Building Connections is a monthly digital magazine produced and published by the Home Builders & Remodelers Association of Fairfield County. Inside you will find the latest association news, legislative updates, upcoming events, and featured articles about the industry.
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Hello Members,
I hope you are enjoying the start of spring and hopefully the weather will warm up soon!
We are very excited for our upcoming events, and hope you are as well. On June 4th we will have our annual meeting at Ring's End in Darien. I hope to see you there!
For those of you who don’t know, we have recently launched a new Young Professionals Recruitment Program. For nonmembers aged 45 years and under, their first year dues is now only $75! Please let nonmembers you know of this great deal!
As you may have already seen, we rolled out a new website. This website is designed to market you and your business! In conjunction with that, we have been doing a social media push to promote your businesses on our new website. We are always looking for new content- If you are interested in a spotlight or want to write an article, please let me know.
Be sure to keep our online membership directory in mind whenever you are looking for a business: www.buildfairfieldcounty.com/directory. Please do not hesitate to contact me if I can do anything for you or your business: kerry@buildfairfieldcounty.com.
Kind Regards,
Kerry Brunn Executive Officer Home Builders & Remodelers Association of Fairfield County
“ The mission of the HBRA is to help promote, protect & improve the building industry in Fairfield County. Our association is dedicated to promoting, strengthening, and informing our local home building market and those who work within it to ensure that we areindependently and collectively - a viable economic engine of growth now and in the future. ”
JUNE GMM
Wednesday, June 4 | 6-9 PM | Ring’s End Darien
The Networking Event of the Summer! Live Demos Food Trucks Raffle Prizes
2025 OFFICERS
Immediate Past President John Hertz Hertz Construction Inc.
President: Rob Michaud Michaud Development Group
Senior VP: Brian Kurtz Interstate + Lakeland Lumber
VP & Treasurer: Chris Shea Domus Constructors, LLC
Lisa Heldwhite Breakwater Renovation & Design, LLC
Geoff Knapp Tooher-Ferraris Insurance Group
Robin Carroll Karp Associates
Tori McBrien McBrien Interiors
Bepin Mgushi Fixitup Building and Remodeling
Kevin Polcer Polcer Home, LLC
George Pusser Cornerstone Contracting
Stephanie Rapp Stephanie Rapp Interiors, LLC.
LIFE DIRECTORS
Joanne Carroll JMC Resources
Anthony DeRosa DeRosa Builders
Kim DiMatteo Cross Insurance
Jerry Effren
The Greyrock Companies
Gary Fanali City Carting
Peter Fusaro Preferred Builders
Michael Palumbo
ERI Building & Design
Peter Gaboriault
Bear Paw Builders
Chris Steiner Steiner, Inc.
Sept. 15 | Tashua Knolls Golf Course, Trumbull
Put your name center stage at our biggest event of the year - sponsorships are still available, or donate a raffle prize, attend our “Happy Hour” dinner, or volunteer on the course!
*Golf has sold out - email hbra@buildfairfieldcounty.com to be added to the waitlist.
A portion of all proceeds will go to support the HBRA’s Partnership with the Circle of Care. CLICK HERE to learn more.
& Volunteer Registration
Volunteers are the backbone of our tournamentwe couldn’t do it without you! Volunteers can help with set-up in the morning and/or work on the course during the tournament Lunch is included, and voluntee and stay for the dinner
Join us for our “Happy Hour” dinner: network with
industry friends, participate in our raffle with awesome prizes, and then see who wins the awards! Dinner will again be inside, featuring open bar, passed apps, and pasta stations!
are
for every budget. This event sells out, so book your sponsorship today! We are also accepting raffle prize donations.
Upcoming Events - Register Now!
Weds. June 4: GMM & Annual Meeting
Ring’s End Darien | 6pm-9pm
Join us to kick off summer with outdoor networking, food trucks, live demos, and raffle prizes!
Tues. June 10: "AI Meets Homebuilding-Designing the Future”
Online on Zoom | Noon
Join us for an insightful webinar to learn how AI-driven tools are not just futuristic ideas but practical solutions enhancing every phase of the homebuilding process.
Thurs. June 12: Pella’s Next 100 Years: Cheers to New Ownership
314 Beer Garden, Norwalk | 5pm-8pm
Join us to meet and greet the new owners of Pella CT-NY plus enjoy delicious wood-fired pizza and craft beer!
Thurs. June 19: Professional Women in Building Council June Meeting
Norwalk Cove Marina | 4:30pm-6pm
Join us for a relaxing happy hour with mini golf!
