The Tallahassee Builders Association was among five local HBAs in Florida that won recognition and money for their membership-recruiting efforts in the month of May, 2014. With the hard-working Membership Committee being led by Co-Chairs Drexal Harris of Baker-Harris Insurance and Mark Worley, CIP, GMB, of Worley Construction, TBA took fifth place in its size category, showing 9.2 percent growth, and winning $500. Overall, Florida figured prominently in the success of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Spring Membership Drive. In addition to TBA, the Greater Orlando BA (5.6 percent growth) and the BA of North Central Florida (7.5 percent growth) each finished third nationally for their size group and each took home $1,500. The Collier BIA (10.4 percent growth) and the Flagler HBA (15.8 percent growth) each posted fourth place finishes in their categories, good for $1,000 apiece. NAHB has announced that it is planning a Fall Membership Drive in September. For a list of TBA’s new members, see below.
 

Members of TBA Remodelers Council have two great opportunities for recognition and positive publicity in the coming weeks and months. First, the Tallahassee Democrat is planning a newly formatted Saturday real estate section starting July 12 and Business Editor Dave Hodges is looking for before and after photos of outstanding remodeling projects to feature prominently in the section. Dave needs high-resolution pictures (at least 800kB to 1MB in file size) and no more than 150 words on what was involved in the project, the upgrades, and any challenges overcome – essentially the material he needs to write the photo captions. “If any of the remodelers wants to go first, I need a few of these to start running July 12, so I need their material by noon July 7,” said Hodges, who can be reached at or by phone at 599-2321.  At the same time, TBA is very close to launching the 2014 Remodelers Showcase Awards program. Details are being finalized but the deadline for entries has been established as August 15, 2014 and the winners will be announced at the September 18 general membership meeting. The City of Tallahassee Natural Gas Utility is sponsoring the awards again this year.

A Platinum-level corporate sponsor of the Tallahassee Builders Association (TBA), James Hardie Building Products is considered a key partner for builders who seek to wind-proof their homes, especially in hurricane-prone areas like the Florida Panhandle. In that regard, Hardie’s installation specialist for the Northern Gulf Coast – Brett Lindell – has authored an article that may be of special interest to TBA builders and remodelers. The article, which appears in its full version under News at www.tallyba.com, looks at the staggering cost of hurricane damage and cites three key features of fiber cement’s dimensional stability – nailablity, resistance to water absorption and paint adhesion – that are important when it comes to mitigating wind damage. James Hardie Building Products is the global leader in fiber cement technology. For more information, visit www.jameshardie.com.

Remember to friend and follow TBA on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/TallahasseeBuildersAssociation

 -- Paul M. Thompson, Executive Officer
 

Argos, Tyler Easom, 850-576-4141 Concrete Contractors, Concrete Products- Ready Mix (Sponsor: Tom Vieth)
 
Cureton Plumbing Inc., Michael Cureton,   850-222-4412 Gas & Propane Services, Plumbing Contractors (Sponsor: Alan Weekley)
 
Tremont Concrete Construction, Calvin Ford,  850-545-9925 Concrete Contractors, Excavating/Grading, Fill, Paving (Sponsor: Alan Weekley)
 
Tallahassee State Bank (adding associate member), Mary Colonese, 850-224-3344 Bank, Mortgage Lender (Sponsor: Bill Kimberl)
 
Tallahassee State Bank (adding affiliate member) Sharon Weeden, 
850-205-5161 Bank, Mortgage Lender
 
Tallahassee State Bank (adding affiliate member), Ben Graybar, 850-205-5168 Bank, Mortgage Lender
 
Tallahassee State Bank (adding affiliate member), Bill Moore, 850-205-5169 Bank, Mortgage Lender
 
Connell Cabinets & Millwork. Inc., Phillip Connell, 229-482-3037 Builders Commercial, Builders Residential, Cabinet Suppliers/ Installers, Cabinets Custom, Countertops, General Contractors, Granite Surfaces,  Kitchen Design,  Millwork (Sponsor: Bobby Dollar)
 
