T H E E - M A G A Z I N E O F T H E H B R A O F FA I R F I E L D C O U N T Y - M AY 2 0 2 1
UPCOMING
FEATURES
Annual Awards Celebration HOBI Awards Deadline BUILD-PAC Golf Tournament
Member News COVID-19 Resources Latest Updates
MEMBER BENEFITS mynpp.com NAHB Benefits
Your Monthly Newsletter 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.
Contact Us:
hbra@buildfairfieldcounty.com www.buildfairfieldcounty.com @hbraffc (203) 335-7008
2021 2021 OFFICERS President Kim DiMatteo
DiMatteo Insurance
Sr. Vice-President John Hertz Hertz Construction
Vice President Rob Michaud
The Michaud Group
Secretary Steve LoParco
LoParco Associates
Treasurer Steven Roth
Elevator Service Company
Immediate Past President Anthony DeRosa DeRosa Builders
PWB Chair Stephanie Rapp
Stephanie Rapp Interiors
2021 DIRECTORS Luigi Altamura Altamura Homes
Propane Pete Battaglio Hocon Gas
Max Bender Bender Supply
Karen Bradbury
Closet & Storage Concepts
Ken DeLeo
Doherty & DeLeo
Brian Kurtz
Interstate Lumber
Peter Sciarretta
Hemingway Construction
Alex Shook
Pella Commercial
Michael Wood Wood Builders
LIFE DIRECTORS Joanne Carroll JMC Resources
Michael Palumbo ERI Building & Design
Jerry Effren The Greyrock Companies
Peter Gaboriault Bear Paw Builders
Gary Fanali City Carting
Terrence Beaty William Pitt Sotheby’s International Realty
Peter Fusaro Preferred Builders
Chris Steiner Steiner, Inc.
2021.
L ET T ER F RO M TH E EXECUTIVE OF FICER
Hello Members, I hope everyone is enjoying the warm weather and looking forward to a fun summer! We are hosting our annual awards at The Water’s Edge at Giovanni’s in Darien on June 9. We are so excited to honor some of our most outstanding members. If you have not registered already, make sure to celebrate with us by clicking HERE. In September, we will be hosting our annual clambake as well as our annual golf tournament. Please be on the lookout for more information, as we look forward to seeing everyone! 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
Do you have news, project photos, or press releases to share? Please send an email to hbra@buildfairfieldcounty.com so they can be shared in upcoming newsletters.
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U P COMIN G EVEN TS
June 9, 2021 | 2021 Awards Dinner & Annual Meeting Join the HBRA of Fairfield County at Giovanni’s in Darien to celebrate the accomplishments and wonderful work produced by your peers in the association during an unconventional year at our 2021 Awards Dinner and Annual Meeting, presented by County TV & Appliance. HBRA Members: $125.00 | General Admission: $150.00 | Table of 10: $1200.00 Seated dinner and open bar. Tables of 10 - only pre-purchased full tables will have reserved seating. First-come, first-serve seating otherwise. Dinner includes: Choice of N.Y. Strip Steak, Chicken Piccata, Broiled Salmon, or vegetarian option Mixed Green Salad with Gorgonzola Cheese, Giovanni’s Garlic Bread, Dessert, Coffee & Tea Please Note: This event will be held indoors. Congratulations to Our Award Winners: Builder of the Year – Hertz Construction Inc. Associate of the Year – Sheri Snellman, Bender Remodeler of the Year – Guiltec Development Woman of the Year – Dana Drugo, Tooher-Ferraris Insurance Group Thank You to Our Sponsors Business of the Year – Smarthome & Theater Systems Supplier of the Year – Hocon Gas Inc. Volunteer of the Year – Tori McBrien, McBrien Interiors Member of the Year – Angela Legg, Leggacy Productions New Member of the Year – David Houser, New England Financial Group Architect of the Year – Emilia Ferri, Emilia Ferri Architecture + Design Hall of Fame – Hemingway Construction President’s Choice – Anthony DeRosa, DeRosa Builders LLC
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
MAY 2021 HBRA of Fairfield County 7
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RTK Environmental Group Robert Weitz
RTK Environmental Group is one of the most trusted environmental testing service firms on the East Coast. Since 1995, RTK has provided testing services to more than 40,000 commercial and residential customers, delivering the highest quality service from start to finish.
