How to Choose Snowboarding Outerwear

A respected construction executive and entrepreneur, Brad Blaicher has industry experience that spans more than two decades. Since 2012, he has served as CEO of OnSite Temp Housing, which he founded. When he’s not working, Brad Blaicher enjoys spending his free time snowboarding.

Snowboarding is a popular outdoor winter sport. To remain safe, it’s important to invest in quality outwear in order to remain warm and dry. When shopping for snowboarding outerwear, it is key to understand the relationship between waterproofing and breathability. When buying snowboard apparel such as a jacket and pants, buyers need something which is both waterproof and breathable.

Waterproof rating is measured in millimeters and is calculated by putting a column of water in a tube and placing it onto a fabric until water begins to penetrate. For instance, if a water column needs to be 10,000 millimeters high before water begins to seep through, the fabric has a 10k rating. For snowboarders, a 5k waterproof rating is considered the least amount of protection acceptable for wet conditions and is ideally suited for snowboarders who ride in cold and dry conditions. On the other hand, 10K waterproof rating guarantees solid performance in various conditions, making it a good choice for snowboarders.

Products with a waterproof rating of more than 10k offer the highest quality of protection and are recommended for snowboarders that stay in the mountains for long periods, especially in wet snow conditions. Breathability rating refers to the weight of water which can penetrate a square meter of fabric within 24 hours. As opposed to waterproof rating, breathability testing protocols aren’t standardized and vary according to brands. However, they range between 5k and 20k and the higher the rating, the more breathable the fabric is. For frequent hikers and those engaging in intensity activities, a 20k+ breathability rating is recommended to reduce sweating and the risk of becoming chilled.

 

Disaster Contingency Plans Defined

An accomplished construction executive and entrepreneur, Brad Blaicher has served in the industry for more than two decades. He is the founder and CEO of OnSite Temp Housing, the largest RV temporary housing provider in United States. Brad Blaicher works with multiple stakeholders, including governments, to set up disaster contingency plans.

Disaster contingency planning helps organizations and governments to prepare to respond adequately to emergencies unselect that support subsequent humanitarian efforts. During emergencies, time is one of the most critical factors. Contingency planning improves preparedness and facilitates discussions on how to deal with problems that arise out of a crisis. A contingency plan involves making decisions about key issues such as management of both human and financial resources, coordination and communication protocols, and a wide range of technical and logistical issues.

For contingency plans to be relevant, they should be collaborative, including stakeholders such as governments and local, national, regional, and global organizations. When proper coordination between the relevant parties is achieved, humanitarian aid to disaster victims can be offered in a timely and effective manner. The time put into contingency planning should be proportional to the time saved in event of a disaster. The planning process should cover different scenarios and analyze how each situation would be dealt with. The process should identify particular scenarios, list what actions to take in the event those situations come to pass, and explain what can be done to prepare ahead of time.

 

When to Pop Up on a Surfboard

Brad Blaicher splits his time between leading OnSite Temp Housing as COO and co-founder and ConstructionReports.com as general manager and co-founder. When he isn’t busy running these two Arizona-based businesses, he enjoys staying active outdoors. Brad Blaicher is particularly fond of such activities as surfing.

In surfing, a key movement is the pop up, yet many beginning surfers struggle with this action. Knowing how to pop up on a surfboard (a move that involves placing both hands next to the ribs and pushing up against the board) is only part of the problem surfers face when popping up.

The other part of the problem is determining the right timing for the movement. Surfers who pop up too soon may see the noses of their boards dip, and will fall off the back of the wave instead of catching it. Meanwhile, those who pop up too late may pearl, which is when the nose of the board submarines underwater when the surfer reaches the critical point of the wave without enough speed.

To prevent either of these situations, surfers must pop up at the right time when the wave is beginning to lift and push them toward the shore. This is often signified by the nose of the surfboard dipping down the wave face, indicating that surfers have matched the pace of the wave and their body weight is being pulled downward by gravity.

If surfers are uncertain when the nose is pointing down enough, they can focus on how the board feels. When it’s time for them to pop up, the board will feel weightless. 

The Differing Roles of CEOs and COOs

Brad Blaicher, the general manager and co-founder of ConstructionReports.com, has been working in the construction industry for over a decade. Alongside this, Brad Blaicher leads OnSite Temp Housing, having held such titles as COO and CEO of the company. While both titles are at the top of the hierarchy for businesses, their roles and responsibilities do differ.

In a company, the CEO is technically ranked above the COO. They are responsible for making all final decisions regarding the future of the business and are concerned with the long-term aspects of running a company. CEOs are responsible for reporting directly to the board of directors, company founders, or investors, depending on the structure of the business, and handle external matters, such as collaborating with partners and external stakeholders. CEOs are essentially responsible for where a company goes.

COOs, on the other hand, handle how a company will get to a specific point. They report to the CEO and are responsible for providing insights regarding organizational changes, along with overseeing daily operations. They report to the CEO and focus largely on internal operations, including working with different company departments to implement policies. Beyond that, they provide the CEO with guidance regarding business decisions, though the final power to decide still lies with the CEO.

 

Succeeding in RV Sales

A construction executive with a strong background in sales, operations, and marketing, Brad Blaicher has been actively engaged in the industry for almost twenty years. Currently, he leads OnSite Temp Housing, the largest RV temporary housing firm in the US as chief executive officer. As part of his present responsibilities, Brad Blaicher is tasked with overseeing sales and marketing of RV fleets.

