TEXAS NOV/DEC 2020 BOFFICIAL PUBLICATIONuilder OF THE TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF BUILDERS 10 22 26 Consumer Demand: Remembering Texas 2020 TAB A Focused Approach Housing Hall of Voter Guide Honor Inductee Ron Connally Table OF CONTENTS FEATURES 10 22 26 Consumer Demand: Remembering Texas TAB Voter Guide A Focused Approach Housing Hall of Honor 2020 Texas General Election The COVID-19 crisis has changed Early Voting: Oct. 13 – Oct. 30 Inductee Ron Connally General Election: Nov. 3 the way we work, learn and play. Ron Connally was a skilled remodeler, We’re looking to make the most of but more importantly, a mentor, devoted our time at home, and it looks like husband and dedicated father. the trend is here to stay. By Victoria Luing By Kristin Allman 07 08 16 20 President's Executive Member Profile Legal Opinion Commentary Director's Message Driven to Succeed: Megan Kiella’s The Case for Vision for the Future Escalation Clauses 25 32 35 37 Government Relations Speaking Out On Council Featured Project Elections and Their Consequences Trey Martinez Fischer, Designers Addressing Workplace Pioneering the Future Texas State Representative Challenges on Two Fronts of Planned Communities 116th District 2020 TAB TITLE SPONSORS Cover photo courtesy of Leonid Furmansky Photography, leonidfurmansky.com TexasBuilders.org 5 Leadership 2020 TAB SENIOR OFFICERS TEXAS ASSOCIATION BUILDERS Randy Bowling Susan Wright PUBLISHED FOR President Vice President/Secretary Texas Association of Builders EL PASO SAN ANTONIO 313 East 12th Street, Suite 210 Austin, TX 78701 p. 512.476.6346 f. 512.476.6427 www.TexasBuilders.org Brett Martin Robert Wood Treasurer Immediate Past President TAB EDITOR LAYOUT & DESIGN HOUSTON LUBBOCK Debbie Davis Jeremy Davis MANAGERS PROOFREADER Caleb Tindal Kristin Allman TAB STAFF Kayla Grams Scott Norman Blair Kirkpatrick Executive Director Administrative Assistant [email protected] [email protected] Mary Castetter Sloan Landre Senior VP of Administration Executive Administrative Assistant [email protected] [email protected] PUBLISHED BY Ned Muñoz E&M Consulting, Inc. Angelica Stehling, CMP p. 800.572.0011 VP of Regulatory Affairs Director of Events & Partnerships www.EMConsultingInc.com & General Counsel [email protected] [email protected] Lorraine Urey For information regarding advertising, Debbie Davis please email [email protected] Director of Communications Director of Member Services or call 800.572.0011 ext. 8005. & Marketing [email protected] [email protected] Tamara Zengerle PLEASE NOTE: Editorial and contents of Fay Eakin Director of Information Systems this magazine reflect the records of the Texas Operations Manager & Trade Show Operations Association of Builders (TAB). TAB has done its [email protected] [email protected] best to provide useful and accurate informa- tion, but please take into account that some J.D. Hale information does change. 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Check it out at: texasbuilders.org/news 10 22 26 Wrapped in Life and Consumer Demand: 2020 TAB Love: Remembering A Focused Approach Voter Guide Ron Connally 6 Texas Association of Builders Nov/Dec 2020 Randy Bowling, TAB President President’s COMMENTARY An Unexpected Year…. Y THE TIME this issue hits your so that single-family and multifamily going to be vital that we get all tariffs mailboxes we will be just a few construction would be deemed as an on lumber suspended until U.S. lumber Bshort weeks away from our first “essential infrastructure business.” companies are operating at 100%. in-person meeting of the year. I am already Higher lumber prices are adding about looking forward to seeing so many of my Because our doors were allowed to stay $16,000 to the cost of a new house. close friends and colleagues at the JW open, the housing market has flourished Therefore, it is vital that we participate Marriott in Austin on November 12 – 13. despite the nationwide pandemic. My in all of NAHB’s and TAB’s calls to ac- business has been extremely busy over tion to get lumber prices under control. This will also be my last column as the last few months and surrounding President of the Texas Association of homes have not stayed on the market Even with lumber prices up, I’m proud Builders (TAB). It hasn’t been the year very long. I fully expect El Paso and the that housing has emerged as the bright- I expected or was looking forward to, state of Texas to continue to be a hot est spot in the economy — a turnabout but it has been a year of personal and real estate market