Threshold Jan 2019

JANUARY 2019
INSIDE
MAKE RESOLUTIONS
THAT WILL LAST
PREPARE FOR YOUR
HOUSE HUNT

FEATURES
TABLE OF CONTENTS
6
BEFORE YOU BUY:
IMPORTANT STEPS
TO PREPARE
FOR YOUR
HOUSE HUNT
10
MAKE RESOLUTIONS INSIDE
THAT WILL LAST
8 SAVE THE DATE
12 SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESSES
13 SPONSOR OPPORTUNITIES
14 THE SPIKE CLUB
15 NEW MEMBERS
16 LEISURE ZONE GAME NIGHT
17 GCRHBA BOARD
THRESHOLD IS A MONTHLY MAGAZINE PRESENTED BY
THE GREATER CEDAR RAPIDS HOUSING & BUILDING ASSOCIATION
2 THRESHOLD JANUARY 2019

EXECUTIVE OFFICER'S MESSAGE
Positive Changes Coming in 2019
MELISSA
OLSON
Happy New Year! I hope everyone
had a wonderful holiday
season. As we enter a new
year, I foresee some positive
changes coming our way in
2019. Our senior leadership is
creating a strategic plan to add
value to membership, help our
members market themselves to
our community, address issues
affecting our industry, continue our efforts of
Building Our Community, and much more.
To successfully implement that plan, an active
membership base is the core ingredient of any
successful association. With a membership of
over 300+ professionals, everyone’s voice is vital.
We have some great committees that play an
important role in your association. We want to
hear from you. Giving your time and knowledge
is invaluable so please sign up for a committee
today. Please see page 5 for a complete list of our
committees and email me at eo@crhba.org if you
are interested in joining any of the committees.
One of the biggest benefits to belonging to
the GCRHBA is networking. In 2019, we have
some great networking events that our members
can attend. Networking events are excellent opportunities
to grow your connections and potentially
lead to new business. Please check out
our 2019 Save the Date, page 8, and put these
events on your calendar so you don’t miss out.
Along with our events, we offer invaluable
sponsorship opportunities. These opportunities
help you grow your business and create recognition.
Please see page 13 for a complete list
of opportunities. If you are interested or have
any questions, please do not hesitate to reach
out. We want to partner with you to make these
opportunities successful for your company.
Sincerely,
Melissa Olson, Executive Officer
Greater Cedar Rapids Housing & Building
Association
MEMBERSHIP VALUE
Access to expert staff advisors who can
address your business questions. Our
experts include distinguished economists,
tax specialists, legal research staff, financial
experts and regulatory and technical
specialists. Members also benefit from
economic analysis and housing research,
as well as research into innovative building
products and construction techniques.
THRESHOLD JANUARY 2019 3

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
New Challenges in 2019
Happy New Year! I wish everyone continued
success and positive outcomes for
2019 in both your business and family
life. I truly believe our families come first
and time is our most precious gift. Just
think if time was unlimited, no clocks, no
deadlines. What would you do with your
ROB HAJEK time? Are you spending enough time with
your kids, parents, family and friends?
Are you volunteering or giving your time to things that are
important in your heart and give you passion in life? Allocating
our time is a tremendous task. A book that truly
puts things in perspective about life and I encourage you
to read is “When the game is over it all goes back into the
box,” by John Ortberg.
Have you noticed it is easier for most people to give
money than time to a cause? Our association is no different.
You invest around $500 to belong to this association
as you believe in its purpose and benefits. We expect our
association to help make changes, find solutions and advocate
for our industry. Have you also noticed the 80/20
rule at play with our association? About 20% of our membership
is involved and participates on a regular basis, doing
80% of the work it takes to accomplish our goals and
desired changes? The whole reason why you belong, right.
I challenge each of you to what I call “1 in 11” program
this year. Our HBA is very active from January through November
with December being a month to reflect, plan and
celebrate our accomplishments. For the first 11 months
of the year all the hard work is done. This is where we
need your help! Just think, if you could devote 1 hour of
your time for 11 months, what we could accomplish with
our 300 plus members being actively involved. I challenge
you to be active in one of our committees (see the list and
chairs on the next page) come to a special outing or social
event, attend our general membership meeting. It takes all
of us with different backgrounds, perspectives and ideas
to provide a wide range value services. We need to utilize
your talents!
This time of year, allows me to reflect on what is truly
important in my life, spend time with family and friends,
set goals, dream big, plan for our future, self-reflect and
determine how to make a difference in the things I am passionate
about. I hope you will too. As your HBA president,
two of my goals are to be a better listener and surround
myself with skilled and talented people like you. I ask for
your help in accomplishing both goals. With your time
and input it will be exciting to see what we can accomplish.
God bless you all!
Rob Hajek, President
Greater Cedar Rapids Housing & Building Association
RUSSELL FAUST
It is with deep sympathy we
acknowledge the recent passing of our
long-time member Russell Faust, coowner
and operator of Faust Millwork
and Cabinetry. Russell passed away
Tuesday, December 11. Please click
here for the obituary. We express our
condolences to Russell’s family.
4 THRESHOLD JANUARY 2019