For RV companies to excel in sales and marketing, they need to put in place appropriate marketing techniques that cater to every aspect of a buyer’s journey. For starters, delivering a transparent customer price is essential as it quickly establishes a connection with a prospective buyer shortly after lead submission to create a personalized buying experience. Once this is established, marketers should use a combination of text, phone, and email to keep communication lines open and let the customer know they’re keen on delivering a highly personalized service.

Secondly, RV businesses need to understand how to nurture leads into sales, considering the average RV sales cycle can last 198 days from the time of lead submission to delivering the RV. Having sufficient time allows the RV dealer to come up with an effective strategy that fosters stronger relationships with clients and encourages repeat purchases.

Companies should classify their leads as cold, warm, or hot in order to handle each customer uniquely depending on where they are in the purchase process. Doing this ensures an RV dealership remains on the minds of customers at various stages of a purchase.

Blevins Trail in Usery Mountain Regional Park

A graduate of Rollins College who completed management programs at both the University of Michigan Ross School of Business and the Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management, Brad Blaicher owns and operates OnSite Temp Housing in Phoenix, Arizona. When he isn’t working, Brad Blaicher is an avid hiker.

One of the most popular hikes in the greater Phoenix area is Blevins Trail. Located in Usery Mountain Regional Park just east of Phoenix, this hike offers what Visit Phoenix describes as an “easygoing introduction to quintessential Sonoran Desert scenery.”

A flat, 3.1-mile loop, Blevins Trail is appropriate for hikers of all skill levels. It presents great views of the nearby Pass Mountain, as well as the more distance Cat Peaks and Superstition Mountain.

Another prominent feature of the Blevins Trail is the striking vegetation that surrounds it. Visitors can see cacti and other desert plants such as saguaros, ocotillos, and cholla. In the springtime, the area treats hikers to an abundance of beautiful wildflowers.

What to Expect When Hiking Arizona’s Rim-to-Rim Trail

Based in Phoenix, Arizona, Brad Blaicher is the owner and CEO of OnSite Temp Housing, an award-winning company that provides temporary housing solutions, including RV sales and rentals for insurance companies and contractors. Aside from his professional responsibilities, Brad Blaicher enjoys a range of personal interests, including hiking.

The state of Arizona offers numerous hiking areas to explore, featuring a range of natural highlights such as cliffs, slot canyons, hoodoos, and more. One of the state’s best hikes is the Rim-to-Rim Trail in the Grand Canyon. This hike starts at the North Kaibab Trail and covers a total of 47 miles over the 3 to 5 days required to complete it.

The best time to hike the Rim-to-Rim Trail is in the spring and autumn seasons, though the daytime heat is very intense during this part of the year. This hike permits exploration of the canyon’s north and south rims, as well as inside it, and passes by two campgrounds (Cottonwoods and Bright Angel), the Supai Tunnel, and Roaring Springs in the early stages of the hike. As the hike progresses, the elevation changes substantially, providing an opportunity to enjoy various views of the canyon.

Coachella Rescheduled for October 2020

An alumnus of Rollins College and graduate of management programs at Northwestern and the University of Michigan, Brad Blaicher is the owner and CEO of OnSite Temp Housing in Phoenix, Arizona. In addition to providing temporary housing RVs to federal contractors and construction companies, Brad Blaicher rents them out for multi-day musical festivals like Burning Man and Coachella.

One of the most popular music festivals in the US, Coachella is a two-weekend celebration hosted annually in Indio, California. It was supposed to take place in April this year, but has been pushed back to October as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Performances are now scheduled to occur on October 9, 10, 11, 16, 17, and 18, barring any additional delays. Frank Ocean, Rage Against the Machine, and Travis Scott were expected to headline in April, but at this point it's unclear if they'll show up in October.

Despite the postponement of the event and the uncertain nature of the festival in October, music fans can take advantage of a variety of resources in the meantime. YouTube has plenty of Coachella videos of performances by popular musicians like Beyoncé, Ariana Grande, Billie Eilish, and Drake, while a documentary of the event, Coachella: 20 Years in the Desert, was recently released and can be streamed for free on YouTube.

Best Hiking Trails in Phoenix for Beginners and Experienced Hikers

An accomplished entrepreneur, Brad Blaicher co-founded constructionreports.com, running it successfully before selling it in 2017. A resident of Phoenix, Arizona, Brad Blaicher enjoys hiking in his free time.

Phoenix has a number of noteworthy hiking trails in and around the city. For beginners, South Mountain Park and Preserve has easy to moderate hiking trails. The largest municipal park in the United States, it has dozens of hiking options for people who have just taken up hiking. For those who want to better their off-pavement, uneven-surface hiking skills, the Canal Trails are a better option. Stretching through neighborhoods like Arcadia and around Camelback Colonnade, the canal paths also feature good views.

For more experienced hikers, Tom’s Thumb Trail is a must-climb. Located in the McDowell Sonoran Conservancy, the hike stretches 4.2 miles up and back with incredible views from the top. For those looking for a hard climb, Echo Trail on Camelback Mountain will give just that. The 2.5-mile hike ascends 1,300 feet. The first part of the hike is reasonable, but it quickly gets difficult close to midway, with long sets of stairs and steep rock sections. Many hikers get lost or suffer heat exhaustion on their way, and more rescues are carried out here every year than in any other park in a US metropolis.