Builderbond: Where collaboration in construction comes before competition

In August, Buildertrend and CBUSA hosted their first-ever Builderbond. Top builders from across Nebraska were invited to this exclusive event where they had the opportunity to forge new relationships, share best practices and learn how to thrive in today’s competitive market.

TwiLea Fletcher, business development manager at Stonebrook Exterior, sat down in studio with Zach and Charley on “The Building Code” podcast to describe her experience at Builderbond. She talks about the benefits of networking in construction and why events like this are so crucial for continued success within the industry.

Here’s a quick preview with the key insights from the episode.

1. What were the key initiatives and highlights from Builderbond?

For this first event, there were four main objectives for attendees:

Be connected:  We brought builders together to make connections, share best practices and learn from other like-minded, successful industry professionals.

Be inspired: Brad Leavitt, president of AFT Construction, and Tim Coughran, owner of Alderview Construction, joined us to speak about best practices, brand strategy and the importance of community.

Be informed: Builders had the opportunity to have their online and social media presence reviewed by experts to help improve their brand strategy.

Be resilient: Leaders from Buildertrend and CBUSA shared how they’re working to improve businesses, promote collaboration and change the industry for the better.

2. Why should builders be open to networking opportunities?

Until recently, it wasn’t common for construction business owners to find community with one another. It was oftentimes seen as “sharing secrets,” but as TwiLea points out, there’s really no such thing as secrets anymore.

“If you don’t work together, pretty soon this person might jump ship and move over here,” TwiLea said. “Well, guess where your secrets are going? So, your secrets aren’t always safe. It’s better to open up.”

She goes on to say that forming relationships within the industry is far more valuable than information you may think is private – but probably isn’t.

“Being able to find your same industry and talk to those people, and get feedback, and that one-on-one discussion – that can help so much,” TwiLea said.

3. How are events like Builderbond helping change mindsets from competition to community?

Networking events like Builderbond can play a crucial role in helping builders form a community by fostering a sense of collaboration, shared goals and mutual support. Working together is beneficial for everyone and the truth is, there’s enough work out there to keep construction companies busy without having to worry about beating the competition.

“The whole mindset, at least what I have witnessed is, hey, we may be competing against you, or we may be putting out a bid to four or five general contractors within Omaha, but we can’t build everything,” TwiLea said. “You can’t win every job.”

Builders working together as a community rather than as competitors see the advantages of knowledge sharing and have a sense of collective responsibility. This leads to a stronger, more resilient and more successful construction industry overall.

“I love thinking about the connectivity of the construction industry,” TwiLea said. “Because that’s where you’re going to get the most benefit.”

Interested in attending a Builderbond event?

This brand-new event confirmed just how valuable networking is for building communities – and we’re not stopping there. Look for future Builderbond events coming to an area near you.

Looking to become a Buildertrend user? Schedule a demo today!

About The Author

Chelsea Cole Chelsea Cole is a senior content marketing specialist at Buildertrend