The Florida Home Builders Association will invest $8.3 million in 2007 to promote and protect the state’s construction industry, based on the annual budget adopted by its board at the January meeting.
Meeting under the leadership of President John Wiseman of Sarasota, over 200 directors convened at the HBA of Metro Orlando’s office headquarters to conduct the business of the 20,346-corporate member association.
FHBA Treasurer Dave Armstrong of Melbourne won Board approval for a budget that includes membership dues plus income from the Southeast Building Conference (SEBC) and Florida Home Builders Insurance, Inc. (FHBI). FHBA’s major expenses are its governmental affairs operation and personnel and programs dedicated to public relations, education, information, membership, and technical services.
The meeting was preceded by a three-hour session of FHBA’s Governmental Affairs Committee, chaired by Naples developer Al Zichella, and an extensive review of the housing and construction issues facing the 2007 Florida Legislature.
Wiseman congratulated local HBAs for maintaining their membership growth despite a downturn in the housing market. The Jacksonville-based Northeast Florida BA has soared to 2,017 members and the Highlands County BA has grown by 70 percent, reaching 236 members.
As chair of the FHBA Foundation, Second Vice President Mike Rahn of CNL Bank saluted the growth of the Future Builders of America (FBA) program around the state. Rahn said there are 58 FBA chapters, including over 800 students in three Collier BIA-sponsored groups. The Polk County BA leads the way with ten chapters.
Acting on the recommendations of its senior officers, the board selected five individuals to serve on the FHBI Board of Directors, which is chaired by FHBA Past President and Lakeland developer Robert Harper. The recommended individuals for outside director positions are Orlando financial executives Bill Harrison and Paul Iandoli, Atlanta risk management specialist Read Davis, Pensacola insurance executive Rod Hurston and Apollo Beach businesswoman Jaime Stern.