July/August 2019 Texas Builder Magazine
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF BUILDERS JULY/AUG 2019 10 America’s Front Porch Travels to SXSW and the Skill-Up Festival. Sunbelt Builders ShowTM Insert 2019 Show features Vanilla Ice as the opening keynote speaker at the Gaylord Texan in Grapevine FEATURES 10 06 18 29 America’s Front Porch President's Speaking Out Member Profile Travels to SXSW and the Skill-Up Festival Commentary Garnet F. Coleman Lance Price, State Rep. for District 147 Westwind Homes TM 08 Sunbelt Builders Show Insert Executive 22 32 Play, Explore and Learn during the Director's Message HOMEPAC On Council 2019 Show hosted at the Gaylord Eyes on Engagement The CRG: Protecting Texan on August 6-9 in Grapevine 16 Consumers and Builders Alike Government Relations 24 The End: Legislative Session Featured Project 35 is in its Final Stages Timeless Texas: Texas Hill Lonestar Newsmakers County Reclaimed Retreat 2019 TAB Title Sponsors Published for DIRECTOR of PUBLISHING To submit editorial or request Published by Texas Association of Builders Krystie Dovenmuehler information contact Debbie Davis E&M Consulting, Inc. 313 East 12th Street, Suite #210 at [email protected] 1107 Hazeltine Boulevard, Austin, TX 78701 DESIGN MANAGER or 512.476.6346 Suite #350 p. 512.476.6346 Jeremy Davis Chaska, MN 55318 f. 512.476.6427 LAYOUT & DESIGN For information p. 800.572.0011 www.TexasBuilders.org Collin Clyne regarding advertising f. 952.448.9928 please contact Marc Lucia www.EMConsultingInc.com TAB EDITOR SALES MANAGER at 800.572.0011 or Debbie Davis Marc Lucia [email protected] Please note: Editorial and contents of this magazine reflect the records of the Texas Association of Builders (TAB). TAB has done its best to provide useful and accurate information, but please take into account that some information does change. E&M Consulting, Inc., publishers and TAB take no responsibility for the accuracy of the information printed, inadvertent omissions, printing errors, nor do they endorse products and services. We take no responsibility regarding representations or warranties concerning the content of advertisements of products/services for a particular use, including all information, graphics, copyrighted materials, and assertions included in the advertisements. The reader is advised to independently check all information before basing decisions on such information. President’s Commentary Family Vacation with Industry Education of vendors with new products that are being highlighted. For an old builder like 2019 TAB Senior Officers myself, I use Sunbelt as a way to bring fresh President ideas into my business and keep up with Robert Wood, Custom Homes by Robert Wood current trends. I can bounce ideas off of Lubbock, Texas those that aren’t the same people I work First Vice President with on a daily basis in Lubbock and I can Randy Bowling, Tropicana Homes receive a fresh look at the housing industry. El Paso, Texas As a young professional new to this event, Vice President/Secretary Sunbelt is an excellent way to not only see Michael Biggerstaff, Biggerstaff Homes, Inc. the new ideas going on in the industry, San Angelo, Texas but also to participate in those seminars Treasurer that include sessions on how to run your Brett Martin, Tilson Home Corporation Houston, Texas business, the finances of your business, Immediate Past President and more. Sunbelt is perfect for a vacation Robert Wood Justin MacDonald, MacDonald Companies, Inc. with education! Kerrville, Texas t’s hard to believe summer is already Speaking of vacation, Sunbelt is meant to here and Sunbelt is fast approaching. be a family affair. This year we are bringing Personally, I always look forward to it back to the Gaylord Texan in Grapevine. Finally, on a somber note, I wish to this event as a great way to network, Both the Gaylord Texan and the City of acknowledge the untimely passing of Idiscover the latest trends, and show off my Grapevine are filled with family-oriented one of our own, Dan Markson. Dan was skills at washer pitching at the FUNdango activities for kids and significant others a member of the Greater San Antonio tournament. Even if you didn’t advance to enjoy while you are going through the Builders Association, as well as the from your local association’s washers show floor or sitting in a seminar. We also co-founder and Executive Vice President of contest, there is still an opportunity to buy have planned plenty of free time for you to Development of The NRP Group. He served your way in and compete. join your family for some down time at the on numerous committees including the pool, and this could be a great opportunity Federal Government Affairs and Housing Everyone is excited for our opening for you to meet other builder families and Finance Committees of the NAHB, TAB speaker, Robert Van