HBA builds on record year heading into 2007

“We have 407 members at last count,” said HBA Executive Officer Matt Morrow. “It’s a record in every measurable way.”

Morrow credits the increase to “more member benefits than ever,” including new insurance programs, more governmental advocacy for builders, and potential members’ desires to be identified with the HBA’s rigorous professional standards.

“We have two new partnerships with insurance companies to provide general liability insurance at reduced rates for HBA members,” he said. “In the first quarter of 2007, we also expect to sign a group health partnership for our members. We’ve also had some fairly high-profile advocacy success on behalf of the industry that attracted people the last year or two, on regulatory and fee issues. We also managed the campaign for the new power plant with a communitywide committee. I think those things have raised the awareness among the industry of the positive impact the HBA can have.”

Custom builder Kevin Clingan, the HBA’s new president as of Dec. 17, agrees.

“I’m pretty proud of what we’ve accomplished,” he said. “I’ve been a builder for 24 years and an HBA member for 20 years. We’ve seen a lot of growth, and we want growth to continue. The more members we have, the stronger we’re going to be in the political arena. We’re trying to work with legislators and senators to educate them to our needs.”

Clingan was chair of the HBA’s government affairs committee for the past two years, which Morrow calls “a huge job.” He added, “I’ve seen Kevin take on a lot of projects, and I’ve never seen him not succeed. He’s absolutely committed to the betterment of the industry.”

HBA’s governmental lobbying was led by HBA Director of Government Affairs Shane Schoeller until his November election to the state legislature. Many of Schoeller’s duties now fall to Jennifer McClure, the new HBA director of public affairs. McClure has background in political and governmental public policy, public relations, media and publications. She will also oversee HBA publications.

There have been other job changes for the organization as well. Charlyce Ruth, an HBA staff member since 1999, was promoted to operations manager from office manager. She is the staff liaison for HBA event committees, the Associates Council and the HBA’s 501(c)(3) Charitable Foundation. Her duties include planning HBA annual events, and fulfilling financial reporting and accounting duties.

HBA staff member Kay Wylie was promoted to office manager, handling day-to-day functions of the HBA office and providing logistical support for events and programs.

An especially bright note for HBA in 2007, Morrow said, is the recent expansion of services to Stone, Barry and Taney counties.

“There is so much happening there and they’re so geographically, geologically and environmentally diverse. There’s a lot of room for different types of building,” he said.

Branson is “a primary goal” in the HBA’s strategic plan through 2009, Morrow said. “We’re beginning to recruit members in Branson,” he said. “Our Parade of Homes this year had three homes in Branson, and that’s a first. We also hope to develop a Home Show there.”

Morrow said that builders “want to communicate to their customers that they hold themselves to a high professional standard. Our requirements are among the most rigorous in the nation, above and beyond legal or regulatory requirements. We have insurance requirements, credit checks and experienced builders that inspect new member applications to make sure their work is of sufficient quality.”

Low dues also attract members, Morrow said.

“The average membership dues for an HBA our size is $500 and ours just moved to $350,” he said.

Morrow said most local HBA revenues come from the Home Show, the Parade of Homes and the Home Remodeling Expo. “We also have some publications that have advertising, our charitable foundation auction, our golf, fishing and shooting tournaments, and similar events,” he said.

The HBA hopes to move in March to its new location at Corporate Village, 636 W. Republic Road, Bldg. D, a building purchased in October for $550,000 from Morelock-Ross Builders.

“We’re so excited about it,” Operations Manager Ruth said.

“The extra space is fantastic – it’s going to allow us to do so much more for our membership.”

Liberty Bank has provided the HBA temporary quarters at its 4021 S. Campbell Ave. building since late October.

Ruth said the new facility’s 6,345 square feet will allow time-saving, on-site storage of materials that previously had to be stored elsewhere.

It also will provide space for meetings formerly held off-site and accommodate additional employees.

Morrow added, “We have multiple meeting rooms of various sizes that will be well suited for roundtable meetings, classroom settings and focus groups. There’s also a phone bank facility.”

Morrow, like Ruth, eagerly anticipates the move.

“We’ll have a home again,” he said.[[In-content Ad]]