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.
Front Cover: Featuring: Smarthome and Theater Systems
AUTHENTIC TO YOUR DREAM
Andersen ® A-Series windows and doors are based on the style of home you want. Whether it’s a stately Queen Anne, a bold Modernist design or anything in between, you can now create it with the best-performing, most energy-efficient products Andersen has ever offered. Don’t just imagine your dream home, build it with Andersen.
Learn more at andersenwindows.com
Andersen is proud to support the Home Builders and Remodelers Assn. of Fairfield County and its members.
EXECUTIVE OFFICER WELCOME LETTER
Hello Members,
Thank you to everyone who came out to our October GMM at Aitoro! It was such a lovely evening, with good food and great company. Next up we have our November GMM, at Interstate Design Center. If you bring a guest, you and the guest come for free!
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. ”
Upcoming EventsRegister Now!
Thursday October 30 : PWB October Meeting - Headshots and Glam th
Interstate Design Center, Westport | 4:30pm-6pm
Join us for the October Professional Women in Building Council meeting. Come and get a new headshot for the season and a photo-ready glam refresh!
Wednesday November 5 : November GMM & Fireplace CEU Class th
Interstate Design Center, Westport | CEU: 4pm-5pm | GMM: 5:30pm-8:30pm
Join the HBRA for our “Fall Fest” General membership meeting. We will also have a CEU class on “Specifying Gas Fireplaces for Today’s Homes” immediately before the GMM for architects, designers, and anyone interested - included with the GMM ticket! (Registration options for either the CEU & GMM, or GMM only).
Thursday November 13 : Annual HOBI Awards Dinner th
Aqua Turf Club, Plantsville | 5pm-9:30pm
Presented by the HBRA of CT, join us to celebrate the winners of CT’s most prestigious housing awards!
Wednesday December 3 : Annual Awards Dinner & Holiday Party rd
Bank Street Events, Stamford | 5pm-8pm
Save the date for the annual HBRA of Fairfield County Awards Dinner and Holiday Party! Award nominations are now open!
Friday December 5 : PWB Council Annual Holiday Luncheon th
Riko’s Pizza, Westport | 1pm
Save the date for the annual PWB Council Holiday Luncheon - more info coming soon!
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.
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.
October GMM
Our October General Membership Meeting was hosted on Wednesday, October 1st at Aitoro Appliance Company. Members and industry guests enjoyed drinks, apps, and networking while touring Aitoro’s beautiful showroom displays.
Thank you to Aitoro for hosting this great event! Learn more here: https://www.aitoro.com/
Photos by Kirt Washington Photography
Pathways to Construction Trades
MEMBER EVENTS
On the first two Saturdays of October the HBRA of Fairfield County and "Pathways to Construction Trades" held our second round of workshops for high school juniors and seniors to introduce students to careers in fields such as carpentry, plumbing, electrical work and more, and to help them explore a possible career in the trades.
For this round of classes we offered a "hands-on" approach by inviting contractors to set up tables and bring in their tools and trucks to show and tell what their trades had to offer. Students got an inside look at a variety of professions, including sales (equipment, windows, plumbing), general contracting, electrical work, plumbing, and essential life skills. It was exciting for sure!
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all our guest presenters who dedicated their Saturdays to sharing their expertise and inspiring the next generation of skilled trades professionals:
A special thank you to HMTX Industries for graciously hosting us at The House Up On the Hill—your support made this event possible!
Learn more: https://hmtx.global/
And we extend a huge thank you to our generous sponsor, Thomas Sanseverino from Camsan Electric, for their financial support of this event.
Thank you especially to our Committee Members:
Founder / Chair: Rick Taylor
Founder / Chair: Bepin Mgushi
Secretary & Co-Chair: Mike Weiner
Marketing Director: Geoff Knapp
Application and Enrollment Director: Kendrick Constant
Donation Committee Chair: Brian A Clarke Jr
Course Content Committee: Rick Taylor, Brian A Clarke Jr, Mike Weiner
Norwalk Public Schools Representative: Carol Wiltshire-Toth
HBRA Executive Officer: Kerry Brunn
We’re excited to continue supporting these talented students on their journey into the construction trades and beyond. The future of the industry is bright!
Our goal at Pathways to Construction Trades is to be a conduit between greater Norwalk youth and local trades employers to increase the number of young people exploring and pursuing a career path in the trades industry.
The next round of classes will be held Spring 2026. More info on this great program can be FOUND HERE – we need your help supporting the next generation of tradespeople!
Pathways to Construction Trades
MEMBER EVENTS
NEW MEMBERS
Andersons Septic Service | Brian Andronaco Jr.
