CONTENTS Builder HOUSTON
The Official Magazine of the Greater Houston Builders Association September 2012|Volume 25|Number 9
FEATURES 6 President’s Message: Benefit Homes Benefit Charities... and the GHBA 8 Government Affairs Update: Advocacy Report
12 Fix Your Balance Sheet 15 Healthcare Reform 18 Benefit Homes Update
Local advocacy update, including new Harris County regulations governing metal recycling, Chapter 42, and upcoming Legislative Rally Day.
It's time to take a hard look at how you will position your company for the upturn. Medical Loss Ratio Rebates and what they mean for your company. Chesmar sells Benefit Home to family with Texas Children's Hospital connection. 24 Partner with GHBA. It's a Good Move. Find out why you should join the elite ranks of "GHBA Partner" in 2013. 26 Beyond Brand Name: How to Get Contractors to Adopt New Products
B2B research offers insights on how to accelerate the path to purchase, even with brand loyalists.
28 "Take a Minute" for HomeAid Houston News 36 Recruit and Win!
The winner of HomeAid Houston's Project Playhouse was drawn at Minute Maid Park in August.
Bring a non-member guest to the Associate Council, Remodelors Council, Custom Builders Council or Bay Area Builders Association luncheons now through October, and you'll be entered into a drawing for a $50 gift card. If your guest joins the association before October 31, you could win an iPad3!
Greater Houston Builders Association Mission To provide advocacy, education, and meaningful services to benefit its members and the housing industry.
www.ghba.org
9511 West Sam Houston Pkwy North, Houston, TX 77064 (281) 970-8970 phone; (281) 970-8971 fax
Explore how the 33-year-old Benefit Homes Project works, and the symbiotic relationship between the builders, developers, trades, charities and the association.
Cover photo courtesy of Morning Star Builders. Interior design by Cindy Aplanalp, By Design Interiors and David Patterson, DWP Architects. Read more about this award-winning bath- room design on page 20. PHOTO: Kolanowski Studio
Departments 6 President’s Message 8 Government Affairs 20 People & Projects 27 HOME-PAC Roster 30 Education Calendar 32 New Members & Renewals 33 New Member Profiles 37 Associate Council 38 Sales & Marketing Council 38 Housing Activity Survey 40 Remodelors Council 42 Bay Area Builders Association 43 Custom Builders Council 43 Montgomery County Division 44 GHBA Partners / Sustaining Associate Members
47 Calendar of Events
Upcoming Events 2 GHBA Family Day 9 Legislative Rally Day 10 10th Annual Product Expo 16 Houston's Best PRISM Awards 22 Sunbelt Bash Unplugged 23 Purchasing Manager Speed Selling
Advertising/Editorial Information: Contact Brittany Feldmann at (832) 215-7232 or
bfeldmann@ghba.org. Houston Builder encourages members to submit articles for publication. Articles should relate to members and to the homebuilding industry. For questions or to submit a letter to the editor, email
bfeldmann@ghba.org.
GREATER HOUSTON BUILDERS ASSOCIATION – BUILDING A BETTER FUTURE | HOUSTON BUILDER | SEPTEMBER 2012 3
ON THE COVER
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