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Teaching Leaders to Lead
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From field crews to company leaders, John Sladick’s program is teaching the people side of construction
2026 Board of Directors
OFFICERS
PRESIDENT
Beth Rhoades, C & R Design Remodel
VICE PRESIDENT
Justen Maron, Olsen Communities
SECRETARY/TREASURER
Jed Bennett, Steve Bennett Construction
ASSOCIATE VICE-PRESIDENT
Dan Reynolds, Saalfeld Griggs PC
IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT
Andrew Wheeler, T. Wheeler Homes
FORMER PAST PRESIDENT
Ryan Bloedel, Bloedel Custom Homes
Board Members
Ryan Brock, Withers Lumber
Steve Hurley, Banner Homes
Troy Klein, NW Natural
Eli Makarenko, Comfort Homes
April McVay, HomeSmart Real Estate
Yuriy Murashko, Mountain Coast Electric
Britany Randall, BRAND Land Use
Chris Rasmussen, Hear No Evil
Mike Riddle, Riddle Construction
Jerry Scott, J. Scott Builder
Leonid Snegirev, LNC Homes
Kelly Webb, AK Webb Remodeling
Duane West, 3Rs Construction
Greg White, Amcraft Custom Cabinets
Association Staff
Mike Erdmann, Chief Executive Officer mike@HomeBuildersAssociation.org
Haley Hamilton, Director of Shows & Events haley@HomeBuildersAssociation.org
Matt O’Reilly, Director of Member Services matt@HomeBuildersAssociation.org
Roy Shawgo, Director of Safety & Loss Control roy@HomeBuildersAssociation.org
Home Builders Association of Marion & Polk Counties 2075 Madrona Ave SE Suite 100, Salem, OR 97302 tel 503-399-1500 | fax 503-399-0651 www.HomeBuildersAssociation.org
Table of Contents
New Product House • HBA/SAIF Workers’ Comp Discount Professional Women in Building • 360 House Kitchen Renovation
Teaching the Leaders to Lead
Innovative construction training program provides boost to area builders.
2026 City Elections
New Salem Mayor, a New Council, and an Open Question for Housing.
Dear HBA Members,
Welcome
When we talk about the strength of our association, we are really talking about the individuals who consistently step up, sacrifice their time, and shoulder the heavy weight of our industry.
Leadership in Action: Andrew Wheeler
This quarter, I want to shine a spotlight on our immediate past president, Andrew Wheeler. Serving as your HBA President for both 2024 and 2025, double the typical commitment, was already a monumental contribution to our stability and growth. But Andrew’s dedication didn’t stop when his term ended. I am incredibly grateful that he has stepped up yet again, this time to lead our annual New Product House project.
Building a New Product House is a major undertaking, but its impact cannot be overstated. The proceeds directly fund our critical advocacy efforts locally and at the state capitol, ensuring we have a powerful voice against burdensome regulations and a seat at the table on new legislation affecting our trade. Andrew’s continuous “yes” to our association sets an extraordinary example for us all.
Staying Ahead of a Changing Industry
To build a stronger industry, we must also remain dedicated to continuous learning. This past quarter, we hosted several fantastic events designed to help our members adapt and grow in a fast-paced environment:
• Member Dinner: We gathered for an inspiring presentation by John Sladick, who challenged us to elevate our construction leadership and team dynamics.
• Educational Training: We tackled the modern frontier of business technology with a class on artificial intelligence, focusing on how to put these tools to work while protecting our businesses from sophisticated new cyber scams.
Our industry is changing rapidly. The more we lean into education, master new technologies, and stay active in our community, the more resilient our businesses become.
Your Invitation to Get Involved
Andrew’s leadership and the strong turnout at our recent events prove that we are at our best when we are actively engaged. We cannot drive solutions from the sidelines. Whether it is supporting the New Product House, attending our next educational seminar, or joining a committee, your involvement is the fuel that powers the HBA.
Thank you all for your continued membership, your passion, and your willingness to build our future, together.
Sincerely,
Beth Rhoades
2026 HBA President C&R Design Remodel
The House the Industry Built
As a signature project of the Home Builders Association, the New Product House is built each year to help fund the association’s political action efforts – providing the funds needed to support pro-housing, pro-small business candidates who will further the HBA’s goals of housing affordability. This year’s build, located at 6123 Evangelista St S in Salem and featured on the 2026 Tour of Homes, was led by Andrew Wheeler of T. Wheeler Homes. A huge thank you to Andrew and the team of industry partners he assembled to work together on the project.
