The job description might have read “heart of a missionary, skills of a successful entrepreneur and the zeal of someone who wants to change the world.”
The job is the executive director of Builders Care, NEFBA’s charitable outreach program created in 2001 to help end substandard housing in Jacksonville by assisting low-income, disabled and elderly homeowners.
When Justin Brown took over the leadership of Builders Care last month, he, unlike his predecessors, was not a general contractor. But, because he was so strong in the characteristics the board of directors deemed necessary to lead Builders Care into the future, he was a perfect fit.
“My life has taken quite a few turns,” Brown said. “But when I had a car accident that nearly took my life, I began searching for purpose in my life. I began painting, reading about spirituality and soul matters.
“Earlier in my life, I had rejected Christianity, but decided if I was going to search for meaning I should at least read the Bible,” he said. “When I turned to the New Testament and read the parable of the sower, I knew I had found the answer.”
The answer for Brown was a conversion that affected every aspect of his life.
In essence his priority became serving God. To him, serving God also means helping humanity.
His experience had been in sales. He worked in restoring homes for resale and owned a mortgage brokerage and title company. His entrepreneurial spirit, he believes, will be an asset to Builders Care.
“We want to get back to Builders Care’s original purpose — to repair roofs, to build ramps and make homes safe for habitation,” he said. “In addition to ramps, we aim to make homes accessible and that may include expanding doorways to accommodate wheelchairs or other modifications to make the home compliant with the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act. That being said, roofs and ramps will be the primary component for mission completion.
“My role will be engaging help from the community, businesses, foundations and individuals,” he said. “We need financial support and we need committed volunteers.”
Only two weeks into the job, Brown is assessing and prioritizing the existing requests for help.
He is scheduling meetings with community and city leaders, NEFBA members and other individuals. He plans to work closely with the Builders Care board of directors.
“I want to learn all I can from our board and from NEFBA,” he said. “NEFBA builders and associate members are the bedrock of the services we provide. Of course, we work with HabiJax and other nonprofits with a similar mission. Only a coordinated, cooperative effort will be effective.”
Brown and his wife, Erin, moved to Jacksonville from Colorado in 2002 so Erin could pursue a degree in real estate law.
Brown liked being able to play golf all year and Jacksonville turned out to be a good place to raise their son, Talmer, age 7, and for their business enterprises.
It’s also where Brown was introduced to Builders Care through his involvement with a cross-cultural ministry interest at his church.
“The timing was perfect,” he said. “I had a desire to put my experience and talents to use in a job of service and Builders Care was looking for what might be described as an ‘entrepreneurial do-gooder.’ That describes me pretty well.”