by Michele Gillis, Staff Writer
No one from Northeast Florida has led the Florida Homes Builders Association since Ron Coppenbarger way back in 2001.
That may change in 2015 as St. Augustine’s Jerry Linder’s name is the only one yet to surface for election of FHBA secretary, the first step on the ladder to the presidency.
The election will be at the FHBA’s Fall Leadership Conference on Nov. 1-3 in St. Petersburg. The next year would be a move to first vice president, then to the top.
Linder has more than 20 years of industry experience and is currently president of J.L. Linder Group. He served as NEFBA president in 2006 and has also served and chaired numerous committees for NEFBA and for FHBA. In 2012, he has served as chair of the FHBA’s Area Vice Presidents Council and chair of the Audit Committee.
“I was certainly asked by different people in the organization to consider running for secretary,” said Linder. “I think there was a lot of push from people within the NEFBA organization. I got a little bit of push from the local board, too.”
Linder said holding chairman of the Audit Committee position has given him insight to the state organization.
“I’ve been very busy and active at the state level and felt like it was probably a good time for me to throw my hat into the ring and step into the ladders,” said Linder. “I’ve gotten a tremendous amount of support, not only from NEFBA, but from other locals around the state.”
He’s yet to have an opponent though there’s still time to officially file, and there’s always the chance of a nomination from the floor. But neither is likely to happen; a person interested in a leadership position would have announced by now.
“I am obviously proud to come from NEFBA,” said Linder. “Our local association cultivates great leadership. The culture that we have at NEFBA, the members that we have and the leadership that we have at the staff and volunteer level is phenomenal. I am a byproduct of that. I was fortunate enough to be in leadership here at NEFBA and it taught me a tremendous amount. I’ve seen how successful our local association has been and I’d like to think that I can take a lot of what I have learned and have experienced in this local setting and take a lot of those tools to the next level in working through the leadership ladder at the FHBA.”
Here’s the take from Paul Thompson, the CEO/executive vice president of the FHBA:
“Jacksonville is a significant Florida housing market and NEFBA is the largest builders association in the state so a president from the Jacksonville area will bring an important perspective to our state association’s leadership team,” said Thompson.
As secretary, Linder expects to travel a fair amount for meetings, planning sessions and visits to local boards.
“The meetings are in different parts of the state,” said Linder. “I’m quite sure there will be trips to Tallahassee for meetings or whatever may come up that would require that and other meetings around the state.
“I think I am pretty good at multi-tasking. I’ve had to do it all my life whether it was family, work-related and my involvement with NEFBA and FHBA.
“Having been president and in leadership chairs here at NEFBA, there was a fair amount of juggling that needed to be done and that is just something that happens. It always helps when you have a good staff at your office, which certainly enables me to juggle all my responsibilities.”
Thompson said candidates usually travel the state campaigning and meeting with members to understand their needs.
“The main campaigning for me took place the first part of the year,” said Linder. “I am still going around to the local home builder association boards in Florida, meeting with them and asking for resolutions of support from them.”
Involvement in the Florida Home Builders Association is key to making yourself known and learning how the association works. Linder has been very involved over the years and has chaired many committees, which has prepared him for this next step.
“It is important for members to get involved in as many aspects of the association as possible including advocacy, finances, membership and the like,” said Thompson. “A solid track record of involvement and the respect of the members is important, but no can be assured of a win in a competitive election with a secret ballot.”
Thompson said the FHBA is happy to have Linder on board if he wins.
“Jerry will be a part of leadership, and ultimately president, during an important time for the Florida Home Builders Association as we rebuild after a collapse in the housing market,” said Thompson. “His vision will clearly shape the future of FHBA and the Florida home building industry.”
Linder and his wife Beth, a certified public accountant, live in Palencia. They have two children, Drew, 16 and Eric, 12.