Gainesville builder Barry Rutenberg completed his one-year term as Chairman of the National Association of Home Builders during last month's International Builders Show in Las Vegas, drawing nationwide praise for a job well done.
On his watch, NAHB preserved key components of the housing finance system and tax structure that make homes for available and affordable. He crowned his year of leadership by negotiating a co-location agreement between IBS and the National Kitchen and Bath Show, that will create a joint event in February 2014.
Rutenberg won praise from his Florida Home Builders Association (which he served as president in 1999) and his local BA of North Central Florida (for which is a past president and three-time Builder of the Year).
"Barry stayed involved with his local HBA even while working for all NAHB members on the national scene," said BANCF member Randi Elrad. Added FHBA President Suzanne Graham: "We had no doubt that Barry was the right leader at the right time for NAHB. He proved himself time and again as a fierce fighter for our industry and a skilled and knowledgeable spokesperson on housing issues."
Rutenberg received gifts from FHBA, BANCF, the NAHB staff and Senior Officers, and special awards from the Ohio HBA, the Washington (state) HBA, and Home Builders Institute (HBI). Rutenberg will serve as Immediate Past Chairman on the Senior Officer team in 2013.