Name: James Austin

Company: P. W. A. BUILDING

Position: Owner

How Long in Business: 45 years

Spike Credits:  74

HBA:  Lincoln County HBA

HBA Involvement: Charter Member 1978, President of Lincoln County HBA 3 years, Vice President of Lincoln County HBA 3 years, National Director for LCHBA 10 years; Board of Directors for 16 years, Builder of the Year for LCHBA for 1986, 1999 and 2003.

Nickname: Jim

Marital Status: Married to Rachel Austin for 44 years

Children: Chuck Austin, Dr. Steve Austin and Amy Redmond

Favorite Food:  Cubed venison steak and baked potato

Favorite Movies: All John Wayne and War Movies

Favorite Magazine: NC Builder and NC Wildlife

Idea Vacation:  Going to my house at Holden Beach and Fishing

Last Book Read: History of Holden Beach by John Holden

Hobbies: Dee Hunting and Fishing

Pets:  One Cat

First Job: Working for my uncle doing carpenter work when I was 12 years old.

If you had 15 minutes in front of the NCHBA membership, what would you say about membership recruitment/retention?  The new members need to get more involved in the Home Builders Association so they will know what the Association does for the building industry.  The Home Builders Association has many benefits for members as individuals and as a group.

For example, our County Commissioners tried to put into effect the Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance (APFO) which stated if you develop a new subdivision; you would have to pay $7,000 for each lot.  As an Association, and with help from the NCHBA, we were able to defeat the APFO.   By working together on issues that affect the building industry in which we work, the building industry can be improved.