Metropolitan Builder Magazine

Greater Houston Edition themetropolitanbuilder.com

Surge Homes is Rising in Houston’s Inner Loop Surge Homes | Houston, Texas

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An Industry Trade Publication | October 2015

For Local Information Contact: themetropolitanbuilder@yahoo.com 832-317-4505 www.themetropolitanbuilder.com

Feature Builder Story

04 Surge Homes is Rising in Houston’s Inner Loop

5161 San Felipe St. #320 Houston, Texas 77056 832-317-4505

By Laurie Dent Wegman

Owner/Publisher Giselle Bernard Editor Kathy Stolz Magazine Layout & Design Graham Goodyear Website www.themetropolitanbuilder.com Printed in the USA Grunwald Printing Co. 1418 Morgan Avenue Corpus Christi, Texas 78404

06 Contingent Payment Clauses in Residential Construction

By Ian P. Faria & Jon Paul Hoelsche

08 Distinct Design- The Secret Behind Surge Homes’ Unique Interior Design

15 The Relentless Pursuit of Perfection

By Burk Moreland

The Metropolitan Builder is a local trade publication published monthly in an informative and positive manner. Copies are mailed, free of charge, to building professionals throughout the greater Houston area. The opinions and facts expressed in The Metropolitan Builder magazine are those of the authors or columnist and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, nor do they constitute an endorsement of products or services herein.

The Metropolitan Builder strives to ensure the accuracy of the magazine’s contents. However, should inaccuracies or omissions occur, we do not assume responsibility. The Metropolitan Builder reserves the right to refuse any advertisement. This publication may not be reproduced, in whole or in part, without the expressed prior written permission of the publisher.

Proud member of the GHBA, the Texas Association of Builders and the NAHB.

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16 J. Thomas Garage Doors Crafts Distinctive Doors

By Kathy Bowen Stolz

18 Houston Housing Picture Bohlke Consulting Group, LLC

20 Greenbuild, NAHB Announce New Strategic Partnership

PUBLISHER’S NOTE Giselle Bernard Publisher

I’ve learned that life is unpredictable. I don’t know about you, but with all of the crazy things going on in the world around us and just managing daily life, I often find myself overwhelmed with an abundance of emotions.

It’s why I try hard to live in the moment and focus on the now.

According to Sonja Lyubomirsky, Ph.D., psychologist and educator at the University of California at Riverside and author of The How of Happiness, “focusing on the now” elicits happiness and other positive emotions. I have to admit that it’s not easy, but when I do focus on “the now,” it makes all the difference in my world. I’ve read that living in the moment can reduce stress, boosts immune systems and lower blood pressure. Also, those who practice living in the moment are more secure, have higher self-esteem and are more fulfilled and happier

people. Well, I’m working on it.

I try to notice the world around me. Paying attention to things that make me happy, even the simple things like listening to my favorite music, can make a huge difference in how I feel. When I take time out of my day to relax and listen to a little soft jazz, I feel content. It puts a smile on my face. And speaking of smiles, have you ever looked in the mirror and just smiled? It’s a great way frame your state of mind and influence how you feel for the rest of the day.

Purposely performing random acts of kindness warms my heart. I love looking for opportunities to give a compliment or assist someone in need. Living in the moment and making others smile improves that moment for me and that someone else. Something else that gives me a sense of happiness and fulfillment are expressed feelings of gratitude and being thankful. They put my life in perspective.

Have you ever had your mind so preoccupied by the realm of worries and future possibilities it made you sick? I find that when I acknowledge the fact that the situation is beyond my control or that my worries are not yet a reality and may never be, I am more likely to be able to relax and just let go. Focusing on problem solving in the here and now gives me more of a sense of peace.

Want a little peace of mind? Turn off the TV, turn off your cell phone, tablet and computer, slow down, FOCUS and savor the present. You’re sure to find clarity and contentment.

Giselle Bernard Publisher

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Surge Homes is Rising in Houston’s Inner Loop

By Laurie Dent Wegman | Images Courtesy of Surge Homes

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T

here aren’t many residential real estate developers with enough vision and moxie to shake up the home building industry. Then again, there isn’t a home builder quite like Surge Homes.

