytona Beach, Florida. The event features 45 educational breakout sessions for contractors, a beach party hosted by Spray Foam World Wide with over $500,000 in giveaways, an applicator competition, and a robust certification program, with Harris presenting on topics like foam shrinkage, exotherm, energy modeling for commercial roofs, and evaluating SPF products.