Brainstorming with franchise and multi-inspector CEOs

Representatives from a dozen franchise and multi-inspector companies were invited to ASHI HQ to discuss how and why this type of company might relate to and support the Society, an organization of individual professionals. The following companies and representatives joined the discussion:  

BrickKicker, Naperville, Ill. –  Ron Ewald, Rob Claus

HouseMaster, Bound Brook, N.J. – Joe Cummings, Kathleen Kuhn

AmeriSpec, Memphis, Tenn.  – Steve Wadlington, Richard Ascolese

Pillar to Post, Inc, Tampa, Fla. – Michael Brewer, Allen Castleman, Trevor Welby-Salomon

US Inspect, Va. – Rich Carlson, Jules Falcone

National Property Inspections, Omaha, Neb. – Bill Erickson

InspecTech, Alpharetta, Ga. – Charlie Wood, Revell Fraser

ASHI’s Executive Director Rob Paterkiewicz and I led the discussions. Jay Balin, BOD liaison to the Membership Committee, and Don Lovering, member of the Mem-bership Committee also attended and contributed.

The group identified the following issues as important to the relationship between the Society and multi- inspector/franchise business organizations: ASHI’s Code of Ethics; how federal and state legislation affects the profession; how franchises and multi-inspector companies can be represented in and make contributions to ASHI; opportunities for more participation; the ASHI branding initiative; and ASHI’s position on franchises. 

Attendees received a recap of ASHI history, current projects, the Strategic Plan and the Position Statement on Legislation.

According to the attendees, large inspector companies are at a crossroads in the areas of offering consultation and ancillary services, because customers are asking for this, and companies prosper by responding to customers’ requests. 

What kind of mutually beneficial relationship can a large multi-inspector company have with an organization of individual professionals?

This was ASHI’s first opportunity to receive feedback on this question. The Society will continue to elicit input from many companies as it stays in touch with the business environment, and encourages communication between all who are involved in the profession.