The Northeast Florida Builders Association is proud to announce the selection of Bill Garrison as its new executive officer. From a field of highly qualified and talented candidates, Garrison had the advantage of having considerable experience as a builder, a leader in the association’s Clay Builders Council and a leader in the private sector.
“We were impressed by the quality of applicants for the executive officer position,” said Lee Arsenault, NEFBA president. “Bill made the decision easy for us, though, with his knowledge of the industry and our association. We’ve seen his leadership skills in the Clay Builders Council, where he served as chair twice.”
The majority (27 years) of Garrison’s professional life has involved construction, housing and real estate. Garrison graduated from Forrest High School and joined the U.S. Navy after working in construction for a few months. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Nuclear Power School and served aboard the USS Sunfish, a nuclear-powered, fast-attack submarine.
Upon his return home at the completion of his military service, Garrison went back into construction and worked his way up from carpenter to a project manager. That job led him into lumber sales with Manning Building Supplies, where he worked for 12 years. One of his customers was Sid Higginbotham, and Garrison became a site agent and operations manager for Higginbotham where he worked for nearly 10 years.
Garrison’s involvement with the NEFBA Clay Builders Council was a springboard for his career advancement. He served as the CBC chairman in 2007 and again 2010. He was later named the CBC Builder of the Year.
“I’ve worked directly with Bill over the years, and I’m confident he will continue the forward momentum we’ve seen recently,” said outgoing Executive Officer Corey Deal, who is the new head of the Greater Atlanta Homebuilders Association. “I’m looking forward to working with Bill on industry issues on the national level, and perhaps even a little friendly competition between NEFBA and Atlanta.”
In 2012 Garrison became the Executive Director of Clay County’s Economic Development Council, a natural progression of the experience, relationships and connections developed over the years and through his membership in NEFBA. Clay’s EDC is a private sector nonprofit dedicated to promoting high-quality economic growth in Clay County and Northeast Florida.
During his busy career, Garrison also earned a degree from St. Johns River State College and his real estate license.
Garrison and his wife, Kim, have been married 37 years, and they have three adult children and four grandsons.
Join us in welcoming Bill Garrison as NEFBA’s executive officer.