Thurs. July 17: Professional Women in Building Council July Meeting
Studio Northeast, Bridgeport | 4:30pm-6pm
Wear comfortable clothes and join us for an empowering self-defense class designed specifically for women. No prior experience necessary — all fitness levels are welcome.
Weds. Sept. 3: Annual Clambake at the Beach
Penfield Pavilion at Fairfield Beach | 6pm-9pm
Our annual clambake is back at Penfield Beach! Save the date and join us for a delicious lobster bake, drinks, and networking, plus table display opportunities!
Monday Sept. 15: Annual HBRA Golf Classic
Tashua Knolls Golf Course, Trumbull
Our biggest event of the year! Register for our “Happy Hour” dinner or volunteer on course. Sponsorships are available for every budget! We are also accepting raffle prize donations. Plus, a portion of all proceeds from this event will go to support the HBRA’s Partnership with the Circle of Care.
*Golf has sold out - email hbra@buildfairfieldcounty.com to be added to the waitlist.
Have you gotten an email offering a list of IBS attendees, local builders/tradespeople, or similar?
Outside marketing companies have been emailing members offering lists with the contact info of IBS attendees, local builders or tradespeople, and even HBRA members for a fee.
These emails are a SCAM.
The HBRA will NEVER give out our member list to an outside company, and would certainly not allow them to charge for it.
While the marketing company may give out their own list of local builders claiming the information is from us, it is not our member list and we have no control over the information included or who they reach out to.
If you receive one of these emails, mark it as spam and delete.
Recap
MEMBER EVENTS
Our annual May GMM & Member Mixer was held May 7th at a fun new venue, Elicit Brewing Co. in Fairfield. We enjoyed some of CT’s best local craft beer, and associate members sponsored tabletop displays to showcase their businesses and new products, including our Imperial Sponsors Andersen Corp. and California Closets.
Our “Member Mixer Scavenger Hunt” was again a hit, encouraging attendees to visit our event sponsors and meet new members as they found the answers to each question on the scavenger hunt card to be entered in a raffle drawing when completed. Krystal Stone was our winner!
All new HBRA members are welcome to speak and introduce themselves and their companies at their first meeting – email the office at hbra@buildfairfieldcounty.com if you’d like to speak at our next meeting.
This event would not have been possible without our event sponsors. Thank you again to our Imperial Sponsors Andersen Corp. and California Closets, Top Hop Sponsors Cross Insurance, DiMatteo Group Financial Services, Pella Windows & Doors, and R&J Flooring Supply and Event Sponsors Breakwater Renovation & Design and Clearview Inc.
Photos by Kirt Washington Photography
Tips and Tools
Tips and Tools
Tips and Tools
Tips and Tools
Tips and Tools
Representing the Ring’s End WE DESIGN CT Class of 2025, these four local designers are raising the bar in interior design while celebrating Connecticut with inspired spaces.
Katie Canfield Studio KC Interiors
Fiona Leonard Fiona Leonard Interiors
Melissa Muszynski MBM Designs
Merrin Jones Merrin Jones Interiors
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NEW MEMBERS
Ashley Nicole Social Co., LLC | Ashley Czerniecko
Find out more HERE
Custom Pro Home Improvement, LLC | Marcio Figueiredo
Find out more HERE
GHI Builds | Jonathan Miller
Find out more HERE
Joseph Passero Realtor | Joseph Klaff Passero
Find out more HERE
Main Street Welding | Louis Fenaroli
Find out more HERE
PMC Technologies, LLC | Patrick Chila
Find out more HERE
Rhea European Windows | Mirek Kozlowski
Find out more HERE
DSR Construction, LLC | Helio Rodrigues
Find out more HERE
Tips and Tools
Tips and Tools
SALES SHEET
GO BEYOND.
A subflooring panel with a built-in barrier for jobsite durability.
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The built-in, water-shedding top layer provides a distinctively smooth, even, premium subfloor surface that is marker friendly and easy to clean.
AdvanTech X-Factor Panels
Membership Discounts & Deals
Log in at www.nahb.org
Through agreements with more than 20 national companies, NAHB offers exclusive discounts on a variety of products and services that can benefit your business, employees and family. Members save big when they take advantage of these offers.
Steps to Access NAHB Discounts:
Please Note: Your nahb.org login is separate from your buildfairfieldcounty.com login.
If you do not have an NAHB account, select “Register” on the right side of the screen.
