Foundation Insights--ATL: December 2011

Message from Doug--A Third of a Century in the Making

Double digit unemployment… Inflation… banking troubles… crappy Democratic president… partisan politics… class warfare… problems in the Middle East… high gas prices.

You are probably thinking that I am describing our current situation. Actually, I am describing the socioeconomic environment of 1978. That is the year Barry and Linda Herbert (my Dad & Mom) started Herbert Construction Company.

Linda and Barry Herbert, founders of
Herbert Construction Co.

1978 was a very difficult time to start a company. It was even more difficult to keep it going those first few years. There are many similarities between what was going on then, and what we are currently facing.

In preparation for this issue, I began to think about the ups and downs of the housing market over the last 33 years. There have been several recessions throughout that time that have really affected construction in general, and our company in particular.

This has made us who we are today. The tough times certainly define who you are to a greater extent than the easy times.

In spite of the difficult times during the past 33 years, Herbert Construction Company got through them all. We’ll get through this recession…and you will too.

We’ve learned a lot of lessons since 1978. We have been – and continue to be – on the cutting edge of commercial and residential foundation design and construction. We’ve been pioneers in the concrete foundation industry.

For a closer look at our ups and downs over the past 33 years, see our Timeline here.

Another company that has been around for more than a third of a century is our client, Traton Homes. They, along with two other customers of ours, took home the prizes at the recent Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association’s OBIE Awards.

Our clients won a total of 11 awards at that event. We want to congratulate them on their accomplishments. You can read about that on page 4 of this Newsletter.

Another cause for celebration is the upcoming Christmas Holiday. It is a chance to spend time with loved ones and friends. I am looking forward to doing that and I hope you enjoy the Holiday Season as well.

Merry Christmas,

Recent Referrals

We would like to thank these three outstanding people for their trust in our company. They are quick to refer our company time and time again.

Thank you. You are more revered than Santa Claus at our company. Your referrals help put the “Happy” in Happy Holidays.

Gregg Goldenberg, Acadia Homes & Neighborhoods – Homebuilder www.AcadiaHomes.us

Bob Rash, Shepardson Homes – Homebuilder www.ShepardsonHomes.com

Jonathan Bunn, Traton Homes – Homebuilder www.TratonHomes.com

33 Years of Innovation and Leadership

Funny Christmas Quotes

Christmas is a time when kids tell Santa what they want and adults pay for it. Deficits are when adults tell the government what they want and their kids pay for it.
—Richard Lamm

Once again, we come to the Holiday Season, a deeply religious time that each of us observes, in his own way, by going to the mall of his choice.
—Dave Barry

Christmas begins about the first of December with an office party and ends when you finally realize what you spent, around April fifteenth of the next year.
—P. J. O'Rourke

I didn't know the full dimensions of forever, but I knew it was longer than waiting for Christmas to come.
—Richard Brautigan

Some businessmen are saying this could be the greatest Christmas ever. I always thought that the first one was.
—Art Fettig

The one thing women don't want to find in their stockings on Christmas morning is their husband.
—Joan Rivers

From a commercial point of view, if Christmas did not exist it would be necessary to invent it.
—Katharine Whitehorn

2011 OBIE Awards

Congratulations to our clients that were recent winners of the OBIE Awards presented by the Atlanta Home Builders Association and the Atlanta SMC.

Traton Homes, Winner of 7 awards:

Gold OBIE for Wakefield Estates in the Single Family Builder Detached $350,000 to $424,999 category
Gold OBIE for Estates of Fernwood Creek in the Single Family Builder Detached $425,000 to $499,999 category
Silver OBIE for Paper Chase Farms in the Single Family Builder Detached $425,000 to $499,999 category
Gold OBIE for Rockford Township for Best Interior Merchandising Detached model $299,999 and under
Silver OBIE for Rockford Township for Best Building Design Detached model $299,999 and under
Gold OBIE for the Traton Homes Blog for Best E-Marketing, Best Interactive Tool
Gold OBIE for Kimberly Garwood being named Marketing Director of the Year

Acadia Homes & Neighborhoods, Winner of 2 Awards:

Gold OBIE for the Brookwood Plan in the Reserve at City Park for Best Interior Merchandising $299,000 and Under.
Silver OBIE for the Chastain Plan in the Reserve at City Park for Best Interior Merchandising $299,000 and Under.

Vincent Longo Custom Builder, Winner of 2 Awards:

Gold OBIE for Residential Remodeling over $75,000.
Silver OBIE for Residential Remodeling under $75,000.

Turkey Giveaway Winners

In our November Newsletter we offered free turkeys as a way of expressing our Thankfulness to our Inner Circle of Newsletter subscribers. The response to the turkey giveaway was fantastic. It created quite a lot of interest and we received many comments from our readers.

Pictured here are three of the fast-acting free frozen turkey recipients. We are happy that they received the turkeys. We had a lot of fun delivering them.