2023 RECAP So Far

I hope you are all doing well. It has been a busy start to 2023 as February followed behind February with a couple big events.

First, our Home Show drew in a nice crowd of over 50 vendors. I want to thank our sponsors 84 Lumber, AMC Contracting Group, MDG Maintenance LLC, E.H. Roberts, US Bank and Floor Coverings International. Also, our home show committee (Sara, John, Jeremy, and Joe), the NCBIA staff, and all of the vendors. This event would not be possible without all of them. In addition to home show vendors this year, we included a booth made possible through our workforce development committee dedicated to Build Across America. There were activities for children and information on Careers in Construction. Kids got to build gingerbread houses, bird houses, bird feeders, butterfly houses and barns. Equipped with safety glasses and kid’s hammer they went to town, did a great job and we just may have some future builders. They left with their project and some goodies such as the book The House That She Built. A special thanks to all of those that donated time to help with it (including Richard Bancroft, 2023 OHBA President) and to our sponsors 84 Lumber, First Federal Savings of Lorain, First National Bank, Floor Coverings International, K. Hovnanian Homes, Reaser Construction, The Nelson Agency/Hastings Mutual, and Union Home Mortgage. It was a nice addition that received lots of recognition.

Tim King, K. Hovnanian Homes

Next, was the OHBA Spring Board and Organizational Meeting. It was a pleasure to meet some great people from around our industry and to see the local representation we have with OHBA. Richard Bancroft as president, Jason Scott and Ric Johnson area vice presidents, Randy Strauss as NAHB state representative, Sara Grincewicz as membership chair, Judie Docs as executive officers rep (both appointed to the OHBA Executive Committee), and John Eavenson as developers co-chair. Some important takeaways I had from the meetings that I want to share. One, let’s not take for granted what the OHBA is doing for us at a state and national level for us locally. If you do not take the time to read the information on the battles that go on behind the scenes such as codes, environmental, utilities, or many of the senate bills they are watching on our behalf, know that they have our best interest in mind. We need to assure we continue to support what they are doing and get involved with any support we can provide. Second, was the importance of us engaging with and finding the next generation of members to keep these great associations prosperous for generations to come. Lastly, what can we do to assure that we take advantage of resources available to us through the NAHB and OHBA and how do we all work together. We have to find a way to communicate better with our members and our leadership. I encourage you all to attend some state and national meetings where you will have the opportunity to learn and participate where you can. Here are upcoming NAHB and OHBA events: You are welcome to gather with NAHB leadership for the 2023 Spring Leadership and Legislative Conference June 6-10, in Washington D.C. OHBA Summer Board Meeting will take place at the Kent State University Hotel and Conference Center, June 20-22. Information about both meetings is forthcoming and we will advise of the details and how to register to attend. Looking forward, we have the general membership meeting with an Economic Forecast presented by a NAHB economist on March 15th and in May the education committee is working to set up a day with several educational seminars. I hope to see many of you in attendance at these.