Cino of Tyga-Box Systems, Inc. discusses being a woman of influence in the construction industry

What does it mean to be a person of influence in any industry….what does it encompass in the world of construction, and more specifically, a woman in the world of construction and office moving? By definition, influence means: a) to produce an effect on by imperceptible or intangible means; b) to sway. Allies and alliances are key to having an influence at any level. Without them…projects and deals and dreams fall flat in very short order. When we introduced the Tyga-Box System 12 years ago, for example, neither my partner, Marty Spindel nor I knew a single person in the construction or office moving industry. Promoting its sustainability advantages firstly and its economical benefits secondly, we encountered more apathy than appreciation for our invention. Were we more “faint of heart,” we would have just closed our doors, as we had no influence on anybody to do anything differently from what they had been doing for several decades prior. Over time, a few movers and end-user customers came to understand the economical advantages to corporate moving brought about by standardizing on a right-sized, reusable crate. For us, those few formed the first “spark” of influence that, over time, grew into a powerhouse of relationships, referrals, recommendations and awards of recognition. A spark that has propelled me, a former fashion designer, to the foreground of an industry transformation in which reusable plastic crates today replace single-use corrugated boxes for corporate relocation and churn. Rarely is it the case these days for a sizable corporate move to be made in any type of container other than a crate system. Yes, the product is important, but it was the influence of those who surround us, motivate us and spread our message….that made possible the transformation across and industry. I appreciate that in my lifetime, I am getting the opportunity to witness the impact of a transformation that I had only dared to dream about some dozen years ago – and I am simply in awe of the raw, sheer power of influence from relationships! Relationships of anonymous origins so powerful that, unbeknownst to me, we were recommended to and were deemed worthy of inclusion in The Inc. 5000 Fastest Growing Companies in America 2008-2009. In the same manner, we were invited by the Better Business Bureau to take our place amongst America’s most respected businesses. Amidst strong competition in the tens of thousands, we were included in Diversity Businesses’ Top 500. None of this possible without the influence of others. Customer relationships are so powerful that we have experienced growth primarily through their enthusiastic referrals – not the “letters of recommendation” type, rather the “please have new prospects call me on the phone…I want to talk with them” type. At our trade show booth, our customers are in action – passionately exerting their influence on new prospects all the time! Be they end-users, movers, project managers or distributors – they love to share “good stuff” with friends and colleagues, particularly when they can help their colleagues save money, time and the environment in a single product choice. And because of their enthusiasm, we’ve been called upon to accept numerous awards and nominations, such as “Best Product” award 2008 New York Moving Supplies and Equipment, as a finalist in New York Enterprise Report 2009 Category Green Company: Best Practices, and as nominee for Best Product “2009 Gotham Green Awards.” I have had the good fortune of being acknowledged by my peers, having won IFMAGNY’s most prestigious “Tony Cornaccia Award for Service” 2005, “Associate of the Year Award” 2007 and was nominated again in 2008. I now chair the sustainability committee, and recently my committee launched a successful roundtable discussion series entitled “Green TableTalk” dedicated exclusively to candid conversations amongst facilities practitioners conducted in a safe, supplier-free environment. For future dates/topics, please log onto: www.ifmagny.org. Going beyond IFMA, I love being a catalyst…a “connecter” if you will, and brought two industries together to form an affiliation of mutual benefit between AMSA and NAPO (the American Movers and Storage Association and the National Association of Professional Organizers). All of us are looking forward to seeing the synergies of these powerful influences unfold. For me, “being green” is a source of energy – it provides impetus and purpose to everything I do. Again, it is another sphere in which people who influence the process are key to progress. Green creates bonds of relationship that extend way beyond self interest or corporate profit. And at the same time…“being green” directly serves the purpose of my business, as occurred when we formed a joint venture with another green inventor, David King of Samson Carts, a certified green guard product. We mutually market our respective inventions nationally under the brand name CrateXpress, whose creed is: “Products Best in Class…Service Unsurpassed.” Kindly refer to www.cratexpress.com for further information. Being green helped me take on the challenge to my aging brain and develop new neural pathways to study intensely for the LEED certification exam. The most amazing aspect of that experience was how my family, friends and colleagues influenced me in so many supportive and loving ways that I PASSED! Trust me – as a candidate for success – I was a long-shot! So my life lesson was how the support of others influenced my outcomes and put me in the frame of mind to achieve success. It is in this spirit of hopefully influencing the success of others that I carry the message of Sustainability to others…helping facilities managers create a “Net-Zero-Waste Move™” and in general, support them in implementing green initiatives within their organizations. To all my women colleagues, with respect to cultivating influence, particularly in the construction and project management industry, I have only this to say – which I know you’ve heard a thousand times before – do what you love, love what you do…and most of all, do it with the people you love to be with!! Love, listen and learn…these are the keys to success. Our vision, since inception, is the same: saving trees one corporate move at a time.” I’m truly blessed to live and breathe my vision every day – and to be surrounded by influencers who help make it a reality…every day! Nadine Cino is CEO and co-inventor of Tyga-Box Systems, Inc., New York, N.Y.