Michael Anschel

President, OA Design+Build

Michael, a nationally recognized expert on resilient design, remodeling, and building, writes, trains, and speaks for various publications and events around the world. His building assemblies have been published in numerous publications including the US Department of Energy. He is the owner of OA Design+Build+Architecture, an award-winning nationally celebrated design-build and architecture firm (with 29 years in business), and CEO of Verified Green Inc. which consults with Local Government, product manufacturers, suppliers, builders, and architects on Green building. Michael led the effort to develop MN GreenStar and is past president of the national GreenStar Alliance. He also teaches Green Building at Boston Architectural College.

Born in Minnesota, he attended Capital Normal University (Beijing) and the University of Minnesota. He has had the honor of presenting at Harvard's Center for Joint Housing Studies, and The United Negro College Fund. He helped develop the city of St. Paul's sustainability building policy and re-wrote Minneapolis's yard ordinance. Named #25 in Metro Magazine's 100 reasons to love the Twin Cities and called “one of the nation's most outspoken green building advocates” by MN Business, Michael successfully straddles the building, design, and green worlds by engineering profitability into sustainability.

Sign up now for summer 2024 course dates

Estimating for Greater Profit and Resilience

For remodelers, the heart of profitability lies in the skill and accuracy of estimating projects. You need a system that ensures you meet your true costs of project execution and overhead, as well as a margin that’s responsive to market conditions. Today's consumer is more sophisticated and demands for transparency are increasing. To answer those challenges, Michael Anschel pioneered a new methodology for estimating that eliminates the shell game and provides clarity and control over your numbers. With 29 years in the industry, and over a decade successfully implementing the COPE method for his company and many others, this is your opportunity to get a look at the tool that will transform your business.

Classes will also be available on-demand to view at your convenience.

July 30, August 1, 6, 8 and 13 @ 11am CT / 12pm ET / 9am PT

Course Total: $1,495

Class #1

THE BIG IDEA

July 30, 2024 @ 11am CT / 12pm ET / 9am PT

We will work through the underlying principles that govern the COPE method of estimating and gain a solid understanding of why we are taking these steps. This is the foundation for what is to come.

Class #2

NUTS AND BOLTS

August 1, 2024 @ 11am CT / 12pm ET / 9am PT

Together we will take a deep dive into the mechanics of the method. This is where we work through practical exercises so you gain first hand knowledge of how it works on actual projects.

Class #3

IN THE WEEDS

August 6, 2024 @ 11am CT / 12pm ET / 9am PT

Knowing that you are comfortable with the basic operations, we take on the challenge of overhead assignments using a capacity based method. What is above and below the line, and how you keep your business resilient.

Class #4

PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER

August 8, 2024 @ 11am CT / 12pm ET / 9am PT

By now you have a good grasp of the principles, how they work, how to protect your company, and how to respond to market conditions. This session we work on ways to package to the consumer and the opportunities transparency presents.

Class #5

REFINEMENT

August 13, 2024 @ 11am CT / 12pm ET / 9am PT

In this final session, we respond to your first attempts at putting COPE in action. This is our chance to tweak and modify your process, catch any errors, and ensure you’re dialed in and ready to fully move into a more profitable and resilient business model.