Membership Drive
Digital Magazine
IBS Member Recaps
Battle of the Dakotas
April 2024
Monday, April 8, 2024 Legislative Committee *Virutal - 12noon CT/11am MT Thursday, April 11, 2024 Executive Committee *Virtual - 7:15am CT/6:15am MT
Calendar of Events
Spring In-Person Committees & Board of Directors Meeting
Thursday, April 25, 2024 There will be a casual Welcome Reception on Thursday evening, onsite or within walking distance of the Tru by Hilton. Additional details will be provided. The social is sponsored by Mendel’s Masonry. Friday, April 26, 2024 All meetings take place at the Tru by Hilton, Charleston Room, in Deadwood, SD. Meeting times listed in Mountain Time. 7:30am – 8:45am: Workforce Development Committee Kurt Preszler & Daniel Glammeier Membership Services Committee Terri Phelps & James Elijah 9am – 10am: Legislative Committee Peter Ronning & Jay Mendel 10:15 – 11:15am SDHB PAC Kim Hefner & Doug Top Guest: Lake Coulson from NAHB 12:45pm – 3:15pm: Board of Directors Meeting All Board of Directors, Alternate Directors and Executive Officers received the Board Packet via email on March 26, 2024. The information may also be found at sdhomebuilders.com in the Members Only section (log in required.) For additional information, email rachel@sdhomebuilders.com
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HBA Rebates
Bill Ownens, NAHB Second Vice Chair with Candice Menke, SD National Associate Delegate accepting her Life Director Status and Jordan Hefner accepting his Region C Young Professional Award at the 2024 International Builders Show.
4 Tony Kneeland: The President's Letter 6 Executive Vice President's Message 8 Membership Drive: The Race is On... 10 NAHB Updates with State Rep, Jordan Hefner 12 PAC Updates with PAC Trustee, Kim Hefner 14 Battle of the Dakotas - SD vs. ND 16 NAHB Updates with National Associate Delegate, Candi Menke 18 HBA Rebate Program - SDHBA Exclusive Savings 20 NAHB Updates with Duane Bickett 22 Thanks for 38 Years, Duane!
Catch up on how our SDHBA Builder Members have access to brands that offer exclusive rebates on your residential builds!
It's SD vs. ND for the Battle of the Dakotas 2024 BUILD-PAC Competition!
On the Cover
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Hello SDHBA Members, I hope this message finds you all well and in good spirits. I wanted to take a moment to share some highlights and movements forward for the Association. The most recent executive committee meeting was productive and engaging, and I'm excited to fill you in on what went down. I kicked off the meeting by sharing my experience at the Lumberman’s Convention. We made some solid connections there and have been invited back to the 2025 Convention. It's certainly something worth considering as we plan ahead. I’ve asked Daniel to consider the event in the 2025 budget – that conversation will be here again before we know it! Thank you to Peter Ronning, our Legislative Chair, for his excellent leadership during the South Dakota Legislative Session. We truly appreciate your dedication. I would also like to thank the Legislative Committee for being very engaged it was good to see the participation on the zoom calls week in and week out during the session. Our Strategic Plan, which serves as our guiding compass, was a key focus of our discussions. We recognized the importance of working together to implement its action items effectively. A significant milestone was reached when we unanimously agreed on the action items list, a clear sign of our association's unified direction and progress. We also had some insightful discussions on task assignments. Each goal was allocated to specific committees, ensuring focused efforts and progress. It's all about teamwork and collaboration. The executive committee assigned Internal Communication tasks to the Member Services Committee, Advocacy tasks to the Legislative Committee, Governance tasks to the Executive Committee, and the Service to Locals tasks will begin with the Senior Officers. In financial news, Treasurer Daniel Glammeier proposed an innovative sponsorship-sharing idea for our annual banquet. The motion passed successfully, emphasizing our commitment to supporting both local and state levels. We were all reminded of the importance of the codes of conduct. All SDHBA board members and alternates are asked to sign and return the document to the SDHBA office. Thank you for your continued dedication and support of our South Dakota Home Builders Association. It's your passion and commitment that drive our association forward, and I'm honored to be part of such a dynamic community. Here's to continued progress and success in all our endeavors! Tony Kneeland 2024 SDHBA President
Tony Kneeland 2024 SDHBA President
SDHBA Nuts & Bolts Digital Magazine is powered by members!