Find out more HERE
Archadeck of SWCT | Ryan Collins
Find out more HERE
Artistic Iron Works, LLC | Renata Singh
Find out more HERE
Austin Ganim Landscape Design, LLC | Eva Chiamulera
Find out more HERE
Autuori Electric | Anthony John Autuori II
Clancy Storage LLC DBA Go Mini's | John Myron
Find out more HERE
Davinci Design Windows l Sebastiano Villani
Find out more HERE
Horseneck Group, LLC | Marty Leibrock
Find out more HERE
NEW MEMBERS
Kate Brooks Studio | Kate Brooks
Find out more HERE
Knight Security Systems | Trevor McEnaney
Find out more HERE
Unitas Funding | Greg DiMaggio
Find out more HERE
Untangled, LLC | Eric Moirez
Find out more HERE
William Raveis Real Estate - Southport/Fairfield| Kathleen Blackall
Find out more HERE
NEW PWB MEMBERS
Kate Brooks Studio | Kate Brooks
Find out more HERE
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
Inflation Picks Up in September
Inflation increased in September, according to the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) report. During the past 12 months, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose by 3% in September — the highest reading since January 2025 — as tariff pressure on prices continues to materialize gradually .Read More
Is the Construction Industry Attracting Younger Workers?
According to the 2023 American Community Survey (ACS), the median age of construction labor force is 42 years old — one year older than a typical worker in the national labor force. However, the construction industry has seen an increase in younger skilled labor since the peak of the skilled labor shortage in 2021. Read More
Where Inspiration Surfaces
BROOKFIELD
IBS 2026 Exhibit Home Aims for Groundbreaking Energy-Efficiency Rating
For anyone curious about how far today’s innovative building products can take a home’s performance, The New American Home 2026 is the must-see showcase at the upcoming NAHB International Builders’ Show®, taking place Feb. 17–19.
This flagship exhibit isn’t just about bold design and luxury aesthetics — it's setting a new bar for energy efficiency, particularly for a home of its scale: over 9,200 square feet.” .Read More
Senate Panel Passes NAHB-Backed Forestry Bill
The Senate, Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee today advanced the Fix Our Forest Act, NAHB-supported legislation that will contribute to better forest management practices, help strengthen the nation’s housing supply chain and promote affordable housing opportunities for all Americans.
Read More
The Fight for Housing Affordability: NAHB Spotlights Key Hurdle
After keeping rates steady through most of 2025, the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy committee Housing affordability continues to be a challenge in every corner of the country. A lack of housing supply is a key component to this challenge, but policy mandates exacerbate the issue by making it more expensive and more time-consuming to build homes.
NAHB CEO Jim Tobin recently appeared on the Builder Straight Talk podcast to highlight the hurdles builders face in the current market, and how the Federation is working at the local, state and national levels to address them.
“Homeownership is the gateway to the middle class in this country, and we are pushing homeownership farther and farther away from the next generation,” Tobin shared with podcast host Michael Krisa. “The more we do that, the harder it is for them to build equity, build real wealth in this country. The housing crisis has catastrophic downstream effects that we have not felt yet for the next generations behind us.”
Read More
Level Up Your Career with NAHB Connect
NAHB Connect is the go-to-online community for young professionals in home building. It’s a digital hub for professional growth, industry insight and member-to-member networking.
WHY JOIN
Enhance Your Career
Ask other members how to navigate your career path. Improve as a leader and grow your business.
Network with Industry Leaders
Tap into the knowledge of experienced industry professionals.
Grow Your Knowledge
Ask questions about real world scenarios and get helpful responses from people who relate to you.
1. Do you have an account on nahb.org? If not, go to nahb.org/register to create an account or scan the QR code below.
I have found NAHB Connect to be a very valuable resource for connecting with other members to exchange knowledge, expertise, and network.
~Nicolas Ream Montana Heritage Home Builders, Inc.
2. Go to connect.nahb.org/home, and log in with your nahb.org username and password.
3. Set up your profile, upload an image and start connecting!
SALES SHEET
GO BEYOND.
A subflooring panel with a built-in barrier for jobsite durability.
AdvanTech X-Factor panels are the latest innovation from the subflooring brand builders have trusted for more than 20 years for the FLAT OUT BEST™ start to a quiet, stiff floor. AdvanTech X-Factor is a new class of premium subflooring with a fade-resistant, watershedding surface on a high-performance engineered wood panel. With a built-in protective top layer, it takes the moisture resistance teams expect from an AdvanTech panel to the next level and pairs well with AdvanTech™ subfloor adhesive for a Squeak-Free Guarantee™1
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
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
Why Builders Overpay for Land and How to Protect Your Margins
Land is the single largest cost driver in any home building project. But even experienced acquisition teams sometimes overpay. This often comes down to a lack of context and outdated data.
1. Lagging and Limited Transaction Data
Relying on public records to track land sales comes with inherent risks: lagging or incomplete data, inconsistent reporting across jurisdictions, and blind spots in partial or non-disclosure states.
Without access to comprehensive and accurate comparables, teams risk building models on outdated assumptions. This leaves room for inflated valuations and thinner margins. Read More
3 Ways Young Professionals Can Boost Their Careers in Residential Construction
NAHB’s Young Professionals (YP) focuses on supporting and developing the next generation of leaders in the home building industry. The group provides networking opportunities, mentorship, and resources to help younger professionals advance in their careers and engage with peers across the country. Read More
NEWS
How Diverse Is the Construction Workforce?