When the home sells, the proceeds come back to the association and fund the work that protects this industry. That means advocacy at the state capitol and in our local jurisdictions: a strong voice against burdensome regulation, and a seat at the table when housing, land use, and building policy are decided. In a region under real affordability pressure, that work matters more than ever, and the Product House is a big part of what pays for it.
A house like this is only possible because so many companies give their time and their product. The trades, suppliers, and service providers below each had a hand in building the 2026 New Product House. We are grateful to every one of them.
Contributors & Trades
Our heartfelt thanks to the following member companies for contributing their materials, labor, and expertise to the 2026 New Product House.
Appliances
Kelly’s Home Center
Beams
Barnwood Naturals
Cabinets
Amcraft Cabinets
Carpet Supplier
Surfaces NW
Closet Systems
California Closets
Concrete Cutting
Penetrations Concrete Cutting
Concrete Floor
Eberle Concrete, Inc.
Countertops
Marble Center
Drywall
EG Drywall, Dallwig Brothers
Electrical
Interstate Electric Inc.
Engineering
Dan Green Engineering
Excavating
Bethel Excavating
Fencing
F&W Fencing
Finish Carpentry
Miller and Son Finishing
Fireplace
Home Fire Stove
Flatwork
N&J Concrete LLC
Flooring Supplier
LP Legacy
Foundation
DC Structural Specialists, Inc.,
Salem Mobile Mix
Framing
Leo Needs Construction, DC
Structural Specialists, Inc., ENR
Construction LLC
Garage Doors
Sarmiento’s LLC
General Contractor
T. Wheeler Homes, LLC
Gravel
RiverBend Materials, Bethel
Excavating
Gutters
Pro Gutters LLC
HVAC
Woodward Heating
Insulation
Falls Insulation
Interior & Exterior Doors
Cascade Door
Interior Cleaning
Preferred Cleaning LLC
Interior Design
Classic Interiors
Landscaping
Green Acres Landscape
Lumber
Withers Lumber, Pacific
Lumber, Parr Lumber, Stayton
Builders Mart
Luxury Vinyl Plank
Surfaces NW, COREtec Floors, NW Tile & Flooring LLC
Mantel
Oltre Castings & Design
Millwork & Hardware
Salem Door & Supply, Lowery’s Finishing & Interiors LLC
Painting
Rose Contracting & Painting, Sherwin Williams
Permanent Lighting
CLG Lighting
Plans Designer
Wavra Design Co.
Plaster Finishing
Exquisite Plaster and Design
Plumbing
Pipewerks
Plumbing Fixtures
The Fixture Gallery / Consolidated Supply
Portable Toilets
Best Pots, Inc., Honey Bucket
Real Estate Agent
Don Sturgeon with HomeSmart Realty Group
Continued next page
HBA News
Continued from previous page
Retaining Wall
Mutual Materials Co.
Roofing
Sarmientos LLC, CertainTeed
Siding
LP (Louisiana Pacific), Withers Lumber, IWP
Siding Contractor
Downs Construction, V.A. and Sons
Construction Corp
Speakers / Entertainment
Hear No Evil Hi Sound & Image
Staging
The Textured Home
Stair Railing
MW Design Workshop
Stone Masonry
Vic’s Masonry, Mutual Materials Co.
Subflooring
Zepeda Subflooring
Tankless Hot Water Heater
NW Natural
Tile
NW Tile & Flooring LLC
Tile Supplier
Surfaces NW
Trusses
Mustang Truss, Inc.
Window Coverings
Monarch Window Coverings, Inc.
Windows
Withers Lumber, Milgard, Kilgore Blackman
The Spike Club is an exclusive group of members who contribute to the growth of the association by recruiting and retaining members. Spikes maintain a special status, have the respect of their peers as valued members of the HBA and are recognized for their efforts locally and nationally. To become a Spike, bring in six members to the HBA. Applications for prospective members are online at the HBA website or may be obtained from the HBA office, or call to have one sent to the prospective member.