You will need the PIN you received when you first joined the HBRA – find yours by logging in to your account at buildfairfieldcounty.com, or contact the HBRA office and we would be happy to let you know!
After you log in, go to www.nahb.org/NAHB-Community/Member-Benefits/Savings Click on “Learn More” under the discount you want to use and follow the instructions.
See the NAHB "Member Savings Program at a Glance" handout for a full list of available discounts!
Steps to Access NPP Discounts:
Through the HBRA of Fairfield County’s partnership with NPP you can save on products for your business and employees. Membership is free. Visit www.mynpp.com/association/hbra-of-fairfieldcounty/
If you already have an account, select “Log In” at the top right to log in. If you do not currently have an NPP account, enter your information on the form on the right and follow the website prompts to create an account. Click on the discount you would like to sign up for and follow the instructions.
See the NPP handout for a full list of available discounts!
For a full list of all benefits
Builder Confidence Levels
Indicate Slow Start for Spring Housing Season
Growing economic uncertainty stemming from tariff concerns and elevated building material costs kept builder sentiment in negative territory in April, despite a modest bump in confidence likely due to a slight retreat in mortgage interest rates in recent weeks.
Builder confidence in the market for newly built single-family homes was 40 in April, edging up one point from March, according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI) released today.Read More
Bipartisan House Bill Would Expand the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit
Reps. Darin LaHood (R-Ill.) and Suzan DelBene (D-Wash.), along with 114 bipartisan cosponsors, have introduced NAHB-supported legislation that will improve the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) and allow builders to increase production of badly needed affordable rental housing.
Read More
Where Inspiration Surfaces
BROOKFIELD
Income Growth Helps Mute Existing Affordability Constraints
Despite solid income gains and lower home prices, Americans still continue to face major housing affordability challenges, according to the latest data from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)/Wells Fargo Cost of Housing Index (CHI). The CHI results from the first quarter of 2025 show that a family earning the nation’s median income of $104,200 needed 36% of its income to cover the mortgage payment on a medianpriced new home. Low-income families, defined as those earning only 50% of median income, would have to spend 72% of their earnings to pay for the same new home.
” .Read More
Flat Growth for SingleFamily Built-for-Rent
As the housing industry celebrates New Single-family built-for-rent construction posted flat growth on a year-overyear basis, as a higher cost of financing crowded out development activity.
According to NAHB’s analysis of data from the Census Bureau’s Quarterly Starts and Completions by Purpose and Design, there were approximately 19,000 single-family built-for-rent (SFBFR) starts during the first quarter of 2025. .Read More
Trade Negotiations Add Certainty to the Outlook
NAHB Chief Economist Robert Dietz recently provided the following insights in his bi-weekly newsletter Eye on the Economy:
Initial trade arrangements with the United Kingdom and China are providing needed clarity for the international economic outlook. The U.K. deal illustrated that a 10% U.S. tariff wall may be where the Trump administration is pointing a new system.
And with the U.S. facing an impending supply shock from a virtual embargo on Chinese trade, the recently announced framework between the two countries temporarily lowered trade barriers for 90 days and set a path for future negotiations. These actions reduced the tariff rate on Chinese goods from 145% to 30%.
.Read More
CONNECTICUT LIGHTING CENTERS
X Design Consultation including on-site walk-throughs and Recessed lighting layouts
X Large offering and inventory of integrated LED Recessed Lighting
X Indoor and Outdoor Lighting for all applications
X Door, Cabinet & Bath Hardware
X Motorized & Manual Window Shades
X Lutron Lighting Controls Standard Wallbox to HomeWorks
X Bath Ventilation Fans
X Builder programs
NAHB Weighs in on Supreme Court Case in Support of Nationwide Injunctions
The U.S. Supreme Court on May 15 heard oral arguments in Trump v. CASA, Inc. et al. — what has been called the “birthright citizenship” case. Many people will be surprised that the oral argument had almost nothing to do with citizenship or the Trump administration’s policy on the issue.
“Read More
Court of International Trade Hears
Arguments Against Trump Tariffs
A three-judge panel at the U.S. Court of International Trade this week heard oral arguments in V.O.S. Selections v. Trump, one of several pending challenges to the “Liberation Day” tariffs imposed on April 2. This is the first of those legal challenges to reach oral argument on the merits and will set the pace for the other challenges.
