FHBAction News (August 4, 2014)
President's Message
By Ron Lieberman
I think everyone would agree that when you
have a winning team, it doesn’t make sense to change the players. Clearly, that’s the consensus of the
Florida Home Builders Association and its Political Action Committee with respect to Governor Rick Scott
and the members of his Cabinet. At our recent Summer Builders Conference in Orlando (held in
conjunction with the Southeast Building Conference), FHBA formalized endorsements for the Governor
as well as Attorney General Pam Bondi (see announcement below) and Agriculture Commissioner Adam
Putnam. Earlier this year, we did the same for Florida CFO Jeff Atwater when he spoke to our FHB-PAC
$1,000 Club members during the Spring Legislative Conference in Tallahassee. The Governor phoned
into our Governmental Affairs Committee meeting at SEBC to promise his continued push for more jobs,
which fuels the demand for housing. In addition, Ms. Bondi and Mr. Putnam made personal appearances
at the SEBC to show their support for our industry, as did Lt. Governor Carlos Lopez-Cantera. In fact, all
three took the time to offer words of encouragement to our young Future Builders of America who were in
attendance. Florida is headed in the right direction thanks to a pro-housing, pro-business Governor and
Cabinet and I encourage all FHBA to support each of them in their re-election bids.
Ron Lieberman is a third-generation home builder and developer. He is a two-time President of the Citrus
County BA and a former chairman of the Citrus County Affordable Housing Authority and the Advisory
Committee to the Tampa Bay Regional Transportation Authority.
Graham Wins State Achievement Award
FHBA Immediate Past President Suzanne Graham of Port Charlotte
is one of just 13 women in Florida to be honored this year by the Florida Commission on the Status of
Women with a Florida Achievement Award for her work in improving the lives of women and families in
their communities. Graham was presented the award by Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi at a special
ceremony during the Southeast Building Conference in Orlando. Director of Government Affairs
for Massey Services, Inc. and the 2013 President of the Florida Home Builders Association, Graham
was the first female President of the Charlotte-DeSoto Building Industry Association in 2006 and was
twice elected its Member of the Year. “We are excited to recognize the tremendous work of Suzanne
Graham and the many ways she is impacting her community through her volunteer efforts,” said Yvonne
Fry, Chair of the Florida Commission on the Status of Women. “She exemplifies the character of selfless
service that makes our state so strong.” In addition to her many industry leadership roles, including a
recent appointment by Governor Rick Scott to the Southwest Florida Regional Planning
Council, Graham gives back to her community by supporting many local charities including the Future
Builders of America, Tidewell Hospice, Charlotte County Homeless Coalition and youth sports.
FHBA Endorses Attorney General Bondi
The Florida
Home Builders Association (FHBA) has endorsedPam Bondi for Florida Attorney General, making
the announcement at its recent Summer Builders Conference in Orlando. Bondi, who delivered remarks
at the conference, thanked the association, its local builders associations, and members for promoting
economic growth and prosperity. “I am honored to receive support from the Florida Home Builders
Association,” said Bondi. “The industry is extremely important to Florida’s economy and in helping
families realize the American Dream of homeownership.”FHBA President Ron Lieberman said:
“Maintaining a safe environment directly affects our industry’s success, and Attorney General Pam Bondi
has worked tirelessly to make Florida a safe place to live, work, play and raise a family.” A native of
Tampa and a fourth generation Floridian, Bondi served as a successful prosecutor for more than 18
years in Hillsborough County before being elected to the Cabinet position.
Golden Aurora Wins Praise from Judges
Josh Wynne Construction of Sarasota – teaming
with architect Jonathan Parker and energy-efficiency consultant Drew Smith of Two Trails, Inc. – won
the ultimate prize in the 2014 Aurora Awards design competition: the Golden Aurora Award. Wynne’s
Golden Aurora was for the most outstanding residential project – the Tip Top Haus in Sarasota that
embodied the best principles of contemporary and sustainable design. Architect-planner Looney Ricks
Kiss (LRK) won the Golden Aurora for the top commercial project, the Lift Wellness Center, the anchor
of a mixed-use, infill “healthy community” in Jackson, Tennessee. This year’s Aurora Awards competition
attracted a record 346 entries, according to Chairman Dave Roberston of RPI Media in Melbourne.
