Bulletin Board Magazine 2017 Volume 3

NAHB Young Professionals Committee

XXXX Article by XXXX

The NEXT 75 Years by Rich Robinson I

Bulletin Board | 26 | www.shorebuilders.org membership is under 45 years old and only 5% of NAHB membership is under 35 years old. n June, NAHB celebrated its 75-year anniversary with a spectacular Gala in Washington, DC. Most of our Federation’s leaders and legends were there to celebrate NAHB’s storied history. A combination of strong leadership at the grassroots level, successful advocacy wins for our industry, and a general belief by the membership of strength in numbers, all helped propel NAHB to be the voice of the housing industry in our country. Today, however, NAHB faces a unique challenge to continue its success. The 2008 downturn damaged our Federation in multiple ways. The cyclical nature of the building industry has seen its fair share of ups and downs but 2008 was unique as it was paralleled with the largest generation just beginning to enter the workforce. Schools changed how they taught in the early 2000’s losing classes such as woodshop. There was a general negative connotation from the film industry with their depiction of all trades. Add in a generation that tends to view the world on how it relates to them individually, we are dealing with a massive labor shortage nationally and a new membership threat. The NAHB Membership Committee, led at the time by SBACNJ member Michael Kurpiel, noticed that the NAHB median age of 56 years old was rising steadily since the downturn. As a result, the NAHB Young Professionals Committee was formed to recruit, retain, and engage anyone under the age of 45. We are not the first group of Young Professionals in NAHB’s 75-year history, but the need to focus on this demographic and grow it is very important. Currently, 19% of NAHB

This Spring, the Young Professionals Committee Leadership met to formulate our strategic plan for the next 3-5 years. Here are some of the highlights: • The NAHB Young Professionals Award began last year with SBACNJ Treasurer Chris Amato being chosen as a Region A Finalist which was a tremendous achievement. The 2017 NAHB Young Professionals Award is currently accepting applications through September 29th. Anyone under 45 is eligible to be nominated. • NAHB One to Watch Awards were created in 2017 to showcase the impact Young Professionals have across our Federation. 10 NAHB committees and councils are offering a One to Watch Award. Apply or nominate someone today! • In October we will be hosting two Virtual Town Halls for Local Leadership and HBA Staff to have a national dialogue about the key issues facing our Federation for the next generation of our members. • If you are attending the International Builders Show in early January 2018, Young Professionals will have a greater presence than ever before. There will be numerous events including awarding the Young Professional Award, One to Watch awards, the YP Pro Party, and a new booth on the show floor. • Follow us on our NAHB Young Professionals Facebook page New Jersey is the only State in the Federation to have a Young Professionals Committee or Council in each of its Local HBA’s and at the State level! In fact, Shore Builders is recognized as one of the most successful examples of a Young Professional Committee nationally. If either you or your employees are under 45 and would like to get more involved, please contact Christine or Gina. The more members that get involved, the greater chance the next 75 years will be even more successful.

Rich Robinson Member Rebate Program, is a member of the NAHB & SBACNJYP Committees

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