3.1 - Member Feedback
Raven Epps Membership Director Sep 3#
Responses to Midweek Meander email on 9/3/26 (same sender):
Thank you for sending this out. I was born and raised in Hawaii, we all revere the palace and the sad history of Hawaii. We appreciate this additional information and you bringing it all to light.
I read the newsletters that are sent every time and there is a lot of good information. We do appreciate your sharing.
Yet, this one touched "Home" and was particularly worth commenting on.
My little brother is there along with his dad.
I went a couple of times when my kids were very small. I hadn't gone back in over 20 years, finally went back during Covid.
If you heart is open to it, you will not find another place quite like it. I have only been to a few of the major islands (Oahu, Molokai, Maui, & The Big Island) but the other ones have gained a lot of traction over the years, though Kauai has always been a special island.
I am hoping to go back soon, maybe within the next year.
Hopefully business is good for both of us and we can each make that happen!
While I may not even know most of the people, I think that I can speak for most of us in that we very much appreciate all that you do.
I think you do too much and need to lean on the rest of us to assist you. If I can be of help to you from time to time, please let me know.
I think you do a lot and you should be recognized for it.
...and I even mentioned it to everyone else that you do too much
(before I got told to keep my mouth shut) :o)
Note: I am not an ass kisser, I am just staying this because I believe it and you should know.
Steve,
I think that you do a lot and that you are underselling yourself.
That said, you do need to rely on others and I am glad that you have those people in place to assist you.
Yes, we have all been in that position where we had something to a drafter and it comes back bad enough that we end up with the mentality of "I'll just draw the damned thing myself!".
I get it.
I will bring up one suggestion, hope you will help me with it, and it might also help with what you are stating.
My side: I am some weeks into a council position and have no idea what I should be doing. Fortunately, you were able to provide what Brandon wrote up and I will be reviewing that.
Yet, for me, if it's going to take me 2 months to learn what I am supposed to do, and then another month to actually do it, then 25% of the year is gone.
Your side: If the council periods were two years, you wouldn't have to train people every year to do this, and then we would also gain a couple of months of productivity rather than losing 2-3 months every year for someone starting out new.
I fear that if I am only doing something for a year, I will finally find myself knowing what I am doing and getting good at it, and then it's time for a new person.
Those are my thoughts, please consider them and let me know if this is something worth discussing more. ...or tell me how/where I should present it.
Raven Epps Membership Director Sep 10#
Response to Thursday's Email "AIBD’s on-demand education library keeps growing.":
The courses are are relevant and a good value to members.
Thank you.
Steve Mickley Executive Director Sep 11#
Member Feedback 9-10-2026
Regarding having taken the CPBD recently and passing.
Thank you for your call and email. My feedback to the entire process from start to finish for CPBD certification is entirely positive. The instructions are clear, and video tutorials are very helpful. The site is very user-friendly, and so was the test environment.
If I could suggest one improvement opportunity, it would be to make the calculator open as a pop-up and not open in a separate tab. Maybe it was just my computer settings; I am not entirely sure. But other than that, I had no issues.
If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out.
Thank you again!
Raven Epps Membership Director Sep 14#
Member feedback 9/11/26 regarding ARDA duplicate trophy orders:
You've been a pleasure to work with! Thank you!
Raven Epps Membership Director Sep 23#
Member feedback 9/23/26 regarding onboarding of re-joining member:
Hi, Raven.
I want to THANK YOU again for assisting me with the renewal of my AIBD Professional membership. You were very accommodating and most gracious! Those are "exceptionally rare" qualities to find in the majority of people today.
Raven Epps Membership Director Sep 23#
Member feedback response to 9/23/25 Mid-Week Meander Email:
Hi Steve:
Good article.
I’ve found over the years that the third bullet point in your Mansart Risk Style Change Order is totally overlooked by all parties. During the project everyone is razor-focussed on a reasonable cost for changes and how they affect quality, but they forget about what effect the added work is going to have on the project completion.
I have had to constantly remind my project managers that a construction project consists of three elements - Cost, Quality, and Time. Everyone forgets about Time - until the end when the building isn’t ready to occupy and a month’s (or more) rent is lost, or a sale of an existing home is delayed and falls through, or a mortgage interest rate increase is imminent, etc., etc. Trying to justify why you didn’t meet the original Date of Substantial Completion at the end of the project under duress is a fine kettle of fish to find yourself in. I’ve been in it.
Completion penalty clauses are illegal in our state, but liquidated damages are recoverable by the Owner. Our change order template has the time consequence section to be filled in, as does your example, but most often my guys will just put TBD because they’re exhausted from arguing about cost and don’t want to open an entirely new can of worms. Every Change Order should include the Cost of the change and what the new Contract Sum will be as a result, but of equal importance should be the number of Days the change will take and what the New Date of Substantial Completion will be.
Another thing that is given little attention are Change Orders for time only - such as weather related delays, shipping delays, Covid (a recent real world example), etc.
It’s maddening to be arguing about these at the end of a project. Just another reason why I’m happy to be retired.
Garrett Mickley Technical Director Thursday Oct 1#
Tuesday, September 29, 2026 3:33 PM
Re: I’d like to show you the new AIBD member community
Thanks Garrett. Great job!
The following feedback came from the same person#
Raven Epps Membership Director Sep 24#
Email response 9/24/26 to outreach regarding grace period:
No thank you. I just did t see the investment of $300 helping me much.
Raven Epps Membership Director Sep 24#
Email response 9/24/26 to outreach regarding grace period:
I didn’t utilize the AIBD community or membership benefits at all over the past year, so at this time, I don’t feel that renewing is a wise use of funds for me.
I intend to let my membership expire fully 10/17/26. Please remove me from all future email, renewal, and marketing communications. If my needs change and I see value in rejoining AIBD at a later date, I’ll be happy to reach out.
Thank you for your help,
Raven Epps Membership Director Sep 28#
Email response 9/25/26 to outreach regarding grace period:
I’m just too busy to try and navigate AIBD. I think if I was more familiar with it I would find it more useful, but I just don’t have time right now. I’ve already taken on too many “new” things that are more pressing. Maybe when my plate clears up I will be back.
Raven attempted the "Five Whys" technique#
She was successful at getting four whys, maybe you can help with the fifth.#
- I just didn't see the investment of $300 helping me much.
- Why?
- I didn’t utilize the AIBD community or membership benefits at all over the past year.
- Why?
- I’m just too busy to try and navigate AIBD.
- Why?
- If I were more familiar with it, I think I'd find it more useful, but I just don’t have time right now.
- Why?
- I’ve already taken on too many “new” things that are more pressing.
- Why?
- ?
- Why?
- I just didn't see the investment of $300 helping me much.