Read More
Be Unstoppable with Help from UPS®
The world moves fast – and your NAHB UPS® Savings Program has the tools you need to help your small business move even faster. We’re here to help you push envelopes and ride the edge of what’s possible. We’ll be right by your side with everything you need to keep blazing forward. Let UPS® help make your business unstoppable. Members enjoy the following savings every time you ship:
• 50% off Domestic Next Day / Deferred
• 30% off Ground Commercial / Residential
• 50% off International Exports & 40% off Imports
• Up to 50% off on additional services.
• Plus, UPS Smart Pickup® service is free.
Don’t Let Shipping Mishaps Slow You Down
A lot can go wrong in shipping – package loss, breakage, porch piracy theft. The good news is that you can mitigate the financial impact of some shipping mishaps with InsureShield® shipping coverage. Through your NAHB UPS® Savings Program, you have access to insurance that can help keep your business moving despite the everyday risks of shipping. All you have to do is enter the value of the goods in the declared value* field of your UPS® approved shipping system and you are on your way to better shipping experiences.
Start covering your shipments today: savewithups.com/nahb
Single-Family Starts Down on Economic and Tariff Uncertainty
Economic uncertainty stemming from tariff issues, elevated mortgage rates and rising building material costs pushed single-family housing starts lower in April.
Overall housing starts increased 1.6% in April to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.36 million units, according to a report from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Census Bureau.
Read More
Soft Spring Selling Season Takes a Toll on Builder Confidence
Builder confidence fell sharply in May on growing uncertainties stemming from elevated interest rates, tariff concerns, building material cost uncertainty and the cloudy economic outlook. However, 90% of the responses received in May were tabulated prior to the May 12 announcement that the United States and China agreed to slash tariffs for 90 days to allow trade talks to continue.
Read More
“Gatehouse Partners has been advertising with New England Home Connecticut since 2017, which has been instrumental in helping to get our brand in front of our target audience: homeowners, architects, and interior designers. Working with the New England Home Connecticut team feels closer to a supportive friendship than a business agreement. We highly recommend them (and their networking events) to everyone in the home industry!”
KRISTEN SULLIVAN, GATEHOUSE PARTNERS
Remodelers: Are Costs Hurting Your Profit Margins? Help Us Advocate for You
Remodelers’ bottom lines across the country are being squeezed by rising material and labor costs. NAHB’s Economics team is in the process of measuring the impact of increased costs on remodelers’ profitability. And we need your help.
As a reminder, NAHB is seeking data from remodelers to produce average profit benchmarks for the industry. Specifically, the Economics team is requesting data concerning your company’s 2024 Income Statement and Balance Sheet. This information will remain completely confidential; only NAHB’s small research team will see the data.
Read More
Innovative Options and Designs to Complement Your Home
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Rot and corrosion-free to naturally resist water and bugs.
Complement your home with Pella’s proprietary, low maintenance fiberglass that offers a sleek and timeless style. Our windows and patio doors have been tested to withstand some of the harshest conditions, including extreme heat and sub-zero cold, damaging UV rays and seacoast environments.
Pella. Perfectly Beautiful.
For more information, please contact Sabina Mortillaro 631-219-9258 or smortillaro@pellactny.com
Do you have a positive attitude that contributes to a high company morale? Are you goal-oriented and self-motivated? Can you connect with our customers and build strong relationships? Are you an effective communicator? Do you present yourself professionally? If so, you may be a perfect candidate for a career at Ring’s End!
Ring’s End is a Connecticut-based lumber and building materials retailer serving Connecticut, South County, Rhode Island, and Southern Westchester County, New York. We are a thirdgeneration, family owned and operated business with a rich history dating back to 1902. With 20 retail locations, Ring’s End continues to expand and evolve as an industry leader.
The positions at Ring’s End are as diverse as the employees who hold them. Discover your passionjoin the Ring’s End team today!
Strategic Vision
To be the premier resource in the building supply industry.
Mission Statement
To provide the very best products, industry knowledge, customer service, and shopping experience. We do this by employing the best team in the industry, ensuring we maintain a diverse, evolved work environment that values cooperation and teamwork. We look for innovation and continuous improvement in everything we do.
Our Values
• Integrity
• Passion
• Pride
• Accountability
• Community
Work Environment & Commitment to Safety
• Total commitment to safety and teamwork
• Zero tolerance for any form of discrimination or harassment
• On-the-job training/certifications Compensation
• Weekly pay
• Direct deposit & electronic pay stubs (paperless)
• Competitive wages and overtime compensation
• Profit sharing
• Discretionary bonus program Benefits
• Medical plans including HMO, POS, and HDHP (with HSA)
• Section 125 Flexible Spending Account & Dependent Care Accounts
• Employee Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance
