Bulletin Board Magazine, 2017 Volume 4

What a long strange trip it’s been!

MYTWOYEARS AS AVP- What a long strange trip

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it’s been! By Suzzane J Kronenfeld

Successes Our biggest successes happened organically- some out of economic need and others as rising voices needed to be heard. The Young Professionals started as an informal, impromptu gathering. What it morphed into is now a strong voice at both Shore and NJBA. The YPs (and they are not just millennials) have shown the “Rusty Guns” that you don’t have to be so structured to get things done. Their impact at Shore has resonated at the other locals and now there is an YP group at each local and a statewide council at NJBA. They deserve to be listened to, as they are the future of the homebuilding association. The Professional Women in Building of the Garden State Council came out of the gate with a roar! This not-for-women-only council hit the ground running by becoming the de-facto charitable arm for Shore. We collected dozens of cartons of school supplies for United Way Tools for School, supplied the MCSPCA Pet Pantry and turned out for the HOPE Walk this past September. We won national awards for our efforts during our first year in existence. PWB has become a force to be reckoned at Shore with and I see its strength only increasing across the state. One of the biggest changes is how Shore members network. We’ve gone from sit down dinners with speaker after speaker to more informal settings at a sponsor’s showroom. Not only does the sponsor have the opportunity to show off his showroom,

but the lower cost per ticket has resulted in higher attendance. What would could be more conducive to talking about business than a cocktail and hors d’oeuvre standing over the latest model toilet! Where do you see the association in the future? I think we were all a little surprised and maybe caught off guard after Superstorm Sandy when many homeowners called Shore looking for a reference to help them repair or rebuild their home. I envision Shore as that go-to-place for community outreach when a homeowner needs a tradesman or for someone just starting their home search and needing some guidance. I see the association becoming less structured as the younger and newer members change and mold the association to what they need it to be. The “basic bones” will be there but will be flexible to meet the needs of the membership as time change and the way we do business changes. One of the criticisms of the HBA is that things are done the “same old way” I think that in order for the association to grow and change, is for the leadership to really listen to what the membership has to say. While their needs change, so should the organization. Listen to what the millennials have to say but stay true to the base that built the organization. What will be the driving force moving forward

Suzzane J Kronenfeld, Director of New Homes Gloria Nilson & Co. Real Estate

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A big thank you to Gina and Chris for their guidance and patience at every committee meeting, officers meeting and board meeting. And for the friendship. They are truly the foundation that we are built on.

Bulletin Board | 9 | www.shorebuilders.org

Bulletin Board | 10 | www.shorebuilders.org