In my last podcast of the summer Steve and I finish our conversation about the condition of American cities including a discussion of the book Happy City by Charles Montgomery.

American cities continue to suffer from poor planning and decades of maintenance backlogs, so that most offer a degraded lifestyle by the standard of what is possible.

Will we fiddle while Rome burns?

Paint is not my only interest, though it's been the only topic I've podcasted about. Until now!

Over the last several years due to work and good fortune I've spent time in numerous major cities around the US and world. Noticing THE disparities, it's been on my mind to share that experiences with you.

If you're an American you might not want to hear it, though you need to.

The problems with US cities and our failing infrastructure are more than 60-years in the making, so if you think that I've gone political you'd be wrong. Spanning federal and state administrations of both parties the United States has failed to invest in needed upkeep and improvements.

And we are all responsible!

Because one episode on this topic was not enough! Part two of my survey with independent paint retailers, asking all THE questions Ben Carson and Dan Calkins want to know! Next week, something completely different.

Now we get to THE good part: I've begun my work surveying dealer sentiment towards their manufacturing partners. I've only performed a few interviews so far and have already been impressed by how willing dealers are to share their views. Join us as Steve and I discuss this current and most interesting engagement.

I'll be back with a new blog on Thursday!

Finally back behind the mike, join me as I catch you up on what I've been doing the last few months including talking tariffs, applicators, a recent paint store road trip plus an update on one of several consulting gigs I currently have going on in paint.

Mark, My Words and Friends! Episode 1: Tariffs and THE Consultant by Mark Lipton

Join me as the president of Farrell-Calhoun, Anthony Ward, shares THE story of his company's transformation in the moments after Kelly-Moore's closing.

Unlike Dunn-Edwards, Farrell-Calhoun had not prepared for the closing of Kelly-Moore. As word spread of Kelly's collapse, Anthony and his team had no plans to hire a team of Kelly-Moore alumni.

Until he met them!

As word of Kelly-Moore's closing spread a few companies took fast action to ensure that Kelly's losses would be their gains.

Dunn-Edwards was one such company, though their story is less about their response to Kelly-Moore's closing and more about their preparation for the possibility that their once mighty competitor may one day close!

Join me as Monte Lewis, the COO oof Dunn-Edwards shares their story.

As word of Kelly-Moore's closing spread a few companies took fast action to ensure that Kelly's losses would be their gains.

HIS Coatings was one such company,

Join me as the president of HIS Coatings Tony Cox shares how his family's business transformed their business in an instant to capitalize on THE opportunity.

And there's only one place to hear their story!

In the wake of the events at Kelly-Moore three companies took bold action to ensure that Kelly's losses would be their gains, each transforming their businesses in THE process.

THE Opportunists is their story!

Plus an update on paint news, because independents are doing so well I couldn't keep it to myself!