Cypress Christmas Party 2008

Whew! We made it. After a year like we've all been through, a Christmas celebration together was long overdue. Things were so dismal last year, that we ended up cancelling our party. So, we more than made up for it this year.

We had a beautifully decorated banquet room at Peachwoods (at Pasatiempo). They took such good care of us - I highly recommend them for your next party!

Once everyone was there, I gave my typically long-winded, but heartfelt year-end speech to the guys.

And congratulated them on the good work they do, how much they've learned, and how fortunate we are to be working steadily in an economy like we've got now.

Lucky for them, I was cut short by the food coming in...!

Afterwards, in our annual awards ceremony, four awards were given out. Although each one of the guys deserved one, the top four honors went to:

Jose Garcia - Most Improved Employee

Levi Barnard - Most Valuable "Rookie"

Tom Frank - Most Valuable "Part-timer"

Juan Acosta - MVP award - Most Valuable Employee

Congratulations, guys!

Then our annual game of "Great Moments in Cypress History!" I make two identical sets of cards with a brief description of a "memorable" job from this year and its address. We pass out one set of cards, and put the other in a bowl. Each employee reads his card, and the others try to guess what job it was. Then at the end, someone picks a card from the bowl, and the employee who has the matching card/job, wins the raffle prize! Lots of fun, and a good way to put 2008 behind us...

Finally, our "Secret Santa" gift exchange. I'm so impressed with how creative and resourceful some of the guys can be when limited to a $10 gift...

So, thanks again to all our valued customers and friends, and we WISH YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Michael Does Interview on Bloomberg & CNN Money

OK, so I’m no “Joe the Plumber” but well…
Bloomberg, a major cable news channel and satellite radio station did a 7-minute live radio interview with me this Thursday, about small business, credit, and the economy.
Here it is on YouTube:


Well, it all started with an innocent comment I left on a CNN article on small business, then they contacted me and did a little story on CNN.com, and somehow Bloomberg saw that and called me on Tuesday, and asked if I would do the interview on Thursday. I was a little friggin nervous –for a phone interview!. I have new respect for those presidential candidates, standing up in front of 60 million people unscripted.




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News Markets Technology Personal Finance Small Business CNN.com

Small biz credit crunch: In their own words

Michael Downey - Rejected, but bouncing back

Michael Downey

• iReport: How's your business faring?

Owner, Cypress Construction Services
Santa Cruz, Calif.

My construction company has grown from a one-man show to 14 employees, grossing $1 million annually. Last year, the phone stopped ringing - nothing was coming in. I tried bank loans but got nothing.

Then I tried the "receivables loan" people, who promised a great package that would just skim off my credit card sales for repayment. After 2 months of endless document requests, phone calls and e-mails, I was turned down by all of them. The reason? Too much fluctuation in my credit card receivables. One month, $20,000. The next, $2,000. They want a business like a restaurant that has very little fluctuation in their credit card receipts.

As a footnote, we've had the best year ever in 2008, and, knock on wood, have had no need to be soliciting loans.

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Cypress at ECHO Fall Seminar

9/20/08 - Cypress Construction is proud to be a member of ECHO - the Executive Council of Homeowners. ECHO is a nonprofit membership corporation dedicated to assisting California homeowners associations (HOAs), and twice annually have these informative and interesting seminars at the Seacliff Inn in Aptos.

Because so much of our business is serving HOA's, it's important to me to not only network within the HOA communities, but to learn as much as possible about the legal, logistical, and maintenance issues that HOAs face. Every Seminar has a cadre of speakers on a given topic, and during breaks, attendees can visit the 9 or 10 vendor booths and learn about HOA-related banking, maintenance, property managers, etc.

This Seminar's theme was Legal Issues facing HOAs in 2008. With excellent speakers and powerpoint presentations, attendees learned from recent HOA-related Case Laws, Funding and Delinquent Issues, and Dealing with Difficult Residents.

For me, it's always a pleasure to be out there meeting new folks, old friends, and sometimes getting to meet customers in person that I'd only dealt with on the phone! Cypress Construction Services has a Trade Show booth that we take to these Seminars.
Of course, one of the great attractions is the raffle prizes that we vendors give way in the raffle drawing at the end of the Seminar. We gave away "Dinner and a Movie in Santa Cruz"- a $30 Gift Certificate from Benten Japanese Restaurant and a $30 Gift Card for the Del Mar or Nickelodeon Theaters.