ALL TIME BIG SPIKE 1500+
John Gooley 2847
STATESMAN SPIKE
Ric McNall 814
Tom Wheeler 226
Druliner 204
Ziebell 180
RED SPIKE 100–149
Kelvin Dettwyler 147
Rob Rardin 131
Jodi Bailey 119
John Hammer 111
Brad Moore 107
Matt Holstege 102
GREEN SPIKE 50–99
Kent Kaufman 99
Dan Fitzgerald 92
Rich Kansky 85
Eric Olsen 84
Bob Cavell 78
Larry Bilyeu 75
Don Sturgeon 75
Kerry Kuenzi 69
Oleg Foksha 73
Matt Endler 68
Jim Hobbs 49
Ryan Bloedel 49
Eric Templeton 66
Kathy Temple 65
Serge Serdsev 62
Patrick Jackson 59
Mike Smith 56
Rich Tovar 53
Andrew Wheeler 52
Randy Melton 51
Eric Jensen 50
LIFE SPIKE 25–49
Laura Dorn 33
Mark Shipman 33
Kimberly Woodward 47
Jason Sawyers 44
David Hafner 40
Nolan Fridley 40
Chad Robb 34
Hunter Emerick 31
Kevin Stone 29
Steve Hurley 27
Kraig Kelly 26
BLUE SPIKE 6–24
Jason Robertson 24
Santiago Sarmiento 16
Samantha Crabb 15
Brett Tallan 14
Gary Epping 13
Don Lulay 12
Chad Montgomery 12
Ricky Fast 11
David Qualls 11
Chris Rasmussen 10
Justen Maron 9
Jim Sparkman 9
Kelli Terjeson 8
Caleb Remington 8
Beth Rhoades 7
Alan Sorem 7
HBA News
HBA/SAIF Workers’ Comp Discount Grows to 18%
Beginning July 1, the HBA group workers’ compensation discount with SAIF Corporation grows to 18 percent. For members already in the program, the new discount takes effect at your next SAIF policy renewal on or after that date. For participating members, that’s real money back on one of the largest fixed costs your business carries.
The savings scale directly with the size of your operation, because the discount applies to your premium before it is calculated against payroll. A small business might save several hundred dollars a year. A larger contractor with significant payroll can save thousands. For a company paying $40,000 a year in manual premium, an 18 percent discount returns more than $7,000. That is money that stays in your business, where it belongs.
Workers’ compensation is unavoidable for most member businesses. If you have employees, you carry the coverage. That is exactly why the Home Builders Association of Marion & Polk Counties has worked for years to make this program one of the most valuable benefits of membership, and why the growth to 18 percent is worth your attention.
The discount is earned, not given. SAIF partners with the HBA because our members, as a group, have demonstrated a better-than-average safety record. When the group keeps claims and losses low, the group earns a larger discount. The growth to 18 percent reflects the work our members have put into running safer job sites, and every member who participates shares in that result.
Not every business automatically qualifies, and the standards are there to protect the strength of the group. To participate, a member must carry an annual manual premium of at least $2,500 and carry an experience rating of 1.00 or less. SAIF also looks at the business’ loss history and injury frequency when approving new accounts and renewals. If you are not sure whether you qualify, that is a conversation worth having, because many members assume they do not and find out otherwise.
The discount is only part of the value. The HBA employs a dedicated safety consultant whose job is to help our members reduce injuries and lower their workers’ compensation costs. This is a service most contractors could never justify hiring on their own, and as a member it is available to you at no additional charge. Our consultant works directly with member businesses to identify hazards before they become claims and to help you prepare for and avoid OSHA citations. These efforts feeds back into the group’s safety record, which in turn protects and grows the discount for everyone.
That is the part worth understanding. This program is not simply a price break negotiated once and forgotten. It is a cycle. Safer job sites produce fewer claims, fewer claims earn a larger group discount, and a dedicated safety consultant helps every participating member contribute to that result. The 18 percent discount taking effect July 1 is proof that the model works.
If you carry workers’ compensation coverage and you are not yet taking advantage of this program, you are very likely leaving money on the table. Getting started is simple. Talk with your own workers’ compensation insurance agent, contact SAIF directly at 800-285-8525, or reach out to Mike Erdmann at the HBA to find out whether you qualify.
HBA News
Building Together: The HBA’s Professional Women in Building Council
The construction industry has always been built on relationships and for the women working across every corner of it, having the right community behind you can make all the difference. That’s exactly what the Home Builders Association’s Professional Women in Building (PWB) Council was created to provide.
Since its founding in June 2022, PWB has grown into a thriving network of women across the building industry from contractors and subcontractors to suppliers, designers, and real estate professionals. What started as a vision for connection has become something much bigger: a community of women actively investing in each other’s success.
What Is PWB?
Professional Women in Building is a national council of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), with local chapters established through HBAs across the country. Our local chapter brings that mission home, creating a space where women in the building trades and related fields can connect, grow, and advocate for one another.
