Threshold Oct 2018

OCTOBER 2018 

INSIDE 

KEEP YOUR FAMILY 

AND HOME SAFE 

OUTDOOR HOME 

MAINTENANCE CHORES 

ASSESS YOUR HOME’S 

EFFICIENCY 

PARADE OF HOMES

THRESHOLD IS A MONTHLY MAGAZINE PRESENTED BY 

THE GREATER CEDAR RAPIDS HOUSING & BUILDING ASSOCIATION 

FEATURES 

TABLE OF CONTENTS 

11 

KEEP YOUR FAMILY 

AND HOME SAFE WITH 

SMOKE DETECTORS 

6 

14 

ASSESS YOUR 

HOME’S EFFICIENCY 

WITH AN 

ENERGY AUDIT 

OUTDOOR HOME 

MAINTENANCE CHORES 

DEPARTMENTS 

9 SAVE THE DATE 

22 NEW MEMBERS 

A publication of the Greater Cedar Rapids 

Housing and Building Association 

25 GCRHBA BOARD 

26 THE SPIKE CLUB 

2 THRESHOLD OCTOBER 2018

EXECUTIVE OFFICER'S MESSAGE 

MELISSA 

OLSON 

October is our Fall 2018 Membership Drive! 

As a local association, we support and strongly encourage 

all of our members and the public to use our members 

who are building our community and leading the 

way in our building industry. If you know of someone 

in the building industry that would like to be a part of 

our family, now is the time to recruit them! 

Members will earn triple spike points for each new 

member recruited during the month of October.* As a 

member, recruiting new members to your local association 

is actively recognized and rewarded through the 

Spike Club. Those who participate are called Spikes, 

and they are the membership leaders of our association, 

building the voice, power and influence on every 

level, in every state. To become an official NAHB Spike 

Member you need six spike credits in a two year period. 

Spike credits are earned by recruiting and retaining 

NAHB and Council members. By recruiting two 

new members during the month of October, you can 

instantly become a Spike Member and enjoy the benefits! 

The benefits of becoming a spike are intangible: 

you are recognized for your contributions to the association 

and regarded as an accomplished and connected 

member. In addition, you will receive a coveted invitation 

to the biggest party of the year, the Spike Party at 

the International Builders’ Show®, increased visibility, 

recognition and networking opportunities at industry 

events, unique and valuable lapel pins for each level of 

achievement, and additional VIP treatment throughout 

the year. Members will also have a chance to win a trip 

to the 2019 NAHB IBS in Las Vegas and Napa Valley. 

Membership is one of the best decisions builders 

and associated industries can make. We all benefit from 

growing our premier network of building industry professionals. 

Time and again, members point to the 5 pillars 

of membership benefits – networking, knowledge, 

expertise, advocacy and savings – as pivotal points in 

the growth of their businesses. In 2017, builders saved 

an average of $7,500 per housing start as a result of 

NAHB’s advocacy victories and services. That figure 

demonstrates just how much value we deliver for our 

members and not only covers membership, but represents 

potential savings to homebuyers. 

I encourage you to look beyond your usual sources 

of leads to recruit new members. Take a close look at 

your lead list and see if there are additional opportunities 

to reach new prospects. Let your prospects know 

how membership truly benefits them both professionally 

and personally. 

Sincerely, 

Melissa Olson, Executive Officer 

Greater Cedar Rapids Housing & Building Association 

*Completed member application and payment must be received by the GCRHBA office by October 31, 2018. 

MEMBERSHIP VALUE 

A strong voice in Washington, Des Moines and 

in our local communities where you do business 

to help you defeat excessive regulations, defend 

affordable housing initiatives, and to protect your 

business. We fight for our members and that 

puts money and time back in your pocket! Our 

advocacy efforts include educating policymakers 

and the Administration, building successful 

coalitions, and mobilizing our grassroots on a 

range of issues. 

THRESHOLD OCTOBER 2018 3

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE 

October 2018 Presidents Message 

MIKE FARR 

Thank you for your membership and participation! 

Are you looking for workers? Kirkwood has 

students that are looking for internships and jobs 

as they graduate. Contact the HBA office or Kirkwood 

about finding a student! 

Look through this issue and see our 2nd honorary 

member! Please reach out and congratulate 

them for their time and service to our association! 

Our annual meeting in November will not only 

honor the 2 honorary members, but also our normal 

awards, plus 2 additional new awards! We are 

also going to acknowledge our Spike members. 

So Spikes, we will have a special gift for you, if 

you attend this meeting! We are also kicking off a 

new membership drive. Look for the details in an 

upcoming email from Melissa! 

