Purpose: to provide networking opportunities for small and large commercial contractors, educational opportunities, and also to network with other councils within the Northeast Florida Builders Association.
Staff person: Clayton Bailey is the membership director for NEFBA and oversees the council.
Office: The office is part of NEFBA’s headquarters at 103 Century 21 Dr., just off Atlatic Blvd. on Jacksonville’s Southside.
Membership: NEFBA members who work with commercial construction projects such as contractors, attorneys and bankers.
Who can join: Any NEFBA member.
When they meet: Second Thursday of the month. It’s 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. at NEFBA.
How many attend: 25-30.
Cost to attend: Lunch meetings are $5 for members and $7 for non-members.
Meeting agenda: They have speakers from the industry provide information or updates and other important industry information. At their last meeting, they had NEFBA executive and state representative Daniel Davis give a legislative update of all the topics pertinent to the commercial builder community. Upcoming speakers include representatives from the City of Jacksonville speaking on bidding opportunities and processes.
Other events put on by the Commercial Council: They also hold networking socials throughout the year such as a St. Patrick’s social and the annual cornhole tournament in October.
Leadership: Roger Chastain, senior project manager for OHL/Arellano Construction, is the 2012 chair. He works along other steering committee members to schedule speakers every month and organize socials.
Bailey’s role: He works with Chastain and the steering committee members to plan the meetings and other activities.
— Michele Gillis