The Houston-based firm is run by Louis Conrad and Ben Lemieux, two partners each with more than 25 years of experience in real estate development, management, and consulting. Surge Homes was named in memory of Lemieux’s father, Serge, who began investment in Houston real estate in 1989—a time when only a few people envisioned Houston’s forthcoming population growth. Serge did, and as such, began acquiring prime land for later development. His strategic real estate acquisitions continued through the ’90s and into 2000s, and during this Continued on page 10 05

Contingent Payment Clauses in Residential Construction

By Ian P. Faria & Jon Paul Hoelscher of Coats | Rose | Yale | Ryman | Lee, A Professional Corporation

Contingent Payment clauses, also known as “pay if paid” clauses, can be a powerful tool for the builder or general contractor. Subcontractors should be aware of these clauses as they can not only affect timing of payment and cash flow issues, but these contract provisions can often get in the way of asserting lien rights. Typically, the contingent payment provision provides that the builder/ general contractor will not have to pay its subcontractors until the builder is paid by the homeowner.

In 2007, the Texas Legislature passed legislation placing significant restrictions on a contractor’s (and other construction parties’) right to rely upon contingent payment clauses. These new laws also provided an avenue for those affected by contingent payment clauses to object to their use and enforcement. However these new protective laws were drafted so that they expressly did not apply to a contract solely for improvements to or the construction of a structure that is a detached single-family residence, duplex, triplex, or quadruplex.

Thus, the contingent payment clause is alive and well in residential construction.

Contingent payment clauses can be a powerful resource for the general contractor or builder since some homeowners can be less than reasonable in their demands and may refuse to pay the general contractor based on minor defects or project issues. In these situations, the contractor will want to rely upon a strong, enforceable contingent payment clause to avoid having to pay its subcontractors prior to receiving funds from the homeowner. For the contingent payment clause to be enforceable, the contractor must ensure the clause clearly makes payment from the owner an express condition precedent to payment by the contractor, thus explicitly shifting the risk of nonpayment by the owner to the subcontractor.

Subcontractors providing work under contracts that have contingent payment clauses should be mindful of what these provisions require. Depending on the wording of the contract, a contractor cannot rely upon the contract provision for longer than a reasonable time period. Also, 06

the contractor and subcontractor’s lien rights could be affected by reliance on a contingent payment provision.

For residential construction projects, the timing to serve lien notices is accelerated and waiting more than thirty days to be paid under a contingent payment clause could put the subcontractor in a bind to get the required notice of intent to file a lien sent to the homeowner and contractor. Thus, subcontractors need to keep these timetables in mind during their project to ensure they protect their rights by making timely demand for payment as well as timely notice of lien rights pursuant to statute.

Contract provisions must be drafted and read carefully to fully understand their effect and application under the law. As always, you should consult your contract and the various statutes applicable to residential construction projects to fully understand your rights and duties under the law and ensure that you make your payments or demands for payment timely.

Ian P. Faria is a Director with Coats Rose and a member of the firm’s Construction/Surety Law and Oil and Gas/Energy sections. Ian was selected as a Texas Super Lawyer in 2014 in Construction Law. This is an honor conferred upon only on 5% of the total lawyers in Texas (previously he was selected as a Texas Super Lawyer “Rising Star” in Construction Law in 2012 and 2013). He was also selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© 2014 and 2015 in the field of Construction Law. In 2015, he received the highest rating, AV Preeminent®, by Martindale-Hubbell® Law Directory.

This is Martindale-Hubbell’s highest possible rating for both ethical standards and legal ability.

Jon Paul Hoelscher is an Associate Attorney in the Houston office of Coats | Rose. He is a member of the Firm’s Construction and Litigation sections. He has been selected as a Texas Super Lawyer “Rising Star” for Construction Law by Texas Monthly since 2012, an honor conferred upon only 2.5% of the total lawyers in Texas. He also currently serves as Treasurer for the Houston Bar Association Construction Law Section.