On Wednesday, October 31st, we are going to 

have a “burn the mortgage luncheon.” It will be 

at the HBA office and we will be serving hamburgers 

and brats. Costumes are optional! Hope to see 

you there to help us celebrate this big event! 

We are in the middle of our Parade of Homes! 

If you haven’t already done so, I hope that you 

have a chance to get out and see the spectacular 

work done by our members! 

Please get us feedback on our new THRESH- 

OLD and website! We have an afterhours meeting 

a Suburban Lumber this month. I hope to see 

many of you there! 

Take Care, 

Mike Farr, President, Greater Cedar Rapids 

Housing & Building Association 

NETWORKING AFTER HOURS 

MEMBER EVENTS 

Suburban Lumber 

Oktoberfest 

Thursday, October 18 

5-7 PM 


2630 Wiley Blvd SW, Cedar Rapids 

See page 13 for more information. 

Mortgage Burning 

Luncheon 

Wednesday, October 31 

11:30 AM-1:30 PM 

GCRHBA Office 

350 Miller Road, Hiawatha 

See page 22 for more information. 


Greater Cedar Rapids Housing & Building Association members are invited 

to a breakfast and private showing of the Fall 2018 Parade of Homes! 

Wednesday, October 3 rd 

8:00 - 10:00 a.m. - Breakfast 

Join us for a made-to-order omelet bar, coffee, 

and networking at the Members Only breakfast. 

Hills Bank and Trust Company 

3905 Blairs Ferry Rd NE, Cedar Rapids 

Lower level - please park in the River of Life parking lot 

10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. - Tour 

Members Only Tour tickets are required to enter the homes. 

Stop by Hills Bank during breakfast to pick up your tickets. 

Cost: $20/member 

A FREE lunch coupon at any local Subway sponsored by 

The Gazette will be provided with your Members Only Tour ticket. 

Email your reservation by October 2 nd to eo@crhba.org. 

Members Only Breakfast Sponsored by: 

Member FDIC 


THIS FALL 

Don’t Ignore 

Outdoor Home 

Maintenance 

Chores 


The crisp weather of fall is upon us and football season is well under way. While the 

prospect of relaxing into a lazy Sunday schedule calls to many home owners weary 

from the routine of weekend lawn mowing, don’t sleep on essential lawn care and 

home maintenance tasks that will see you through the winter. 

AUTUMN LAWN CARE BASICS 

Fall is a great time for new grass seed to take root, so 

consider reseeding in selected areas. Reseeding also 

eliminates areas for weeds to grow in the spring. Fertilize 

your lawn one more time with a high nitrogen fertilizer 

to encourage root growth. Look for a lawn fertilizer labeled 

“winterizing.” 

It’s also a good idea to rake leaves and debris off your 

lawn in the fall. Put some muscle into it and rake out any 

areas where heavy thatch has built up. 

Cut your lawn one last time after it has stopped growing, 

but before the first snow. Adjust your mower setting 

to cut your lawn to about one inch. Lawn care experts suggest 

doing the final mowing with a bagger to pick up cut 

grass, stray leaves and other debris. It also leaves fewer 

places for Snowmold to develop. 

FIGHT SNOWMOLD 

Snowmold is one of the most common lawn diseases and 

typically it shows up in the spring. As the snow melts, it 

uncovers a lawn that has spent several months hidden 

under a cold blanket of white, with little air and no sun. 

In its cold, wet, and dark environment, Snowmold slowly 

forms, leaving blades of grass dead and brown. New 

grasses will sprout up behind it, but unless you vigorously 

rake it away, the new growth will be slow and thin — so 

it’s a good idea to overseed. 

CONSIDER AERATING 

It also may be wise to aerate your lawn. Aerating your 

lawn is a great way to reduce thatch, loosen up compacted 

soils and pave the way for water and nutrients to reach 

the roots of your grass. 

Even with meticulous care, lawns can thin out and lose 

color due to excessive thatch buildup, hard or compacted 

soils, or periods of high temperature, high humidity, or 

drought. According to The Lawn Institute, more than twothirds 

of American lawns are growing on compacted soils. 

These soils slowly reduce the amount of oxygen contained 

in the soil, thus retarding the penetration of both water 

and nutrients. Aerating and overseeding is recognized by 

experts as the best treatment to control thatch, reduce 

compaction, fill-in bare spots and revitalize growth. 

Here are a few tips from lawnboy.com to help you 

determine if you should aerate annually: 

• If your lawn is more than seven years old, and rests 

on mostly clay soil. 

• If your lawn is moderately to heavily used (walked 

or played on). 

• If water collects on your lawn. 

While lawn care is a hot maintenance item for home 

owners who value “curb appeal” or just want to escape 

the ire of neighborhood community associations, don’t 

forget there are plenty of other maintenance chores. 

