President’s Perspective
Complex Problems
It seems like the problems we are tasked to solve in our projects or personal lives are increasingly complex. These problems have several variables. The direction any variable takes has an impact on another variable. In other words, if something moves upward, it means something else must move downward. It requires that we view the… Read »
Construction Management Works for Iowa
By now you are wondering, who is Chad Alley? Let’s squash the rumors before they start – No, I am not taking over the Storyline’s President’s Perspective. I am the second string quarterback that stands around with the clip board and hat turned backwards. I volunteered to help out Mike Espeset and write this article.… Read »
Managing Me
I coach a baseball team for my 10 year old son, Nate. I learn a lot in coaching boys this age. I already know a lot about baseball skills, drills, game management, situations, rules, etc. I learn a lot, though, about trying to see the game through their eyes, trying to prepare them to see… Read »
A Team Sport
When we hear the term “economic development,” it can conjure up many images – industrial parks, tax increment financing, new jobs, tax credits, company recruitment, business retention, entrepreneurs, investment, growth, and yes, design and construction (music to my ears). Economic development is not any one of these things; it is all of them in some… Read »
Run To The Pain
My oldest son and my daughter run cross country. It is an awesome sport for them. They get in great shape. They enjoy camaraderie with their friends, teammates, and opponents. Their teams are quite large so they get to meet many new people. They learn about nutrition and training. They work all season long to… Read »
A Plan for Story
We have been working for several years to develop strategic thinking as a discipline at Story. Strategic planning is one of the tools of this discipline that we have engaged our employees in for many years. Strategic planning is not an event, but rather a series of events and exercises that help us bring focus… Read »
A Milestone Birthday – 75 Years
In 2009, Story is 75 years old. Our company began as James Thompson & Sons in 1934. (We cannot find the exact date in our records.) We established the name Story Construction in 1976 and consolidated all company operations into Story in 1982. We have experienced five major generational transitions of ownership in those 75… Read »