For their part, Renovate America and Ygrene both described a thorough pre-screening of contractors, sales training to ensure honest dealing, an initial probationary period with extra contractor scrutiny, and investigations into complaints of unscrupulous conduct.
"A lot of things are more pedestrian here, and there are fewer fashion choices," said Ms. McMahon, 45, a contractor in sales and marketing for Best Buy and other companies.
Some companies concentrate on financing and use local contractors for sales and installation, while others do everything themselves.
Upon meeting my contractors, my sales VP was right.
The company, which is the world's biggest-selling plane maker and the Pentagon's No. 2 contractor, had lower sales at both its commercial and military operations, but held to its financial forecasts for this year and next, citing strong global demand for its products.
In September the target was Brazil, when he escorted six "defence" contractors on a sales spree.
Pentagon officials are expected to detail cuts in spending on Thursday, and Boeing and other military contractors are seeking sales to foreign governments to offset the domestic cuts.
Diluting the Tube upgrades (which, following the collapse of one private contractor and the sale of another, are now back in TfL's hands) is a false economy, argues Mr Hendy, since without new kit maintenance bills will rise sharply.
Two important deals are in the pipeline: a €1.2 billion concession to run 14 regional airports, awarded last year to Frankfurt Airport in partnership with a Greek contractor, and the sale of 67% of Piraeus Port Authority, which pits Cosco, the Chinese state shipping company, against Maersk of Denmark.
Founded in 1873, the fifth-generation, family-owned Gisbane is one of the largest (sales) contractors, construction and real estate development companies in the U.S. The company offers services ranging from site selection, financing, programming and construction through transition, planning and management.