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Distinct Design

The Secret Behind Surge Homes’ Unique Interior Design When it comes to sophisticated modern cabinetry, it is a known fact that Europeans dominate the world scene.

Tendances Concept, the leader in custom made kitchen and bathroom design in Canada’s second largest market, features one of the world’s most impressive collection of European-made kitchen and bathrooms cabinetries in its new home developments. Through an exclusive agreement with developer Surge Homes for the Greater Houston area, Tendances Concepts designs and imports will be available solely for Surge Homes homebuyers.

Tendances Concept offers the very latest products from Italy and Germany, presenting a variety of refined classic and modern designs, as well as cabinets built with exceptional precision machinery and modern materials.

These products feature world-class aesthetics, durability, and overall value.

The all-inclusive base finishing package of every Surge Homes residence features cabinets from these awardwinning Italian and German manufacturers – the same cabinets admired in international European kitchen and bath shows such as EuroCuccina in Milan and Interzum in Cologne.

For those looking for a more classic style, Surge Homes

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will also offer options that include Tendances Concept’s renowned wood cabinet collections.

An Array of Choices Curated through Crowdsourcing Surge Homes’ potential buyers reviewed 80 unique cabinet doors from Tendances Concepts, and then the best-of-the-best were selected for inclusion in the Surge Home special collection. These cabinets represent the materials, patterns, and colors that future Houston homeowners would want. The company also features dozens of different kitchen and bathroom designs, ranging from the most traditional to the most modern.

The choices that are offered have been curated from the thousands of visitors to SurgeHomes.com, who were invited to rate their preferences during the builder’s crowdsourcing campaign. Along with other interior finishes materials, visitors to Surge Homes Discovery Center were invited to select their favorite cabinet designs and materials. The feedback from online and inperson visitors allowed Surge Homes to discover trends in design, materials, and colors for interior finishes.

“We were surprised by the reaction of Houstonians towards the very latest European cabinets as we were told the city was very conservative when it comes to interior

design. We found that Houston is really ready for more cosmopolitan and international selections of fine designs.

Now that we have a clear idea of what Houstonians want, we will impress them with amazing exclusive designs.� says Denis Cadieux, president and founder of Tendances Concept.

The Design Details Tendances Concepts will use its large team of designers to design the actual kitchen and bathrooms of all singlefamily homes, condominiums, and townhouses developed

by Surge Homes. Tendances Concepts also offers professionally-designed packages with cabinets and coordinated wood floors, countertops, ceramic tiles, and backsplashes, which creates a harmonious and impressive combination of fine materials. These custom-made finish and design packages also integrate modern appliances.

selections prepared by Tendances Concept specifically for Surge Homes.

Innovative, elegant, and beautiful. These are the qualities Surge Homes buyers will find in their kitchen and bathroom designs and finishes. Thirty-five years of interior design experience, imports of world’s finest materials, and direct input of thousands of future homeowners—this is the way Tendances Concepts, with the help of Surge Homes, redefines true modern design.

The packages are functional and beautiful, and are also inspired by the preferences expressed by the thousands of people who participated in Surge Homes interactive development process with the community.

The contemporary elegance and sophistication of European cabinetry design has become a coveted style for future homeowners in the Bayou City. High-gloss, matte, wood grain, and full wood finishes are found in the

An example of the many interior design concepts created over the years by Tendances Concept.

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Continued from page 5

time, he scooped up dozens of apartment communities and tracks of land.

“Fifteen years ago, Louis and I worked with my family on three large residential master-planned communities around Montreal, Canada, as well as a condominium project in Poland. We also analyzed key cities in the U.S where real estate was booming,” Ben Lemieux explained.

“With this experience and knowledge, we agreed that Houston was going to become a booming market, regardless of the temporary fluctuations created by the price of oil.”