Here’s a checklist of items you should address before the 

winter holiday season. 

EXTERIOR TASKS 

1. Maintain your gutters. 

Remove all debris from your gutters so water can properly 

drain. This minimizes standing water and slows the 

freeze/thaw expansion process that occurs in cold weather. 

Clogged gutters can cause landscaping, lawn and 

shrubbery, walls, foundation, basement, crawl spaces and 

existing gutter system damage. Consider installing “gutter 

guards,” which will prevent debris from entering the gutter 

and direct the flow of water away from the house and 

into the ground. 

2. Trim your trees and remove dead branches. 

Inclement weather can cause weak trees or branches to 

break and damage your home, car, utility lines or someone 

walking on your property. Keep an eye out for large 

dead branches in trees; detached branches hanging in 

trees; cavities or rotten wood along trunks or major 

branches; mushrooms at the base of trees; cracks or splits 

in trunks; leaves that prematurely develop unusual color 

or size; and trees that were previously topped or heavily 

pruned. If you see any signs of hazards, call a professional 

tree service. 

3. Maintain your steps and handrails. 

Repair broken stairs and banisters to prevent falls and injury. 


2. Maintain your pipes. 

Wrap your pipes with heating tape every winter and insulate 

unfinished rooms such as garages, if they contain 

exposed pipes. Check pipes for cracks and leaks and have 

any damage repaired immediately to prevent costlier repairs 

later. Keep your house warm — at least 65 degrees. 

4. Inspect your roof. 

Be proactive and prevent emergency and expensive repairs. 

Things to look for include damaged or loose shingles; gaps 

in the flashing where the roofing and siding meet vents 

and flues; and damaged mortar around the chimney (especially 

at the joints, caps and washes). If you see any signs 

of damage, call a professional to repair the damage. 

5. Inspect your home’s exterior walls. 

Look for possible weather-related damage, like cracks and 

loose or crumbling mortar. Wood trim and siding can suffer 

from deteriorating paint or become loose. Windowsills 

may be cracked, split or decayed. 

INDOOR CHORES 

1. Check your home’s insulation. 

Your attic should be five to 10 degrees warmer than the 

outside air, otherwise too much heat escapes and causes 

frozen water to melt and refreeze which can result in 

a collapsed roof. Don’t neglect your basement and crawl 

spaces, and well insulate pipes in those spaces to protect 

against freezing. 

3. Check your heating systems. 

Be sure to maintain your furnace, fireplace, boiler, water 

heater, space heater and wood-burning stove and have 

your heating system serviced every year. Check smoke and 

fire alarms and carbon monoxide detectors and change 

your heating and air conditioning filters regularly. 

4. Know your plumbing. 

Learn the location of your pipes and how to shut the water 

off. If your pipes freeze, the quicker you shut off the water, 

the better chance you have of preventing pipe bursts. 

Check weather stripping and caulking around windows 

and doors and replace or repair as needed. Caulking helps 

keep your house weather-tight, lowers your heating and 

cooling bills, and can also help keep insects and rodents 

out of your house. Also look for chipped or peeling paint 

around window frames and trim. Repair broken glass and 

loose or missing putty. When needed, use a modern glazing 

compound instead of putty for a waterproof seal. 

5. Clean and vacuum dust from vents, baseboard heaters and 

cold-air returns. 

Dust build-up in ducts is a major cause of indoor pollutants 

and can increase incidences of cold-weather illnesses. 

Check all your faucets for leaks and repair any you find. 

Replace washers if necessary. 

By setting aside a few weekend days now, you’ll save 

yourself from a lot of hassle later. Once your home passes 

your fall inspection, you and your family can relax and enjoy 

the coming holidays free from worry about potential 

home maintenance catastrophes. T 

Article provided by National Association of Home Builders 


SAVE THE DATE 

The Greater Cedar Rapids Housing & Building Association 

is the main sponsor of several events throughout the 

year, that allow consumers direct access to the latest in 

building products, actual building contractors of new 

homes, and remodelers of existing homes. 

OCTOBER 3 

Members Only Parade of Homes Breakfast & Tour 

OCTOBER 4, 6 & 7 

Fall Parade of Homes 

OCTOBER 18 

Suburban Lumber Mixer 

OCTOBER 31 

Mortgage Burning Luncheon 

NOVEMBER 8 

Annual Awards Banquet 

A VERY SPECIAL THANK YOU 

to our Nail Drivers’ Open Committee: 

Ontario Caudill Susan Forinash John Guidinger 

Brent Nichols 

Robert Riley 

Ryan Sullivan Justin Zimmerman Sarah Zimmerman 


new homes: 

HOME 1 • Legacy GreenBuilders & Developers 

334 RIDGE VIEW DR., FAIRFAX 

HOME 2 • Schrage Construction, Inc. 

