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By Mary Ellen Miles
Regional Vice President is committed to serving local associations
Above: 2005 NCHBA President Buddy Hughes (left) presents Robb Collier with a plaque of appreciation for his role as Region VIII Vice President.
Robert “Robb” Collier, the North Carolina Home Builders Association Region VIII Vice President, just doesn’t feel organized. He’s got his hands in a lot of business pots and is a single parent to two children, Rock, 11, and Bristol, 8.
However, even though Collier considers his constant “juggling” part of a daily circus act where he “can’t say ‘no,’” two business associates think organization is definitely one of his strengths.
Dave Stormont, NCHBA President, says Collier’s meetings are “always flawless – organized perfectly.” Stormont, who’s known Collier for about five years, calls him “very prepared -- he runs a very smooth meeting. He’s a positive kind of guy with a “can-do” attitude. He’s always looking to improve and willing to do the work and time that it takes.”
Bunny Boyd, executive officer for the Iredell County Home Builders Association, which is in Region VIII, also says that Collier’s strength is his organizational skill. And “he’s very punctual,” she said. He’s served on the local’s board of directors at least as long as Boyd’s been with the HBA -- about four years. He’s been very active with legislative issues on the state and national levels and was NCHBA’s 2005 legislative chairman. He’s also very involved with economic development and the Greater Statesville Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Statesville Development Corp. The Statesville mayor recently appointed him to the committee for the rewrite of the Unified Development Ordinance.
Stormont has seen increasing participation among members in each of Region VIII’s local associations in the past few years, and credits Collier for some of it. “He has motivated many others,” he said. The local associations in Region VIII, in addition to Iredell, are Alleghany County HBA, Ashe County HBA, Hickory-Catawba Valley HBA, Lake Norman HBA, Lincoln County HBA and Wilkes County HBA.
“He has generated excitement in his region and has helped to maintain it. He is faithful in representing his local associations; he always brings the member’s perspective to the forefront. I have truly enjoyed serving with him at the state level,” said Stormont. He also says Collier has been a strong advocate for David L. Pressly Jr., the 2006 National Association of Home Builders President, who is from Region VIII. “Robb has been consistent in his commitment,” he said.
According to Collier, he’s been happy with Region VIII’s growth, particularly in Ashe County. The local HBA has increased in size from about eight participants to more than 125 in just over a year, he said. “They’re the shining star of my region.”
Born in Chapel Hill and raised in Statesville, Collier graduated from Catawba College with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. He was employed by Carolina Power & Light (now Progress Energy) at the Harris Nuclear Plant for 16 years. He decided to move back to Statesville in 1997, to help with family real estate ventures and to raise his children in the smaller-town atmosphere.
Collier is both a developer and a Realtor. He is the managing partner of Collier Properties LLC, a development company involved in residential real estate development. And this spring he joined Allen Tate Realtors, where he plans to expand his real estate skills and enhance Collier Properties’ development opportunities.
“Sometimes you just find a good person and he’s one of those. . . a great guy,” Boyd said. "Robb Collier has been an inspiration to me with his dedication to the home builders association. He is always available when needed and most importantly, he's fun. It has been a pleasure to work with him."
Although Collier won’t serve as NCHBA Regional Vice President in 2007, he says he’s not going anywhere . . . he plans to stay involved at the state level. And if elected, he will be taking office as Iredell County Home Builders Association’s 2007 President. One of his goals on the local level is to locate appropriate office space.
In addition to his association activities, Collier is involved with the Committee of 100, the Iredell Museums Inc. and the Broad Street United Methodist Church. He also enjoys golf and deep sea fishing, when he can find the time.
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Name: Bill Johnson