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WORD FROM OUR PRESIDENT Executive Director David Siegel Editor & Director of Marketing Wendy Danks
THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES
Curt Christensen Lee Lyn Construction, LLC
In this, my final column for the Builders’ Digest as your 2012 president, I have to say it’s been an interesting year. I’ve been blessed to get to know so many members. I’ve been honored to represent you all, and I’ve been lucky to serve at a time when the market really is looking up. We’ve experienced some exciting accomplishments, and weathered a few wrinkles, but in the end, it’s been fun and rewarding for me. Like all of you, I’m very pleased that our industry is beginning to show real signs of life. Time on the market for houses is down. Sales prices are rising. Homes are experiencing multiple offers. Interest rates remain at historic lows. And, we’re seeing permit numbers on the increase. Our biggest problem is finding skilled labor — which is not such a bad problem in the bigger scheme of things. But even as we recover, we need to recognize that we’re not the same industry that we were
in the past. All of us have learned hard lessons about staying current, staying nimble and staying involved. In BATC’s case, that means staying true to our mission of serving our members through marketing, advocacy and industry connections. As a result, while programs, technology and events have changed, the core of what makes BATC so strong has remained intact. Our Beehive Umbrella Branding Strategy research this year proved this. Beehive identified our Brand personality as rock solid, influential, focused, action-oriented, respected and trusted. BATC has worked hard to earn this reputation over time and we all owe a dept of gratitude to the many great leaders who came before us. It’s a lot to live up to but with the talent and efforts of so many engaged members, and our professional staff, I expect we can do it. Speaking of action-oriented, earlier this year we recognized the need to rebuild our Parade of Homes consumer website. The new site was launched with the fall Parade of Homes and Remodelers Showcase to plenty of raves. But we’re not done – phase two of the site is now under construction, and will allow you to enter homes directly into the website. Our goal for the site is to extend the Parade of Homes further into the digital world and create even stronger connections between
Publishing Manager Dawnita Parmely Graphics Coordinator Casey Hafner Accounting Manager Ron DeCoux
home buyers or those seeking remodeling and our members. In addition to our branding strategy and Parade of Homes website rebuild, we pushed Minnesota’s Green Path program to a new level. With a grand launch that included giving away a car, we raised a lot of awareness for Green Path. In fact, we’ve achieved four times the market penetration in just one year than any other green building program in the Twin Cities. We’ve listened to our members and we’re continuing to tweak the program to meet market demand. We see an exciting future ahead for Green Path and its signature Home Performance Report (HPR). Another major accomplishment for BATC this past year has been our Housing First Independent Expenditure Fund, which will spend some $85,000 to support candidates in the Minnesota legislature who are favorable to our industry. Our Housing First committee is busy interviewing candidates and reviewing voting records even as we go to press. There’s an old saying in politics that it’s easier to change who is in office than it is to change their minds once they get in office. Our goal with Housing First is to elect candidates who care about our industry and will support policies that keep housing profitable for our builders and affordable for our consumers. Lastly, after six months of >> CONTINUED TO PAGE 16
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BUILDERS’ DIGEST
OCTOBER/DECEMBER 2012
Administrative Assistant Heather Litchy Administrative Assistant/Publishing Linda Jacobson Advertising Sales Kori Meewes Brad Meewes BATC Foundation Executive Director Jan Berg Communications Coordinator Katy Ervin Director of Administrative Services Maxine Miller EXECUTIVE BOARD President Curt Christensen Lee Lyn Construction LLC Builder Vice President Pamela Belz Senior Housing Partners Associate Vice President John Zirbes Lyman Lumber Past Associate Vice President Jon Coty, Lampert Lumber Secretary Kerry Mulcrone Kerry & Co. Treasurer Shawn Nelson New Spaces Immediate Past President Rich Riemersma Imperial Homes, Inc. Past President Council Representative Rick Kot R.A. Kot Homes, Inc.
Director of Public Policy & MN Green Path Executive Director James Vagle Education Coordinator Beth Graham Marketing & Events Manager Nicole Coon Membership Director Deb Earl Public Policy Assistant Mary Schweich Receptionist Emily Petermann
BOARD OF DIRECTORS BATC RemodelersSM Bob Michels, Bob Michels Construction, Inc. Large Volume Builders Chris Contreras Ryland Homes Membership Pattie Martin Glowing Hearth & Home Parade of Homes Paul Donnay Donnay Homes, Inc. Public Policy Jason McCarty Westwood Professional Services, Inc. Small Volume Builders Larry Cramer, L. Cramer Designers & Builders National Directors Kathe Ostrom C.N. Ostrom & Son At-Large Member Marv McDaris Pulte Homes of MN At-Large Member Todd Polifka Brush Masters
The BUILDERS’ DIGEST magazine is the official publication of the Builders Association of the Twin Cities (BATC). The BUILDERS’ DIGEST is published and distributed four times per year to its members and others associated with the building industry. Neither the advertisers, nor the BATC, will be responsible or liable for misinformation, misprints, typographical errors, etc., herein contained. For advertising rates, resource file or address change information, contact the BATC. Suggestions, ideas and letters are welcome. If circumstances require, the BATC reserves the right to increase or decrease the number of BUILDERS’ DIGEST issues published on an annual basis.
Builders Association of the Twin Cities (BATC) 2960 Centre Pointe Drive Roseville, MN 55113-1182 Phone: 651-697-1954 • batc.org Fax: 651-697-7599 • paradeofhomes.org