COMMITTEES
Our committees are essential to the success of our association. Committee participation is the
greatest avenue for members to have their voice heard and to influence the activities of the
association. If you are interested in joining a committee, please email Melissa at eo@crhba.org.
MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE
The focus of this committee is the ongoing goal to recruit and retain members. The committee will meet
monthly and be tasked to approve new member applications, contact members regarding renewing their membership,
and reach out to potential new members to share the benefits of belonging to the GCRHBA. Chaired
by Ray Vasser.
NAIL DRIVERS OPEN COMMITTEE
This committee organizes our Nail Drivers Open each year. The committee meets a few times prior as well as
works the day of the August event. Chaired by Justin and Sarah Zimmerman.
PARADE OF HOMES COMMITTEE
The Parade of Homes Committee is responsible for organizing the details of the Spring and Fall Parade of
Homes such as dates, times, procedures, etc. This committee only meets a few times each year to review the
previous parade and plan for the upcoming parade. Chaired by Randy Dostal and Joe Sattler.
REMODELERS COUNCIL
The objectives of the Council shall be to serve the special needs and promote the activities and interests of
members and prospective members involved in the remodeling segment of the construction industry. In pursuit
of this objective, the Council may:
a) Develop programs and services to improve the business practices of members.
b) Provide quality education programs and opportunities for individuals involved in all facets of the remodeling
segment.
c) Cooperate with other organizations to advance mutual objectives.
d) Work with affiliated national and state associations to generate member services.
e) Increase the number of members active in the remodeling segment.
TRAP SHOOT COMMITTEE
This committee organizes our Trap Shoot each
year. The committee meets a few times prior
as well as works the day of the June event.
Chaired by JR Blok and Ryan Sullivan.
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
The mission of this new committee is to promote
awareness of our industry to ensure that
there are plenty of employment opportunities
for young people interested in pursuing a career
in building the homes of tomorrow – and
to foster these relationships with the needs of
our industry and this new evolving workforce.
These individuals will be our members down
the road! Chaired by Joe Greathouse.
GREG’S LAWN
& LANDSCAPING
FULL-SERVICE LANDSCAPING AND SNOW REMOVAL COMPANY
ECOLOGICAL • ECONOMICAL • ETHICAL
1200 Continental Place NE
Cedar Rapids
(319) 393-0101
gregslawn.com
THRESHOLD JANUARY 2019 5

BEFORE YOU BUY:
Important Steps to Prepare
for Your House Hunt
If you are thinking of buying a new home, you must pay
close attention to many details to ensure that you find
one that will suit your needs and preferences. Before
you begin your house hunt, here are a few steps you
should take to help you find the home of your dreams.
STEP 1:
FINANCING YOUR HOME
The first step to the home buying process
is determining how much you can afford.
STEP 2:
PRIORITIZING MOST-WANTED
FEATURES
Before you start shopping, you should
sit down with the members of your
household to discuss your preferences
and the many options available to you.
An easy way to organize your
thoughts is to write each separate feature
that you want on a 3X5 card and
arrange the cards in order of their importance
to you. For instance, if you like
to cook, you may want a home with a
large, well-equipped kitchen. Or you
may settle for a small kitchen, so that
you can have extra space for a library,
office or playroom.
Some home buyers seek large, open
interior spaces, while others prefer traditional
rooms that afford more privacy.
While looking for a home, consider
whether your needs are likely to
change over time. If you plan to add
rooms, find out if there is enough space
on your site for such expansion and
whether such additions are permitted
by your local jurisdiction.
STEP 3:
SELECTING THE TYPE OF HOME
Options include single-family homes
and condominiums. Some home buyers
prefer homes with large yards. Others
opt for condominiums where they
can avoid yard maintenance entirely.
With a single-family home in a development,
you’ll be responsible for
your own yard and home, but may be
restricted to certain design elements
or other regulations if there is a home
owners association.
A condominium is a home in a multiunit
complex, such as an apartment
building or a townhouse cluster. You
own the home, and you and your neighbors
jointly own the common elements,
such as the land around the complex, the
parking areas, building exteriors, hallways,
utility pipes and recreational facili-
6 THRESHOLD JANUARY 2019