“I owe a lot to the Lemieux family, and to Ben in particular” adds Louis Conrad. “Without them, I would not have discovered Houston in time, and would not be able to get involved to this extent in one of America’s best real estate markets. I remember the year 2000 as if it was yesterday: Ben asked me to stop by Houston to look at properties for sale. At the time, Houston had virtually no traffic congestion, residential development was almost entirely composed of single-family homes, and many Inner Loop areas like Midtown were far from being the popular places to live as they are today. Nonetheless, Ben and I called Serge from Houston regarding a track of land that we wanted to put under contract. We told

“We created and showed new architectural ideas that are better suited for today’s dense developments....”

Louis Conrad and Ben Lemieux Surge Homes partners.

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Serge that we believed one day, Houston’s traffic would become painful, the inner city more dynamic, and dense construction like attached townhomes and condominiums of all prices would be in high demand inside the Loop.

Serge gave us the go ahead over the phone.”

Four years after they purchased that piece of land, the duo bought a total of five Inner Loop properties for shortterm development, and the Lemieux family continued their acquisition strategy for future developments.

In 2015, after developing four condominium properties in the city, Ben acquired nine prime land tracks from his family, which he would use to build innovative urban residences with Surge Homes. Lemieux partnered again with his long-time friend and colleague, Conrad.

“Predicting years ahead where people will want to live allows a developer to offer prime sites in well-established neighborhoods at competitive prices. This is what Surge Homes is offering today.” Lemieux said. “However, when you purchase land at times when every developer knows where the prime areas in town are, you often have to build in more fringe and upcoming areas in order to keep the prices of your homes reasonable. This didn’t happen to Surge Homes.”

Because of the forward-looking vision, Surge Homes features a mix of nine established locations in hotspots such as Upper Kirby, Midtown, The Heights, Museum District, and Spring Branch East.

Paving the Way with Breakthrough Designs In order to offer superior value in the marketplace,

acquiring the right land at the right time is an important part of the formula—but it isn’t all of it. A developer must also build the right homes. An even better scenario is to create innovative products that the market wants but can’t find. Armed with this knowledge, the partners of Surge Homes invested significant resources in the firstever interactive campaign based on crowdsourcing. The developers proposed 10 new communities, and asked the community to dictate exactly what would get built.

“We could have decided what product to offer on each site based on what sells in the market, what the comps revealed, and previous sales—as our industry often does.

But we don’t think this is how a builder comes up with true innovation. We believe one has to invest in research and development, and bring forth new home types, floor plans, and interior finishes,” Conrad explained. “We created and showed new architectural ideas that are better suited for today’s dense developments and quest for affordability in good locations. We also presented more traditional homes and finishes. Then, we humbly listened to our future homebuyers and the community before making the final decisions.”

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“We are glad we invested in research because Houston is more advanced than many believe....�

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Surge Homes’ crowdsourcing campaign was carried out through many digital forums, in-person events, and oneon-one discussions so that prospective buyers, neighbors, and community members could provide feedback.

Nearly 3,500 Houstonians gave their input. The most interested homebuyers purchased VIP Certificates, which secures their right to select a particular home first when it comes up for sale. The media and blog sites in the city followed the process with interest. Houston Business Journal, in one of its many articles covering Surge Homes communities, qualified the process as “innovative” and “unique,” while a national construction publication asked whether Surge Homes’ crowdsourcing approach might represent “The future of home design?”

Next, the designers and architects adapted the communities and created blueprints and renderings based on the selections of future homebuyers for each site. The designs were released on the Surge Homes website, social media, and via The Surge Factor, the developer’s monthly e-newsletter. This is how nine Surge Homes communities serving a wide array of needs were created and how the

developer is able today to offer single-family homes, townhomes, and condominiums at price points ranging from $150,000 to $1.5M. With the publicity, media attention, and cross-channel representation, Surge Homes has quickly earned a name as one of Houston’s most ingenious home builders.

“Before we got the feedback from the community, many industry experts told us that our most innovative floor plans, exterior design, and interior finishes were too much ahead of the curve for Houston,” Ben Lemieux said. “We are glad we invested in research because Houston is more advanced than many believe. Classic urban residences are still in demand, and while we offer them, the most innovative homes and finishes are the most popular.”

