The weather forecast at NEFBA this spring includes whirlwinds of activity as members and the staff prepare for and attend some of the year’s most popular events.
This is not unusual for NEFBA, and everyone seems to thrive on the excitement and the opportunities.
The Sales & Marketing Council’s Laurel Awards on March 17 launch the season with a ceremony to honor the brightest and best sales and marketing professionals in Northeast Florida.
NEFBA’s Construction Industry Trade Expo is next on the schedule for March 23. This longstanding expo features vendors of products and services related to construction and is designed to primarily attract builders and remodelers.
It is free to builders, remodelers, developers, architects, interior designers and building officials.
For years, members have enjoyed the opportunity to network with each other, make new friends and create new business relationships.
They also enjoy a chance to win prizes at the booths, collect information and do business with other members.
The monthly NEFBA Board of Directors will be at the expo so members can spend time at the show and attend the meeting.
The Expo is 3-7 p.m. at the University of North Florida’s University Center.
At the end of the month, March 27-29, the Florida Home Builders Association Spring Legislative Conference in Tallahassee attracts many NEFBA members, who have discovered this event as an opportunity to meet and compare notes with FHBA members from across the state.
The conference focuses on regulatory activities and is a chance for NEFBA to be heard by Florida’s legislators on matters of concern to the industry. (See more details on Page 39.)
Next up is an event that has a direct impact on homebuyers in Northeast Florida — the NEFBA Parade of Homes.
This annual event, which began in the mid-1950s, has grown into what is now known as “Northeast Florida’s largest open house.”
Local residents look forward to the Parade, which includes Nassau, Clay, St. Johns and Duval counties, and offers free tours of the area’s new construction homes and neighborhoods built by NEFBA members.
Visitors have a chance to meet and compare homebuilders, features, prices and amenities, as well as keep up to date on trends in interior design.
Planning and coordinating the Parade begins months before the event. This year the parade preview party is April 20 and judging is April 21. The parade itself is April 22-30. Winners are announced and awards presented at the Parade of Homes banquet May 18.
Although it’s in May, which seems like a long time from now, it’s not too soon to be planning your strategy for the annual Membership Drive.
This year the drive is May 1-18, and competition between teams is fierce.
Prizes and the satisfaction of adding new members are strong motivators, so begin planning your strategy now.