2768 CREEKVIEW TRAIL, PALO 

HOME 3 • Scallon Custom Homes, LLC 

6710 COTTAGE HILL LANE NE, CEDAR RAPIDS 

HOME 4 • Sattler Homes & Remodeling 

314 WORTHINGTON CT., HIAWATHA 

HOME 5 • Platten Construction LLC 

6107 MICHAEL DR. NE, CEDAR RAPIDS 

HOME 6 • JP Homes 

9300 FEATHER RIDGE WAY, CEDAR RAPIDS 

HOME 7 • B. Hancock Construction, Inc. 

3062 DELL RIDGE LANE, HIAWATHA 

VISIT THIS YEAR’S HOMES! 

HOME 8 • Frey Homes LLC 

3088 WINDSOR DR., ROBINS 

HOME 9 • Donohoe Custom Homes 

3104 BRIMLEY PASS, ROBINS 

HOME 10 • Skogman Homes 

8726 GRAND OAKS DR. NE, CEDAR RAPIDS 

HOME 11 • Skogman Homes 

1482 CRESCENT OAK LANE, MARION 

HOME 12 • Premier Plus Custom Homes 

1159 KETTERING RD., MARION 

HOME 13 • B. Hancock Construction, Inc. 

1184 FOXBOROUGH DR., MARION 

HOME 14 • Garman Built 

345 LINDEN ST., ALBURNETT 

The Greater Cedar Rapids Housing 

& Building Association presents 

the Fall 2018 Parade of Homes. 

Tour new and remodeled homes 

in the greater Cedar Rapids 

area to see the 

latest advances 

in home 

construction 

and design. 

HOME 15 • Flynn Homes, Inc. 

1622 38TH ST. SE, CEDAR RAPIDS 

HOME 16 • H&H Home Builders 

4396 PIONEER TRAIL SE, CEDAR RAPIDS 

remodeled homes: 

ONLY OPEN OCT. 6-7 

HOME A • Jim Buresh Construction Co. 

4771 DOE RUN DR., CEDAR RAPIDS 

HOME B • Sunderman Construction 

2987 COUNTY HOME RD., MARION 

HOME C • Home Town Restyling 

2410 HILLVIEW DR., MARION 

Tickets are $10 each and are available at each parade home, Hills Bank & Trust locations and Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery. 

Or you can purchase discounted tickets at any local Casey’s General Store for $9. Children 12 & under are FREE! 

$ 

1 00 

* 

OFF 

Fall 2018 Parade Ticket 

NEW HOMES 

Thursday, October 4 • 5-8 p.m. 

NEW & REMODELED HOMES 

Saturday, October 6 • 12-5 p.m. 

Sunday, October 7 • 12-5 p.m. 

*Valid on one ticket. Not valid at Casey’s General Store. 

Sponsored by 

R 


Keep Your 

Family and 

Home Safe 

with Smoke 

Detectors 

It is important to know 

how to best protect 

your family in the event 

of a fire in your home. 



Thanks to smoke 

alarms, Americans 

are safer than 

they’ve ever been. 

It only takes a few simple steps to ensure your family stays safe: 

Make sure that your smoke alarm system is 

in working order. 

You should test all of your smoke alarms every 

month by simply pressing the test button. 

Smoke alarms should be replaced every 10 

years. The National Fire Protection Association 

(NFPA) recommends putting a smoke alarm inside 

each bedroom and outside each sleeping 

area, as well as installing alarms on every floor 

of your home, including the basement. 

Devise an escape plan and practice it. 

Every family needs to have a fire safety action 

plan. The plan should include multiple ways for 

family members to escape the home and a designated 

meeting place. Make sure that every 

family member knows the plan by practicing it 

during the day and at night. 

Never go back into a burning building. 

Once you have escaped, do not return to your 

home for other people or pets. Call the fire department 

after you have safely left the house. 

Thanks to smoke alarms, Americans are safer 

than they’ve ever been. According to NFPA, 

deaths from home fires dropped to a new low in 

2012, when the estimated home fire death toll 

of 2,380 was 54% lower than 5,200 in 1980. 

And the design of smoke alarms continues to 

improve, with new innovations including wireless 

technology and alternate signal noises that 

are easier for children and seniors to hear. 

Fire Sprinklers in Homes 

Many state and local governments have decided 

to remove mandatory requirements for residential 

sprinklers in all new homes and to leave 

them as a choice for the home owner. Still, residential 

sprinkler advocates and other coalition 

groups continue to pressure officials to create 

mandatory fire sprinkler requirements. 