Building In-house for Ultimate Quality Control Building in desirable, established locations with residences that reflect buyers’ needs is great, but the magic really happens when a perfect product is delivered

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to homebuyers. This is why Surge Homes teamed up with David Modlin, a 26-year real estate veteran who has been named Vice President of Development and Construction.

Born and raised in Houston, Modlin knows the local building industry inside out. He has contributed to the construction of more than 3,000 homes in the area during his tenure as Operations Manager or Division President for national builders such as Lennar Homes and Meritage Homes. More recently, as the Owner and President of Modlin Custom Homes, he has built prestigious luxury homes in The Woodlands area.

“David has a proven track record of exceptional quality control” Conrad said. “We are the developer and builder because we want to ensure detail-oriented work, from site acquisition and planning to construction, delivery, and customer service. It’s the Surge Homes way. Our homes are where quality meets design.”

For more information on Surge Homes visit www.surgehomes.com or call (832) 509-2222 David Modlin, V.P. of Development & Construction, in front of one of the many homes he built prior to joining Surge Homes.

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The Relentless Pursuit of Perfection

By Burk Moreland

“The relentless pursuit of perfection.” This five-word Lexus slogan is such a powerful statement that sums up the mindset of some of the greatest companies out there.

Sometimes the pursuit of perfection is really the difference between a good organization and an amazing one. How hard are you willing to push to get there?

What things are you willing to sacrifice in order to achieve your goal?

One of the biggest stumbling blocks I see in companies is their own people. Oddly, their greatest asset becomes their largest and heaviest anchor. It is where the principles from the book Top Grading by Bradford D. Smart, Ph.D., can really show their merits and allow a company to get to the next level. Learning the principles is the easy part; implementing them is the much more difficult task.

The general idea of Top Grading is that managers and leaders should be in a constant state of evaluation of their team and its members. The first step is a force ranking. If you have a team of 10 people, you must rank those individuals 1-10 based on performance value to the company. There are no ties or any other version of that.

Only 1, 2, 3 and so on. Once ranked, you look at your bottom 20 percent or two in this case. Why are these individuals on the bottom? What about their performance is causing them to be this low on the list?

Next, you must ask yourself the question, “What do they need to do in order to become a higher performing team member?” Your duty to the stakeholders in your company is to maximize the performance of whoever you are in charge of. Your job is to help them improve or replace them. They need to be moving up the list or you should be searching for someone who can perform better.

I am sure this sounds harsh to some of you, and it is obviously easier said than done. However, when it comes down to it, this system is how you build the highest of performing teams. If everyone knows you are serious

about performance and will not tolerate lackadaisical attitudes, how seriously will they take their jobs?

Why does performance go up right before a deadline?

Many times because people are inefficient with their time leading up to the deadline. I am not saying we instantly fire anyone who doesn’t measure up, but what I am saying is we need to keep this principle in mind as we evaluate our team and its players.

Most teams are subject to the Prato Principle (the 80/20 rule): 20 percent of your people are top performers; they carry the other 80 percent. What if the ratio was reversed?

What if 80 percent of your team were top performers?

How much more production would you have?

How motivating would it be to your top performers to know that you are committed as the leader to driving toward “the relentless pursuit of perfection”? Many times the opposite is present. Have you ever fired a team member and the team’s reaction was “About time”? Top performers want to “soar with eagles” vs “hang out with turkeys.”

What species is on your team? Are you fostering a team where everyone knows exceptional performance is not optional? Do they hold each other accountable to a standard that is above most? Or does everyone accept mediocrity? Like it or not, that culture comes from you.

With rank comes great rewards, but rank also comes with great responsibility.

For help driving your team and its results, contact me today. The results you want are out there; let me help you find them.

For help on this or a variety of other topics, please contact Burk Moreland to schedule a free consultation on how he can help your business get over the hurdles and stumbling blocks it is currently facing. For more information, visit www.burkmoreland.com or e-mail burk@rainmakerbuilders.com.