PWB members come from all corners of the industry. Whether you’re a general contractor, an interior designer, a building supplier, a real estate agent, or a lender who works closely with builders if your work intersects with residential construction, there’s a place for you here.
More Than Networking
It would be easy to describe PWB as a networking group, but that would undersell what it actually is. Yes, members build relationships with other professionals across the industry and those connections lead to referrals, partnerships, and opportunities. But PWB goes further than that. It’s a place where newer professionals can learn from those who’ve been in the industry for decades, and where experienced members find renewed energy from the next generation coming up behind them.
Why It Matters
The building industry still faces real challenges when it comes to representation. Women account for a significant and growing percentage of the workforce, but they remain underrepresented in leadership, ownership, and skilled trades. PWB exists to change that not through a single initiative, but through the steady, cumulative effect of women supporting women, session after session, year after year.
The impact of our local chapter speaks for itself. In 2026, we were recognized by NAHB as the Small Council of the Year, a national honor that reflects the dedication and drive of every member who has shown up and got to work.
And that work has been real. Our members have rolled up their sleeves to remodel a room at a local women and children’s shelter, giving families a safer, more welcoming space during some of their hardest moments. We’ve also revamped the visiting rooms at the Department of Human Services office used by foster children, making those spaces feel a little more like home, participated and the Habitat for Humanity Women’s Build, coordinated gift drives and more. Each year, we raise funds through our annual cornhole tournament, a community favorite that brings the industry together for a great cause. Save the date and get your team(s) together for the next tournament
HBA News
taking place on September 17th! Registration is now open on the HBA website (www.homebuildersassociation.org).
Beyond the community projects, PWB is deeply invested in building the next generation of tradespeople. Through partnerships with CTEC and our annual summer build camp, we’re introducing young people to the skilled trades and
showing them what a career in construction can look like. Workforce development isn’t just something we talk about, it’s something we do.
Who Should Get Involved?
PWB membership is open to anyone (not just women) working in or adjacent to the residential building industry who holds or is associated with an HBA membership. If you’ve been looking for a professional community that understands the unique dynamics of this industry, this is it.
And while PWB is by and for women in the industry, the entire HBA community benefits when its members are better connected, better trained, and better supported. We encourage all HBA members to learn more about the council and to support the women in their networks who might be interested in getting involved.
Whether you’re a longtime industry veteran or just getting started, PWB welcomes you
The building industry is stronger when everyone in it has access to the support, knowledge, and community they need to thrive. Professional Women in Building is proof that when women in this industry come together, they build something that lasts.
PWB members take part in Habitat for Humanity’s recent Women Build.
HBA News
Building More Than a Kitchen
How the HBA and its Members are Partnering with Isaac’s Room to Transform the 360 House
There are projects that build homes, and then there are projects that build futures. The 360 House kitchen renovation is the latter and the Home Builders Association of Marion and Polk Counties is proud to be part of making it happen.
In partnership with local non-profit Isaac’s Room, the HBA has joined forces with its membership to take on one of the most meaningful community projects the association has touched in years. Leading the charge is Beth Rhoades of C&R Remodeling and your current HBA Board President, whose vision and commitment to the mission have been the driving force behind getting this project off the ground.
About the 360 House
The 360 House serves young people ages 14 to 20, youth who need stability, community, and the kind of life skills that most of us take for granted. One of the most fundamental of those skills is knowing how to cook: how to feed yourself, how to care for others, and how to gather around a table.
Right now, the 360 House kitchen isn’t equipped to support that kind of programming. The goal of this renovation is to change that by transforming the existing kitchen and an adjacent room, currently used for freezer and refrigerator storage into a fully functional teaching kitchen, butler’s pantry, and gathering space. When complete, it will be a place where youth can learn to prepare meals, build independence, host community dinners, and share something as simple and powerful as a meal made together.
This is not a luxury renovation. The vision is durability, safety, and functionality built for high-use, high-purpose programming.
The Scope of Work
The renovation will combine the current kitchen with the adjacent storage room to create a connected cooking and prep space. The full project scope includes new cabinetry for both the kitchen and butler’s pantry, granite countertops, tiled flooring, double sinks and faucets, a new cooktop and double ovens, commercial-grade refrigerators, crown molding, and updated electrical and plumbing systems. New serving equipment including plates, cutlery, cups, and serving dishes will round out the space for youth programming use.
