Builders News Nov. 2018

2 ICAHBA Builders News | November 2018
Message from the President
Dear HBA Members,
Welcome to fall in Iowa! It’s 75 degrees one day and 45
degrees the next, and the one common thing is no matter
what the temperature is: it seems to rain. The rain sure puts
a damper on enjoying
everything that Iowa
provides for us during the
fall from apple orchards
and corn mazes to
pumpkin patches and fall
construction starts.
Yes, I said fall
construction starts.
For contractors, fall
is a common time to
start “spec” homes.
Speculation homes, which
are commonly referred to as spec homes, are single-family
dwellings constructed in anticipation of finding a buyer
and not due to a contract already reached with a buyer
to build the home. Contractors consult with realtors,
designers, banks and others to determine what is desirable
in the market and what they think will sell. In our area, it
is common for contractors to start specs in the fall so that
they will be finished and ready to sell in the spring market
and showcased in the Parade of Homes.
Building a spec home can be an exciting and stressful
experience all at once. Exciting because contractors get
to examine floor plans, both old and new; and dig into
function of floor plans, desirable features and finishes,
available lots and the latest and greatest construction
trends, to name a few reasons. Stressful because the
contractor is taking the risk that the home won’t sell;
testing new floor plans; wondering whether finishes will
appeal to a broader audience and construction costs are in
line with selling the home for a profit; and more.
So, as you drive around our communities and see farmers
bringing in the fall harvest, keep in mind that your local
contractors are planting the seeds for what they hope will
be a successful spring/summer sale on spec homes and be
the next winner of the Builders Excellence Award in the
Parade of Homes!
Sincerely, Adam Hahn
Watts Group - Director of Construction Services
2018 Greater Iowa City Area HBA President
2018 BOARD OF DIRECTORS
PRESIDENT
Adam Hahn
Watts Development Group
PAST PRESIDENT
Andy Martin
Martin Construction
1ST VICE PRESIDENT
GT Karr
Sueppel’s Siding & Remodeling
2ND VICE PRESIDENT
Mike Bails
Urban Acres
SECRETARY
Kelly Manning
Sobaski Abbey Carpet & Floor
The Vocational Training Council (VTC) of The
Greater Iowa City Area HBA held its annual
meeting Sept. 26 at the HBA office in Iowa City.
The past year was a busy one for the VTC with
the 3rd Annual Construction Camp at Clear Creek
Amana Middle School, the track shed at City
High School in Iowa City and the rejuvenation of
the Student-Built House Program which yielded
a home constructed by students from all over
Eastern Iowa (see related article page one).
VTC Names 2018-19 Board
The board voted to amend the bylaws and
increase the number of directors from no more
than eight to no more than 15 to include HBA
members interested in our future workforce
development.
Additionally, a meeting was held in early October
to begin planning for the 2019 Student-Built
House. The VTC is always looking for members
to help with projects. Please contact anyone on the
board to learn how you can get involved.
The 2018-19 Vocational Training Council Board of Directors
Andy Martin Chair Martin Construction
Aaron McGlynn Past Chair Cabinet Works
Marty Tunning Treasurer RSM US LLP
Dennis Boelk Director Hodge Construction
Joe Greathouse Director Kirkwood Community College
Tony Frederick Director Hart-Frederick Consultants
Mark Mitchell Director Engineered Building Design
Adam Hahn Director Watts Group
Tom Balmer Director PSC Distribution
Corey Ackerman Director Ackerman Plumbing
Tim Ruth Director McCreedy Ruth Construction
Andy Hodge Director Hodge Construction
GT Karr Director Sueppel’s Siding & Remodeling
Karyl Bohnsack
Executive Officer/Secretary HBA of Iowa City
Andy Martin of Martin
Construction is the new chair
of our Vocational Training
Council.
NEW MEMBERS
SGA Construction Inc.
Travis Shield
100 N. Calhoun St.
West Liberty, IA 52776
(319) 631-0017 or
(319) 627-2990
TravisShield@gmail.com
SGAconstruction.net
Exit Realty Hawkeye
Tyler Riddle
2000 James St., Ste 119a
PO Box 5863
Coralville, IA 52241
(319) 626-2200
Tyler@exitrealtyhawkeye.com
exitrealtyhawkeye.com
TREASURER
Marty Tunning
RSM US LLP
DIRECTORS
Glenn Siders - Siders Development
Mike Pugh - Pugh Hagan Prahm, PLC
Art Floss - CBI Bank & Trust
Chad Keune - Advantage Custom Builders
Rory Triplett - Insurance Associates Iowa City
Todd Helle - Terry Lockridge & Dunn
STATE REPRESENTATIVES
HBAI PAST PRESIDENT
Tim Ruth - McCreedy-Ruth Construction
HBAI TREASURER
Melissa Schooley - Great Western Bank
NATIONAL DIRECTOR
Aaron McGlynn - Cabinet Works
REMODELERS COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE
Brad Storck - Bachmeier Carpet One
2018 COMMITTEE CONTACTS
PARADE OF HOMES
Dan Robertson - Overhead Door Company
of Cedar Rapids & Iowa City
Mitchell Manning – Sobaski Abbey
Carpet and Floor
IOWA CITY HOME SHOW
Katy Stutsman – McCreedy Ruth Construction
Maggie Gehrls – PSC Distribution
The Greater Iowa City Area
Home Builders Association
EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Karyl Bohnsack
karyl@hbaofic.org
MARKETING AND
ADMINISTRATIVE COORDINATOR
Michelle Moore
michelle@hbaofic.org
PO Box 3396, Iowa City, IA 52244
Phone: 319.351.5333 • Fax: 319.358.2443
Website: iowacityhomes.com