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J. Thomas Garage Doors Crafts Distinctive Doors I

By Kathy Bowen Stolz

Photo by Responsible Printing

Elegant. Sophisticated. Warm. When these words are used to describe a garage door, you know it’s a distinctive door.

J. Thomas Garage Doors, a family-owned business with a 40-year history of creating garage doors, specializes in manufacturing beautiful garage and carriage house doors.

The doors are meticulously handcrafted to the builders’ or owners’ specifications and are made from the finest materials. J. Thomas Garage Doors has a door to suit every design style, according to its owner, John Thomas.

choose cypress, redwood or mahogany, other woods which can withstand the demands of Houston’s climate.

Thomas said his company installs 1,200 doors in a typical year in both insulated and non-insulated styles and standard and non-standard sizes; the company is able to build a door to fit any size or design. Prices range from the economical to those associated with high-end craftsmanship.

In addition to the hundreds of design possibilities from its standard design collections, Thomas Garage Door can handcraft a one-of-a-kind design that meets the homeowners’ architectural preferences. These wooden doors become the focal point of many of the homes they grace, alerting passersby that the builders and homeowners take extra care to make their homes distinctive.

The company uses modern steel doors from CHI for strength and durability but covers them most frequently in smooth or rough cedar, which may be stained or painted to match the home’s decor. Some customers 16

Croix Custom Homes Photography by TK Images

Its clients are usually custom builders. Most doors take only 7-10 days to deliver after the order is placed, thanks to the company’s eight employees.

One of those employees is Sam Basile, grandson of John Thomas. Sam said he has worked full-time for the company since 2008 after getting his start as a summer intern. (A 16-year-old cousin, Alex Jernigan, worked as a summer intern this year.)

Photo by Responsible Printing

Sam found he liked working with his hands and liked working with garage doors, especially building custom doors. Certainly he was very familiar with garage doors, learning about them “since I could walk� from both his grandfather and his father, who makes and distributes garage doors himself. A late uncle was also involved in the business.

At age 29 Sam runs the manufacturing shop. He also enjoys making custom shutters and sees shutters as a possible business opportunity. He oversees two employees, talks to customers and works on the computers, tasks which his maternal grandfather is happy to delegate.

Croix Custom Homes Photography by TK Images

Continued on page 19

Croix Custom Homes Photography by TK Images 17

Houston Housing Picture Bohlke Consulting Group, LLC Monthly housing permits filed by builders in the Houston Area.

Monthly Housing Permits 3,000 2,500 2,000 1,500 1,000 500

2 De 014 c.

20 Ja 14 n.

20 Feb 15 .2 0 MA 15 R. Ap 2015 r.

20 Ma 15 y.

2 Ju 015 ne Ju 2015 ly 2 Au 015 g.

20 15

14

V.

NO

T.

20

14 20

OC

SE

P.

20

14

0

G.

2,763 2,891 2,874 2,405 2,439 2,641 2,624 2,960 3,229 2,847 3,085 2,735 2,392 -13.4%

AU

Aug 2014 Sep 2014 Oct 2014 Nov 2014 Dec 2014 Jan 2015 Feb 2015 Mar 2015 Apr 2015 May 2015 June 2015 July 2015 Aug 2015 Aug 14 v. Aug 15

GRAND TOTAL

34,141

33,122

ANNUAL % CHANGE -3.0%

Central

6,093

5,879

-3.5%

-

-

Far North

4,318

3,887

-10.0%

-

-

Northeast

3,320

3,425

3.2%

-

-

Northwest

4,284

4,267

-0.4%

-

-

South

2,086

2,179

-4.5%

-

-

Southeast

1,450

1,392

-4.0%

-

-

Southwest

4,063

4,041

-0.5%

-

-

West Northwest

3,296

3,759

14.0%

-

-

West Southwest

5,223

4,277

-18.1%

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

MARKET

-

Sep 13 -Aug 14

Sep 14 - Aug 15

-

-

Monthly permit activity shows a 13.4% decrease between August 2014 and August 2015. On a rolling 12 month basis, the August total of 33,122 is down 1,019 permits from 34,141 units compared to the same time period a year ago. This equates to a rolling percentage change of -3.0%.