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Rachel Dix Executive Vice President
Hey Members & Industry Supporters, April kicks off our Federation-wide Membership Recruitment Drive! Who can you share the membership opportunities with to grow and empower the advocacy efforts for the residential building industry in South Dakota? Construction professionals join their local home builders association and immediately unlock their 3:1 Membership benefits. Members benefit from local, state, and national opportunities. As you grow with your local membership, the state HBA connects you with chances and networking with others in your fields from all corners of South Dakota. Advocacy and Representation: At SDHBA, we understand the importance of having a unified voice in advocating for the interests of the home building industry. By joining forces, businesses gain a powerful platform to influence legislation and regulations that shape our industry's landscape. Our statewide Legislative Committee stays highly connected during the SD Legislative Session and maintains conversations throughout the year. Access to Industry Insights and Education: We are committed to keeping our members well-informed and set with the latest industry knowledge and skills. Through educational programs during committee meetings, we empower businesses to stay ahead of the curve and excel in their efforts. Networking Opportunities: Building meaningful connections is vital in today's business world. Through our events and discussions, construction professionals have the chance to grow valuable partnerships, explore new opportunities, and stay connected with industry trends and developments. Recognition and Credibility: Membership with SDHBA signifies a commitment to excellence and integrity in the South Dakota residential construction industry. Businesses associated with us are recognized as industry leaders, enhancing their credibility and reputation among clients and peers. Business Development and Exposure: We take pride in promoting our members and their accomplishments. By being part of SDHBA, businesses gain increased visibility and exposure, leading to enhanced brand recognition and new business prospects. Participation in Industry Initiatives: As a member-driven organization, we value businesses' active involvement in our initiatives. Whether supporting community projects or advocating for affordable housing, businesses can make a meaningful impact aligned with their values. In conclusion, joining SDHBA through your local association is more than just an affiliation—it's a strategic investment in your business's success and growth. Together, we can build a brighter future for the South Dakota residential construction industry. I invite you to take the leap and join us on this exciting journey towards excellence and innovation. Contact your local association to JOIN NOW or connect with the SDHBA office for more information. Together, we all build!
"You are invited to join!" #WeAllBuild
Joining SDHBA is a simple process. Begin by contacting the local association nearest you. Scan the code to learn more about the seven local associations in SD or contant the SDHBA office at 605.224.2761.
Rachel Dix Executive Vice President South Dakota Home Builders Association rachel@sdhomebuilders.com
We look forward to seeing you in Deadwood, SD on April 25 & 26 for the Spring Membership Gatherings. All SD Board of Directors, Alternate Directors and Executive Officers received their board packet via email on March 26, 2024. Additional details are found in the members only portal on the SDHBA website. For more information, email rachel@sdhomebuilders.com
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Get ready to rev your engines with NAHB’s 2024 Membership Drive Program. This is where the local HBAs hit the gas on membership recruitment and retention. Let’s ignite the passion of the home building industry professionals. This year’s race promises to be one of excitement, growth, and opportunity. We invite all our members to join us on the speedway to shape the future of the home building industry and drive positive change. To celebrate the spirit of camaraderie and encourage all members to join the fun, NAHB has announced the offering of three prize categories. These categories are based on the net growth of Builder and Associate Members, starting at 3%, 5% & 7%. The more members we recruit and retain, the higher the chances of winning these exciting prizes. Feel free to spend a moment exploring the NAHB website and discover the plethora of resources at your disposal to supercharge your membership and retention strategies. Our membership drive isn't just an invitation; it's a high-octane opportunity to steer the industry towards a brighter tomorrow with turbo-charged momentum. It doesn’t matter what kind of vehicle you drive, as long as you’re ready to join the race! Whether you’re cruising in a sleek sports car or navigating the streets in a three-quarter ton, NAHB welcomes all drivers to join the track! Let’s hit the road together—because in this race, everyone wins when they join their local, state, and national home builders’ association! Drivers, start your engines! Terri Phelps, SDHBA 2024 Pace Car Driver
Terri Phelps Membership Services Chair
Membership Drive 2024 The Race is On… April 1 through June 30th
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All Local Associations must register with NAHB by April 30 to be eligible for prizes. Check with your Local Association. The Drive details are found on the NAHB website. Scan the QR code for more information. The 2025 NAHB International Builders’ Show is Feb. 25-27 in Las Vegas. HBAs who qualify for a prize can pick a member to enjoy complimentary registration and travel stipend to attend the show. It’s a great way to help a member attend IBS for their first time or thank a top member recruiter.
