We Recently Celebrated 50 Years . . . 1957-2007
The Home Builders Association of Berks County:
"Building Pride in our Community"
The Home Builders Association of Berks County was accepted as an Affiliate Local Association of the National Association of Home Builders and received its charter May 26, 1957. Byron W. Whitman of Whitman Builders (Berkshire Greens) served as the first President.
Over the span of 50 years, the HBA has grown from a small group of builders to over 700 company members strong. Currently, the Home Builders Association is the 7th largest association in the state of Pennsylvania.
The Association continues to be guided by its mission the goals of which are to: inform, educate, take legislative action, provide a forum for business and professional interaction, and assist HBA members in the operation of their businesses. One word which exemplifies our mission is EDUCATION because all of the mission goals are a form of education.
Member Education
In the early 1970’s, builder members organized a Carpenter Apprentice Training Program to train young people to become Journeyman Carpenters. The HBA of Berks County has the longest continuously running Carpenter Apprentice Training Program in the nation. As times change, so does the format of education. Currently the program is being phased out.
The HBA within the last 12 years has sponsored a Student Chapter at the Reading-Muhlenberg Vo-Tech School and is looking to establish chapters at the Berks Career & Technology Centers. An Annual Career day is held in the spring for students to “shadow” HBA members experiencing the real working world.
The Home Builders Association Education Committee has provided over the years educational opportunities such as CGR and GBI Certification, seminars for example – storm water permits, IRC Building Codes, Computer Technology, small business management, Time Management. The Education Committee is looking into the Home Builders Institute from the National Association of Home Builders.
In the 1980’s and 90’s, the Association held annual Table Top Nights to allow especially the associate members to showcase their newest products and services. After a lapse of a few years, this event has taken a bold step forward. The HBA Product and Services Show featuring the Remodelers Awards Program was established to provide our remodeler members the opportunity to showcase their work to the membership and consumers alike and provide a venue for product and technological education. The Remodelers Awards Program formerly called the Remodelers Merit Recognition Program was initially held on the annual Awards Night in December. Through project photos and descriptions, remodeler members are able to “tell their story”.
The HBA publishes a monthly newsletter, “Builder’s Minutes” to keep the membership informed concerning HBA activities/events as well as legislative news of importance.
Consumer Education
The Home Builders Association is well known for two major consumer events – Home Show and Parade of Homes. In the early years of the Association, the Home show was held at the Reading Fairgrounds. The show moved to the UGI Building, Berkshire Mall, Penn State Berks Campus and to its new home in 2007, the Greater Reading Expo Center. In 2007, the Home Builders Association is partnering with Show Technology to produce the largest Home and Garden Show in the region. Over the years, thousands of consumers have been afforded the opportunity to speak directly to the experts and learn about the newest products and services available in Berks County.
A Fall Home Show was held for a few years at Fairgrounds Square Mall and Albright College but was discontinued. The Association is again looking into holding such an event. The Fall Home Show was designed to help our remodeler members in the 1990’s during the recession.
In 1993, one of the HBA’s Past President’s had a vision to establish an event which would truly showcase the work of the builder members of the HBA -- The Parade of Homes. Now in its 15th year, the Parade of Home showcases the quality work of builders in every price range. Every year about 25,000 consumers take an educational tour of homes in every corner of the county.
For approximately 10 years, the Home Builders Association has been publishing an annual directory and home buyer’s guide. This book is a wealth of information for the consumer listing the HBA membership as well as member products and services.
The HBA has moved into the age of computers. Within the past two years the HBA website is up and running. This is the place to go for information concerning the HBA in a nutshell!!
The Voice of the Construction Industry
The HBA has become the voice of the housing industry in Berks County over the past six years through the work of the Governmental Affairs Committee. The committee is politically active on the local and state levels striving to help our elected officials understand the importance of housing to the economy of Berks County and the state and nation as a whole while providing affordable housing for the Berks County community. Recently the committee has been focusing on the “Growing Greener Initiative” and Smart Growth. The Committee sponsors a Legislative Breakfast in the spring to give our members the opportunity to interact one on one with our elected Representatives and Senators in Harrisburg. The Association is a member of the Smart Growth Alliance, Chamber of Commerce, Greater Reading Board of Realtors and Berks Economic Partnership.
Building Pride in Our Community
The Home Builders Association of Berks County is proud to be a member of the Berks County community. We feel it is our responsibility and privilege to “give something back” to the community in which we live. Over the years, the Home Builders Association has remodeled and built a ramp for a wheel-chair bound teen, participated in Habitat for Humanity program, constructed a bridge for access by the physically challenged to enjoy the outdoors, built a pavilion for troubled youth, collected monies to help victims of 911 and Katrina, and because of 911 became a toy drop off site and collected toys for the Toys for Tots program. In 2007, we will hold the first annual Poker Run in June to raise money for the Reading Police Department. The Association is an active member of the Berks County community striving to become involved with new projects yearly.
Award Winning Association
The members of the Home Builders Association of Berks County and community at large should be very proud of this Association. Since 2001, the Home Builders Association has been the recipient of six prestigious awards -- Association Excellence Awards presented by the National Association of Home Builders. The Association has been judged “the best” by its peers: Best Service Delivered – Remodelers Award Program, Best Public Relations Program – Toys for Tots, Best Political Action Program Administered – Amity Township Initiative, Best Political Action Program Delivered – Growing Greener Initiative, Best HBA Partnership – Smart Growth Alliance, and Best Regional Award - Workforce Development.
As we look ahead, the Home Builders Association will continue to grow, change, and conquer new challenges but we will remain steadfast in providing leadership for the housing industry and building pride in our community – Berks County.
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