If you’re building a new home, your builder 

can arrange for the installation of sprinkler systems. 

But it’s important to note that installing 

these systems cannot guarantee anyone’s safety. 

And maintaining these systems, especially 

for home owners in cold climates, can be costly 

and time-consuming. 

It’s important for every household to have a 

fire safety action plan, and to have the right to 

choose for themselves which type of preventative 

device they want to use. T 


MEMBER EVENT 

OKTOBERFEST 

AROMA 

ARTISAN PIZZA 

will provide 

appetizers and be 

cooking pizzas 

on site 

Thursday, October 18 

5-7 p.m. 


2630 Wiley Blvd SW, CR 

BEVERAGES 

including 

Oktoberfest Beer, 

Wine, Water and 

Soft Drinks 

Please email reservations to eo@crhba.org by 

October 16 

Courtesy of Suburban Lumber 

Entertainment 

provided by 

Bryce Janey 


Assess Your Home’s 

Efficiency with an 

AIR LEAKS 

INSULATION 


ENERGY AUDIT 

LIGHTING 

HEATING AND 

COOLING 


You may be wondering how to save money on your 

energy bills this year. Conducting a do-it-yourself 

home energy audit is a fast, relatively simple way 

to assess how much energy your home consumes 

and determine what you can do to make your home 

more energy efficient. 

A home energy audit will show you where your home is losing 

energy, how efficient your heating and cooling systems 

are, and ways to conserve electricity. All it takes is a thorough 

inspection of the areas listed here and keeping a checklist of 

the problems you found. 

AIR LEAKS 

Stopping or minimizing drafts can 

save on annual energy costs. Some 

places to inspect where air commonly 

seeps from homes include 

gaps around baseboards, wall and 

ceiling junctures, electrical outlets, 

switch plates, window frames, 

weather stripping, fireplace dampers, 

attic doors, window-mounted 

air conditioners and foundation 

seals. 

On your home’s exterior, look at 

the areas where two different building 

materials meet, such as corners 

and areas where siding or brick 

come together with chimneys or the 

foundation. If you can rattle windows 

or see daylight around door or window frames, you 

likely are losing air. 

Once you’ve identified the leaks, seal them with caulk, 

weather stripping or the same material as the original seal. 

You can also attach plastic sheets around your windows. 

Contact your local HBA for help with 

improving your homes efficiency. 


INSULATION 

In older homes especially, you may have insufficient insulation 

in the ceiling and walls. Your attic door should 

be insulated and close tightly. Openings around pipes, 

ductwork and chimneys should be sealed. Look for a 

vapor barrier — tarpaper or a plastic sheet — under the 

attic insulation. To check your walls, make a small hole 

in a closet or other out-of-the-way place and probe into 

the wall with a long stick or screwdriver. If it’s an outside 

wall, the area should be completely filled with an insulating material. 

Fill the gaps in any openings with expanding foam. Flexible caulk should be 

used to seal any electrical boxes in the ceiling. If your home lacks a vapor barrier, 

consider painting interior ceilings with vapor barrier paint. This reduces the 

amount of water vapor that can pass through the ceiling, which reduces your 

insulation’s effectiveness. 

HEATING AND COOLING 

EQUIPMENT 

Inspect your heating and cooling equipment. 

See if ducts and pipes located in unheated 

spaces and your water heater and hot water 

pipes are insulated. Dirt streaks around your 

ductwork, especially near the seams, are evidence 

of leaks. 

Have your equipment checked and 

cleaned by a professional 

annually. 

If you have a 

forced-air furnace, 

replace your filters 

as soon as they 

are dirty. Even if 

they aren’t, replace 

them every 30 to 

60 days. 

LIGHTING 

Look at the bulbs in your home and determine 

if a lower-watt bulb would work 

just as well for your needs. For lights that 

will be used more than two hours each 

day, replace your incandescent bulbs with 

compact fluorescent bulbs and you can 

save up to 75% of the energy used for 

lighting. 

A home audit is a great way to find 

out your home’s energy deficiencies and 

make simple improvements that will save 

you time and money in the long run. T 



HONORARY MEMBER 

Al Sattler 

Al Sattler was born in Protivin, IA, a 

small northeast Iowa Czech town. At 

three years old, he moved to the Fort 

Atkinson/Calmar, IA area. In 1943, Julius, 

his father, a meat butcher, moved 

his family to Cedar Rapids for a double 

increase in pay; which was during World 

War II. Al began the seventh grade at St. 

Wenceslaus Catholic School and graduated 

in 1949 in a class of 11 students. 

During high school, Al was named to the 

All City Basketball Team. 