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I started the 2024 IBS trip a little earlier this year than I have in the past. I knew I wanted to be on-site Saturday morning to attend the State Reps meeting. We had a great conversation in that meeting revolving around the duties of the state representatives and how to best bring the information that NAHB shares with us to the general membership in our state. From this conversation, it was brought forward for each state to produce a State Representative newsletter. This is in process right now and I hope to be rolling out my first one in May of 2024. My hope after this meeting is that this short newsletter will be a way for me to have more communication with members around the state as well as getting the national message out to our local organizations. Throughout IBS, there are quite a few meetings that happen before and during the show that the general membership doesn’t typically hear about. Of course, we have working groups, subcommittees, committee meetings, educational events, and fun after-hours happy hours. But there is also quite a bit of general NAHB business during this meeting. I sat in on both sessions of the NAHB corporate board meeting while in Las Vegas, and it was quite an eye-opener to the sheer size and reach of our organization. I got to hear quite a lot of information at these meetings including a deeper dive into how NAHB plans to implement the three-year strategic plan that we just went through in 2023, the general performance of NAHB, and its subsidiaries. As well as a portion of NAHB that I didn’t even know existed until this year, the Home Building Industry Disaster Relief Fund (HBIDRF). This fund is a 501(C) (3) charitable organization run by the NAHB and was established to assist areas affected by disaster to facilitate the rebuilding of communities. This fund has been assisting in Maui after the storms in 2023. Throughout my time at NAHB events, it never ceases to amaze me the reach that we have across the nation, and I am always looking forward to hearing more about the things that we can and have accomplished. The building materials subcommittee was held prior to IBS this year via Zoom call; this was due to time and space constraints during the week of the event. We had discussions on the continued rise in material cost in 2023 with certain materials, including drywall, concrete ready-mix ingredients, copper, and steel. The general outlook on softwood lumber, as well as many of the other materials we follow, has leveled off in comparison to what we have seen in the last 3-5 years. Our construction liability, risk management, and building materials committee has been focused on a few key areas in the past few years. Alternative building concepts such as 3D printed homes were a big topic again this year, we had John Peavey from the Home Innovation Research lab, which is an independent subsidiary of NAHB come in to share the results of the testing they have been running on these 3D printed Concrete wall structures. This is an ongoing project that they have been working on, and they have been able to identify some key areas that need to be addressed as the market for these products grows. The first and biggest is that these companies need to have a standardized process for cities and municipalities to build codes around the product. Overall, it is a very intriguing process. Another of our main focuses in the last few meetings has been a form in the contractors’ general liability insurance form. We received an update from David Humphreys from Carson Law Group out of Jackson, MS, on this, as he is working on gathering information on construction defect claims with insurance carriers. My biggest takeaway from the NAHB Construction Safety and Health meeting was that we now have an NAHB job site safety App! This app was just rolled out after the Construction safety and health meeting at IBS and brings access to your fingertips of our Handbook, safety videos and NAHB safety news. The app is free to download on both IOS and Android platforms and is available in English and Spanish. The construction safety and health committee has been working on videos for the past few years that are on this app that can be used in employee training and general jobsite safety. The Young Professionals meeting was quite eventful this meeting. We had quite a few special guests that stopped in to continue the conversation on how NAHB can attract new membership, retain its growing Young professional presence, and bring the association into a new era. We spoke with our new chairman, Carl Harris, our third vice chairman, Bill Owens, and our CEO, Jim Tobin, along with some other staff members, including the chief operating officer, Paul Lopez. We had a good update regarding our partnership with Manual, which is a digital wellness platform specifically built for young men; this is designed and promoted to the young professional age group and is meant to help improve different areas in life, including mental health, personal finance, purpose, Nutrition and sleep along with other areas. As we were made aware of this program last year, we have had some great discussions about the young professional mindset and the challenges that go along with running your own business or being in management of the business that you are in, the challenges that come with being in the professional world as you are raising young children. The meeting of the members was where we were able to hear the economic outlook directly from Dr. Rob Dietz, NAHB’s chief economist. The leadership council is a great place to hear updates from the senior officers, staff and other committees along with voting on new resolutions and doing other NAHB business. The Best of IBS judging for 2024 was in the Best of Windows and Doors category, another new opportunity that I took advantage of this year. It is always really eye-opening to see the new products out on the national market. Pella Windows took home the prize this year for a new installation system on its windows. Their booth included an area where you could go install a window with the new system yourself. I volunteered at the membership hub, where nonmembers could sign up to be NAHB members while at the show. I also participated in a new leadership round table on Sunday. It was a good way to bring new people together with some long-term members and senior officers to discuss how to get the most out of the IBS experience. The week of IBS always goes fast, but 2024 was the busiest and most exciting of the NAHB events I have ever participated in. I always look forward to our events, and I feel like our group from South Dakota really showed up and made the most of the week!
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Jordan Hefner SD State Representative
Jordan Hefner won the NAHB Region C Young Professionals Award during the 2024 IBS. Congrats, Jordan!
- JordanHefner
As your newly elected Build PAC trustee for South Dakota, I thought it wise to refresh myself on all things Build PAC, so I started my week at IBS by attending the NEW Trustee Orientation session. Our legal counsel, Mark Braden, gave us an overview of the “do’s and don’t” of Build PAC. We discussed how to keep everyone within the law, as well as how to disburse checks to candidates (and the protocol for not combining check presentations at the same time as discussing advocacy issues). We also reviewed how to maintain relationships with Members of Congress and our grassroots efforts of fundraising. This was a very informative session and will help us to kickstart our Build PAC effort in 2024. Doug Top and I look forward to assisting other associations with a Build PAC event. At the Build PAC Trustee meeting, we again reviewed the responsibilities of a Build PAC Trustee and how we can all stay in compliance with Federal Guidelines that govern PACs. As an update to our financials, we have raised $1.91M of our $3.25M goal for this two-year cycle. We have disbursed $1.12M to candidates and have $1.3M on hand. Since this is an election year, we will need to raise more dollars for Build PAC to meet our goals. South Dakota led the Associate's Challenge, as we added 15 new members who gave in this cycle. We will continue that charge and try to win this challenge. Thank you to Candi Menke for leading us in this drive. As I’ve discussed before, we do use a Grading System in the Trustee meeting when giving money to members of Congress and candidates for Congress seats. We changed the Candidate Ratings Reporting System during our Trustee meeting. We will now be awarding more points to those in Key Leadership Roles in Congress (i.e., Speaker, Majority Leader & Whip, Minority Leader & Whip, Secretary and Caucus Chairs, etc.). This assists us with the Grading System we use to disburse money to candidates. We will continue to use our Key Votes system to Grade members of Congress.
Check out the Key Wins of 2023 on the next page. These are just a few ways that NAHB is working for us and what your Build PAC dollars go towards supporting. Lastly, as a side note, both Jim Tobin (CEO) and Lake Coulson (Chief Lobbyist) stated multiple times during our week in Vegas that part of our NEW NAHB Strategic Plan is to continue on with our Advocacy Goals. We need to step up our game to lawmakers in Congress so they come to the US prior to introducing bills…we ARE the industry experts, and we want to always be TOP OF MIND to lawmakers when it comes to housing. We may not always agree, and bills may be introduced that we don’t agree with, but we ALWAYS want to be the “GO TO” experts in housing.
