FHBAction News (July 19, 2010)

President’s Message
By John C. “Chuck” Fowke
The breadth and depth of our home building industry will be on display this week in Orlando at the 32nd annual Southeast Building Conference & Green Building Show. Anyone who is familiar with our industry knows that while we are often referred to as “the home builders,” we are much more than the men and women who actually build homes. We encompass a wide range of professionals, including remodelers, developers, subcontractors, suppliers, architects, engineers, designers, and attorneys, just to name a few. Sometimes it takes attending a trade show like the SEBC – where everyone gathers in one place – to realize just how vast our industry is and how much we need and rely on each other. If you’re planning to attend, make sure you spend ample time in the exhibit hall. That’s where you’ll see the important people who supply the products and services that go into our homes and buildings. The exhibitors are our partners and they have earned our support. I’d also encourage you to reach out and make some new friends at SEBC. Talk to someone you don’t know... it’s what networking and relationship-building is all about. Soak up all the information and ideas you can. I guarantee you’ll walk away from SEBC with at least one business-building idea. And I hope you also leave with a renewed sense of pride about being part of a truly great industry.
 
SEBC Kicks Off This Week in Orlando
It’s showtime! The 32nd annual Southeast Building Conference (SEBC) and Green Building Show is held this week at the Rosen Centre Hotel and Orange County Convention Center in Orlando and it’s not too late to register at www.sebcshow.com. There are 300 exhibits of building industry products and services, 50-plus hard-hitting educational programs, and three highlight speakers: Sgt. Matt Eversmann, the real-life hero of the popular book and movie Black Hawk Down; Gulf Power Company CEO Susan Story; and Wells Fargo senior economist Dr. Eugenio Aleman. SEBC is also home to the prestigious Aurora Awards, which honors the champions of design excellence on Saturday evening at the Rosen Centre Hotel. Ann Hagen of Bonded Builders Warranty Group serves as chair of the SEBC & Green Building Show and will welcome delegates and exhibitors at the opening ceremonies on Thursday at 9 am at the Convention Center. Saturday visitors to the trade show floor could win a trip to the Daytona 500.

Silent Auction Benefits Future Builders
Over 100 valuable gifts – including jewelry, vacation stays, sports memorabilia, and unique artwork – will be available for purchase Friday night at the Future Builders of America Silent Auction and Wine Tasting to be held from 6 pm to 8 pm at the Rosen Centre Hotel in Orlando. The list of items is available at www.sebcshow.com. The price of the ticket, $50 per person, is tax-deductible as is the amount you pay above the stated value of the item(s) you purchase. FBA trains young people for careers in construction and proceeds from the auction fund student scholarships, according to FBA Chair Robert Parrish of The Parrish Group, Tallahassee.

Home Inspectors Issues to be Discussed
A new Florida law that licenses home inspectors goes into effect July 1, 2011 and the Florida Home Builders Association (FHBA) is hosting a forum this Friday in Orlando for contractors and home inspectors who want to become more familiar with what it requires. “In addition to being informative, the roundtable discussion will help identify the issues that need to be addressed in the rule-making process related to the new law,” said Douglas Buck, FHBA’s Director of Governmental Affairs. The forum will be held on Friday from 9 am to 11 am in Room 209A at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando during the SEBC & Green Building Show. Participation is open to contractors, home inspectors, and related professionals.

Visit with Arthur Rutenberg at the SEBC
It’s not often you get to chat with a legend… but that’s exactly what you can do this week at the SEBC & Green Building Show. On Friday from 11 am to 3 pm in Booth #2165, Arthur Rutenberg, the founder of Arthur Rutenberg Homes, welcomes custom home builders to an informal dialogue. He’ll share his ideas on the direction of the market, strategies for increasing pre-sales business, effective model homes, sales collateral, and operational systems backed by the right software. Among his many accomplishments and honors, Rutenberg is a member of the Florida Housing Hall of Fame.

Make the Connection: reConstructFL.com
Florida contractors have a quick and easy way to access construction-related job opportunities created by various stimulus programs. The connection is the user-friendly web site www.reConstructFL.com that serves as virtual one-stop shopping for contractors to get free information on federal, state, and local initiatives designed to reinvigorate Florida’s construction industry. Contractors can simply log on, create an account and start searching for valuable information. reConstructFL.com is a free service provided by Workforce Florida in conjunction with the Florida Home Builders Association, Building a Safer Florida, Florida Public Affairs Center, and the Disaster Contractors Network.

SEBC Offers Associates ‘Expert’ Advice
The SEBC & Green Building Show isn’t just for builders. In fact, associates (non-builders) are invited to take advantage of special “Meet the Experts” sessions that are designed with them in mind. The sessions are offered during show hours this Thursday, Friday and Saturday at the Orange County Convention Center. Subjects include Creating Clients for Life, Maximizing the HBA Network, Tips on Selling to Builders, Running a Family-Owned Business, Keys to Good Customer Service, Developing Builder Relationships, and Marketing on a Shoestring Budget. Among the speakers are Gayla Lees, The Real Connection; Randy Moore, Sherwin Williams; Beverly Koehn, Koehn and Associates; Bill Smock, Gator Plumbing; Frank Copare, NWC Construction; and Rita Williams, Merchandising Plus.

News Notes: McCollum Speaks Saturday
Florida Attorney General and gubernatorial candidate Bill McCollum will address the Governmental Affairs Committee of the Florida Home Builders Association on Saturday in Orlando; the meeting begins at 8 am at the Orange County Convention Center during the SEBC & Green Building Show…  Dawn Puzzitiello, talented wife of Gold Coast BA President Ray Puzzitiello, will sing the National Anthem on Thursday at the SEBC’s opening ceremonies… FHBA’s Political Action Committee, under the leadership of Chair Michael Rahn of Whitney Bank, will host a Candidates Forum on Friday afternoon at SEBC from 1 pm to 4 pm at the Orange County Convention Center; the PAC Trustees meet at 4 pm to deliberate and make their 2010 endorsements in Cabinet-level races.

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