A Community Coming Together
What makes this project special isn’t just what’s being built, it’s who is building it. The response from the HBA trade community
digital rendering previews the redesigned 360 House kitchen.
has been remarkable, with members stepping up to donate labor, materials, and financial support. Every trade represented on this list and more is making a direct investment in the lives of young people in our community.
The HBA extends its deepest gratitude to the following trade partners and contributors:
C&R Design Remodel, Ace Chemical Toilets, AK Webb, Blowing Dust Builders LLC, Wither’s Lumber, Vicon Mechanical, Fixture Gallery, Saffron Supply, Live Electric / Mountain Coast Electric, 5 Star Drywall, Amcraft, Western Hardwood Cabinetry, Bella Pietra, MSI, CFM, Daltile, Kelly’s Home Center, J Scott Builders and Rose Painting.
Your generosity is the reason this project is possible — and the young people of the 360 House will feel that generosity every time they step into this kitchen.
Get Involved
The project is underway, and there is still opportunity for additional trade partners to contribute time, materials, or financial support. If you or your company would like to be part of this effort, reach out to the HBA office or connect directly with Beth Rhoades at C&R Remodeling.
This is what our industry does best - not just building structures, but building up the community we all call home.
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Photos by Sheldon Traver
TEACHING THE LEADERS TO LEAD
Innovative construction training program provides boost to area builders.
By James Day
It is 3 p.m. on a Thursday afternoon in an industrial building in southeast Salem. About 15 construction industry employees are gathered around circular tables listening to John Sladick talk about leadership.
There were concrete cutters, plumbers, HVAC workers, general contractors and more. These students were taking on the elite leaders class, the highest level for Sladick’s Construction Leadership Training curriculum. You start at middle road, graduate to high road and then take on the elite class.
The employees are there on company time because their firms see distinct benefits from their participation. Sladick, a 49-year veteran of the construction industry, has brought together all of the knowledge and observations and lessons he has learned into one training program, whose mission is simple: build better leaders and build better projects.
Sladick’s experience and industry data have taught him that with any building project you usually wind up with 10% profit and 35% waste. And he thinks one of the errors that the industry makes is accepting the 35% loss in the waste bucket as long as the 10% profit bucket stays intact. Sladick wants to go after the waste.
The trainer uses a plethora of visual aids in his two-room classroom. Wipe boards. Massive mockups of a project schedule. Key mantras for employees such as “respect for people” and “continuous improvement.” He itemizes the eight components of downtime: defects, overproduction, waiting, non-utilized talent, transportation, inventory, motion and extra processing. It all adds up to waste and what Slacick calls the 3 C’s of construction.
“Chaos, confusion, and conflict is something I have experienced through years and years of being on the job and when I begin to talk about this, anyone that has any type of experience in the construction industry knows exactly what I’m talking about,” he said. “We build beautiful buildings, and the end product is amazing, but the process of getting there is usually very challenging. We believe and teach that through identifying and eliminating waste, better communication, goal setting, better and more preplanning, understanding the importance of every project having a schedule, and teaching those that are in a lead position that they are in a leadership role we can combat the chaos, confusion, and conflict we find very present on most projects. What an opportunity that we have to improve! These principles are taught to every level.”
At every step of the process learning how to work with people comes to the fore.
“If we’re going to be leaders we have to be able to get up in front of people and communicate,” Sladick told the students. “If you can’t get through to your crew you’re not going to get it down. We can teach, but you have to do it.”
Then, Sladick introduces Rick Lucero of Freedom Heating in West Salem. Lucero has 19 years in the HVAC business and has been a student of Sladick’s for nearly two years. He started out as a laborer and remembers the days when the mantra for supervisors was “my way or the highway.”
These days Lucero says he has learned how “communication goes a long way and attitude goes a long way. You can’t make yourself look good without your team.”
Lucero and Slack both emphasize the importance of giving more than you take. Find something positive about how your employers are doing and let them know.
“We have issues every day,” Lucero said. “We need to deal with them. But if you get to that goal, I need to give you something back. And I should be working with you all along the way. It’s changed our way of thinking. No more yelling. It’s turned my company around. Leadership class has given me another tool in the toolbelt. It’s easier to lead now. I thought I was a good boss, but I probably wasn’t. I was yelling all the time.”
When Sladick returns to the podium, he notes that “as a leader we need to study people. Leaders lead people. Period. We have more problems with people than we do with construction. We need to get better at people skills. There are problems every day and most of the problems involve people.