Construction Solutions LLC, William Moore, 850-219-8800 Builders-Commercial, Builders-Residential, Consulting/Education, Developers, General Contractors, Pre-Engineered Metal Buildings, Remodeling/Repair Contractors, Waterproofing        (Sponsor: Karen Koelemij)
 
CCHC, Sharon Hennigan, 817-707-9616 Occupational Therapist (Sponsor: Mark Trudeau)
 
Tharpe Construction & Remodeling, Matthew Tharpe, 850-878-0806 Builders Commercial, Builders Residential, and Remodeling Repair (Sponsor: Shane Lambert)
 
Marpan Recycling, George Loscialo,   Recycling (Sponsor: Stan Derzypolski)
 
Hamrick Insurance Associates, Teresa Hamrick, 850-877-3108 Accessible Design, Fall Injury Risk Assessments, Home Assessments related to Medical and Physical Conditions (Sponsor: Stan Derzypolski)
 
Terry Ward Consulting, Terry Ward, Home Plan Design, Interior Design/ Interior Decorator, Universal Design (Sponsor: Mark Trudeau)
 
First In Counters, Mark Marcinowski,   229-226-5155 Countertops (Sponsor: Bobby Dollar)
 
David Key Heating & Cooling, David  Key,   850-656-4740 Heating & Air Conditioning (Sponsor:  Sonny Phillips)

View the 2013 TBA
Membership Directory
 

The TBA Family extends its condolences to member Tammy Perkins, CPA, on the recent passing of her father William “Buddy” Roberts. 
 

State Senator Bill Montford (D-Tallahassee) will be the featured speaker at the Tallahassee Builders Association’s Thursday (June 19, 2014) general membership meeting (11:30 am start) at Killearn Country Club. Montford will be joined on the program by Diana Oropallo, a candidate for Leon County Commission. Montford was a Housing Champion this year according to the Florida Home Builders Association (FHBA) for leading the successful effort to restore $100 million in funding to the Sadowski Affordable  Housing Trust Fund after six years of the money being swept into general revenue. His leadership resulted in Leon County and the City of Tallahassee getting more than $2 million (in fiscal year 2014-2015) for downpayment assistance to low-and-moderate income families. Montford is expected to address Sadowski as well as issues related to water quality/springs protection and workforce training. The cost of the lunch is $15, payable at the door through cash, credit or credit card. RSVPs are required before 5 pm on Wednesday (June 18).

Note to readers: The Member and Consumer Education Committee will hold a special meeting on Wednesday (June 18, 2014) at 10:30 am at Old Town Café to select the builder of TBA’s 2014 Fall Showcase Home. The selection will be announced to the TBA Board of Directors on Wednesday and to the membership in the Monday, June 23, 2014 Weekly Report.

TBA’s next Hard Hat Happy Hour will be held Thursday, June 26 event from 5:30 pm to 7 pm and hosted by Independent Green Technologies (IGT) at its showroom at 3954 West Pensacola Street (across from the Howell/Leon County School Administration Building). The open house, with refreshments and snacks, will showcase Earth Steps (the City of Tallahassee-funded weatherization program for low-income families), consultation opportunities with IGT’s Green in-house architect (Shuler Architects), Rejuvenaire air conditioning units, Tru-Seal duct protection, and web design capabilities (KB Studios)… all in a 14,000 square foot, solar-powered building that creates zero utility costs. Don’t miss this great opportunity for Green Building education and peer-to-peer networking.  Feel free to bring a guest or friend. Future HHHH events are scheduled for:

July: (no Hard Hat Happy Hour)
August 28: Jenkins Brick
September 25: Rumberger, Kirk & Caldwell
October 23: Barkley Consulting Engineers, Inc.
November 20: Persica Homes
 
 
 

With the lunch and program sponsored by TBA Associate Member of the Year David Perkins, CIP, CAPS, of Perkins Electric, the TBA Green Building Council meeting last week highlighted the Green building philosophy of Frank Richardson of Blue Star Homes. Richardson won the Florida Green Building Coalition (FGBC) Green Home Award in the TBA Parade of Homes in the category of homes under 1,900 square feet (Premier Fine Homes won the award in the over 1,900 square feet category. “One of the keys to being a successful Green builder is to create a great team,” said Richardson. “For me, that’s my energy rater (Randy and Jane Conn of ES Green & Company), HVAC company (Donny’s Heating and Air), and insulation contractor (All Weather). It truly takes a team working together.” Richardson, who had a score of 154 on his award-winning Green home, said he doesn’t just “chase points” when it comes a Green certification. “I do the things that make sense… that have a positive impact for my homeowners,” said Richardson, whose Realtor Kathy Lee is keenly attuned to selling Green homes. Richardson estimates he has built 30 Green homes in the Tallahassee area. He said Green homes may cost more to build but savvy consumers know they will quickly save the extra investment through lower utility and homeownership costs. Suzanne Cook, CAE, IOM, Executive Director of FGBC, said many Green features (light-colored walls, ceiling fans, three open sides on porches, and pine straw instead of sod where appropriate) typically add no extra costs to the home. Conn, who chairs the Green Council this year, said the July 10, 2014 program will feature Stewart Proctor of Structure Commercial Real Estate speaking on student housing and mall developments in Tallahassee. The meeting begins at 11:30 at the Myers Park Community Room.
 

The Tallahassee Builders Association (TBA), Florida Home Builders Association (FHBA) and numerous organizations and individuals impacted by the Florida Building Code are mourning the June 9, 2014 death of FHBA’s Technical Services Director Jack Glenn. “Jack was an integral part of the evolution of the Florida Building Code,” said Richard Browdy, a Jacksonville builder and Chairman of the Florida Building Commission. “For over 22 years, Jack enthusiastically participated in the code development process. He was an outstanding instructor in code education and a strong advocate for our consensus-building process. Jack was a colleague and a friend. His contributions to our efforts and his overwhelming presence will be sorely missed.”  Glenn was a Certified Building Code Administrator and former Building Officials/Fire Marshal for the City of Melbourne. He was serving on the State Fire Marshal’s Code Advisory Council and a number of advisory committees to the Florida Building Commission at the time of his passing. Glenn was deeply respected at FHBA, which honored him with an Eagle Award for his career contributions to the building industry. FHBA’s 2014-2015 Leadership Directory will be dedicated to Glenn. To read Glenn’s obituary, go to www.fhba.com and see the tribute on the home page.
 
 

Mike Runyan of Big Bend Landscaping didn’t decide to enter TBA’s 26^th Annual Saltwater Fishing Tournament until the last minute. But it’s a decision he won’t regret. Runyan and his team of talented anglers won $1,950 in prize money, including $1,000 for the Off-Shore Grand Slam (Red Snapper, Spanish Mackerel, and Red Grouper) and first-place for the largest Red Snapper (18.8 pounds) and the largest Grouper (18.2 pounds). In all, 16 boats competed in the tournament organized by Tournament Committee Co-Chairs Mike Roberts of Roberts Sand Company and Bill Kimberl, CIP, CAPS, of Kimberl Construction. Other top money-winners were the teams from Gulf Coast Lumber and Marpan Recycling ($400 each).  No team qualified for the In-Shore Grand Slam (Trout, Spanish Mackerel, and Red Fish). The tournament was hosted at the C-Quarters Marina in Carrabelle. Roberts and Kimberl said the event will be held the second Saturday in June in the foreseeable future.  Here is a list of the tournament’s sponsors:
 

Platinum Sponsors

 
Gold and Silvers Sponsors
 

Calico Jack’s * Coosh’s * Hi-Tech System Associates * Sunshine Savings Bank

Capelouto Termite & Pest Control * Legacy Cabinets * Capital City Bank

Service Partners * Perkins Electric * Roberts Sand Company * Prime Meridian Bank

Kimberl Construction * Nichiha Fiber Cement * BEC & Company * Bass Pro Shop 
 

Consider Special Offer of Just $310
For ‘Living Here’ Theme Page Ad

TBA members who want to advertise in the Tallahassee Democrat’s upcoming “Living Here” and “Visitor View” publications should contact Robin Yeatman of the Tallahassee Media Group at 850-599-2262 or . The deadline for ad materials is June 20, 2014. The publication hits the streets August 17, 2014. Yeatman said that TBA members may want to consider a special offer… a business-card-size ad on a builders’ “Theme Page” for just $310. “Living Here” is now in its 16th year of informing the community and newcomers to Tallahassee about all the great things our city has to offer.  More than 40,000 copies are distributed through newspaper delivery, in hotels, the Chamber of Commerce and other businesses.  It’s a great publication to send to prospective clients thinking about moving to Tallahassee. In addition, 15,000 copies of Visitor View are distributed at locations and events all over town with the focus on FSU students and their parents traveling to Tallahassee. Companies that purchase Living Here and Visitor View together receive a 20 percent discount on both ads.
 

