FHBA Targets 21,000 Membership Goal

President Len Tylka and 16 members of FHBA's Senior Leadership Team met in Tampa last week to pursue an ambitious agenda for the year ahead.

Launching the Association's "New Vision" during a high-energy visioning session, the volunteer leaders joined Executive Vice President Emmett Reed, CAE, and ten members of the FHBA professional staff to set a course for success.

FHBA's Senior Leadership Team met in Tampa last week to map out goals for the Association under the 2005-2006 theme of "New Vision."

One of the more tangible goals will be to push FHBA's statewide membership to 21,000 firms by October 31, 2006. Currently, statewide enrollment stands at 19,448 companies.

"One of the keys to achieving this goal will be to improve our (74.6 percent) rate of retention," said Membership Director Alan Baggett. "Under the leadership of our Membership Chair, Patty Wedge-Ludwig of Naples, and with the commitment of our Spikes around the state, I'm confident we'll reach our goal."

FHBA Legislative Counsel Richard Gentry advised leaders that the political stakes are high in the upcoming election year. "This is a critical time for our political action efforts," said Gentry. "Not only do we have a lot of important legislative races, but for the first time in four years, we'll be electing a new Governor." Gentry said FHBA's Political Action Committee would endorse a gubernatorial candidate after the 2006 legislative session.

Tylka, a West Palm Beach builder, appointed Treasurer Robert Parrish of Tallahassee and FHBA Past President Barry Rutenberg of Gainesville to head a task force to look at ways to increase individual member investments in FHBA's political and legal action efforts.

"A portion of each members' dues goes to support our legal and political goals," said Tylka. "But understanding what's at stake, I believe our members will want to do more. They just need to be asked."

The important issues of inclusionary zoning and impact fees dominated the governmental affairs discussions. A major challenge to a Tallahassee inclusionary zoning ordinance will be launched early in 2006 and ongoing legal and legislative strategies will be employed to stem the tide of excessive impact fees.

Gentry warned that the ground is shifting with respect to fighting obstacles to affordable housing and sensible growth. "There was a time when we could address these problems with legislative solutions," said Gentry. "Today, the battleground has shifted from Tallahassee to local governments around the state. It's more important than ever that we coordinate our statewide efforts with our local Home Builders Associations."

Recognizing that trend, Tylka has given more power than ever to 14 leaders who serve in the roles of Area Builder Vice Presidents and Area Associate Vice Presidents. These Area Leaders represent their respective areas of the state on the FHBA Executive Committee, Legal Action Committee and Industry Issues Committee.

"A big part of the New Vision is to have our issues and strategies emerge from the grass roots of the association," said Tylka. "That's the only way we can really stay in touch with the members' needs. It's also the reason that we'll be turning first to our Area Leaders to set the agenda in terms of what's important."

Ten of the 14 leaders attended the Tampa visioning session and committed themselves to the task ahead. The Area Leaders who participated in Tampa were:

• Bruce Sanson of Pinnacle Group Construction in St. George Island.
• Barry Rutenberg of Barry Rutenberg Homes in Gainesville.
• Arlene Stewart of AZS Consulting in Gainesville.
• Dennis Buford of Buford Construction Company in Stuart.
• Bob Farr of Can-Do! Inspection Protection in Melbourne Beach.
• Rob Lieberman of Nu-Era Homes, Inc. in Crystal River.
• Judy James of Malloy & James, attorneys, in Tampa.
• Tammy Lynch of Windward Homes in Palmetto.
• Mike Dannenhauer of Five County Insurance Agency in Fort Myers.
• Bruce Malasky of Malasky Homes in West Palm Beach.

To a person, the Area Leaders said their motivation to serve at the state level was a desire to "give back" to the industry.

"I believe we all want to help our industry and the people in it," says Malasky. "There are a lot of resources at the state level -- particularly in areas of education and information -- that all members can benefit from. A big part of our job is to make more people aware of what's available to them."

Many of the leaders have made a lifetime commitment to the industry. "I'm a third-generation home builder," says Lieberman. "I feel like my work is helping create opportunities for the next generation of builders."

"I grew up in the industry," said Dannenhauer, whose father Dan was an active HBA member and encouraged his son to get involved. "Serving home builders was the key to our success when my father formed our insurance agency and it's the key now. I love being part of the HBA family and I will always do my share to help us achieve our goals."

Some of the Area Leaders are making their first journeys into statewide involvement but they have a solid understanding of the goal.

"My expertise is in building codes and sustainable development," says Stewart. "That's where I think I can make a difference."

"I want to see more coordination between FHBA and the local HBAs," said Buford, a Past President of the Treasure Coast Builders Association. "To me, this is all about a shared commitment to problem solving."

"I've only been involved for two years but I gained experience by helping start a local HBA in my area (the Forgotten Coast BA serving Gulf and Franklin counties in the fast-growing Florida Panhandle)," says Sanson. "I know how important it is to have a good membership plan to be a successful HBA and I know that all local HBAs can take better advantage of the FHBA resources."

In addition to Tylka and Parrish, Senior Officers participating in Tampa were First Vice President John Wiseman of Naples, Secretary Dave Armstrong of Melbourne, Third Vice President Ann Hagen of Orlando and Immediate Past Second Vice President Michelle Delaney of Orlando.

Wiseman reported as chair of the Florida Home Builders Insurance, Inc. (FHBI), the wholly-owned subsidiary of the FHBA that works through member agents to provide members with insurance products and risk management tools. Wiseman said FHBI has just hired a safety director to work with companies on reducing accidents and claims, and added that the company hopes to provide health insurance to members in the future.

Armstrong stressed the need to get vocational education back in Florida's high schools while Hagen pledged to assist FHBA's efforts in consumer education in her role as a regional representative for Bonded Builders Warranty Association.

FHBA leaders also discussed efforts to enhance the Southeast Building Conference, improve internal and external communications, and serve the needs of both small-volume and large-volume companies in light of industry-wide consolidation.

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