The nearly 12-year executive officer of the Home Builders Association of Greater Springfield has resigned his post, effective Nov. 15.
Matt Morrow, who was hired by the local HBA in January 2001, will start working Dec. 3 as executive vice president of the Alabama-based Greater Birmingham Association of Home Builders - a group about triple the size of Springfield's HBA.
Morrow, who noted the Birmingham home builders association is the fifth largest in the country, said the executive vice president role is the highest rank in the organization, similar to the CEO post for the local HBA.
He said the Greater Birmingham Association of Home Builders has about 1,200 members, compared to 375 in the local HBA. Morrow succeeds Bart Fletcher, who stepped down to serve as president of Petroleum & Convenience Marketers of Alabama.
"In a lot of ways, they look very familiar," Morrow said, pointing to priorities such as legislative action. "They'll be looking for ways to become more efficient."
Morow notified the Springfield HBA on Oct. 9, and the board immediately formed a search committee to fill its top post. Morrow said the committee, made up of HBA members and board members, will accept applications and resumes through Nov. 9.
"We've made a lot of progress here in the last 12 years in the advocacy realm. This is really an opportunity for the HBA to think hard about, 'What do we want to build on top of that? What's the next level for this association?' I think there will be a lot of really good candidates," Morrow said.
Morrow, who last year began a three-year term on the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, said he will continue to serve in that role until he leaves Springfield.
At the HBA, Morrow has led advocacy efforts he has previously categorized into four types - regulatory, legislative, political and legal action at local, state and federal levels. In recent years, Morrow and the HBA have worked with the Missouri Division of Workers’ Compensation to clarify workers' compensation insurance rules and overhaul the Affidavit of Exemption document; advocated for a legislative issue tied to residential fire sprinklers; and reworked and enhanced the local
HBA website. In 2001, when Morrow was hired, the HBA established the Coalition for Building a Better Tomorrow, a nonpartisan political action committee that has raised and contributed roughly $250,000, according to
Springfield Business Journal archives.
Morrow previously served as an aide to John Ashcroft when he was a U.S. senator. In
taking the HBA position, Morrow succeeded Louise Henson, who now serves as a customer service and reprint sales representative for SBJ.
"It's a real mix of emotions," Morrow said of leaving the Springfield HBA, though he noted his new organization would work with the local association on national priorities. "I love this place, and I love the people here. It's difficult to walk away from so many friends and loved ones and family."[[In-content Ad]]
