Unfortunately, a gathering of QR readers
that size is not likely to happen anytime soon.
We have more modest goals for our upcom-
ing Top 500 Live! event at the Hilton BWI
Airport March 15-16. We do, however, feel
that attendees will certainly see an immediate
benefit to their businesses.
Top 500 Live! is about sales and lead gen-
eration. Have you ever heard Rodney Webb
tell his story? How about
Dave Yoho, Brian Smith,
Joe Talmon or Tony Hoty?
ey are a smattering of
whom you and your team
will have the opportunity
to hear at our first-ever
gathering of Top 500 com-
panies and those who seek
to become one.
Attendees will also hear
from some of the Top
500's dynamic CEOs. Earl Rahn, president
of NewSouth Windows, will share the secrets
of their five-year sales explosion. So too will
Brian Elias of 1-800 Hansons, Brian Gottlieb
of Tundraland and many others.
How about lead-gen? We've got the four top
lead-gen experts serving home improvement—
Chris Behan of Socius, Mark Highbaugh
of Marlimar, Todd Bairstow of Keyword
Connects and Brian Kaskavalciyan of G4
Marketing.
I seldom directly promote our events in this
space, but we are thrilled to bring you this
lineup of speakers. Even if you only hope to
one day be on the Top 500, this 1.5-day con-
ference is for you. Go to QRtop500live.com to
learn more and register.
I promise it will help you take full advantage
of all that 2017 has to offer.
|
t is a new year. With it comes a great
new opportunity to grow. I speak
plainly on this: ere may be no better
year than 2017 to grow. e economy
is on good footing. Consumers are confident.
Home prices are rising. e stock market is
up. New sources for leads abound.
Chances are, the only limitations on your
2017 are those imposed by you and your team.
You can only produce so
much. If that's the case,
the question is: How do
you generate better leads to
sell jobs with higher profit?
is too is possible in 2017.
At Qualified Remodeler,
we see a great year for re-
modeling and home im-
provement. And we are
thrilled to kick off our
39th year of the Top 500
ranking. We have an open call for applications
on our website, QualifiedRemodeler.com.
Each year, as hundreds of applications arrive,
our team of editors marvels at your achieve-
ments. We marvel at the vitality, vigor and
enterprise of your businesses. We invariably
say to one another, "Wouldn't it be great to
meet this person and their team?"
It would be wonderful to meet all of you.
I've often imagined what it would be like to
have one large gathering of all of our readers.
e core group—our 80,000 print readers
plus the many thousands more who receive
our digital editions and newsletters—might
be able to squeeze into the 104,000 seats at
the University of Michigan stadium or in the
Rose Bowl. e spontaneous exchange of ideas
would be wonderful. It would propel the in-
dustry forward at light speed.
Attend
TOP 500 Live!
I
Top 500 Live!
will help
you take full
advantage
of 2017.
6 January 2017 QR QualifiedRemodeler.com
EDITORIAL DIRECTOR'S NOTE
Patrick L. O'Toole
Published by
SOLA Group, Inc.
1880 Oak Ave., Suite 350
Evanston, IL 60201
847.440.3000
Publisher and Patrick L. O'Toole
Editorial Director Patrick@SOLAbrands.com
Ext. 103
Senior Editor Kyle Clapham
Kyle@SOLAbrands.com
Ext. 108
Associate Editor Kacey Larsen
Kacey@SOLAbrands.com
Ext. 105
Proofreader Nancy Mueller-Truax
Audience Development Mike Serino
MSerino@magservgroup.com
Creative Director & Tracy Hegg
Production Manager Tracy@SOLAbrands.com
Editorial Advisory Board Stephen Gidley, GMB, CAPS,
CGP, CGB, CGR, CPRC, CR
Jeffrey Holloway, CKD, CBD, CGR
Michael Nagel, CGR, CAPS
Scott R. Sevon, CGR, CAPS,
GMB, CGP, GMR
Donna Shirey, CGR, CAPS, CGP
Kenneth P. Skowronski, CR
Midwest and West Paul DeGrandis
Sales Manager Paul@SOLAbrands.com
Ext. 100
East Sales Manager Beth Emerich
EmerichB@SOLAbrands.com
Ext. 101
National Automotive Tom Lutzke
Sales TLutzke@ACBusinessMedia.com
Literature Galleries/ Mike Serino
Classifieds Mike@SOLAbrands.com
Ext. 102
Digital Programs Tim Steingraber
Manager Tim@SOLAbrands.com
Ext. 106
Projects Manager Heidi Riedl
Heidi@SOLAbrands.com
Ext. 111
A preferred publication
of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry
and the NAHB Remodelers