On the Level, January 2008
By Mike Arnett, 2009 HBA President

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Let's revive the 'unity' in our community

I am excited to be the HBA President in 2008. I’ve spent my entire life in this business; I understand and share your passion for building, and for the service our industry provides.

I also have long been a supporter of the Home Builders Association. I realize that not everyone is. When the market was great for the past four years, many of my non-HBA associates claimed they were too busy and didn’t need the HBA to grow their businesses. As the market has slowed down, those same builders and subcontractors are now saying they can’t afford to join.

Friends, at this point in the market cycle, you can’t afford not to join.

The HBA works at the local, state and national level to ensure the future of our businesses, livelihoods and lifestyles by promoting a vibrant housing market. This means helping us market our businesses through organized networking opportunities and some of the greatest home shows in the country. It means providing member discounts on everything from office computers to employee health insurance benefits. It means protecting the industry’s interests though government advocacy. Imagine, for example, what we’d each be paying in SDCs without the HBA’s government affairs team staying involved and active on our behalf.

Your membership with the Portland HBA automatically gives you membership with the state and national affiliates, plugging you into industry news, events and issues that can help you ensure your own success.

I realize I’m preaching to the choir – if you’re reading this in the Home Building News, odds are good that you already are an HBA member and you know the advantages. What I’m asking of you – what I’ll be asking of every HBA member this year – is two things. One, consider that you’ll get the most out of your membership by getting involved. This is your industry, this is your representative association. This is where you can lend your voice and your hands and be an industry leader.

The other request is that you help us take a stand for the home building industry in 2008. The HBA of Metropolitan Portland has mobilized its staff to a whole new level, rethinking its service model and preparing some new programs for 2008 that are specifically designed to help you save money and grow your business. This work will be a new addition – the association will still have all its traditional fun events and activities, as well as vital committees for education, government affairs, political action, sales/marketing, remodeling, and many others. They all find ways to advance the cause for residential construction. But the HBA needs your support.

The most professional people I’ve met in the industry are HBA members. They perform the best work at the fairest prices and have the best reputations. I’m proud of their affiliation with the HBA, just as I am proud of my own affiliation. I will be focusing my trade relationships in 2008 on those who are HBA members, because their membership signals recognition that we really are a community.

A popular refrain from recent builder meetings is that we are all in this together. As the market becomes more challenging, I believe it’s time for that to mean something. If you are a member, start spreading the word among associates who aren’t: it’s time to toe the line, friends, and the HBA is the place where we can come together to help one another navigate the road ahead.

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