Ric Heidenescher – Management

When the custom home market in Orlando, Fla., was booming, custom builder Ric Heidenescher found himself in a time-management crunch. “It seemed like a good portion of my day was spent answering employees’ questions or pointing them in the right direction,” he says.

He realized that if he could gather all of his reference information—including books, CDs, scanned and online articles, and software manuals—in one place for staff to access at their discretion, he’d increase his own efficiency. So he created a one-stop resource library at the Longwood, Fla., office of his design/build company, Heidenescher Homes. He set up an Excel file to document the checking in and checking out of each item, appointing a staff member to oversee the library. Not only did the system save Heidenescher time, it also allowed him to preselect the items he believes will benefit his team the most. “There’s so much information out there,” he says. “I’m trying to channel the information I’d want [my employees] to read.”

Now that business has slowed, he sees another use for this collection of educational resource materials. He’s had to lay off several people since the downturn started, but when the market picks up he’ll likely be hiring. The library will provide a perfect way for new employees to brush up on their skills in customer service, business, building, or computers. “A lot of times, businesses have most of the tools they need,” he explains. “It’s just hard for the new employee to find them.”

Heidenescher is choosy about which materials make it into the library. “Not just anything goes in,” he says. And he feels other builders could easily put one together with a little time and planning. All it takes is “the discipline to get started,” he says.

Heidenescher Homes
Longwood, Fla.
www.heidenescherhomes.com
Type of business: Design/build
Years in business: 23
Employees: 2
2008 volume: $2.2 million
2008 starts: 1