Page 3 - HBA News - January 2014

Turkey Fry was hot hot hot!
Gear up for the Gala
CFM kept the tradition going This year’s Foundation Silver &
with an excellent year-end Crystal Gala fundraiser will seek
party preceeded by a “new” to out-best last year with even
New Member Reception.
more fun and glamour.
—See page 2 and 14
—See page 8
HBANews

HOME BUILDING

HBApdx.org

Home Builders AssociAtion of metropolitAn portlAnd • JANuARy, 2014

Making a difference: HBA members lend

a hand through philanthropic programs
From

The Top

By Jon Bell
By HBA 2014 President
For the HBA
Jan Lewis
Building houses, remodeling
kitchens, furnishing living rooms, As I start my year as Presi-
lending money.
dent of the HBA of Metro Port-
The list of what HBA members land, first I want to thank all of
do for a living is a long one. It’s you for nominating me to run
also one that doesn’t stop with through the chairs three years ago, and for supporting me
straight business functions. Plen- during my years as a junior of-
ty of members also connect char- itable giving and philanthropy to ficer. As many of you know, I
their overall mission.
am only the second woman to
“Whether they choose us or serve as HBA President and the
Habitat for Humanity or any first woman builder. While that
number of other organizations, may be unique here in Portland,
every member I talk to has a I would prefer to be known for what I am first and foremost,
nonprofit or cause they believe a builder. I am not a feminist,
in,” said Ken Cowdery, execu- tive director of the Home Build- just someone who happened
ers Foundation. “I’ve been in to grow up around architecture
the world of nonprofits for over and construction. When it came
35 years, and I’ve never had the time to think about a career in
pleasure of working with such a college, construction felt familiar
large number of people who so Homestreet Bank presents a $5,000 check to the Home Builders Foundation as part of their localized CSR program.
and comfortable. All I expected was to work hard and be treated
readily give back.”
fairly. After 36 years in the indus- Upon synching up with the “We are just really excited to to be helped.”
Here’s a look at four different HBA members, how they give try, I can honestly say that’s been HBF, HomeStreet made a $5,000 build this relationship with the Through the program, Fish gar-
back and the difference they the case the majority of the time, donation, which will go toward HBA and the Foundation,” Cun- nered as many donations from
make.
and especially here at the HBA.
one of the Foundation’s proj- nington said. “It’s really going to subcontractors as possible. Ad-
I think we would all agree that ects, New Meadows. The project, which will be built by Renais- go far for both organizations.”
vantis Credit Union also contrib- uted support, as did several na-
HomeStreet Bank
the last five years in our indus- sance Homes, is a 10-unit apart- Fish Construction
tional suppliers of materials like
When HomeStreet Bank try have been pretty awful, and we’ve been through a lot. I’m ment building in north Portland Jeff Fish isn’t a military man siding, roofing and appliances.
opened its Lake Oswego mort- one of the contractors lucky that will offer housing for up to himself, but that didn’t stop him Fish Construction NW built the
gage lending center earlier this enough to have been through 18 at-risk youths aged 18 to 24.
from lending a big hand of sup- home — a roughly 2,300-square-
year, its goals were not just to the recession of the early 80’s, Cunnington said HomeStreet’s port to an Army specialist who foot house with three bedrooms
provide loan services, but to get too. I thought this recession other big contribution to the had his legs blown off while on and an oversized two-care ga-
involved in the community as couldn’t be as bad as that one New Meadows project will come in the form of financial literacy patrol in Baghdad in 2004.
As president of Fish Construc- rage — and in 2011, Pannell and his family moved in.
well.
Representatives of the bank was, but I was so wrong. While classes to residents.
tion NW, Fish had come across Fish remembered stacking
made scores of calls to chari- I think we would all agree that the economy is improving, we’re In addition to its work with the a nonprofit organization called some extra siding in the attic of
ties and nonprofits throughout a long way from being strong HBF, HomeStreet also has an an- Homes for Our Troops at a na- the new home and Pannell came
Clackamas County. And when again. I know for my company, nual company-wide fund-raising tional building show in 2005 or out to help, climbing halfway up
HomeStreet crossed paths with 2013 was the worst year. I had campaign for United Way, and 2006. The nonprofit, based in the drop-down latter. Fish asked
the Home Builders Foundation, some large projects in the pipe- branches from Eugene up to Taunton, Mass., builds acces- Pannell, who lost one leg above
everything clicked.
line when the recession started Clark County, Wash., are all in- volved with local charities. Cun- sible homes and then donates them to disabled veterans. A few the knee and the other below it, if he’d be able to get down OK.
“It was just a natural fit,” Jennifer Cunnington said. “I which kept me going for the first nington said the Lake Oswego years later, Homes for Our Troops “And he said, ‘Yeah, the worst
think we really fit with what the two years of the recession be- fore volume started to drop off. branch is working with the Lake contacted the HBA looking for thing that could happen is that I
Foundation was looking for — We are still hearing of members, Oswego Senior Center and the a builder who might take on a fall down. I’ve had worse things
a regional bank or partner that especially builders, who are just Good Neighbor Center, a home home project in Sandy for SPC than that happen in my life,’” Fish
would be part of a consistent, now closing their doors in the for families in need of temporary Kevin Pannell.
recalled. “It was nice that he was
long-term relationship.”
past few months. They hung on housing in Tigard. And the bank Fish signed on.
able to kind of make light of his
“The relationship just blos- as long as they could, but the re- will also likely be involved in an- other one of the HBF’s upcoming “Our society believes the ulti- mate sacrifice is when you die,” situation.”
Fish is considering building an-
somed instantly,” Cowdery said. “They immediately jumped on cession outlasted them.
projects, a remodel of the Clacka- he said, “but in some respects, other home for another soldier,
board and got involved. It’s just One of my goals this year is for the HBA to truly help our mas Women’s Services emergen- these guys and gals pay even a
been great.”
members get back on their feet. cy shelter in Oregon City.
deeper price and really deserve
See MAkINg A DIFFERENcE/ page 10
I’d like to see the HBA help us
continue to build relationships WHAT’S INSIDE THIS MONTH’S ISSUE
– builder to builder, builder to
subcontractor/supplier, and HBF sets 2014 goals
HBA Gov’t Affairs sets focus Habitat offers industry Requirements of a hazard
builder to associate. They’re all As Tim Breedlove assumes the for 2014 challenges
easy way to give back
communications plan
very important. I know for my company, it’s been these rela- role of 2014 HBF President, his For many builders and devel- Through its ReStore’s Building The “Construction Depot”
tionships that have helped me goal is to leverage and expand on the history of the organization opers today there are challenges Material Recovery deconstruction explains the requirements of the
to be successful and to survive. and the successes achieved over facing us that require fresh solu- services, Habitat volunteers strip written hazard communication
The HBA offers so many things the past couple of years. The tions and ideas. Fortunately for cabinets, trim, lumber, fixtures, plan, which are often
to help our members – educa- Board and staff are currently in the HBA, our members, and our industry we are not alone in striv- doors, windows and any other salvageable building materials overlooked by contractors. If
tion, marketing opportunities, the midst of a long-term strategic ing for solutions to many of the from homes that are being your employees use or may be exposed to hazardous
member benefits, networking, problem solving through round
planning process that will result challenges we face. We will focus torn down or from areas being chemicals, you need to prepare
in a clear direction for the future on some specific development is- remodeled.
one.
of the Foundation.
sues in 2014.
FOUNDATION, page6
YOUR INDUSTRY, page 9
YOUR BUSINESS, page 11
YOUR BUSINESS, page 15
See FROM ThE TOp/ page 10