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Kim Hefner Second Vice President SD PAC Trustee
Quick Glance - 2023 Key Wins
- Kim K. Hefner
1. NAHB Chairman Alicia Huey testified in the House on the flawed WOTUS rule. Texas home builder Frank Murphy also testified in the House Small Business Committee against it. These efforts led to the House and Senate passing a joint resolution of disapproval calling on Biden to rescind it. 2. Rob Dietz (Chief Economist for NAHB) testified before the Senate Banking Committee on the barriers we face when trying to build Affordable Housing. He asked Congress to pass legislation to alleviate bottlenecks on the supply side, ease regulations that hinder housing, and promote the skilled trades. Throughout 2023, NAHB went on to testify 6 times on these issues, along with repealing onerous regulations, speeding up permitting times and boosting the housing supply. 3. Within ONE week of our June 2023 legislative conference, the House approved the REINS Act, and the House approved two gas stove bills (defending a consumer’s right to have gas stoves and use natural gas to fuel their homes). 4. Transformers—The House Energy and Commerce Committee passed HR 4167 in December, which would repeal the DOE’s authority to impose any new energy efficiency standards for the next five years. 5. Workforce—The House Committee on Education & the Workforce approved NAHB-supported legislation that reaffirms congressional support for Job Corps and would help address the shortages in our nation’s skilled labor arena.
Build PAC has an all-new website which is Buildpac.org. YOU, as a member, can go to this site and do the following: Contribute directly to Build PAC See where we are in our efforts of fundraising in South Dakota (and nationwide) See our members of Congress and their contact information Meet the team of Build PAC officers and our support staff Get talking points monthly to help you talk intelligently about key issues facing housing Learn how to set up a Government Affairs Committee in your local association …most importantly…sign up for Builderlink. Builderlink is how we can easily communicate with our members of Congress when there is a hot topic on the Senate or House floor that we need to take action on quickly.With a few “clicks of a button,” you can send a pre-written letter to our Congressional Delegation asking for their support of home building issues. Thank you all for the opportunity to serve South Dakota as your BuildPAC trustee. I look forward to many discussions in the upcoming year regarding how we’re doing. Doug Top and I are COMMITTED to coming to any local that needs help with a Build PAC event. Call us, and we will help you plan, hold the event, and send in your Build PAC Dollars. Don't miss out on the exciting Battle of the Dakotas! We've challenged North Dakota to see which state can grow their PAC investments most in 2024 - find all the details in the next pages!
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Contributions to BUILD-PAC are completely voluntary. You may choose not to contribute without reprisal. Contributions to BUILD-PAC will be used for political purposes and are not tax deductible for federal income tax purposes. Federal law requires political action committees to report the name, mailing address, occupation and name of employer for each individual whose contribution exceeds $200 in a calendar year. Foreign nationals cannot contribute to BUILD-PAC.
It's SD vs. ND for the Battle of the Dakotas 2024 BUILD-PAC Competition! BUILD-PAC investments from March 18 - September 30, 2024, will be counted towards the competition. There are TWO WAYS to help South Dakota win! Make a FIRST-TIME Investment of $25 or more! INCREASE your Contribution Level! Check with your local association about their upcoming BUILD-PAC events. Offer your investment, and it will go towards the competition! OR Contribute directly to BUILD-PAC at www.buildpac.org/contribute "If You're in Business, You're in Politics!" Learn more about BUILD-PAC here: www.buildpac.org/about-build-pac/ *First-time investments are those who have never invested before or whose last investment was in 2022 or before. *Example of Investment Growth: a Century Club member going to a Gold Key = $900 towards this bucket or a 2023 “Contributor” of $20 invests $100 = $80 towards this bucket *Minimum Contribution to be included in the competition is $25
Battle of the Dakotas is brought to you by the South Dakota Home Builders Political Action Committee & the North Dakota Home Builders Political Action Committee.