Entries from 13 states were judged by a panel of housing, design, and construction experts. Judges raved
about Wynne’s TipTopHaus, which they termed “the evolution of the Bau Haus movement of days
past. The clean lines and simple form inspired by the rich vernacular architecture of the famous
neighborhood fits perfectly into the waterfront infill community where it stands. Naturally beautiful
materials from the area highlight the stature of this home, which also featured LEED Platinum,
and FGBC Platinum green building certifications.” For a complete list of Aurora winners, go
to www.theauroras.com.
Kiddon Succeeds McDaniel at Hernando
The Hernando
Builders Association has announced that Lisa Kiddon will succeed Brenda McDaniel, CEO, as
Executive Officer. McDaniel, who is moving with her husband to Houston, was honored at a special event
last week. Kiddon officially begins her assignment on August 11, 2014. Kiddon was a member of
theHernando BA Board of Directors for eight years and recently served as Area III Associate Vice
President for the Florida Home Builders Association. She was an active volunteer member when she
worked forBright House Networks and has over 25 years of advertising, sales, and marketing
experience. Kiddon can be reached at 352-596-1114 or Lisa@HernandoBuilders.com. McDaniel was
one of the most respected EOs in Florida and last year earned the Certified Executive Officer(CEO)
professional designation based on her education, experience and association management excellence.
Florida’s Leaders Inspire FBA Students
Imagine you’re a Future Builders of America student fortunate enough to have attended the
recent Southeast Building Conference (SEBC) in Orlando. Let’s see. First, you have lunch with the Lt.
Governor of Florida (Carlos Lopez-Cantera), who encourages you in your future career. Then you play
putt-putt golf with Florida’s Attorney General (Pam Bondi) on the SEBC exposition floor. Next day,
you’re rubbing elbows with the state Agriculture Commissioner (Adam Putnam). Pretty heady stuff but
it’s all for a good cause – your future – and it’s all made possible by the amazingly caring people who
lead the FBA program statewide and in local HBAs around Florida. “We wanted to give the kids a unique
experience and I believe we did,” said Alan Anderson, the Chairman of the FBA Trustees for 2014 and
the Executive Vice President of the Manatee-Sarasota BIA. Anderson said there were many people to
thank for making it all possible. Florida Atlantic BA Executive Director Truly Burton is a longtime friend
of the Lt. Governor and introduced him at the FBA event. Students from the Charlotte Technical
Center were hosted by their instructor Chuck Cantieny, who brought along FBA alumnus Dallas Fraley,
Cody Peterson and Mike McGrain. Polk County FBA instructor Jimmy Giles also brought FBA
alumnus Brian Henderson, Trevor Waltz, Ryan Chaney, Connor Smith, Matt Martin and Victor
Leon. Additionally, Jessica Sellers-Whittington was extremely helpful with the setup of the FBA booth
at the SEBC and the Bartow FBA alumnus plays a key role each year in the FBA Leadership Camp. The
Charlotte-DeSoto BIA and Polk County BA both made financial investments to get FBA students to
SEBC. Charlotte’s generous donors included True Blue Pools, Jim Anderson, Bob Miller and Jay
Carlson, who together made it possible for the kids to go to Disney World. Charlotte BIA members Rick
and Tammy Ilmberger coordinated the ticket sales for the FHBA Fall Conference hotel package (won
by Bill Smock of Gator Plumbing in Bradenton) and Treasure Coast BA Executive Officer Maddie
Williams won the EO contest by selling the most tickets and won a $100 cash prize which she
immediately gave back to FBA. The total amount collected for this FBA fundraiser was $2,215. With
this level of commitment – and now $250,000 in state funding to expand the program – the future of the
Future Builders of America is indeed a bright one.