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Auburn Landing Ralph Bosch
Ralph Bosch joined Auburn Landing as a partner in the fall of 1990. Ralph first met Auburn Landing founder Jeff Andrews in 1979. After helping Jeff with a few projects over the ensuing years they started learning to kayak together. Long hours spent driving to and from the rivers involved long conversations about many topics and they decided to pool their resources and try to further develop the business together. Read More
Affiliate Members
Rachel Lindemann |Northeast Building Supply
HOBI AWARDS HOME BUILDING INDUSTRY AWARDS
CONNECTICUT HOBI AWARDS November 17, 2021 | AQUA TURF CLUB
HBRA OF CONNECTICUT
Don’t forget! The HOBITHE EntryHOBI portal is open and ARE the deadline AWARDS ON! for applications is JUNE 25TH We are thrilled to announce the next HOBI Awards Dinner The NEW HOBI Landing page allows entrants electronically! will be heldto onapply November 17, 2021! Be a part of Connecticut’s
premier Industry Awards. Withthis an audience of Deadline to apply will be June 25, 2021! WeHome have Building some exciting new categories year, including successful remodelers and land developers statewide, COVID-19 related awards. Click here for morebuilders, information.
this is the ONLY event in Connecticut recognizing the BEST in 2021 HBRA of Fairfield County 9 our industry! And this year, the HBRA isMAY bringing the HOBI’s
10 HBRA of Fairfield County | MAY 2021
P W B MEMBER SPOTLIGH T
Get to know the Professional Women in Building Council better. Each month we will be highlighting members who are active participants in PWB, the council where women in the building industry connect with each other through networking, education and peer support. Danica Caruso is one of Greater Hartford’s most trusted appliance salespeople. Her clients include: kitchen designers, interior designers, builders, contractors and homeowners. Danica comes from a construction background, as her father is a builder; therefore she has a unique understanding of kitchen design and functionality, especially working within a budget. Renovating can be stressful, and Danica makes appliance purchasing as easy and fun as possible. Danica is known for her extensive appliance knowledge and devotion to her clients, as shown in her numerous positive reviews and referrals. She works tirelessly to find the best and most appropriate product at the lowest possible price.
Danica Caruso
Sales Specialist Contractors Home Appliances 860-653-8266 x 105
danica@contractorshomeappliances.com
Even though Danica’s days are quite busy, she finds time for many diverse interests, which include social media and marketing, camping, kayaking (and basically anything exercise or outdoor-related), collecting sports cards, animals (specifically horses and her beloved cat, Mako), horticulture and music. However Danica’s passion lies in cooking and grilling. This is probably why appliances and their style and performance come naturally to her. She is an avid home chef, and loves to throw a hodgepodge of ingredients together to create something delicious. If you’re considering purchasing appliances or a kitchen make-over, or simply have questions that Danica can help with, she can be reached in the East Granby location of Contractors Home Appliances at 860-653-8266 x 105; via email at danica@contractorshomeappliances.com.
Nicole Ruffing is currently the Designer Account Executive in the Hudson Valley area of New York and Connecticut, where she develops relationships with Residential Architects and Designers by providing product and color specification support. Sherwin-Williams is North America’s largest paint and coatings manufacturer. Nicole has spent her career acquiring and sharing her knowledge of new paint technologies and applications. During her time with Sherwin-Williams, Nicole has also held the positions of Store Manager, Assistant Manager and Decorative Product Specialist which helped build her in-depth product knowledge. Nicole graduated from the University of Connecticut earning a B.A. in Political Science, and later attended Daytona State College and studied Interior Design Technology. Nicole enjoyed working at Design Studio A and HDB Design Group in Daytona Beach, FL after college but couldn’t deny her love of color and found herself spending her free time immersed in the paint field and color trends. Nicole conducts continuing education and Sherwin-Williams new product introductions for the architectural and design community through group and individual presentations. Nicole can be reached at (203)233-0613 or nicole.s.ruffing@sherwin.com
Nicole Ruffing
Designer Account Executive The Sherwin-Williams Company nicole.s.ruffing@sherwin.com (203)233-0613 MAY 2021 HBRA of Fairfield County 11
MEMBER N EWS
Congrats to Domus Constructors, LLC on their 2021 National/ Regional CotY Award Winner, Entire House Over $1,000,000 The clients wanted to renovate their dated residence and create a wonderful, welcoming home. What started with additions to the kitchen, renovating the entryway and front porch, and updating bathrooms and the master suite, turned into a full house renovation that included a backyard transformation and a new three-car garage with home office and exercise area. This beautiful forever home has the latest in smart home technology, luxurious details such as custom millwork, and was completed within the original timeframe. The clients are thrilled to be in their new beautiful space. Click here to read more and see beautiful images of the home
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Sponsorships and program ads available at the 2021 Awards Dinner & Annual Meeting!
