The new Performance Objective Monitoring System (POMS) is rolling out this week, and you will soon receive your new POMS report.

As we previously announced, in order to meet the expectations of tomorrow, the Contractor Connection team has designed a new and improved POMS performance scorecard that includes expanded field performance measurements with a focus on customer satisfaction, job starts and completion, and estimate accuracy.

The current POMS scoring criteria has been in existence for some time and has been helpful in driving network success over the years. More importantly, it has allowed us to identify our better network performers for our valued clients for existing program expansions, as well as new program rollouts. The new POMS will add to this experience and help us all achieve our continued growth goals through consistently high performance.

Beginning this week, the new POMS report will be distributed to all active network contractors and will reflect performance scoring for the month of May 2015. It will include year-to-date results as well. Information regarding scoring criteria will be posted in the Library on your Contractor Summary Page. You will not be able to access the new POMS report through the Contractor Summary Page until additional modifications are complete. We expect to have this completed by the end of June and will notify you accordingly.

Through the Academy, powered by RedVector, you can sign up for courses, learn about license requirements and earn certificates for completion. Don't wait to take the next step in your training experience.

The Contractor Connection Network Store will be onsite for you at the 2015 Conference & Expo in Orlando. It's your chance to get your new Contractor Connection vehicle magents, as well as T-shirts, polo shirts and hats. Network Member Devin Lurie (pictured above on left) proudly displays his vehicle magnet on a regular basis, and now you can do the same!

It's no secret catastrophe response is a key part of our industry. That said, there are steps you can take to prepare yourself for these scenarios, while also allowing us to be proactive to help those in their time of need.

The theme of this year’s upcoming Contractor Connection Conference is “Be There When It Counts.” While you will learn much more about that next week, now’s a chance to get a glimpse of what that phrase means in a catastrophe situation, especially with hurricane season underway through Nov. 30.

First, it's imperative you fill out your CAT Response Information located in your Contractor Summary Page. Then look for our upcoming announcements regarding the Capacity Reporting Profile and Surge Response Profile, and promptly update these capacity management tools to tell us when and where you’re able to go. These profile tools are important because they tell us how far you’ll travel and when. That information allows Network Catastrophe Response Manager Steve Danner, the newest member of our management team, to guide our response. Once we identify who can mobilize, our capacity management tool tells us what you’re able to do once you arrive.

Danner, who brings with him 28 years of service in the U.S. Army and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, notably extensive emergency response deployment and logistics experience, was added to the Contractor Connection team to bring a new focus on proactive planning, preparation and response to catastropic events.

In addition to being prepared, it's also important to be available. Not only is it a way to "Be There When It Counts," but it also provides you an opportunity to show what you can do.

Another major step in the process is planning. Tell us your ability to take assignments and let us know your plan. Have you made contact with the right people to be able to get additional staffing and equipment, and to move that equipment?

All of these things – filling out a profile, being responsive and having a plan -- play into your commitment to “Be There When It Counts.”

Contractor Connection continues to identify and develop new opportunities to grow your business through ours. Having identified new opportunities in the commercial markets, we are pleased to announce that Contractor Connection has established a Commercial Level 2 program, and we are inviting network contractors to participate.

This program has been developed in response to client interest in working with contractors who have the experience and knowledge to service larger commercial jobs of $250,000+.

To be activated as a service provider on this elite program, you must be a full-service contractor and be able to meet an elevated level of credentialing. Some of the key requirements are as follows:

• Your company must have been in business for 5 years
• Annual company revenue of $3,000,000+
• Credit Line Minimum of $500,000
• $3,000,000 per occurrence in a combination of General Liability and Excess Liability, and $2,000,000 per occurrence in Contractors Pollution Liability
• Must be able to provide a commercial resume/portfolio and references.

If you have interest in participating on the Commercial Level 2 program and believe you will meet the above identified requirements, please contact our Recruiting Department at recruiting@contractorconnection.com. Please be sure to include your company name, contact name and contact information.