by Michele Gillis
Staff Writer
Michael Bourré is a family man and he wants to bring those family values to the Northeast Florida Association of Builders.
Thus, this year’s theme: “We are Family.”
“We are a NEFBA family,” said Bourré, owner of Bourré Construction and this year’s NEFBA president. “At the end of the day, if I have a problem, concern or just need a confidant, I can call on members of the association and know that we can talk about things and I’ll get the help I need.
“I think our members feel that way - at least, I hope they do. If not, they will as this year progresses. We are going to let them know that it’s available.
“Family supports family. That’s the way I was raised and that’s the way NEFBA is. We support each other, encourage each other and compete against each other just like a family but, at the end of the day, we stick together.”
Bourré’s goals for 2011 include protecting the industry and members serving members.
“First, we are going to continue focusing on protecting the industry through not only the legislature, but also the local counties,” he said. “One thing we are working on is the water management proposals that are out there. We are trying to make sure that they don’t adjust it in such a way that it raises costs to our industry, which in turn raises cost to the end user - the homeowner - and that further puts strain on the market.”
Bourré wants to focus on his members’ needs.
“We are providing support for our members who are struggling,” he said. “We want to make sure we are helping people by talking with them in their current situation and helping them think through their different opportunities.”
Bourré started getting involved with NEFBA about eight years ago because he believes in giving back to the association and to his industry.
“NEFBA is a very strong voice to protect who we are as builders and general contractors and what we do,” said Bourré.
“If there weren’t organizations like NEFBA, our industry would be shut down. Like the Amendment 4 campaign. If that would have passed, it would have literally shut Florida down. Through NEFBA and the National Association of Home Builders, we’ve been able to do what we need to do to protect our industry and keep jobs in Florida.”
“Both Andy (Chambers) and Glenn (Layton) said to take care of our members, support our members and maintain a servant attitude,” he said.
Bourré is married to Brandi, his high school sweetheart, and they have five children ranging in age from 11 years down to 6 months old.
“We actually met in Japan,” he said. “We both graduated high school in Japan.”
Bourré’s family heritage is French and his accent has developed from growing up in a military family and living all over the world.
His father was a 32-year Marine, which meant his family moved about every three years and has lived all over the world.
“North Carolina is where we spent most of our time,” said Bourré. “North Carolina is where we’d come back to after we rotated out. We lived in Hawaii, Japan and Italy. Brandi and I graduated high school in Japan and I moved back to North Carolina and she moved to West Palm Beach. That lasted about six months and I moved to West Palm Beach, too. Then I spent eight years in the Marine Corps.”
Bourré specialized in communications and the airborne unit, jumping out of airplanes. His time was spent training in the states and he ended up with the Jacksonville unit.
He went to the University of Florida and friends recommended he take a construction course.
From there he got his bachelor’s degree in Construction Management.
While he was in school, he worked with Charles Perry Construction in Gainesville as an assistant project manager. He then went to work for Brasfield & Gorrie in Atlanta as a project manager for three years. He came back to Jacksonville and took a job with Seda Construction as vice president of construction for three years.
He started Bourré Construction in 2004. His company builds houses, remodels and does commercial projects.
Balancing his own company, his large family and his position as NEFBA president will take a little bit of juggling, but Bourré says he is up for the task.
“I’ve got a great staff at my company and there is an outstanding staff at NEFBA,” he said. “Because of that, I’m able to split my time between both and still fully service the members of the association and fully service our business. Delegating, leadership and a little bit of prayer all help.”