Remember to friend and follow TBA on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/TallahasseeBuildersAssociation

-- Paul M. Thompson, Executive Officer

View the 2013 TBA
Membership Directory
 

Mike Runyan of Big Bend Landscaping didn’t decide to enter TBA’s 26th Annual Saltwater Fishing Tournament until the last minute. But it’s a decision he won’t regret. Runyan and his team of talented anglers won $1,950 in prize money, including $1,000 for the Off-Shore Grand Slam (Red Snapper, Spanish Mackerel, and Red Grouper) and first-place for the largest Red Snapper (18.8 pounds) and the largest Grouper (18.2 pounds). In all, 16 boats competed in the tournament organized by Tournament Committee Co-Chairs Mike Roberts of Roberts Sand Company and Bill Kimberl, CIP, CAPS, of Kimberl Construction. Other top money-winners were the teams from Gulf Coast Lumber and Marpan Recycling ($400 each).  No team qualified for the In-Shore Grand Slam (Trout, Spanish Mackerel, and Red Fish). The tournament was hosted at the C-Quarters Marina in Carrabelle. Roberts and Kimberl said the event will be held the second Saturday in June in the foreseeable future.  Here is a list of the tournament’s sponsors:

Platinum Sponsors

Gold and Silver Sponsors

Calico Jack’s * Coosh’s * Hi-Tech System Associates * Sunshine Savings Bank

Capelouto Termite & Pest Control * Legacy Cabinets * Capital City Bank

Service Partners * Perkins Electric * Roberts Sand Company * Prime Meridian Bank

Kimberl Construction * Nichiha Fiber Cement * BEC & Company * Bass Pro Shop

Under the leadership of Chairman Stan Derzypolski, CIP, CAPS, of 3 Rivers, Inc., the TBA Member and Consumer Education Committee (MCEC) will meet today (Monday, June 9) to select the builder of the Fall Showcase Home. The meeting is set for 11:30 am with lunch provided. The showcase home will be required to be on display to TBA members and the public over two weekends in October and November. The builder will assume all responsibility and legal liability for the construction of the home and guarantee its availability during the open-house weekends. The builder must be willing to coordinate and document donations and discounts of materials, products, and services to the home. TBA will be responsible for promoting the home, the builder, and the donors to create maximum exposure for them as well as TBA. At today’s meeting, the Committee will review various community service projects to see which one(s) to recommend to the TBA Board of Directors when it meets on June 18, 2014. 
 

Parade of Homes Committee
To Critique the 2014 Event 

After a successful Parade of Homes – one participating builder already has four new homes under contract from Parade visitors – the Parade Committee is hardly going to sit back and rest on its laurels. According to Chairman Doug Barton, CIP, CAPS, of Barton Construction, the Committee will review every aspect of this year’s Parade when it meets on Tuesday (June 10) at 11:30 am at the TBA office with lunch provided. Some of the areas of the Parade that will be scrutinized include the signage, marketing, hours, judging, awards, and the awards banquet. Parade builders – current and future – are welcome to participate in the meeting. 
 
  

Sponsored by TBA Associate Member of the Year David Perkins, CIP, CAPS, of Perkins Electric, the TBA Green Building Council meets Thursday (June 12) at 11:30 am at the Myers Park Community Room. According to Council Chair Jane Conn of ES Green & Company, the program is a discussion led by Jason Ghazvini (Premier Fine Homes) and Frank Richardson (Blue Star Homes) about their Green award-winning Parade homes.  They’ll share insights on the “how and why” of Green home certifications through the Florida Green Building Coalition (FGBC), which sponsored the awards. The luncheon is free to Council members and $20 for non-members.
 

