What an amazing few months! NEFBA members have been busy. Not only is business increasing, but the NEFBA calendar has been full. Thanks to the hard work of our members and staff, these events demonstrate the strength and resiliency of our industry when we roll up our sleeves and get busy.
The annual NEFBA Trade Expo, the single largest construction trade show of its kind in Northeast Florida, was held in March. Many of you took advantage of this event to display your wares, to shop, to renew old acquaintances and to make new friends.
Then in April, the much-anticipated Parade of Homes was a great success, driving potential buyers to new-construction homes. Under the direction of NEFBA’s Sales and Marketing Council, the 2013 Parade of Homes featured builder 69 model homes in Duval, Nassau, St. Johns and Clay counties.
The St Johns Builders Council’s 5th annual Fishing Tournament was the largest yet with 38 boat entries, and the weigh-in was well attended by association members with their families and friends.
The Clay Builders Council put the membership drive in high gear with fierce, but friendly, competition between teams to bring in new members. Our teams worked hard extolling the many benefits to builders and associates in order to increase our membership.
Our Apprenticeship Program held its graduation ceremony, another indication the industry is on track and putting trained carpenters, plumbers, electricians and HVAC technicians to work. The Apprentice Program also hosted a fantastic sporting clay shoot that was well attended and lots of fun.
The end of May saw the beginning of the President’s Project. We partnered with HabiJax to build 25 homes in one week to provide housing to families who have also invested sweat equity into their new homes and to raise money for HabiJax and NEFBA.
Events of this magnitude don’t just happen. It takes an enormous amount of work on the part of our talented and dedicated NEFBA staff and our member volunteers who chair committees, set up booths, prepare model homes, search for potential members – all the really time-consuming, labor-intensive effort that goes on behind the scenes.
I want to thank each and every one of you for everything you do for the association, the industry and each other. We are all in this together.