About 350 welcomed the new Northeast Florida Builders Association officers last month, and welcomed in a new year that many anticipate will be a true turning point in the industry.
"Look at permits," said the new NEFBA president, Dennis Ginder of Landon Homes."There were 1,100 more issued in 2012 than 2011. That's a significant number."
Added new Sales and Marketing Council president Jim Doyle of RedDot Marketing: "The past is behind us."
The association celebrated with two hours of an applause-filled program at the UNF University Center with emcee Richard Browdy, a past president, navigating the program through the numerous introductions, awards, swearing-ins and general accolades for the leaders.
"It is a wonderful honor to be up here because of the wonderful people that make up NEFBA," said Katrina Hosea of BeeTree Homes after being sworn in as the new president of the Remodelers Council. "This association has meant so much to so many."
Ginder will be the overall leader — SMC and the Remodelers are councils under the NEFBA board — and said, "I promise that I will do a good job as your president. I promise I will do everything I can to protect our industry."
And, he said, there's a good way of helping him: pull together.
"All of us together are much stronger than we are separately," he said. "We have to do a better job of getting everyone on the same page, and that's my pledge: to do just that."
The morning concluded with a song: "Happy birthday" to NEFBA executive Daniel Davis, who was celebrating his 40th.