Candice Menke National Associate Delegate
Membership as of February 2024: NAHB: 131,757 | 76.3% Retention Builders = 39,076 Associates= 73,411 Affiliates =14,18 Students= 5,089 SDHBA: 1,810 | 82.4% Retention
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S. Robert August
The International Builder Show, in its 80th year, was nothing short of AMAZING. You may have already heard, but we had record-breaking attendance, exhibitors, and vendors. This was the largest attendance in 15 years. There were more than 1800 Exhibitors reported for the IBS – but combined with the KBIS, they reported having over 2400 Exhibitors and well over 117,000 attendees. The exhibitors occupied over one million net sq feet- my feet can attest to this, and I didn’t cover it all! There was so much to see – I swear I saw the largest toilet in the world (an actual toilet). IBS and KBIS will continue to collaborate with each other in Design and Construction Week for another 4 years, bringing us through 2030. Plan to attend next year Feb 25th-27th. What always seems to amaze me at the show is the number of attendees who are not members. In years past, there has been a focus on attempting to identify those and working to improve our membership by getting more members from the show. We will see this addressed by membership going forward.
Judy Dinelle Dianne Beaton Mike Fournier
Membership Drive—This will again be a Net builder—associate drive. If the local exceeds 6.99% or higher, they will get 3x the credits and are eligible for the (2) $1000 travel stipend to the show. Below this are 2x points and 1 travel stipend. Be sure each local signs up, and there will be more to come as this starts in April. Robert August reached an unheard-of milestone in recruiting members. Robert has surpassed 5,000 Spike Credits - which are awarded after a member joins the Federation or renews their membership -- making him the most successful recruiter in NAHB history. Onward and Upward, Robert! Our Young Professionals group has really taken off, recruiting 96 new YPs from over 12 locals. This has really shown itself to be a wonderful way to grow our membership, and we look forward to seeing these numbers excel at our next meeting. I was nominated for Associate of the Year. It is an honor and privilege to be acknowledged by my fellow associates. It was a great group that was nominated. Judy Dinelle received this year's award, and she is so deserving of it. Dianne Beaton received the Associate Advocate for Build Pac, and Mike Fournier was the BEAM award winner. They are all so deserving! Jordan Hefner received the Young Professional award for Region C. Jordan is so extremely deserving of this award and very honored that we could nominate him and have him represent SD. It was great to celebrate him and spend time with so many NAHB friends! At the Meeting of the Members, Dr. Robert Dietz, NAHB’s lead economist hit on some forecasts for the housing industry – Interest rate hikes are on pause right now. The Fed plans to cut rates 2-3 times this coming year, starting no earlier than June. While the Fed rate doesn’t impact the 30-year mortgage rate directly – we should continue to see it decline, and it's forecasted to level off into the mid 5’s by 2025. Which is good news for home buyers. Skilled labor shortages will persist – there were over 449,000 open positions in the construction sector. The one that hits hard is that Regulatory Costs are $93,870 per new home!!Regulations have impacted the cost of constructing a new home by this absurd figure – which makes fighting regulation even more important and stresses the importance of donating to Build-PAC. Jim Tobin, NAHB CEO, hit on the 5 Pillars of the strategic plan: NAHB as a Federation, Membership Growth and Engagement, Advocacy for our Industry, Workforce Development, and Public Perception. The focus is to continue to fight for affordable housing and oppose regulations driving housing costs higher. During the Leadership Council meeting, Bob Peterson was elected as our Third Vice Chairman. Ralph Siemonsma received his Senior Life Director, and I had the honor of finally receiving my Life Director. Thank you for allowing me to serve as your SD National Associate Delegate.
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Fun in Vegas with several NAHB Members
Bill Ownes, NAHB Second Vice Chairman, & Candice Menke celebrating her Life Director Status at IBS 2024.
- Candi Menke
"Receiving my Life Director status is a huge honor and I am so extremely thankful for the opportunity to have served our State as well as our National Association for all these years. There is lots of work yet to be done, and I am so grateful for the opportunity. I have been appointed to serve on both Membership and Associates for NAHB this year and look forward to representing South Dakota."
Kim Klein HBA Rebates
Happy building and saving! Kim Klein – HBA Rebates Scan to Sign Up!
