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HOME BUILDERS ASSOCIATION OF METROPOLITAN PORTLAND •
November, 2012
WHAT ’ S INSIDE THIS MONTH’ S ISSUE
YOUR INDUSTRY, page 9
YOUR BUSINESS, page 14
Top 5 threats to small
business
Simple strategies smal l
business owners can take to
identify and manage top risks,
provided by Montgomery &
Graham.
HBA pens letter to
Mayor on behalf of infill
builder community
The HBA urges the mayor
and Metro to address barriers
to inf ill building meeting
Metro’s own growth standards.
UP FRONT, page 2
Event Recaps
What did you miss recently
at the HBA? Members are
having fun and building their
business at these HBA events.
Get involved!
FOUNDATION, page 8
Foundation Heros
Two members are the driving
force behind the Foundation’s
successful Painting a Better
Tomorrow project. Meet Bill
Swenson and Adam Havens.
HBF breaks ground on
Boys & Girls Aid project
Innovative transitional housing
for homeless youth underway in
Washington County.
—See page 8
Bring added value to your
homes with high end appliances
High-end appliances not only add
value and appeal for consumers,
but they’re a benefit to builders,
remodelers and realtors as well.
—See page 12
Is Your Business
Poised for Growth?
As survivors of the wild ride
over the last four years, many are
looking to understand how to
prepare for the future. Are we in
for a period of stabilized growth,
and if so, how are we to best pre-
pare for such?
Cautious optimism is likely in
order. However, do not lose sight
of what we have been through
in making your plans going for-
ward. So how do we know when
it is time to invest in new equip-
ment, technology or to add em-
ployees?
First look to your front line – is
your sales team talking about the
new account they just landed,
increased business from existing
customers, and the old custom-
ers “coming back to life?” Are
your installation crews feeling
more than just appreciative for
the extra hours? Is everyone in
your organization feeling a bit
frustrated or overworked? If so,
it is likely time to start investing
in your business.
Second, look first to ways to
improve the productivity and
lives of your existing employ-
ees. Fix what breaks. replace
what slows down or impairs the
productivity of your employ-
ees. Those old slow computers
or that piece of equipment that
seems to break down as much as
it works it a real drain on produc-
tivity and employee morale.
Next, fire the underperformer.
There is no better way to im-
prove employee morale and im-
prove performance than to fire
the lazy, unproductive or nega-
tive influence in your organiza-
tion. Cut out the cancer.
Finally, hire smart employees.
This takes time, and whether you
are replacing an employee you
just fired, or the new addition to
your team,
take the time to do it
right
! The time you invest on the
front end to hire a top performer
will be appreciated by all.
I am not suggesting you run
out and senselessly throw your
hard earned money away, but be
prudent, buy only what you can
afford, and use care in who you
add to your team.
Your business, your employees
and customers will appreciate it!
By Gordon root,
2012 HBA President
From
The Top
By Jon Bell
For the HBA
Decades ago, Bob O’Loughlin Sr., the well-
known show promoter who helped build an
ongoing relationship with the HBA that spans
well over 50 years, booked an unknown mu-
sical act to perform at a trade show that he
and his father, Thomas O’Loughlin Sr., were
putting on at Portland’s Memorial Coliseum.
About six weeks before the show, the group’s
first album caught on. It was certified gold
and just kept right on going.
Despite their newfound popularity, the
group was still contractually obligated to per-
form at the O’Loughlin’s show.
That group? The Supremes.
“You couldn’t even get near the joint. It was
standing room only,” said Terry O’Loughlin,
Bob O’Loughlin’s son and manager of the
Portland Spring and Fall Home & Garden
Shows. “That’s just the kind of thing Dad al-
ways seemed to get into. That was just Dad.”
After more than 80 years, including de-
cades of working together with the HBA, Bob
O’Loughlin Sr. — “Bob O” to friends and as-
sociates — passed away at his Portland home
of natural causes on Aug. 17. He’d recently
returned home from a long-awaited antelope
hunting trip in eastern Oregon with his family.
Born in Minneapolis in 1932, Bob O’Loughlin
Sr. got his start in the trade show business in
1955, when his father recruited him to help
launch a new show in Spokane. According to
those who knew his father, Bob inherited an
entertainer’s style from him.
“His dad was really a showman, a real barn-
stormer, kind of a P.T. Barnum-type guy,” said
Jim Goodrich, the former executive direc-
tor for the HBA who served in the role for 32
years. “I know the boys picked up that show
biz theme from their dad, so they were all just
real showmen.”
Bob O’Loughlin Sr., became well known not
only for the shows he put on, but for the at-
tention he paid to partners, vendors and ex-
hibitors as well. Terry O’Loughlin said his dad
was always walking show aisles to make sure
exhibitors were having a good experience
and getting what they needed.
O’Loughlin Sr. also became known for his
show promotions, as well. In addition to the
Supremes, O’Loughlin brought in celebrities
like Ted Williams, Johnny Unitas and Tony
Bennett for appearances. There was also a
waterskiing squirrel named Twiggy, a man-
made trout pond and the year O’Loughlin Sr.
got permission to basically flood Memorial
Coliseum for a floating boat show.
“He was without a doubt one of the most
creative guys I’ve ever been around,” said
Duncan Strang, director of corporate partner-
ships for the University of Portland, whose
former advertising agency worked with the
O’Loughlins for more than 35 years. “He was
very dynamic and he was never afraid to take
a risk. He was a smart business man, but he
also knew that the public had a big appetite
Bob O’Loughlin, Sr. was known as much for his popular shows as his creative attractions
See O’LOUGHLIN/ page 6
Terry O’Loughlin and HBA CEO, Dave Nielsen bestow a $5,000 check to Molly McCabe of Molly’s Fund at the 2012 Home & Garden Show.
HBA remembers dynamic promoter
who helped forge lasting relationship
Annual and Lifetime
Achievement Awards
Please join us on December 1 at our Builders Ball as we honor our
Annual and Lifetime Achievement award winners for 2012.
For more information about the HBA Builders Ball, please see page 6 > > >
Builder of the Year
–
• jeff Smith, j.T. Smith
Development
Remodeler of the Year
–
• Patrick Richardson,
murray Hill Remodeling
Trade contractor of the Year
–
• Thomas adams, classic Electric
associate of the Year
–
• Sherry jordan,
NW coaching Group
Lifetime Achievement Awards –
• Tom Skaar,
Pacific Western Homes
• allie Edwards, in memorium