After high school, Al took a job with 

Baxter Motors and Wilson & Co. Packing 

House until he went into the Air Force 

during the Korean War from 1950 to 

1953. While in the Air Force, Al attended 

electronic school and was a radar repair 

man while he was stationed in Louisville. 

He then went on to Advanced Electronics 

School in Maryland where he thought he 

would leave to become an electrical engineer; 

however, he made the decision to 

follow his fathers’ footsteps and go into 

carpentry. Julius was working for Ted 

Manning and became very good at the 

trade, so Al decided while on leave for a 

couple weeks to help his father out and 

fell in love with the trade as well. 

After his service in the U.S. Air Force, 

Al worked as an apprentice for Ted Manning 

alongside his father to build houses 

for a short period of 

time. Ted had decided 

to subcontract the work 

and allowed the Sattler 

men to bid on the jobs; 

however, they were out 

bid. So, Julius and Al 

started their own business, 

J.G. Sattler & Son, 

and started with contracting 

framing and finishing 

houses and repair 

work. As time went on, 

the Sattler’s went into 

the contracting business 

to start building houses. 

The first home they built 

was for Mel Schulte, who is 95 years old 

and still lives in the home. The second 

home they built was purchased by Cecil 

Perkins; who until his recent passing still 

lived in the same home. And the third 

home was built for Wesley Drahozal and 

his son lives there today. 

As they continued to grow, J.G. Sattler 

& Son bought lots 

and started developing to 

slowly get into the building 

business in the Cedar 

Rapids and Marion area. 

In the beginning, the two 

did everything on their 

own – built their own 

cabinets, siding, wired 

the houses, all the details 

from drawing the plans 

and all parts of the new 

home. In the mid 1960’s, 

Julius retired, and Al 

bought his father out and 

eventually changed the 

business name to Sattler 

Construction. 

One day while buying lumber, Al was 

invited to a Home Builders Association 

stag. Al never heard of the HBA so he 

asked what it was and was told it is where 

all the home builders come together and 

have a good time and talk about the issues 

they were facing in the industry. 

Al thought that was a great idea to get 

along with others that were experiencing 

the same problems, so he joined the 

local HBA in the early 1950’s. Al really 

liked the camaraderie with builders as 

he knew about them but never had the 

chance to meet and chat with them. 

Al became Secretary as soon as he 

joined the HBA but joked that he really 

only joined to have fun. He was President 

in 1963 and 1974 and was inducted 

into the Hall of Fame in 1989. During his 

first presidency, AL started a dance in the 

Spring to include wives at the HBA events 

as well as our annual Trap Shoot. Al was 

also active with the Home Builders Association 

of Iowa as Secretary and Vice Pres- 

18 THRESHOLD OCTOBER 2018 

STORY CONTINUES ON PAGE 20


FUN FACT 

Al designed 

the home he 

currently lives in. 



ident, however never took the Presidency role due to his busy 

work schedule. 

On June 25, 1955, Al married Sally, who grew up in Cedar 

Rapids. Sally stayed home and raised five kids, Mike, 

Jim, Tom, Julie, and Joe, very religiously and was known 

as a spiritual guide and called “Sister Sally.” All five of their 

children continue to work in the home building industry. 

Mike, Julie and Joe work together at Sattler Homes & Remodeling. 

Jim owns his own company, Jim Sattler Custom 

Homes. And Tom owns his own building business in Colorado. 

As of today, Al and Sally have 16 grandchildren and 

4 great-grandchildren. T 



Q&A WITH AL SATTLER 

Was it the best decision choosing carpentry 

over electronics? 

YES! I liked electronics, but electronics is 

old theory and not really building anything. 

Building houses is there, you can see what 

you’ve done. 

What is your most memorable moment of 

being an HBA member? 

When I first joined, the NAHB Convention 

was in Chicago at the Hilton Hotel and Palmer 

House and we would take a train into Chicago 

which was a lot of fun. Then the McCormick 

Place Convention Center was built, and 

the convention was moved there because 

there was more room for booths. Later the 

convention was moved to Houston. 

Are you happy your children followed your 

footsteps into the building industry? 

YES! I didn’t push any of them to become a 

builder. 

His son Joe responded, “he did push by 

having us do the hard work by cleaning houses 

and all the grunt work; which taught us kids 

how to work.” 


MORTGAGE BURNING 

LUNCHEON 

Wednesday, October 31 

11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. 

GCRHBA Office, 350 Miller Road, Hiawatha 

We are excited to 

announce we have paid 

off our mortgage! 

Please join us for lunch and tour 

the GCRHBA office. 