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Hey there, fellow HBA members! I've got some exciting news to share with you all about a fantastic benefit available to us through our HBA Rebates Program. If you haven't already tapped into this resource, now's the perfect time to do so! Here's why: Cost Savings: Let's start with the obvious—saving money! Who doesn't love that? By participating in HBA Rebates and submitting your quarterly rebate claim, you can earn exclusive rebates on over 60 participating manufacturers and services, helping you offset, or possibly negate the financial investment in your annual membership dues. Increased Profit Margins: Lower costs mean higher profits! By taking advantage of these rebates, you can beef up your profit margins, giving you a leg-up in the market without compromising on quality. Competitive Advantage: Membership has its advantages.Builder and Remodeler members qualify for this exclusive membership benefit. The primary perquisite to participate and earn back valuable manufacturer rebates is being an active Builder Member of the association. Non-Member Builders will not qualify to participate. Business Efficiency: Time is money, right? The quarterly claiming process is easy in effort to minimize the time dedicated to preparing your HBA Rebates claim. There is no need to submit your receipts with your HBA Rebates claim. The dedicated HBA Rebates team is available to provide guidance and support through your claiming experience. Access to Quality Products and Services: Quality matters, and with HBA Rebates, you are likely to find that you are already using qualifying materials from the participating manufacturers. Your material purchasing does not need to change ensuring you deliver nothing but the best to your clients. Diversification of Product Offerings: Looking to expand your offerings? Rebates on a variety of products and services encourage you to diversify your portfolio, meeting the diverse needs of your clients and staying ahead of the curve. HBA Rebates is committed to including rebate programs from the top manufacturers in their classification. Collaboration with Industry Partners: Building strong relationships with industry partners is key to success. By participating in HBA Rebates, Builder members receive the same manufacturer rebate rewards as that of the Top 5 National Builders. Support for Association Initiatives: Your participation matters! By utilizing HBA Rebates, you're not only benefiting your own business but also supporting the association's initiatives, ensuring it continues to provide valuable resources to all its members. Demonstration of Industry Commitment: Last but not least, by actively participating in HBA Rebates, you're showing your dedication to the growth and success of the home building industry. Talk about making a positive impact! So, what are you waiting for? Dive into HBA Rebates Program today and start reaping the rewards. It's a win-win for everyone involved!
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I’m sure by now most members have heard or read about the size and success of our recent International Builders Show and Design and Construction Week held in Las Vegas in late February. All the stats from this year's show are above all expectations in their categories. First is attendance, moving this year’s show into the lead over 2009 with over 105,000 attendees. Combined with the National Kitchen and Bath Show (KBIS), the show floor had over1.5 million square feet of display space with 2240 exhibitors. The international groups are coming back to the show after the post-Covid disruptions. Poland led the groups with the most exhibitors and attendees, edging out China for the first time in recent memory. The post-show survey of exhibitors showed great satisfaction, with many exhibitors already signed up for next year’s show. Overall, a great show for attendees, exhibitors, and NAHB’s budget. Some highlights of the business part of the show: NAHB continues to put pressure on the administration to increase the use of emergency powers to get more electrical transformers into the market to get buildable lots online for the spring building season, and the anticipated jump in housing starts due to interest rate declines by fall. The administration chose to use the Emergency Powers Act to research and develop energy-efficient electric stoves and ranges. Due to the erratic nature of the enforcement and interpretation of the Waters of the US (WOTUS), NAHB passed a resolution to speed up the approval of permits and start better understanding the current regulations. Key among them is a resolution by NAHB to put a 60-day limit on decisions by the EPA. Once all information has been gathered and submitted and all questions answered, the EPA will have 60 days to act on the permit, or it is automatically approved. We’ve yet to hear the EPA’s response. After the show, Congress passed a budget to continue funding the government through September. Due to persistent lobbying efforts by NAHB, the funding for Job Corp was included in the bill. This also fully funds HBI’s efforts to train more skilled tradespeople for the building industry. On the Public Relations front, the work continues to educate members and the administration on the faults in the 2021 International Building Code due to regulations to increase energy efficiency well beyond the reasonable time frames it takes to achieve any payback of the initial cost. Training programs are in place to train members in the code changes in the 2024 code: NAHB’s preferred methods. The Washington Post came out with an editorial