At the Builders' Show

Brian Catalde, president of Paragon Communities in Playa del Rey, Calif., is a man on a mission when it comes to making the most of his time at the International Builders’ Show. From the moment he and his colleagues touched down in Atlanta last month, they were focused on one thing: new back-office software.

“Every year we take a look at our company and see where we can improve productivity,” says Catalde, whose firm closed more than 300 homes last year. “In this case it is a goal of making our people more efficient.”

With many software companies exhibiting their wares, the IBS was the logical place to narrow the field, says Catalde.

“We took our contracts and accounts payable people, and let everyone give us a sales pitch. What we wanted was a system that was totally integrated, if possible.”

After four full-length demonstrations, the group was “dazzled” by a paperless back-office system. Now back in California, the Paragon staff is continuing with its software due dilligence.

Meanwhile, Catalde is already talking about what he’ll be shopping for at the 2003 show: field safety devices.