Winkle, more widely connect with them. Multifamily Council, NAHB Housing recognized as the rapper Vanilla Ice and Credit Group, NAHB Multifamily Finance star of the DIY Network show, “The Vanilla The month of May was a good month for Sub-Committee, and was a director and Ice Project.” The native Texan will be giving retention in our membership both at the president of the Texas Association of us the welcoming words to open the state and local levels. We were really proud of Affordable Housing Providers. show, sing a few of his top songs and will the numbers we were able to retain in May then be down on the show floor to mingle and a number of local chapters reported Dan also served as the national director of with everyone. So, be sure to look for him high retention numbers. Going into the the National Association of Home Builders and say hello. summer, those are incredibly important as for the Greater San Antonio Builders these warmer months are typically where Association and state director of the Texas The Builders’ Bash on Wednesday is hosted we will see a dip in membership. I want to Association of Builders. Last year he was by the Young Professionals Council and again praise those local chapters that have featured in the March/April edition of Texas the proceeds for the event are going to done an exceptional job at keeping their Builder as the feature project for his Star our very own Texas Builders Foundation, members engaged through various events. Award-winning Flats at Big Tex project. with The Bellamy Brothers headlining. It’s Their hard work only increases awareness going to be a night full of fun and great for our industry, and we would not be I want to personally extend my heartfelt music and I’d like to thank the YP Council the force we are without their dedication. sympathy and prayers to Dan’s young son, for picking the Texas Builders Foundation as In September we will hold a statewide as well as those who were close to him and their charity again this year. We have several member drive, so be ready for some friendly worked with him. He was a stellar member educational seminars going on throughout competition between local HBAs for even of the industry and his community, and the two-day event and an amazing variety higher membership numbers. will be sorely missed. 6 Texas Association of Builders July/August 2019 Executive Director’s Message A Quick Take on a Lot of Happenings Come dressed for a tropical setting and, presenter, NAHB’s Senior Vice President and yes, there will be a prize for best costume. Chief Economist Robert Dietz will share with us The FUNdango will also host the 6th Annual the latest economic housing news and trends. Statewide Washers Championship. If you were not a winner of your local HBA’s tournament, The Builders’ Bash, hosted by the Young you can still play in the buy-in tourney. This Professionals Council and benefiting the Texas is one of our most popular yearly events and Builders Foundation, will be held Wednesday a great fundraiser for our PAC. The photos night. Headlining the event will be The Bellamy of our costumed players may generate the Brothers. Howard and David have long been most likes and shares we’ve seen to date on entertaining fans with their unique brand of social media! music and are celebrating 40 years of success. The opening act is Lee Mathis and the Brutally The governance of our association is also an Handsome. On the scene for only a few years, M. Scott Norman, Jr. important component of the week’s activities, longtime friends Lee Mathis and Philip Griffith so please plan to attend the committee have been showing up at venues across East meetings that will be held each morning Texas spreading the gospel of good, old- s I write this column, the Regular throughout the week and conclude with school, honky-tonk music. This will be a night Session of the 86th Texas Legislature the board of directors meeting on Friday. to remember that will benefit a great cause! adjourns sine die in eight days on May It is important that the TAB staff receives The prestigious Star Awards will be presented 27. Government Relations Commit- direction from the membership so that we on Thursday night. A record number of Atee Chair Susan Wright’s column on page 16 can continue to ensure that the association entries were received this year, and the brings you a little insight on where we stand is providing you with what you need to keep ceremony will showcase the outstanding with one week left in the session. A lot will your business moving forward and to ensure work of homebuilders, remodelers, happen in that time period, and although we that our industry remains an economic driver architects, designers, sales and marketing will keep you updated weekly through TAB’s while providing housing as affordably as professionals, and industry leaders.