“We are trying to create an environment for our team to win. And when your team wins, you win. Let your team have a voice. Working through others is one of the best definitions of a leader.”
Sladick also brought up the old-fashioned business solution of “I’ll fire them all!”
“You do that,” Sladick said, “and you don’t have a company, you don’t have a team and you are not a leader. Communicate
ABOUT THE GROUP
What: Construction Leadership Training
Where: 1965 Davcor St. SE, Salem
Senior instructor: John Sladick
Phone: (503) 932-5455
Website: www.constructionleadershiptraining.com
the vision. Why are we in business? What do we provide our customers? What are our core values? The more information that we feed these guys the better they are going to do when they are on their own. Focus on people’s strengths. We have a tendency to focus on the negatives. You need to see the positives in that guy and build on that.”
Sladick also compared the leadership challenge to a finely tuned athlete. “They all have drive, determination and desire. You have to have the desire to move up. You can teach someone to plumb a house, but you can’t teach desire.”
Some background
Constructions Leadership Training has been in business for five years. It’s a family affair, with Sladick’s relatives serving in key posts and children and a dog having the run of the place before the classes start. Sladick is the lone instructor. Approximately 80% of the instruction comes in person, with Zoom options available. He works with approximately 20 companies in the Salem area but hopes to reach out to other regions in the United States.
As noted above the students are in class on company time.
“The companies we work with are committed to investing in their people,” Sladick. “They pay the tuition and pay the students for being in class.”
Continued on page 14
Industry experiences
Chalkline reached out to two local companies to get their take on Sladick’s program. Here are their thoughts:
Riddle Construction in Salem has sent seven employees through the training, said project manager Cole Herschbach. Note how often the world “communication comes up in his remarks.
“Construction Leadership is an amazing program that provides valuable insight into the ins and outs of the industry, including the questions that often go unasked regarding management, communication, and overall process,” Herschbach said. “It has fulfilled a lot of our training needs, especially in areas like communication, respect for people, and staying focused on the fundamentals. It’s also been valuable in reinforcing collaboration between our team, clients, and trade partners, along with improving how we approach and manage scheduling.”
Herschbach also offered praise for Sladick’s teaching.
“The instructor, John, has a wealth of knowledge and consistently challenges you to think through the daily situations you may encounter in this field. My main takeaway from the class is the importance of communication in this industry. How well you communicate with your peers and clients directly impacts your success or failure.”
The planning and scheduling components of the classes also helped Herschbach and Riddle manage projects successfully.
“One of the most helpful lessons has been learning to slow down in the moment to ensure I fully understand what needs to be communicated before providing incomplete or rushed information,” he said. “This has been extremely beneficial in my growth on the management side. It has also helped me communicate more openly with my team, allowing them to better understand my workload, headspace, and priorities.”
Brittany Randall owns the BRAND Land Use firm in Salem and approaches the training from a bit of a different perspective.
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“While I am not a builder, I work in the development industry as a land-use consultant, helping clients obtain permits and approvals for development projects throughout Oregon,” she said. “The high road leadership course provided invaluable training that directly translates to my day-to-day work.”
Randall found the training especially helpful in terms of her people management.
“As a business owner, I learned that being a good leader is a skill that requires intentional effort and education,” she said. “Managing projects has always come naturally to me, but managing people has been much more challenging. The program gave me practical tools for leadership, communication, hiring, and staff development that I immediately put into practice within my company.
“The training I received also extended beyond the internal management of my company. A lot of my work involves coordinating with local governments, elected officials, and stakeholders. The leadership skills I gained have improved those interactions as well, making me a more effective advocate for my clients and a better representative of my business.”
And boosting her people skills also helped Randall’s bottom line.
“Before taking the course, I was struggling with staffing challenges and was losing money on every employee I had,” she said. “I knew something needed to change, but I did not have the tools or understanding of leadership to identify the problem. After implementing what I learned through the program, I restructured my team, improved my onboarding process, and became a more effective leader. Today, my company is financially healthier, my team is stronger, and I have a much better understanding of how to support employees so they can succeed. The benefits of the program continue to impact my business every day.”
A New Salem Mayor, a New Council, and an Open Question for Housing
Salem voters reshaped City Hall in the May 19 primary, and the results carry real consequences for anyone who builds, finances, or advocates for housing in our region. The mayor’s office changed hands decisively. The council, though, delivered a far more divided verdict than the early headlines suggested, and the balance that matters most to housing won’t be settled until a November runoff in West Salem. Here is where things stand, and what it means for the work ahead.
