Joshua Garrison of Miranda Contracting joined NEFBA in response to a direct invitation.
“Corey Deal invited me to rejoin NEFBA when he stepped in as executive officer,” Garrison said. “I had been a member at one time, but didn’t renew my membership when I wasn’t seeing the benefits.
Corey assured me the association was focusing on members and making the association responsive to members’ needs.”
That was two years ago, and Garrison said he has seen a big difference in membership benefits.
“The reason for that is not so much that the association has changed, but that I’ve changed,” he said. “Corey encouraged me to participate, to become active. And that made all the difference.”
Garrison said for him, the opportunity to make new friends, build new partnerships and gain insight into the industry also attracted him.
“I attend the monthly board meetings so I can keep up with what the association is doing,” he said. “And the Government Affairs Committee and Political Action Committee meetings keep me up to date on the local, state and national issues being discussed in the construction industry. It’s good to be part of the change process NEFBA brings about. It’s gratifying to know I’ve helped.”
Garrison is CEO of Miranda Contracting. He has an MBA from the University of North Florida and a Masters of International Affairs Management from European Business School Paris.
He provides marketing, administrative and financial oversight for Miranda Contracting, a company involved in municipal public-work, as well as residential and commercial development.
Garrison has advice for people on the fence about joining and perhaps some former members who, like himself, belonged but didn’t participate.
“Join. Then get involved,” he said. “NEFBA is a great organization and has something for everyone, from marketing to politics and everything in between.”