Best Places to Work 2007: Home Builders Association of Greater Springfield Springfield

As far as its employees are concerned, the Home Builders Association of Greater Springfield keeps its house in order.

“It’s a great place to work,” said Operations Manager Charlyce Ruth, who’s been with HBA for eight years.

HBA began in 1954 and is a trade organization comprising members who build and remodel or are associated with residential construction.

“Nothing like working for a long-term company,” Ruth quipped. “Every day is different. I was hired here to do accounting, but that’s a small part now.”

HBA has grown quite a bit in the last eight years, offering resources and its special events – including the Parade of Homes and the Remodeling Expo to its roster of more than 400 members.

In June, the organization held a dedication for its new headquarters in the Corporate Village office park on Republic Road. The 6,345-square-foot headquarters, which has a number of green features, has multiple meeting rooms, extra storage space and room for future staff additions.

Training for work-related continuing education for current employees is supported, Ruth said, and tuition reimbursement is available. Classes that teach employees to perform their jobs better are encouraged. Ruth and another staff member, for example, have attended the class on nonprofit leadership at Missouri State University.

Flextime is available to eligible employees, and one person works from home one day a week, Ruth said.

Employees can participate in the organization’s retirement plan after one year, but they are fully vested in less than six months. Salary increases average 4 percent to 6 percent, and all employees are eligible for annual bonuses that average up to $300.

HBA pays more than half of the health insurance premiums for staff members, and the organization re-evaluates its benefits plan annually.

Employees provide feedback to managers once a year, but openness is encouraged all year, Ruth said. Regular meetings are scheduled quarterly.

“If something arises that they like or don’t like, we have an open-door policy. … It just makes us work together better and makes a better work environment,” she said.

Executive Officer Matt Morrow wouldn’t dream of working without open communication.

“I don’t think I could do as good of a job without it,” Morrow said. “We have an exceptional staff here.”

With a small staff, creating teamwork comes naturally.

“People who work at the HBA take a lot of ownership in the success of the organization,” Morrow said. “My approach is you want to hire well, take good care of good employees and rely on them.”

HBA of Greater Springfield

Founded: 1954

Address: 636 W. Republic Road, Bldg. D, Springfield, MO 65807

Phone: (417) 881-3711

Employees: 5

Web: www.springfieldhomebuilders.com

Services: Trade organization representing the local home-building industry