Deal had been NEFBA’s government affairs director from 2006 to 2009, when he left to pursue a law degree at the University of Georgia School of Law.
When he left NEFBA, he told a reporter for the Daily Record he didn’t imagine he would be back. But when he received a call in 2013 from then-Executive Officer Daniel Davis asking if he would be interested in taking Davis’ position, Deal said he was. Davis was leaving the association to accept the top job at the JAX Chamber.
Now, four years after he took the reins at NEFBA, Deal is returning to his home state, Georgia, to head up the Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association. Deal is looking forward to helping the Atlanta group regain the ground it lost during the market dip a few years ago. He has the experience to do just that.
During his brief tenure, Deal made a significant contribution to the association’s growth, stability and presence in Northeast Florida. In 2015, his efforts, expertise and insight are reflected in major accomplishments. Under Deal’s leadership, NEFBA’s membership rolls increased as the construction industry and the association continued its recovery after a substantial decline that began in 2008. While it held its position as the largest local homebuilders association in Florida, in 2015 NEFBA moved to the fifth-largest in the United States based on membership figures from the National Association of Home Builders.
Deal guided the Apprenticeship Program during major changes. In 2015, apprentice wages contributed more than $5.2 million to the local economy even as the program faced the challenge of finding classroom space after losing its long-standing agreement with a local institution of higher education. The program was able to secure new classroom space and make the major move without interruption in classes. It also adopted new nationally recognized curriculum, hired new instructors and increased its student body. The number of apprentices more than doubled during Deal’s tenure.
Prior to Deal’s arrival at NEFBA, the future of Builders Care, a major charitable effort of the association, was at risk. Its viability was severely diminished by the economic downturn. Deal and the Builders Care board returned Builders Care to its original mission and purpose. A new executive director was appointed, and the agency is fully committed to repairing major home systems, to adding accessibility aids, such as wheelchair ramps, and to partnering with other agencies such as Habitat for Humanity of Jacksonville, or HabiJax, to provide housing for our area’s low-income, elderly and disabled residents.
In 2015, Deal was named one of Jacksonville’s “40 under 40” individuals recognized by the Jacksonville Business Journal for their leadership abilities and contributions to the community.
Deal will be leaving NEFBA at the end of July, and the NEFBA family will miss Corey, Teahna and Jackson, but they leave with best wishes for great success in Atlanta.
“Corey has our deep appreciation for all he was able to accomplish at NEFBA,” President Lee Arsenault said. “In addition to the tangible changes and progress we have experienced under Corey’s leadership, we will miss his ability to bring people together, to motivate and to inspire us. We will continue to enjoy our friendship with him and will take pride in his success in Atlanta.”