A new mayor with a housing message
City Councilor Vanessa Nordyke unseated incumbent Mayor Julie Hoy, taking roughly 56 percent of the vote to Hoy’s 44 percent. Because a Salem mayoral candidate who clears 50 percent plus one in the May primary wins outright, the race was effectively decided that night, and Hoy conceded the following afternoon.
Nordyke ran openly on housing. Her campaign centered on increasing Salem’s housing supply alongside renter protections, and she enters office with a clear mandate to act on affordability. That is an opening for our industry, not a setback. The HBA endorsed Mayor Hoy, but also maintains a good working relationship with Mayor-elect Nordyke and are optimistic about building on it. Her emphasis on supply is real common ground, and our message to the incoming administration is straightforward: the fastest, most durable way to improve affordability is to make housing cheaper and faster to build. We are hopeful Mayor-elect Nordyke will be a partner on pro-housing policy, and we look forward to making the builders’ case early and often.
A split decision, not a wave
Early coverage framed the night as a progressive sweep. The mayor’s race and a few early leads made that an easy story to tell, but seat by seat the council result was far more mixed — and for the business-aligned side, better than a “wave” narrative implies.
Look at how the slates crossed. The progressive-backed slate won the mayor’s office and held Ward 2, where Council President Linda Nishioka won decisively over challenger Manny Martinez. It also flipped Ward 4, the night’s real disappointment for the HBA. Our endorsed candidate there, incumbent Councilor Deanna Gwyn, a real estate broker, lost to Dave Inbody, an operations director at the Oregon Health Authority who ran on managing growth and easing traffic congestion in south Salem — a more cautious posture toward development, even as he, like Gwyn, named housing as a priority.
But the business-friendly slate flipped a seat right back. In Ward 6, small business owner Betsy Vega — running on the more development-friendly slate historically backed by Realtors, homebuilders, and small business — narrowly unseated incumbent Councilor Mai Vang (more on that contest, and the eligibility question now hanging over it, below). And in West Salem’s Ward 8, HBA-endorsed Chris Cummings finished in a near-tie with incumbent Micki Varney, forcing a November runoff.
Net it out and the council itself barely moved. Each slate flipped one seat, the progressive side held a third, and the most consequential race is still open. The decisive shift came at the top of the ticket, in the mayor’s office — not in the body that casts the day-to-day votes on land use, permitting, and system development charges. If
Cummings prevails in November, the business-aligned side would come out of this cycle roughly even on council seats, not behind.
We congratulate Councilor-elect Inbody and will work to ensure he hears the builder’s perspective: that “sustainable growth” only stays affordable when supply keeps pace with demand.
Ward 6: a narrow upset, and an unresolved eligibility question
Ward 6 produced the night’s biggest surprise. Challenger Betsy Vega, a small business owner, narrowly edged incumbent Councilor Mai Vang in a race separated by only a few dozen votes. Marion County certified Vega as the winner in mid-June.
The seat is not settled, however. Vang’s campaign filed a complaint with the city questioning whether Vega met the charter requirement to have lived in Ward 6 for a full year before filing, alleging she moved out of her listed address last fall. Vega has denied the claim, stating she resided in Ward 6 when she filed and continues to live within its boundaries, and says she is cooperating with the City Attorney’s office. The City Recorder is reviewing the matter and is expected to make a determination in late June, after this publication goes to press. If Vega is found qualified, she will be the lone name on the November ballot. If not, the recorder can decline to issue the nomination certificate — in which case Vang would not automatically retain the seat, and the race would reopen to any eligible Ward 6 resident for November. We will watch the outcome closely, as it affects the council’s balance on land use and budget votes.
Ward 8: too close to call, headed for a fall rematch
The race most directly in the HBA’s interest remains undecided. In West Salem’s Ward 8, our endorsed candidate, Chris Cummings, finished within five votes of incumbent Councilor Micki Varney — the latest count showed 3,514 to 3,509. Because a handful of write-ins kept both candidates below the 50-percent-plus-one threshold, the seat is bound for a November runoff. Polk County has scheduled a recount for June 25 to verify the May result.
This will be one of the most contested local races on the fall ballot, and it is a genuine opportunity. A West Salem council seat decided by a margin this thin will turn on turnout and organization. The HBA and our members have a direct stake in the result, and we encourage everyone in the building community to stay engaged through November.