TBA members… note a change in the schedule for Hard Hat Happy Hours. The Thursday, June 26 event – set for 5:30 pm to 7 pm – will now be hosted by Independent Green Technologies (IGT) at its showroom at 3954 West Pensacola Street (across from the Howell/Leon County School Administration Building. The open house, with refreshments and snacks, will showcase Earth Steps (the City of Tallahassee-funded weatherization program for low-income families), consultation opportunities with IGT’s Green in-house architect (Shuler Architects), Rejuvenaire air conditioning units, Tru-Seal duct protection, and web design capabilities (KB Studios)… all in a 14,000 square foot, solar-powered building that creates zero utility costs. Don’t miss this great opportunity for Green Building education and peer-to-peer networking.  Future HHHH events are scheduled for:
 

August 28: Jenkins Brick
September 25: Rumberger, Kirk & Caldwell
October 23: Barkley Consulting Engineers, Inc.
November 20: Persica Homes 
 

The Democrat Opens Advertising
For Two Consumer Publications

TBA members who want to advertise in the Tallahassee Democrat’s upcoming “Living Here” and “Visitor View” publications should contact Robin Yeatman of the Tallahassee Media Group at 850-599-2262 or . The deadline for ad materials is June 20, 2014. The publication hits the streets August 17, 2014. “Living Here” is now in its 16th year of informing the community and newcomers to Tallahassee about all the great things our city has to offer.  More than 40,000 copies are distributed through newspaper delivery, in hotels, the Chamber of Commerce and other businesses.  It’s a great publication to send to prospective clients thinking about moving to Tallahassee. In addition, 15,000 copies of Visitor View are distributed at locations and events all over town with the focus on FSU students and their parents traveling to Tallahassee. Companies that purchase Living Here and Visitor View together receive a 20 percent discount on both ads.
  

The Florida construction industry is contributing to the state’s much-improved employment picture. According to the April 2014 figures released from the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO), the state’s unemployment rate dropped .01 percent to 6.2 and construction jobs grew by 43,300 jobs (12.1 percent) in the past year. There are now over 400,000 Floridians employed in construction compared to 397,000 in April 2013. Florida’s unemployment rate was 7.6 percent a year ago. Overall, employment was 7.7 million, up 264,800 jobs compared to a year ago.  Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) in Florida with the lowest rates of unemployment were Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin (Okaloosa-Walton counties) at 4.1 percent followed by Gainesville (Alachua-Gilchrist counties) at 4.4 percent, and Naples-Marco Island (Collier county) at 4.9 percent. Unemployment in the Tallahassee area (Gadsden, Jefferson, Leon and Wakulla counties) is 5 percent.
 

Remember to friend and follow TBA on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/TallahasseeBuildersAssociation

-- Paul M. Thompson, Executive Officer

View the 2013 TBA
Membership Directory
 

With well over $2,000 in cash prizes on the line, TBA members could find this Saturday’s 26th Annual TBA Saltwater Fishing Tournament to be profitable as well as enjoyable… and it’s not too late to sign up according to the event’s co-chairs Mike Roberts of Roberts Sand Company and Bill Kimberl, CIP, CAPS, of Kimberl Construction. There are two preliminary events open to TBA members: a free Thursday night (June 5) Captain’s Dinner (5:30 pm) at Calico Jack’s on Capital Circle and the $20-per-person Anglers’ Social on Friday night (June 6) at 7 pm at the C-Quarters marina in Carrabelle. Then on Saturday (June 7), the fishing tournament begins at 6 am with the weigh-in at 6 pm at C-Quarters. “This competition is wide open,” said Roberts, “especially since Sam Pickenpaugh has a conflict and won’t be there to defend his back-to-back championships.” For the past two years, Pickenpaugh has walked away with more than $2,000 in grand slam cash. There’s money for In-Shore and Off-Shore Grand Slams as well as the largest fish by species. To register, complete and fax the form under News at tallyba.com or call Jacqueline Hill at the TBA office at 385-1414.