outlining the increases in the cost of homes under the 2021 codes. Also, working with HBI to show that there are 490,000 to 500,000 construction jobs open, with a huge number of skilled workers in the US retiring every day! The new NAHB strategic plan was unveiled at the meetings with much enthusiasm from the members, Senior Officers, and staff. It is an interesting read and available on NAHB.org. The Area 10 Caucus discussed the success of the Area 10 Leadership Training held last fall in Minneapolis and plans for next year’s event. The Area 10 Reception was a success as we hosted members of our 5 states as well as the student chapters that attended the show. Tim Ruth from Iowa concluded his 2-year term as National Area Chairman and turned over the caucus leadership to Don Dabbert from North Dakota, who was also elected NAC Moderator for their group. Thank you to Tim for his leadership, and welcome and congratulations to Don on his election. After 38 years, approximately 150 State Board meetings, 20 years of service as State Rep and National Area Chairman, this is my last report to the Board of Directors of the SDHBA. I leave you in the very capable hands of our new State Rep, Jordan Hefner of Sioux Falls. I have all the confidence in the world in Jordan to help lead our group into the future and congratulate him on his Young Professional of the Year award presented to him at this year’s IBS. As I contemplated my retirement from the SDHBA board, I was graciously offered and accepted an alternate Builder Director position due to my membership and involvement in the Black Hills Home Builders Association. I will continue to work on some exciting new programs with our student chapters and the Workforce Development Committee. I am and was honored to serve the members of the SDHBA on the State and National levels and have formed lifelong friendships with many great people across our state. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to serve the building industry all these years.
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Duane Bickett Past State Representative
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Thanks for 38 Years, Duane!
"After 38 years, approximately 150 State Board meetings, 20 years of service as State Rep and National Area Chairman, this is my last report to the Board of Directors of the SDHBA...." Thank you, Duane. SDHBA wishes you a grand retirement from your State Representative position as we reflect on your achievements and contributions to the industry. In the history of the South Dakota residential building industry, there are figures whose names become synonymous with dedication, service, and excellence. Among these faces stands Duane Bickett, a titan whose contributions have shaped our industry and inspired countless individuals. Reflecting on Duane's journey through the halls of our community, one cannot help but marvel at the extent and depth of his impact. His story begins with humble roots as a builder member in 1985. Little did anyone know then that Duane would become a driving force behind transformative change within our industry and Federation. Committees chaired, boards of directors led, offices held—these are but a few chapters in Duane's storied career. From his tenure as president to his role as a Senior Life Director, Duane's leadership has been nothing short of exemplary. His dedication to fostering collaboration, innovation, and progress has left an memorable mark on our industry landscape. Yet, beyond the titles and accolades lies the essence of Duane's legacy: his unwavering commitment to community service. The Repair Affair program, conceived in 1993 and flourishing to this day, stands as a testament to his compassion and philanthropy. Through this initiative, hundreds of volunteers have come together to make critical repairs and improvements, ensuring that disabled and senior citizens can age gracefully in their homes. But Duane's impact extends far beyond our industry's borders. His involvement in organizations such as the South Dakota Slowpitch Softball Association and his dedication to charitable causes like the Make a Wish projects speak volumes about his character and values. Whether marching in support of high school bands or fundraising for after-graduation lock-in parties, Duane's generosity knows no bounds. Duane's commitment to excellence remains unwavering as he contemplates the next chapter of his journey. His vision for the future, rooted in inclusivity, sustainability, and progress, serves as a guiding light for us all. And though the road ahead may be fraught with challenges, we take solace in knowing that Duane's leadership will illuminate our path forward. Let's us raise our voices in celebration of Duane Bickett—an inspiration of hope, a pillar of strength, and a true champion of the residential building industry. May his legacy inspire generations as we strive to build a better, brighter future together. While Duane is retiring from the SDHBA Board of Directors as the State Representative after 20 years in the role, he has accepted an alternate Builder Director position from the Black Hills HBA. He is also looking forward to participating in more workforce development projects. But, overall, he is ready for more time with his family, especially his grandkids!
SDHBA Nuts & Bolts 22
"The reason passionate people never quit is because our kids & grandkids deserve a chance at having a good home, just like our parents and grandparents fought for us to afford a decent home." -Duane Bickett
Duane, Rhonda & their grands!
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