Empowering the Next Generation: Tackling Central Florida’s Construction Labor Shortage

As we pass the midpoint of 2024, the construction industry in Central Florida continues to face persistent post-pandemic challenges yet remains resilient.
Despite the rise of AI, job security, and competitive pay, the industry still needs to grapple with a labor shortage across both skilled and unskilled positions.

It is crucial to challenge the misconceptions that construction work is overly laborious or poorly compensated.

The Department of Labor warns that a lack of interest in Government-Registered Apprenticeship Programs (GRAPs) could further widen the gap between available construction jobs and qualified workers.

This underscores the increasing importance for private construction companies to empower their workforce with comprehensive training and apprenticeship programs, broaden opportunities for women, and introduce loyalty incentives.

Many of our subcontractors are proactively pairing journeymen with new workers to ensure proper training.

The impact of long-term employees on the next generation of workers can either help eliminate or perpetuate the ongoing labor shortage, making their role in training and mentorship crucial to the industry’s future.

Unlocking Success Through Collaborative Construction

At Tri-Bay Construction, we establish dedicated teams for each project, founded on mutual trust and the conviction that supporting others’ aspirations propels us forward on our life’s path. By positively contributing to the dreams of others, we fortify ourselves for the next chapter in this journey called life.

The uncertainty of what lies ahead in life can be daunting. Navigating the path ahead and surrounding oneself with individuals who have walked in similar shoes shape our future experiences. Just when we start to think that life will become easier, we are presented with an opportunity to delve deeper and discover more about our own character.

By remaining attentive and open-minded, we attract those who can assist us through the upcoming challenges. Embracing the notion that “together” achieves more, while acknowledging that going it alone is the more challenging route, may initially seem contrary to the messages we receive daily.

Seeking insights from others and acknowledging what we don’t know has become a valuable asset in our company’s mission.
No longer does accepting others’ standards benefit us or those around us. Tri-Bay Construction is setting a new benchmark. We believe that the collective strength of our team surpasses any company claiming to have all the answers. “We” is the cornerstone of the Tri-Bay Construction experience. Let “us” be the catalyst that turns your dream into reality.

Why a Strong Work Ethic is Essential in Construction

Here at Tri-Bay Construction, we have built a team that thrives on the values of a work ethic. While some may attribute it to the generation of our employees and partners, others recognize that it is a natural characteristic ingrained within us. We continually develop and rebuild our external team as well.
Over the past decade, Tri-Bay and its support teams have refused to follow “societal norms” and thrived on standing out as a company that “does things differently.”

We own any mistakes we do make and do not make you pay for them. We correct those mistakes as soon as they are recognized. We also acknowledge and admit that we can make mistakes (humanness) and learn something new every day. 

We have found in over thirty years in the construction industry that no one knows everything there is to know. If they say they do, we thank them for their vast knowledge and move away quickly. If we are not learning, we are not listening.

As we learn, we will teach. When we need help, we ask. When we hit a wall, we seek a new path. When wrong, we admit it and seek right. We have recently observed certain societal norms that we find hard to accept, and we believe such attitudes should not be tolerated. Nor should you!

We have had to turn down projects from clients who have big dreams but do not have the financing to back those dreams. We believe in supporting those who have a dream and wish them success.

However, we will not compromise that vision for profit by leading them down a path that would eventually shatter it. We have had to invoke contractual clauses because of signatures not being honored. We have faced individuals with such massive egos that they have attributed design flaws, substandard construction, and hollow sales pitches to us.

We have waited for permits from jurisdictions for months without them considering the effects on the Owners, businesses, or tenants who are depending on those spaces to make a living.

The saddest part of the last situation is that you and I are paying the salaries of those who can change the current situation but will not.

The attitude appears to be, “What is good enough for Congress is good enough for us! If they will not get anything accomplished, neither will we.”
The sadder part of that scenario is that we seem to accept that and justify it with things like, “Well, everyone is busy” or “That’s just the way it is.”
We can lament these experiences or find the best solutions available to work through these situations and maintain a positive work environment for all our clients, regular subcontractor partners, regular design team, and other support personnel we choose to surround ourselves with.
The past is unchangeable, and the future is unknown, but the present and what I do today will affect my future. We do not pass judgment on those who might be conformists, for that is a choice, and because of where we choose to live, we have options today.
Call it old-fashioned, outdated, out of vogue, not profitable enough, or any other description you wish. Tri-Bay Construction continues to operate with a work ethic and surrounds itself with those who share those values. A strong work ethic has brought us success in business and life, forging enduring relationships with exceptional individuals and companies that we are honored to be associated with.
The reward has been and continues to be priceless. “Any job worth doing is worth doing well!”
Leader or Lemming?