Thanks to all who attended, and the the good folks at ECHO, who make these Seminars possible.

Cypress Crew Soccer Team 2008!

I have to admit, when the crew came to me and asked me to sponsor their soccer team, I thought "what a great way to get some exercise, get that 'team spirit' going...". I didn't realize they were actually REALLY GOOD!

The opening game was Friday night, 9/5/08, at the Soccer Central Indoor Soccer Arena at Ramsey Park in Watsonville. Before the game, the crew seemed a little unsure, but...cautiously optimisitic. They kicked a ball around, talked about strategy, and got pumped up for the game. And then, the BUZZER SOUNDED!...

Wasting no time in establishing just who wore the pants, er...shorts on the field, the Cypress Crew scored the first goal within the first minute or two.

Our team was expertly coached by Lauro, a veteran soccer player (and expert carpenter...) with a little help from Javier who yelled instructions and cat-calls from the stands.

At the end of the first quarter, the Cypress Crew led the "red team" 6-to-1!!!

Top scorers for Cypress were Andres, with 4 goals, and Jose, who knocked in 2. Kudos to our excellent goalie, who worked miracles at times - keeping the relentless 'red team' from scoring more than they did.

The second quarter proved more challenging for our boys in orange, as the 'red team' came from behind with 3 more goals. But Cypress was not to be bested, and kept them contained. And by the end of the game, Cypress emerged VICTORIOUS with the final score 6-to-4.

I'm so proud of these guys, not just for winning, but for getting out there and DOING IT! It's a tough sport that you have to be in good shape for - with all the running, the balance, coordination, quick thinking, and team spirit involved.

Here's to a great 2008 season for the CYPRESS CREW!!!

FALL SCHEDULE - All games at Soccer Central Indoor Soccer Arena at Ramsey Park in Watsonville

8:55 PM
9/5/2008

8:45 PM
9/8/2008

8:55pm
9/15/2008

9:40pm
9/22/2008

7:05 PM
9/29/2008

7:50 PM
10/6/2008

6:10 PM
10/13/2008

6:55 PM
10/20/2008

Cypress Goes To Jail!

08/23/08 ...Alcatraz, that is. For our annual, mid-year company outing, we went up to San Francisco, then out to Alcatraz for the afternoon. Crew members and family members met at our office in Santa Cruz, and took a chartered bus up the coast, then the "scenic route" through San Francisco, to Fishermens Wharf.

After lunch on Pier 39, we took a boat out to Alcatraz Island.

The boat ride lasts about 20 minutes, with awesome views of not only Alcatraz, but all of San Francisco, Golden Gate Bridge, Bay Bridge, et al.

Once on the island, we first hiked up to the main cell block building and each received headsets with an audio tour of the entire building. The drama of jailbreaks, riots, and monontonous daily life on "The Rock" made the building come to life with ominous sound effects, and a descriptive narration for the tour.

With so many building in disrepair, we even got a lesson in steel-reinforced, structural engineering.

Back at Pier 39, we enjoyed a hearty meal of... you guessed it - seafood!

After a long day, lots of good food, sights, sounds, smells and just having a good time together, I'm reminded what a great bunch of guys we've got, and great families too.

CCS Becomes Build It Green Member

Cypress Construction Services is proud to announce it has just been accepted for membership by Build It Green. Build It Green is a professional non-profit membership organization whose mission is to promote healthy, energy and resource-efficient buildings in California.

Supported by a solid foundation of outreach and education, Build It Green connects consumers and building professionals with the tools and technical expertise they need to build quality green buildings. Build It Green fosters collaboration with key stakeholder groups to accelerate the adoption of green building practices, policies, and programs through its network of councils.

Cypress Construction was founded on the principle of respect – respect for our customers, their homes and offices, and for each other. Out of that guiding principle, a respect for the earth and its resources, and how our work affects the health and well-being of our customers, came naturally…long before it was “cool to be green.” We’d be happy to work with you in your endeavors to make a more eco-friendly and people-friendly home.