HBI Plays Key Workforce Training Role
It takes a village to develop the next generation of builders and trades
professionals. That’s why it’s so important to have strong workforce training initiatives at the local,
state and national levels. Recently, the Florida Home Builders Association (FHBA)Board of
Directors was briefed on national-level training programs by Tadar Muhammad, the Vice President of
Workforce Training & Employment at Home Builders Institute (HBI), a partner of our Washington, DCbased National Association of Home Builders. Under the banner of “Building Careers,” HBI offers PreApprenticeship Certificate Training (PACT) for Youth, Adults, and Veterans. According to Muhammad,
HBI has a long-established footprint in Florida with 22 programs designed to create a more skilled
construction workforce. HBI has a strong track record in using funding from the Florida Department of
Juvenile Justice to train low-risk offenders for construction careers. And HBI is now in its third year
of training veterans in the Jacksonville, Orlando and Tampa areas. “We are anxious to partner with
local builders associations in Florida,” says Muhammad. “And with the Florida Legislature having recently
embraced the Career and Professional Education (CAPE) Act, there are more opportunities than ever
to put young people on the path to rewarding careers in the construction industry.” Muhammad can be
reached at 800-795-7955 (Ext. 8937) or tmuhammad@hbi.org.
Perspectives from CEO Paul Thompson
I’m still on Cloud Nine after my “Roast and Toast” at
the recent SEBC in Orlando where I was honored for 36 years of service to the Florida Home Builders
Association (FHBA). I want to thank everyone who attended and made the event so memorable to me
with special thanks to the sponsors (listed below). I was particularly touched by those who traveled long
distances to be there. Insurance agent Rod Hurston of Pensacola was there representing the local HBA
(West Florida) where I got my start as an EO in 1972. Many friends came from my “hometown” local – the
HBA of Okaloosa-Walton Counties in Fort Walton Beach where I grew up and where I return quite often
to visit my son, daughter-in-law and three grandchildren. My Tallahassee family was there in force,
including Tallahassee BA President Masoud Karimipour, FHBA Past Second VP Rob Wilson, and Lee
Ann Everhart (whose father Lee was FHBA President in 1973 and mother Margaret designed the interiors
and decorated the Florida Housing Center in 1981). Traveling far from the opposite direction, I was
touched to see longtime friends like Alan Hill and Ron Yuter of the Florida Atlantic BA. The video tribute
was extra special and I appreciate the many kind words from dear friends John and Karen Koelemij,
Barry Rutenberg, Felix Beukenkamp, Betsy Godfrey, former FHBA CEO Emmett Reed (now with the
Florida Health Care Association), and many more. Of course, I was touched by the presence of so many
past FHBA leaders, Florida Housing Hall of Fame members, and friends. My son Matt could not attend
(he has just returned home safely from a missions trip to Honduras) but his video tribute was special to
me. I have to say that say that one private comment after my roast and toast hit home with me. Lynn
Clements, the wife of a longtime Polk County BA associate-member leader Gary Clements and a
professor at Florida Southern, whispered “Well done thy good and faithful servant.” Thanks Lynn… and
thanks to you all for your love and support.
Paul Thompson, CAE, MIRM, is CEO/Executive Vice President of the Florida Home Builders Association
will retire from FHBA on December 31, 2014.
PAUL THOMPSON THANKS HIS “ROAST AND TOAST” SPONSORS
Orange State Construction
ARZ Consulting
FHB Insurance
Manatee-Sarasota BIA
Page Insurance
Lake-Sumter HBA
Joyal Construction
Merchandising Plus
Capital City Builders
Charlotte-DeSoto BIA
Carter Engineering
Melinda Brody Associates
Brede Allied Services
Kay Green Design
Volusia BIA
City of Tallahassee
Lee BIA
Persica Homes
Alan Weekley Homes
Coquina Real Estate
Bonded Builders
Baker-Harris Insurance
TV Home Source
Marc-Michaels Interior Design
Southern Title
Minton Development (Roy Pence)
Florida Green Building Coalition
H.R. “Sonny” Phillips, Builder
Dion Builders
Gator Plumbing
Capelouto Termite & Pest Control
Rosen Hotels