What comes next
The newly elected officials take office in January 2027, with current councilors serving through the transition. Between now and then, the HBA’s job does not change. We will engage the incoming mayor and council on the issues that determine whether Salem can actually build the homes it needs: permitting timelines, land use decisions, system development charges, and the cost drivers that quietly price families out of ownership.
The mayor’s office changed hands, but the housing math did not. Salem still needs far more supply than it is producing, and that reality cuts across slates and ideologies. Our task is to keep that front and center with every member of the new council — the ones we backed and the ones we did not. We look forward to the conversation
HBA Young Professionals Are Building Momentum
The HBA Young Professionals (YP) group continues to create new opportunities for emerging leaders in the building industry to connect, learn, and grow. What began as a way to bring newer professionals together has quickly become a meaningful part of the HBA community, giving members a place to build relationships, ask better questions, and gain a stronger understanding of the industry around them.
This year, the Young Professionals program is focused on three key areas: connection, education, and hands-on industry exposure.
Through casual networking events like Blueprints & Brews, young professionals under the age of 45 have a chance to meet other members, share ideas, and build relationships before the workday begins. These informal gatherings help make the HBA more approachable for newer members while creating space for conversations that often lead to mentorship, referrals, and long-term professional connections.
Education is also becoming a major focus. Recent and future panel discussions give young professionals direct access to experienced builders, trade partners, suppliers, attorneys, and industry leaders.
These conversations are designed to go beyond surface-level advice. They give attendees the opportunity to hear real stories, ask practical questions, and better understand the challenges and opportunities that shape the residential construction industry.
The group is also looking ahead to adding shop tours and behind-the-scenes visits with HBA member businesses. These tours are a valuable way for young professionals to see how different companies operate, learn about career paths across the industry, and gain a deeper appreciation for the work being done throughout Marion and Polk Counties.
One of the biggest highlights on the calendar is the Young Professionals 2nd Annual Trap Shoot, scheduled for October 1st. The event brings together competition, camaraderie, and networking in a relaxed outdoor setting. Whether someone is an experienced shooter or trying it for the first time, the Trap Shoot offers a fun way to connect with fellow HBA members while supporting the continued growth of the Young Professionals program.
The strength of the building industry depends on the next generation stepping in, getting involved, and learning from those who came before them. HBA Young Professionals is helping make that happen by creating spaces where newer members can build confidence, expand their networks, and find their place in the industry.
Members interested in getting involved are encouraged to attend an upcoming event, invite a young professional from their company, or reach out to the HBA office for more information. The more participation this group has, the stronger the future of our industry becomes. For more information on getting involved, contact the HBA’s Matt O’Reilly at matt@homebuildersassociation. org or 503-399-1500.
Young Pro members engage with veteran industry members at a panel discussion in early May.
Take advantage of these exclusive member discounts. Contact the HBA for information on how to enroll.
Members-only discounts on health insurance through Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon, Providence Health Plan and Kaiser Permanente NW.
Last year, members saw average savings of 42 cents per gallon on unleaded gas and 57 cents per gallon on diesel in the HBA’s fuel discount program with Ed Staub Petroleum.
Welcome New & Reinstated Members Thank you!
All About Gutters
Nathan Simple (971) 446-9511
Allied Heating and Cooling LLC
Jason Smith (541) 979-0988
Clean LLC
Nathan Monahan (503) 884-9681
Dakota Roofing
Bonnie Adams (503) 394-2615
Natural Precision Painting
Ana Ramos (503) 991-8968
Riddle Construction Co. - Jake Sladick
Jake Sladick (503) 871-0746
Westbound Development
Zachary Reitan (503) 779-5724
Works Real Estate
Shana O’Brien (503) 380-4802
Members in the HBA’s group workers compensation program with SAIF Corporation gets exclusive member discounts and customized safety and loss control consultation.
Works Real Estate - Zac Thompson Zac Thompson (503) 798-5438
Works Real Estate - Eddie Zapien Eddie Zapien (503) 380-4802
2026 Tour of Remodeled Homes
Step inside some of our area's most inspiring remodeled homes during the upcoming Tour of Remodeled Homes, a one-day event showcasing the craftsmanship, creativity, and expertise of premier local remodeling contractors.
Whether you are planning a kitchen refresh, whole-home remodel, addition, or simply looking for ideas, this tour is a great opportunity to see quality remodeling work up close. Guests can explore completed projects, gather inspiration, and connect with trusted professionals who help bring homeowners' visions to life.
Each featured project offers a look at what thoughtful remodeling can do to improve comfort, livability, and long-term value.