Click the image to learn more about the sponsorship
MAY 2021 HBRA of Fairfield County 15
HAVE YOU SEEN OUR COVID RESOURCES PAGE? Visit https://buildfairfieldcounty.com/covid-19-local-and-national-updates/ for the latest news
- Do you have news about your business that you would like to share with the HBRA membership? Email design@buildfairfieldcounty.com to coordinate an instagram story or a newsletter feature.
16 HBRA of Fairfield County | MAY 2021
N AH B N EWS
Key Resilient Residential Construction Resources to Prepare Your Business President Biden is expected to outline tonight in an address to Natural disasters disrupt hundreds of thousands of lives per year and have lasting effects on people and property. In an effort to reduce the impacts associated with these events, many federal, state and local governments have, or are considering, adopting policies and programs to increase community resilience, reduce property damage and costs of reconstruction, as well as insurance claim and disaster assistance payouts. “The increase in natural disasters in recent years has placed a spotlight on ensuring the nation’s housing stock is resilient — not just by reducing the impacts that natural disasters can have on a home, but looking at the whole structure to ensure it provides a sustainable, durable and healthy home that families can rely on for generations,” noted J. Don Overton of Sustainable Construction, who has been serving as co-chair of NAHB’s Resiliency Working Group. Read More
New Electrical Code Requirement Causing Big Problems in the Field The Texas Department of Licensing & Regulation (TDLR) held an emergency meeting this week to consider delaying the implementation of a section of the 2020 National Electrical Code (NEC) after numerous electric failures were reported in the state related to a new requirement. At issue was section 210.8(F) of the 2020 NEC which requires a ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) breaker to be installed on connections... Read More
Proud to partner with the HOBI Project of the Year For the residences at 66 High Street, the Horton Group elevated the art of kitchen and bathroom design, winning both the HOBI Project of the Year and Best Luxury Condo Development. “Working with Bender is amazing,” says KC Horton. “From a huge product selection to their quick responsiveness and total flexibility, Bender makes our job easy and our clients smile.” No wonder the great craftsmen and women of Connecticut come to Bender to create their next masterpieces.
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MAY 2021 HBRA of Fairfield County 17
N AH B N EWS
Biden Signs Sweeping Executive Order on Climate Change that Affects Housing President Joe Biden yesterday signed a sweeping executive order on climate change entitled “Executive Order on Climate-Related Financial Risk,” that the White House says “will help the American people better understand how climate change can impact their financial security.” Of note to the housing community, the executive order will reinstate the 2015 Obama-era Federal Flood Risk Management Standard (FFRMS) which was revoked by the Trump administration. NAHB opposed the 2015 FFRMS because it would dramatically expand regulated floodplain areas without congressional oversight, new floodplain maps, supporting technical data or comprehensive regulatory impact and cost-benefit analyses. The executive order also requires the secretary of Agriculture, the secretary of Housing and Urban Development, and the secretary of Veterans Affairs to consider approaches to better integrate climaterelated financial risk into underwriting standards, loan terms and conditions, and asset management and servicing procedures, as related to their federal lending policies and programs.
Read More
18 HBRA of Fairfield County | MAY 2021
New Home Sales Soften in April with Growing Housing Affordability Concerns Rising building materials costs and low inventory have caused new home sales prices to jump 20% on a year-over-year basis, harming housing affordability and driving down the pace of new home sales. Sales of newly built, single-family homes fell 5.9%, following a significant downward revision of the March estimate, to a 863,000 seasonally adjusted annual rate, according to newly released data...
Read More
MAY 2021 HBRA of Fairfield County 19
N AH B N EWS
Emerging Remodeling Project and Product Trends for 2021 The remodeling industry is busier now than ever as consumers are requesting a variety of new projects based upon their needs stemming from the pandemic. As part of the National Home Remodeling Month celebration, you are invited to attend the NAHB webinar Emerging Remodeling Project & Product Trends for 2021 on Thursday, May 27, from 2-3 p.m. ET. During the webinar, a panel of professional remodelers from across the United States will explore remodeling trends they see developing in their respective markets. They will also discuss how leading remodelers are navigating material prices and supply-chain challenges in delivering projects for their clients. Read More
Construction SelfEmployment Rates at Record Low The current construction selfemployment rate is now the lowest on record, according to the 2019 American Community Survey. Today, 22% (2.4 million) of construction workers are selfemployed, down from a record high of more than 26% in 2010. One of the factors behind the recently falling construction selfemployment rates is business cycle effects. Read More
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