SERVING 

Hamburgers and Brats 

grilled on site 

Beverages, Chips, Cole Slaw 

and Cookies 

It is Halloween, so come 

in your costumes! (optional) 

Please email your 

reservation by October 29 

eo@crhba.org 

NEW MEMBERS 

Brook Adkins 

Coldwell Banker Hedges 

Renee Corkery 

Coldwell Banker Hedges 

Ashley Danielson 

Forever Cabinets 


SUPPORT SMALL 

BUSINESSES 

Small businesses are the backbone of 

America. They build a strong economy and 

strong communities. 

Many builders, remodelers and related 

businesses in the housing industry are small 

businesses making vital contributions to our 

economy. In fact, 15% of the U.S. economy 

relies on housing. 

A healthy housing industry means more 

jobs and a stronger economy. Constructing 

100 new single-family homes creates 297 

full-time jobs, $28 million in wage and business 

income and $11.1 million in federal, 

state and local tax revenue. 

Housing, like no other business sector, is 

“Made in America.” Most of 

the products used in home 

construction and remodeling 

are manufactured here in the 

United States. 

That’s why it’s important to 

support small businesses. 

CLICK HERE FOR DIRECTORY 

OF LOCAL HBA MEMBERS 



The Greater Cedar Rapids Housing & Building Association 

cordially invites you to attend the 

2018 Annual 

Awards Banquet 

November 8, 2018 

Social Hour 5-6 p.m. Dinner 6-7 p.m. Presentation 7-8 p.m. 

The Event Center 

2987 County Home Road, Marion 

Free to one member from a member company. 

Additional guests $20/person. 

Please email reservations by November 6 

eo@crhba.org 

24 THRESHOLD OCTOBER 2018 

on the agenda 

Cedar Valley Habitat for Humanity 

Home Builders Blitz 2018 Presentation by Jeff Capps 

Guest Speakers: 

Ralph Palmer and Al Sattler, Honorary Members 

Induction of the 2019 Board of Directors 

Membership Awards 

Fall 2018 Parade of Homes Awards

Connect with Us 

President 

Mike Farr 

Cascade Manufacturing Co. 

Office: 563.852.3231 

mgfarr@cascade-mfg-co.com 

Vice-President 

Rob Hajek 

Home Repair Team 

Office: 319.626.4663 

robh@homerepairteam.com 

Board Member 

Jeff Capps 

Cedar Valley Habitat for 

Humanity/ReStore 

Office: 319.366.4485 

jeffcapps@cvhabitat.org 

Board Member 

Randy Dostal 

Thomas Dostal Developers 

Office: 319.431.3881 

allamericanlc@hotmail.com 

Board Member 

Andrea Rhoades 

Corridor Business Journal 

Office: 319.665.6397 

Andrea@corridorbusiness.com 

Board Member 

Robert Riley 

Windows by Pella, Inc. 

Office: 319.363.5768 

robert.pellawindows@gmail.com 

Second Vice-President 

Dustin Kern 

DK Land Services, Inc. 

Office: 319.654.6706 

dustin@dklandservices.com 

Board Member 

Mike Flynn 

Flynn Homes, Inc. 

Office: 319.366.6826 

mike@flynnhomes.com 

Board Member 

Hunter Skogman 

Skogman Homes 

Office: 319.363.8285 

hskogman@skogman.com 

Treasurer 

Justin Zimmerman 

CliftonLarsonAllen, LLP 

Office: 319.363.2697 

justin.zimmerman@claconnect.com 

Board Member 

Benton Frey 

Frey Homes, LLC 

Office: 319.640.2300 

benton@freyhomes.com 

Board Member 

Dean A. Spina 

Bradley & Riley PC 

Office: 319.861.8725 

dspina@bradleyriley.com 

Secretary 

Jim Sattler 

Jim Sattler Custom Homes 

Office: 319.395.9157 

jsattler@sattlerinc.com 

Board Member 

Joe Greathouse 

Kirkwood Community College 

Office: 319.398.5411 

joe.greathouse@kirkwood.edu 

Board Member 

Ryan Sullivan 

Amerhart, Ltd. 

Office: 608.825.3322 

ryan.sullivan@amerhart.com 

Immediate Past President 

Chad Pelley 

Ahmann Design 

Office: 319.395.7900 

cpelley@ahmanncompanies.com 

Board Member 

Jim McGrew 

Suburban Lumber Company 

Office: 319.362.3115 

jmcgrew@suburbanlumber.com 

Board Member 

Bryan Thumma 

Affordable Heating & Cooling 

Office: 319.462.3638 

bryan.thumma@affordable-hvac.com 

Remodelers Council First 

Vice-Chair 

Joe Sattler 

Sattler Homes & Remodeling 

Office: 319.395.9475 

joe@sattlerhomes.com 

Board Member 

Amy Miller 

Hills Bank and Trust Company 

Office: 319.654.8007 

amy_miller@hillsbank.com 

Executive Officer 

Melissa Olson 

Greater Cedar Rapids Housing & 

Building Association 

Office: 319.395.0778 

eo@crhba.org 

Board Member 

JR Blok 

Blok Construction 

Office: 319.533.4394 

jrblok2@mchsi.com 

Board Member 

Drew Retz 

Jerry’s Homes, Inc. 