Failure Leads to Success

In recent blogs, we have focused our discussion on some of our core values like trust, integrity, authenticity, transparency, loyalty, and respect. These core values have been the bedrock of our business, reliably carrying us through some turbulent times – from pandemics to unexpected circumstances.
At every fork in the road, we’re tested on how well we manage obstacles; showing resilience and selflessness as needed while being mindful that all decisions can affect others far beyond ourselves. Without a doubt, our ability to keep afloat in an ever-changing environment is only made possible by the solid core values we’ve established as pillars for success.
When building, money and relationships can often clash, it’s up to us which we prioritize – but consider that the choice could have long-lasting effects beyond our bottom line.

Let’s be honest – it might seem like money is king in the business world. Sure, many multi-million-dollar companies are celebrated for their success, but true victory isn’t just about how much you rake in; some people measure satisfaction by looking beyond what was earned at the bottom line and evaluating reputation instead.

When the Owner opened their business, was it with a mission in mind?

That could be key to understanding how they view their venture today! Money is undoubtedly a part of the equation because we all need to eat, but it is not the most important when measuring success for some.

Einstein said, “Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm. The secret of your success is determined by your daily agenda. Your positive action combined with positive thinking results in success.”
At our company, we take great pride in having a satisfied customer base and measure success by the rave reviews they give after successful completion of projects.
We love it when clients choose to come back for more – because that’s when everyone from our estimators to subcontractors know they’ve done an outstanding job!
After all, if you do your best work on every project, then there will be profit no matter what.
It’s a rite of passage—nobody can be successful without making mistakes, and business owners are no exception. But success isn’t just about finding the right solutions; it’s also recognizing when we’ve gone wrong…and doing our best to make sure those same errors don’t occur twice! If something didn’t work out during one project, there’s no guarantee it’ll have better luck with an overhaul: change comes from actually changing what you do – not merely switching up your surroundings.
Tri-Bay Construction is taking a page out of Albert Einstein’s book. After all, who knew this famed genius had business advice as well? With eyes on the future and balance in mind, Tri-Bay will keep pedaling toward success through 2023!

Doing the Next Right Thing No Matter What!

What is the next right thing in construction?
  • Does your contractor answer your questions promptly and in a way you can understand (without expecting payment for answering questions)?
  • Does your contractor explain the entire procedure to you before you commit funds?
  • Are you fully aware of the detours and roadblocks that may occur from Design to Certificate of Occupancy?
  • Does your contractor tell you how much something might cost before it is fully designed? (Beware if they do)
  • Do you know the various contracts available before you agree on a project delivery method?
  • If your contractor “missed’ something in his estimate, does he try and charge you for his mistake?
  • Did you ever hear your contractor or their subcontractors say, “that’s good enough”? If you have, beware!
  • Do you receive “bad news” as fast as “good news” about your project?
  • Do you hear “that’s not my problem”? Or “Let’s find a solution.”
  • Does your contractor take responsibility for his errors if they appear after completing the project?
  • Does your contractor communicate discrepancies in plans that may cost you money later?

The above questions are some of the questions that we think constitute “doing the right thing.” It is not always easy to do any of the above, especially when it may be at the expense of profit or sometimes prevents the project from moving forward. At Tri-Bay Construction, we strive to ALWAYS do the right thing for our partners and clients, and not doing that compromises our core values.

Our most valuable assets are our professional consultants, designers, subcontractors, suppliers, and, equally important, our clients. Without any one of these components, we would not exist. Our partners, employees, families, and former and current clients allow us to persevere, rise again and transform Tri-Bay into a better and stronger firm. Some of our professional consultants who have guided us through the pandemic and afterward are integral components of our foundation.

While often unnamed and unseen, they provide expertise and perspective that sometimes forges the path forward. I would be remiss if I left out what is perhaps the most essential component and the basis of our core values, family. While the Tri-Bay “family” is vast, the Bay family is the heart of what makes this company thrive. Our extended Tri-Bay family members and our clients are the benefactors of the values ingrained in us for numerous generations.

We are the benefactors of the same values found in our extended family.