Feel free to visit our Green Building webpage for more information on local building codes, green building/remodeling suggestions, and more: CLICK HERE

Taking responsibility in an irresponsible world

10 years ago, when I decided to leave Psychology graduate school and focus on my career as a Building Contractor, I thought that maybe “This world needs an honest contractor more than it needs another ‘shrink.’” And not to disparage my good friends in the ‘helping professions,’ it was a decision I’ve never regretted. It’s a small thing, in the big picture – fixing peoples homes, offices, apartments. But as time goes by, and the world around us becomes more corrupt, more irresponsible, and service and integrity have become quaint memories of a bygone era, my resolve to remain true to those values becomes even more important to me. I’m not saying I don’t make mistakes, far from it. And I can’t rest on my laurels with 14 men out there, hoping that they’ll embrace this work ethic by wishful thinking. But by and large, they are members of our crew because of the work ethic they have, and we watch out and watch over each other.

If you’ve ever waited around your home during a “4-hour delivery window,” or waited in vain for a contractor to return your call, or tried asking a question to the clueless employees at the local office supply store, you get an idea of the kinds of things I’m railing against. For example, one of our local competitors was recently working on a building we were also working on, and I read the NOTICE they had posted to the residents of this townhome community. Among the many disclaimers in this notice:
* Our work involves removing and re-installing skylights in your home. We are not responsible for any damage to the skylights in the process of our work.
Not responsible? I am amazed at what people will get away with these days because average folks, like you and I, aren’t used to having to look out for this lack of responsibility.

And, earlier this year, we were doing siding and trim replacement at two townhome communities. As it happens, a good portion of the trim we installed started to warp within 2 weeks of installation. This was expensive, kiln-dried, pre-primed trim stock purchased from our local lumberyard. I first contacted them, and was told to call the manufacturer. The manufacturer eventually offered to deliver a load of replacement trim to the jobsites for the amount that was warped, but neither HOA (understandably) wanted their trim replaced with this defective product. Meanwhile, I directed my crew to replace all the warped trim with redwood that we primed ourselves, and everyone was happy. Unfortunately, because the manufacturer was out of state, I couldn’t recoup the considerable amount I had lost in this debacle, and was told by the local lumberyard that they would only answer a claim if I took it to court. Of course, these calculated responses come for the corporate offices which are also out of state. Long gone are the days of these businesses taking responsibility in the communities they serve.

On the other hand, I’m glad to have found, through the years, a cadre of subcontractors, and employees, and regular customers that still do their best to take responsibility. Such a small thing? These days, I think it’s everything…

Remodel Customer Writes CCS a Poem!

The Remodel

They arrived promptly at nine a.m.
To demolish my kitchen so the work could begin
They cleaned up the mess and left it quite neat
They even put down the toilet seat.
Still it was a shock quite drastic,
To see a bare space draped with plastic.

The cabinet maker was less considerate
Though the delay was not deliberate.
The installers arrived. They were strong and young
And within one day the cabinets were hung.
Along the walls gleamed their rich cherry wood
Where there once was a pantry an island now stood.

Next came the countertop experts to measure,
Granite or quartz, which was my pleasure?
I chose carefree quartz in Borrealis Blue.
It might be ready in a week or two.
Eight days later they called to say
They could put it in the very next day.

Though they dropped a slab and had to get more
The very next week they appeared at my door.
The backsplash went in and later that day
My sink was installed with its faucet and spray.
The floors when down that same afternoon.
My kitchen would be functional soon.

My contractor called me on a Sunday
To ask if it would work for me on Monday
To have the remaining appliances hooked up
As they were becoming quite booked up.
I was delighted to move ahead
On this project which I had faced with dread.

My kitchen is finished. Long live the men
Who so diligenty to my needs did attend.

Cypress Goes To JLC Trade Show in LA!

May 15-16th, 2008-
5 employees of Cypress Construction attend a 2-day trade convention held in Long Beach, sponsored by the Journal of Light Construction.
Juan, Levi, Jose Garcia, Adrian, and Jose Gallardo went to the convention to
learn about the latest building materials, tools, new building techniques, and to brush up on their trades skills.

Signing in to the convention on the first day, they waste no time in getting started making the rounds. Here a vendor demonstrates a new siding shingle product.

New building products, such as hi-

tech vapor barriers, shower drains,

shingle siding panels, solar technology, new framing materials and methods (as shown here)...

In fact, when put to the test, the Cypress crew entered a race against the vendor with the shingle siding panels, and actually installed the old-style shingles as fast as the vendor installed the panels!

Here, they share the spoils of war...

So, despite a flat tire, some glitches checking in, and some interesting stories about the hotel swimming pool, the men learned a lot, and had a great time together. Hats off to you all !