Office: 319.294.2290 

drewr@jerryshomes.com 


THE SPIKE CLUB 

Growing our 

Strength 

through Member 

Recruitment, 

Retention and 

Involvement 

Recruiting new members to your 

local association is an activity recognized 

and rewarded through 

the Spike Club. Those who 

participate are called Spikes, and 

they are among the most valued 

members of the association. 

Fall 2018 

Membership Drive 

If you know of someone in the building 

industry…NOW IS THE TIME to recruit them. 

Earn TRIPLE spike credits! 

Win a trip to Napa Valley! 

Member-to-member recruitment 

and retention efforts are the 

largest source of growth for the 

federation. Spikes bring grassroots 

growth and stability. These 

efforts lend to the development 

of the general membership and 

our leadership pipeline, keeping 

the face of the federation true 

to that of our industry and the 

scope of interests we represent. 

Spikes are the membership leaders 

of our federation, building 

the voice, power and influence 

on every level, in every state. 


SPIKE MEMBERS 

SUPER SPIKE 

James Sattler 466.00 

Mike Farr 346.25 

ROYAL SPIKE 

Michael Flynn 267.00 

Mike Sattler 224.50 

Wayne Winn 207.00 

Randy Dostal 181.00 

Rob Hajek 173.00 

Tom Takes 171.00 

Doug Kohoutek 167.25 

Jim Buresh 157.75 

RED SPIKE 

Mark Wood 126.00 

Drew Retz 117.25 

Tari Dailey 110.75 

Alvin Frey 102.25 

GREEN SPIKE 

Joseph Ahmann 75.00 

Robert Meyer 74.50 

Paul Brundell 70.50 

Jim McGrew 69.00 

YELLOW SPIKE 

Joe Sattler 43.50 

JR Blok 43.00 

Steve Erusha 41.75 

Ron Valenta 34.00 

BLUE SPIKE 

Todd Frazier 24.00 

Kyle Skogman 23.00 

Bryan Thumma 21.00 

Chad Pelley 20.50 

Benton Frey 13.50 

Brian Ophoff 12.50 

Ray Vasser 11.00 

Chris Mottinger 9.50 

Dustin Lee 7.50 

K Flynn 7.75 

Dustin Kern 6.00 

SPIKE 

CANDIDATES 

Six (6) credits needed to 

become a SPIKE MEMBER 

Bob Rathje 6.00 

Jeff Platten 5.50 

Tom Kurtz 5.00 

Mark Ralston 5.00 

Chuck Rhode 5.00 

Todd Richardson 5.00 

Pat Sauter 5.00 

Mark Sillman 5.00 

Jeff Melcher 5.00 

Al Sattler 4.50 

Paul Scallon 4.50 

Jerry Sunderman 4.50 

Timothy Vaske 4.00 

Todd Wood 4.00 

Ben Dahl 3.50 

Kirk Sadilek 3.50 

Jamie Buresh 3.00 

Chad Kelly 3.00 

TJ Heefner 2.50 

Terry Bjornsen 2.00 

Matt Burger 2.00 

Rex Hamilton 2.00 

Jennifer Hughes 2.00 

Brad Joens 2.00 

Dave Vanous 2.00 

Mark Bertelli 1.50 

Marc Daubitz 1.50 

Mike Delaney 1.00 

Brian Hancock 1.00 

Casey Johannes 1.00 

Hanna Kustes 1.00 

Brad Nielson 1.00 

Justin Wright 1.00 

2018 SPIKE 

CHAMPIONS 

Dustin Kern 5.5 

Mike Farr 3.0 

Jim McGrew 2.0 

Ben Dahl 1.5 

Randy Dostal 1.0 

Rob Hajek 1.0 

TJ Heefner 1.0 

Tyler Janssen 1.0 

Mike Ludvicek 1.0 

Jeff Melcher 1.0 

Drew Retz 1.0 

Justin Wright 1.0 

Gary Doerrfeld 0.5 

Doug Kohoutek 0.5 

Chad Pelley 0.5 

This month’s 

SPIKE LEADER! 

DUSTIN KERN 

5.5 CREDITS 


Need a 

? 

Visit crhba.org for all your 

housing & building needs. 

• Free Referrals • Reputable Members • Peace of Mind • 

crhba.org • 319.395.0778

Threshold Oct 2018

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