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Continued from page 17

His grandfather told Sam he could give himself whatever title he wanted, but the title wouldn’t change his pay.

“King of the World” was an option that Sam declined, choosing vice president instead. Sam expects to take over the family business after John Thomas “makes his millions,” which is a family joke, Sam said.

But don’t look for John to leave the business soon.

Thomas retired once but got bored and returned to work to start the carriage house door operation about 11 years ago, Sam said. John likes the challenge of difficult projects but doesn’t like the stress of short lead times.

Modestly, he said his role in the company is to measure and to interact with customers.

Greater Houston Builders Association.

Although he enjoys playing golf and his grandchildren, John said his plans for the next five years include building the business for his family. (Sam noted that he has a bunch of younger brothers and some cousins who may choose to work at J. Thomas Garage Doors.) With another generation involved, this family-owned business will stay in business for a long time!

You may contact J. Thomas Garage Doors at P.O. Box 2834, Cypress, TX 77410 or by calling 713-725-8787 or by e-mailing jthomasdoor@hotmail.com. Its website is www.jthomasdoor.com.

Thomas began to sell steel garage doors 40 years ago after the Ohio steel mill where he worked shut down. He used his knowledge of steel and construction to start a new career, focusing on the Houston area where housing was booming. At first he manufactured the doors in the north and took them down to Houston, but eventually he and his whole family moved south. He and his wife Karen have been married 55 years.

J. Thomas Garage Doors survived the economic slowdown because it had no debt, Thomas said. Most of its business comes from builders although some referrals come from homeowners. It also advertises with the

Photo by Responsible Printing

Photo by Responsible Printing 19

Greenbuild, NAHB Announce New Strategic Partnership Informa Exhibitions and the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) are pleased to announce a new, strategic partnership for 2015. NAHB has signed on to become one of three Greenbuild Top Tier Partners for 2015, in addition to the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA).

Greenbuild will feature a variety of residential offerings at the 2015 event, inclusive of a residential product pavilion; a LEED v4 Platinum, net zero electricity demonstration home on the show floor; and an extensive educational track. The residential track has increased to 15 sessions focused on both multi-family and singlefamily that runs Nov. 18-20 at the conference. Thursday, Nov. 19, is the primary residential day with 12 sessions taking place in three different time slots.

“Greenbuild has historically featured a small residential contingency, and this is the time to expand our offerings to keep apprised of marketplace demands. NAHB is the perfect partner to provide additional support in this critical sector,” stated Lindsay Roberts, Greenbuild show director. “Their commitment to sustainable residential building is evident in their support of Greenbuild.

Informa Exhibitions has a strong existing relationship with NAHB, and we look forward to a mutually successful partnership.”

“NAHB has long been an advocate of sustainable, highperformance building and remodeling, and Greenbuild is a perfect venue for us to continue educating the industry about the importance of building green,” said NAHB Chairman Tom Woods, a home builder and developer from Blue Springs, Mo. “We are excited about this new opportunity, and look forward to helping build up the residential green building presence at Greenbuild.”

Greenbuild, owned and operated by Informa Exhibitions U.S., Construction & Real Estate and presented by the U.S. Green Building Council, is the world’s largest conference and expo dedicated to green building. The three-day conference attracts 20,000+ attendees and 600 exhibitors annually from across the green building sector, spanning commercial and residential professionals, architects, building owners and operators, students, advocates and educators. This year’s conference will take place at the Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C. from Nov. 18-20.

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Trey Magee

South Texas Brick & Stone, LLC cell (713) 299-8893 office (281) 759-3100 fax (281) 759-3101 tmagee8@comcast.net

14110 Katy Freeway Houston, Texas 77079-1032 Showroom 8715 A Katy Freeway

www.SouthTexasBrick.com

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The Metropolitan Builder 5161 San Felipe Street #320 Houston, Texas 77056