Business View Magazine - January 2024

how it creates pre-construction schedules to help give customers more time to make decisions on what they want their new house to be like. C&M has also “locked in” its pricing and invested in new software to streamline operations and estimates. The existence of automation and artificial intelligence makes it easier to improve these efficiencies, Cody says. The company however needs to remain committed to this effort. “We really (built) this business just before the 2008 housing crisis and I think that helped us,” Filipczak says. “We learned how to get by during some lean times for the industry and we learned quite a bit during COVID as well. These are the times when (a business) gets tougher.” FOCUS ON ENERGY CERTIFIED NEW HOME PROGRAM C&M Home Builders is an ardent supporter of the Focus on Energy Certified New Home Program, available in Wisconsin. The program matches homebuyers with homebuilders to allow for building a new home that is up to 100 percent more energy efficient than the average new home built in the state. Every home constructed under the program is between 30 to 100 percent more efficient than homes built to Wisconsin’s residential building minimum codes. Every home built by C&M over the last 10 years has followed guidelines for the Focus on Energy program, Filipczak highlights. That includes homes built at every price level. As a supporting consultant of the program C&M team members ensure all new homes meet the highest standards for energy efficiency, combustion safety, comfort, and durability, creating added value for homeowners. The increased energyefficiencywill help homeowners realize lower energy bills, experience increased comfort, and ensure high quality and resale value. Says Filipczak, “This is important for our customers and it’s important to us.” TREATING ITS EMPLOYEES WITH RESPECT WHILE CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR ASPIRING PROFESSIONALS A company is only as good as its employees so C&M’s management works hard to ensure that employees have growth opportunities and can realize a good work/life balance. The company has several employees who have been there for more than 10 years as a result. Filipczak says the goal is to treat everyone with respect, pay them fair wages, and provide employees with benefits. Many homebuilders treat their employees as contractors and don’t offer full benefits that include medical, dental, and retirement plans. C&M even goes the extra mile, offering a generous maternity leave package. It also holds various events for employees during the year like an annual holiday party. Filipczak also recognizes the challenge of the national and regional skilled labor shortage in the 44 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 11, ISSUE 01