into next year. from the Great Recession of 2008 when professional growth. the housing sector took a beating. Through all of this, the housing industry This pandemic has brought me closer has stood strong and been the backbone As I wrap up my year as president, I to my wife, my kids and my El Paso of our nation’s economic recovery. The will continue to strive to keep housing family. At home, we’ve learned what economy is picking back up, live sports affordable, and help members build better Zoom was and how to adapt to online are returning and in-person meetings homes and stronger businesses. It has learning. But, thankfully, our kids are are starting to happen again. been my honor to be a part of TAB’s Se- returning to school and finally get- nior Leadership team and the residential ting to see their friends, and my wife The pandemic has forced mortgage rates construction industry during these chal- has returned to teaching her Zumba to nearly an all-time low (3% or less), al- lenging times. Even though this past year classes. El Paso has begun to rebound lowing homebuyers to buy and builders to wasn’t anything like what I anticipated, it from weeks of sheltering-in-place and build as fast as we can. Buyers are taking was a pleasure serving our membership. businesses being closed. Although it advantage of this opportunity as home has been a difficult time for my family sales nationwide jumped 20.7% from I invite everyone to join me in Austin and my community, I am proud that we May to June, and 24.7% from June to July, as I install Susan Wright as the 2021 came together to support one another. which are the largest monthly increases and first female President of the Texas on record, according to an August 21 Na- Association of Builders at our Board of Professionally, I have worked with TAB tional Association of Realtors (NAR) re- Directors meeting on November 13. staff and senior leadership to deliv- port. The NAR also reported that as home er value to our members especially sales have been increasing, total housing Finally, I want to thank the TAB staff for during these unprecedented times of inventory is low. This increased demand all the work, planning and re-planning COVID-19. The biggest and most valu- coupled with the diminishing inventory is they put into this year. The countless able service TAB provided was reducing having a positive effect on our industry. hours, flexibility and adaptability were and, in some cases, eliminating dis- greatly appreciated. If it wasn’t for them, ruption to the residential construction On the other hand, one concern every this year would have been much different. industry and to members’ businesses homebuilder has right now is the rising Thank you. I also want to thank my wife, during this pandemic. TAB was at the cost of lumber. For many of us to contin- Paige, my kids and my business partners forefront of all housing calls to action ue to build affordable homes at the rate for their unconditional support. to the governor and our elected officials necessary to keep up with demand, it is TexasBuilders.org 7 Executive Director’s MESSAGE M. Scott Norman, TAB Executive Director 74 Years and Counting… TAB Working Hard to Make Texas a Place to Call “Home” S 2020 COMES TO a close, – and like you, none of us are very happy state agencies, lobbyists and others that it is hard to believe all of the about it! are engaged in the legislative process. Aunprecedented events occurring TAB’s presence in the legislative arena simultaneously. From the global COVID-19 Some of the highlights of our work this ensures that our members have a voice pandemic and its serious health concerns year include working tirelessly with nu- where it counts when decisions affect- to the resulting economic collapse in merous industry stakeholders and Gover- ing the future of your business and the many sectors of our economy. In addition, nor Abbott to ensure that residential con- future affordability of Texas housing are our state and nation have seen the racial struction was maintained as an essential being considered. justice issues and resulting riots in some of business across the state. This allowed all our cities and a very contentious political homebuilders and the related suppliers/ One of the ways we maintain our very environment surrounding the presidential trades and associate businesses to keep effective advocacy process is through election that have all combined to make their doors open when other industries HOMEPAC, the non-profit political action it a year unlike any in memory.