Diversifying the construction labor force remains a key priority amid persistent skilled labor shortages.
According to the 2023 American Community Survey, non-Hispanic White workers still account for the majority of the construction industry at 57%. Hispanic workers now represent nearly one-third of the labor force at 32%, followed by non-Hispanic Black workers at 5% and non-Hispanic Asian workers at 1.8%.
The most notable trend in construction labor force has been the steady rise of Hispanic participation. Between 2010 and 2023, the number of Hispanic workers in construction increased from 2.5 million to almost 3.8 million. Over the same period, their share of the labor force climbed from 23.6% to 32%, meaning that nearly one in three construction workers today is Hispanic.
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
2025 Awards Dinner & Holiday Party Award Nominations OPEN
The HBRA of Fairfield County wants to annually recognize members that have consistently dedicated themselves to the efforts that strengthen the residential construction industry in Fairfield County We encourage you to nominate a member that you feel is deserving of this recognition.
DEADLINE:
The deadline for submission of nominations must be received by October 31 . Nominations received after that date will not be eligible for consideration for the awards.
PROCEDURE:
Nominations may be accepted from any member of the HBRA, including the nominee. The FAIRFIELD COUNTY HBRA Board of Directors selects one nominee in each category The winning nominees will be notified that an award will be presented at the 2025 Awards Dinner & Holiday Party on December 3, 2025.
(NOTE: The FAIRFIELD COUNTY HBRA Board observes the right to abstain from awarding any particular category should it believe nominations are deficient or inadequate)
NOMINATION CRITERIA:
Nominee must be an HBRA member A prior recipient of an award does not disqualify that person or company from receiving the same award again. Receipt of a specific award does not disqualify that person or company from receiving a different award in the same award year. No award must be granted on an annual basis. The Board of Directors may move an award applicant into a different category of award from the category for which the person or company has applied. With the exception of the President’s Award, The Hall of Fame, and the “John P. Rowins Meritorious Service” Award all award categories will be based on the information provided in the Nomination Form.
Join us for a ladies only competition to raise funds for Women Build’s 19th sponsored Habit at CFC home!
Get your team of four together and compete to be named the 2025 SNI Champion! Join us for good food, drinks, great prizes, including the coveted bedazzled hammer, and more! Spectators are als o welcome to join this fun-filled event!
Habit at CFC Warehouse, 1785 Stratford Avenue, Stratford, CT Saturday, November 15, 2025 from 5: 00 - 8:30 p.m.
Relay teams of four fundraise $1,000 to enter the bracket-st yle competition, and spectator ticket s are $25 each!
Any questions or to register your team visit habitatcfc.org/SNI or please email lcerverizzo @habitatcfc.org or call at (203) 333-2642 x119.
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
Are Today’s Building Codes Enough to Improve Home Resilience?
In the face of rapidly increasing losses from natural disasters, many housing advocates are pushing for more stringent building codes to make homes more resilient to disaster.
Arguably, the roughly 119 million homes built before 2010 suggest that retrofitting the existing housing stock should be a higher priority to achieve resiliency than boosting the building codes for new homes already built to more stringent standards.
Read More
NAHB Endorses Dignity Act to Modernize America’s Immigration System
TNAHB supports comprehensive immigration reform legislation recently introduced in the House by Reps. Maria Salazar (R-Fla.) and Veronica Escobar (D-Texas) that would protect the nation’s borders and preserve critical workforces.
Read More
Innovative Options and Designs to Complement Your Home
Pella’s Impervia® windows and doors provide unmatched strength, energy efficiency and lasting durability with proven performance. There’s never a need for painting or refinishing because with our powder-coat finish, our windows and doors resist chipping, chalking and fading.
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
Ring’s End Window Installation
The Smart Choice for Contractors
When you trust Ring’s End to install your window package, you’re choosing efficiency, precision, and peace of mind Our factorytrained installation team ensures every window is measured, delivered, and installed to exact specifications so you can keep your project moving smoothly.
Installers are trained in the manufacturer’s recommended installation methods in compliance with the manufacturer’s warranty
We offer a ten-year limited warranty on the installation labor and workmanship we provide
STREAMLINED PROJECT MANAGEMENT
With one reliable partner handling both the product and installation, you eliminate coordination headaches, reduce callbacks, and protect manufacturer warranties Ring’s End provides single-source accountability, expert craftsmanship, and full compliance with building codes Ring’s End installers are registered Home Improvement Contractors in Connecticut, New York, and Rhode Island, and are EPA Lead-Safe Certified Renovators Save valuable time, deliver top-quality results, and give your customers the confidence that comes from a professional, seamless installation backed by the name contractors have trusted for generations.
“Ring’s End made window installation one less thing to worry about. Their crew was professional, efficient, and kept pace with our production schedule. Every opening fit perfectly. ” Jim Carpenter, Principal, Carpenter Construction
