After graduating from high school in 1971, Lee Arsenault served three years in the U.S. Army with a tour of duty in Vietnam.
He started his construction career as a carpenter in the mid-late 1970s working on large concrete structures. He earned a Florida general contractor’s license in 1984 and started building homes in 1986, which is when he joined NEFBA. He has served on the NEFBA board of directors since 1995.
Arsenault believes active participation strengthens the association. He has been involved
with Government Affairs, Codes & Standards, Membership and Builders Care.
In addition to being chair of NEFBA’s Codes and Standards Committee, Arsenault is chair of FHBA’s Codes & Standards Task Force. He is an SEBC Committee member and secretary/treasurer for the NEFBA Executive Committee.
During the FHBA Fall Conference, Arsenault was appointed FHBA Area II VP, and PAC, continuing to serve with Codes & Standards Task Force. This year, he earned the Certified Graduate Builder designation through the NAHB.
The Codes & Standards Committee normally meets monthly to discuss code and/or safety issues facing our industry. Guest speakers have included directors of the local area OSHA office, codes experts, building officials and manufacturers.
“We work to keep the membership informed of the continuing changes to the code, not only those that we are able to anticipate but also those that have occurred,” Arsenault said. “We work closely with NEFBA as well as FHBA Governmental Affairs and Political Action Committees in efforts to address codes that are in conflict, or that have an impact on housing affordability.”
Arsenault invites any NEFBA member wishing to participate by learning or sharing knowledge.
“Changes to the code have impacts on building methods, materials, costs and profitability,” he said. “Keeping up with these changes is especially beneficial to all builder and trade partner members, and other associate members can benefit by increasing their awareness of this critical industry process.”