TBA thanks these Platinum Sponsors of the tournament:

…. as well as these Gold and Silver Sponsors:

Calico Jack’s * Coosh’s * Hi-Tech System Associates * Sunshine Savings Bank

Capelouto Termite & Pest Control * Legacy Cabinets * Capital City Bank

Perkins Electric * Roberts Sand Company * Prime Meridian Bank

Kimberl Construction * Nichiha Fiber Cement * BEC & Company

Bass Pro Shop * Lowe’s * Home Depot

They came with questions and they walked away with answers. That was the story last Saturday morning when the Tallahassee Builders Association (TBA) hosted a Home Buying Seminar attended by more than 30 Tallahassee-area consumers. Conducted as a follow-up TBA’s successful Parade of Homes, the seminar was divided into two parts: lessons in building or buying a home by TBA Past President Mark Worley, GMB, CIP, of Worley Construction, and Residental Mitigation Techniques by longtime TBA members and energy experts Randy and Jane Conn of ES Green & Company. The seminar was held at the Tallahassee Democrat and hosted by TBA members and advertising/media specialists Mike Still and Robin Yeatman of the Tallahassee Media Group. Worley’s presentation covered financing options, contracts, lot selection, contractor selection, bid packages, and design-build. Each section was concluded with an active Q&A session. Sponsors for the event were Bobby Dollar Appliance Consultants, Cabinet Source, Norandex, Hancock Bank, and Tallahassee Lighting. 
 
 

 

Last Call for Builders Interested
In Building Fall Showcase Home

The Tallahassee Builders Association is seeking a builder member to build its 2014 Fall Showcase Home. The home will be required to be on display to TBA members and the public over two weekends in October and November. The builder will assume all responsibility and legal liability for the construction of the home and guarantee its availability during the open-house weekends. The builder must be willing to coordinate and document donations and discounts of materials, products, and services to the home. TBA will be responsible for promoting the home, the builder, and the donors to create maximum exposure for them as well as TBA. If you are a TBA builder member and would like to produce the Fall Showcase Home for 2014 under these general terms, plan to attend the Monday, June 9 meeting of the Member and Consumer Education Committee (11:30 am at the TBA office) to present your proposal and ask questions about the project. For more information, call Executive Office Paul Thompson at 251-1053. 
 
  

The Tallahassee Builders Association (TBA) needs your help to grow our membership. If you have time, come to the TBA office at 201 East Park Avenue tomorrow (Tuesday, June 3) from 10 am to 11:30 am to make phone calls to potential members… then join your fellow TBA members for a free lunch. The phone-a-thon is the latest initiative of the Membership Committee  co-chaired by TBA’s all-time leading membership recruiters Drexal Harris of Baker-Harris Insurance and Mark Worley, CIP, GMB of Worley Construction. Harris and Worley have set a year-long goal of 100 new TBA members. Harris said there are incentives in place for both new members and recruiters. New members receive a free registration to the Southeast Building Conference (SEBC) in Orlando and become eligible to win a $500 cash prize that will be awarded in June to one lucky new member. Recruiters can also win cash prizes – the top award is $300 – and the winning team gets treated to dinner. Team captains are Alan Weekley, CIP, CAPS (Alan Weekley Homes), Mark Trudeau, CIP, CAPS, (Trudeau Custom Homes), Bill Kimberl, CIP, CAPS (Kimberl Construction), and Vicki O’Neil and Larisa Kuleshova (City Gas). If you would like to recruit members and need help with information or applications, call TBA’s Member Services Director Jacqueline Hill at 385-1414 or e-mail her at .
 

Mark your calendar for the June 26 TBA Hard Hat Happy Hour, which is free to TBA members, potential members, and guests. Hard Hat Happy Hours run 5:30 pm to 7 pm. The June location will be announced shortly. Future events are scheduled for:

July 31: Independent Green Technologies
August 28: Jenkins Brick
September 25: Rumberger, Kirk & Caldwell
October 23: Barkley Consulting Engineers, Inc.
November 20: Persica Homes
 
  

Remember to friend and follow TBA on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/TallahasseeBuildersAssociation

-- Paul M. Thompson, Executive Officer

View the 2013 TBA
Membership Directory