What we're up to...


GHBA 3nd Quarter Report Card—2011 The GHBA staff is always busy looking for ways to improve members services, advocacy and education. Following is a quick look at what the association has been up to over the last three months.


Benefit Homes • Received $250,000 donation from the Westin Homes / Land Tejas Development Benefit Home in Discovery at Spring Trails. Checks in the amount of $58,850 were presented to the three Benefit Homes charities, HomeAid Houston, The Alzheimer’s Association and Texas Children’s Cancer Center.


• Newmark Homes broke the 31-year old record for net proceeds from a Benefit Home with the sale of their Benefit Home in Towne Lake. The team of Newmark Homes and Caldwell Companies presented the GHBA a check for $296,250. Checks in the amount of $70,012.50 were presented to each Benefit Home charity.


• David Weekley homes sold its Benefit Home in Bridgeland in late September and the team of David Weekley Homes and The Howard Hughes Corporation – Bridgeland, LP will present the three Benefit Homes charities with checks over $46,000 each.


• In total, the GHBA Benefit Homes Project has given more than half a million dollars to our three charities in 2011.


Membership • GHBA added nearly 300 new members in 2011, and renewed more than 900 members.


Events • GHBA’s premiere event, the Houston’s Best Awards Gala was held at the Hotel InterContinental on September 24. With


more than 400 entries, this sold-out event was an overwhelming success. Entries were judged by 17 independent industry professionals from around the country.


• August SMC Networking event was held at the Tasting Room in City Center and honored the Houston’s Best sponsors and members who entered this year’s awards competition. Over 100 members and guests attended.


Councils and Committees


Remodelors Council • The Remodelors Council (RMC) July monthly luncheon featured a panel of the council’s interior designers who shared their expertise and insight into new kitchen trends.


• The August luncheon gave guests insight on how the DISC personality styles indicator can be used to increase sales close rate.


• On August 20, RMC members donated their time to provide SIRE Therapeutic Equestrian Center with much-needed remodeling to classroom spaces. Improvements on the two buildings included new window installation, new floors, new paint interior/exterior, new ceiling tiles, new A/C and replacing the fluorescent lighting with LED lighting.


• On August 23, more than 100 RMC members visited By Design Interior’s showroom for the monthly networking event. Featured chefs created customized pasta selections and a huge box of “dress up” costumes and props were part of the evening. • The 4th annual RMC Charity Garage Sale took place on September 17 and 18, raising more than $18,000 to fund future RMC charity projects thanks to the generosity of GHBA members who donated product for the sale and the hard work of the RMC volunteers who organized and worked the garage sale. • State Representative Charlie Howard was featured at the September council luncheon. • Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery closed out the month by hosting yet another of their phenomenally successful networking events on September 27.


ghba.org/houstonsbest


Custom Builders Council • In August, the Custom Builders Council (CBC) welcomed internationally- recognized real estate expert Ted


Jones, PhD, senior vice president and chief economist for Stewart Title Guaranty Company and director of investor relations for Stewart Information Services Company to their monthly luncheon


• The September CBC luncheon focused on air sealing and insulating residential buildings and featured Dave Wolf, PhD, senior R&D


program leader for Owens Corning. Montgomery County Builders and


Developers Division • In August, the MCBDD welcomed its members back from summer break with a networking event at Los Cucos – Shenandoah.


• The biggest news for our Montgomery County group was the incredible success of the council's first-ever golf tournament. Held September 23 at Woodforest Golf Club, more than 100 golfers came out to support the division and enjoyed the perfect weather! We are looking forward to next year’s tournament.


Associate Council • Held first networking event in July at Ruby Tequila’s with 45 people in attendance.


Education • 16 people attended the class for the Certified Green Building Professional Designation.


• Held a Legal/Legislative Update seminar with 40 people in attendance.


• Offered Energy Star Guidelines for Insulators seminar with 35 in attendance.


• Brought back the ABCs of Framing seminar with 26 people in attendance.


• Held the Residential Foundations Soils and Materials testing seminar with 37 members in attendance.


Government Affairs • The summer has not seen a lot of action for government affairs. Sometimes that is good; sometimes not.


• At the local level, members continue to work with the City of Houston to extend the “urban” boundary, as defined in Chapter 42 of the Development Ordinances, from 610 to Beltway 8. This change will make development and redevelopment of vast amounts of property more affordable. Other changes concern parking in townhome developments.


• GHBA member Ed Taravella was appointed to 26 NOVEMBER 2011 | HOUSTON BUILDER | GREATER HOUSTON BUILDERS ASSOCIATION – BUILDING A BETTER FUTURE


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