From Member to Member: The Cream of the Crop Sit on My Board

By Gary Eichhorst, president & CEO of Eichhorst & Company, Spring Grove, IL

I have been a member of the Remodelors Council for many years. I have found that membership has afforded me a back stage pass to the inner circle of the top professionals in this industry. I look at the friends and contacts I have made solely as a result of membership and it's networking opportunities, which includes Big 50 inductees, Remodelor of the Year winners, national board members, CGR instructors, and Hall of Fame members as my board of directors.

Whenever I have an issue or problem in business, I know that I can pick up the phone and get a reliable, knowledgeable answer no matter what the question. I no longer need to reinvent the wheel every time something comes up. I have also found that the diversity among the group is great. Whether they are start up owners, small, medium or one of the “big boys,” we all experience the same issues and someone always has an answer that makes sense.

Designations Put Me Ahead of the Competition

The designations I have (CGR, CGB, GMB and CAPS) really set me ahead of my competition. It demonstrates to my clients that I am committed not only to delivering a superior product but running an efficient professional organization. It is hard to quantify what the designations have done for my bottom line, but I can attest to the fact that many of our more profitable projects were a result of our certifications thus validating, perhaps, why we were the more qualified contractor choice even though we were higher priced. My take is that professionals and specialists command a higher price, because generally we bring a lot more to the table.

Participation Opens Doors

I have also found that membership has opened up avenues of opportunity for education and business. By being a local chairman of the Remodelors Council for the last 2 years, I have gained a lot of knowledge just by becoming involved and helping other remodelers grow their businesses. Jud Motsenbacher, CGR, CAPS, told me a long time ago that the best way to learn is to teach! I guess that is why he deserved to be the first inducted into the Hall of Fame.

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