by Ray Rhodes, 2008 NCHBA President Rhodes

As an avid boater and fisherman, I often refer to charts to determine where I want to spend the day on the ocean looking for the perfect fishing spot. Thank goodness we now have great electronics to help us navigate. We enter the coordinates in the Global Positioning System (GPS) and the auto pilot, and then sit back, relax and enjoy the ride.

As we get close to our destination on the sea, the GPS will signal us and tell us we are about to arrive. At that point, I turn off the auto pilot and take over manually and steer to the exact point that I had previously chosen by looking at the charts. Sounds easy doesn’t it? Well, what happens when the chosen spot is not productive? What happens when few fish are caught and the guests start complaining? Then the big question comes: “Where do we go from here?”

Our North Carolina Home Builders Association has been run in a similar manner. Our past Presidents, executive committee and board members have set a very high standard by reviewing the requests and wishes of our members, then taking the direction to make as many requests as possible a reality.

So my question now is: Where do we go from here? Every new President is charged with the task of setting new goals for the year of his office. This year I have tried to set goals that I believe will help move us forward and not only grow in numbers but also in quality, as an association representing all members.

I have a strong passion for this association and its members. You are what makes the North Carolina Home Builders Association what it is today. So as we look forward, I would like to share with you my “Passion for Progress.”

1. Continue to promote participation, education and professionalism.
• Continue to promote what has already been accomplished by our previous leaders
• Build on this success and make the association even more relevant in these challenging times.

2. Grow membership to 20,000 members by the end of 2008.
• This goal is very attainable.
• Our membership committee is coming up with new ideas to assist in reaching this goal; however, your help and input will be needed.

3. Increase our focus on vocational education.
• Continue the excellent work currently being performed in this area.
• Work closer with community colleges and high schools on skills programs.
• Introduce a way to recognize a “technical student of the month.”

4. Identify the best method to serve members interested in “green building.”
• Many of our members are very interested in green building. We are currently examining options in an effort to provide opportunities to our members who currently are, or wish to become, involved in green building.

5. Investigate ways to better embrace the Hispanic workforce.
• NAHB has established a task force to study the best ways to attract Latino contractors, which NCHBA is closely monitoring.
• What Hispanics want are “business opportunities” and assistance in becoming successful.
• We need to learn and understand their culture.
• Meet with Hispanic leaders and ask what they would want to see if they became members.

I am very excited and honored to be elected your President for 2008. I know this will bea challenging year. We are in the midst of an economic downturn. However, I believe that in challenging times our home builders association becomes even more valuable to our membership. If we remain positive, creative and loyal to our association and business, we will survive and comeout victorious.