SAHBA News
MPA Honors SAHBA Green Build Council
Two years ago, NAHB Vice President Bob Jones visited SAHBA to share his national "Green Build" vision. He relayed to the board and members the same testimony he gave to Congress, that NAHB would help drive the process toward sustainable design. A menu of "green options" would enable builders to best fulfill consumer demand.
"Public officials want someone to take the lead, to encourage energy efficiency and green building," says Jones. "In Tucson, they will have a program from SAHBA to hang their hats on." SAHBA's environmentally friendly efforts since that visit haven't gone unnoticed. In November, it won the Metropolitan Pima Alliance (MPA) Common Ground Award for Best Public Policy.
SAHBA's "Green Building Gets its Roots" entry explains how the green build council facilitated the development and implementation of green home technologies, products, applications and sustainability for mainstream builders.
The council partnered with governments to explore ways to incorporate sustainability and SAHBA endorsed the Pima County regional residential green building standards. The council also worked with the joint Pima County-City of Tucson green building subcommittee taskforce to develop standards for southern Arizona.
In collaboration with Yves Khawam (Pima County Development Services) and Susan Buchan (Cochise County Planning and Zoning Department), SAHBA worked to incorporate environmental considerations and resource efficiency into the homebuilding and land development process to maximize efficiencies.
As the process was moving ahead, it was determined that many SAHBA builders already were incorporating green build technologies, products and practices in their existing construction standards as many SAHBA builders already were achieving minimum certification.
MPA's common ground celebration recognizes leaders whose community involvement affects positive change in metro Pima County. It recognizes community projects resulting from unique and successful partnerships.
"SAHBA's green build council could become the authority on green building in Southern Arizona," says Terry Klipp, MPA board president. "They certainly have the technical expertise and real-world experience. "To me, it would be in the best interest of the community for the area jurisdictions to continue their collaborative spirit with SAHBA to further the principles of green building."
Klipp commends SAHBA for reaching out to governmental, environmental and business representatives. "It would be a shame if the spirit of collaboration dies now that the award has been presented," says Klipp. "The public has embraced green building. The city and county have found common ground with SAHBA. It's a collaboration that should continue and expand to other issues in our community."
Photo Caption: MPA honored SAHBA with a Common Ground Award. From left: MPA President Terry Klipp; Richard Barna of Pepper-Viner Homes; David Godlewski, SAHBA government affairs; and Michael Guymon, MPA executive director.
SAHBA Hosts Financial Workshop
SAHBA hosted the "Working with Your Bank in Times of Financial Crisis" seminar Dec. 17. Ken Zehm, former regional president of First National Bank of Arizona, was a guest speaker at the event and shared his retail, construction lending and mortgage experience. Chuck Myers, a former senior vice president for Compass Bank was also a guest speaker and shared his background in liquidation involving analyzing, restructuring, foreclosing and monitoring loan problems.
2009 SAHBA Officers and Directors Elected
The Executive Nomination Committee introduces its members that will serve as 2009 board of directors.
Executive Nominees
Chair: Steve Washburn of Washburn Custom Builders
1st Vice Chair: Mike Whyde of Pepper Viner Homes
2nd Vice Chair: Ed Castelhano of Becklin Construction
Secretary: Martha Wright of Southwest Gas
Treasurer: John Shorbe Sr. of Canoa Development
2008 Past Chair: Randy Agron of A.F. Sterling Home Builders
Builder Directors
Brad Bauer of Bauer Homes
Craig Campbell of Miramonte Homes
Shawn Chlarson of Pulte Homes
Jeff Grobstein of Meritage Homes
Dave Grounds of Dorn Homes
Bob Kirk of Southwest Desert Images
Al LeCocq of LeCocq Construction
Mike Leung of Red Point Development
Sanjay Madhvani of Sombra Homes
John McCaleb of McCaleb Construction
Eric Montgomery of DR Horton Homes
Steve Moore of Richmond American Homes
Merrill Niles of Niles Custom Homes
Bill Viner of Pepper Viner Homes
Jeff Willmeng of Willmeng Homes
Associate Directors
Michael Bolchalk of Bolchalk FReY Marketing
Erin Fitzgerald of First American Title
Brigid Gannon of Gannon Utility Consulting
Dan Hogan of Tucson Electric Power
Steve King of Fidelity National Title Agency
Dennis Merideth of OneSource Benefit Planning
Marty Mincer of Southern Arizona Glassworks
Wocky Redsar of WVR Consulting
Mike Rutherford of Rutherford Diversified Industries
Carl Schroeder of Kadon Realty
John Strobeck of Bright Future Business Consultants