ties. A condominium owners association
is responsible for maintaining the jointly
owned elements. The day-to-day business
of the complex is generally handled
by a managing agency.
The owner of each condominium
unit has a vote in the affairs of the community.
Each owner pays a fee to cover
the operating expenses of the property
and usually contributes to a reserve fund
for replacements (such as a new roof) or
improvements (such as decorative landscaping
to improve the value of the property).
Changes and improvements to the
complex may be made only as you and
your co-owners desire. You are responsible
for maintaining the interior of your
condominium unit. Typically, you will
not have to perform outdoor chores.
STEP 4:
STARTING YOUR HOUSE HUNT
Now that you know the type of home
and features you are looking for, and
how much home you can afford, you’re
ready to begin searching for your perfect
home. Whether you use a Realtor to find
an existing home or work with a builder
to buy a new home, you’ll be more focused
with your search. T
CLICK HERE TO FIND YOUR
LOCAL HBA REAL ESTATE
COMPANIES AND AGENTS
Article provided by National Association of Home Builders
THRESHOLD JANUARY 2019 7

SAVE THE DATE
JANUARY 24 Leisure Zone Game Night
FEBRUARY 22, 23, 24 Home Show
MARCH 14 KBD Spring Soiree
APRIL 11 UICCU Cedar Rapids/Iowa City HBA Spring Mixer
APRIL 27, 28 and MAY 2, 4, 5 Spring 2019 Parade of Homes
MAY 23 Ferguson Wine & Beer Tasting
JUNE 13 Iowa Stone Supply Mixer
JULY 11 Remodelers Night Out
AUGUST 8 Dupaco Community Credit Union Mixer
AUGUST 23 Nail Drivers Open
SEPTEMBER 12 Kinzler Construction Cedar Rapids/Iowa City HBA Fall Mixer
SEPTEMBER 21, 22, 26, 28, 29 Fall 2019 Parade of Homes
SEPTEMBER 25 Members Only Parade of Homes Breakfast and Tour
OCTOBER 10 Trap Shoot & Barbeque Smoke Off (rain date October 17)
OCTOBER 24 Suburban Lumber Oktoberfest
NOVEMBER 14 Annual Awards Banquet
8 THRESHOLD JANUARY 2019

THRESHOLD JANUARY 2019 9

Make Resolutions that Will Last
Beyond the New Year
Every New Year, do you make
the same old resolutions? Go
to the gym. Quit smoking.
Be more organized. Then,
like many people, do you
abandon these goals within a
month or two?
Here are some resolutions
you can make — and keep —
that will benefit not only you,
but also your family, your
community and your world.
Improve
Your Home’s Safety
There are lots of little things you can do around the house to
give yourself big peace of mind that your family is protected
from all-too-common household accidents. For example, to
avoid electrical shocks, place covers over all outlets and tie
up or unplug cords so they don’t dangle temptingly in front
of toddlers or pets.
Home electrical problems account for 67,800 fires during a
typical year, according to the U.S. Fire Administration. Inspect
appliance cords and immediately replace any that are worn,
old or damaged. Keep clothes, curtains and other potentially
combustible items at least three feet from all heaters. Make
sure electrical appliances are used and stored away from wet
floors and counters.
Your home’s windows need to be accessible in case your
family has to use them as an escape route. Make sure they are
not nailed or painted shut, and if they have guards, security
bars, grilles or grates, test the release mechanism to make
sure it works.
On the other hand, windows can pose a falling hazard.
Make sure screens are
secure and keep furniture
— or anything children
can climb — away
from window ledges.
Article provided by National Association of Home Builders
10 THRESHOLD JANUARY 2019

Save Money
by Going Green
Prices for fuel oil, propane and electricity are
always on the rise, so even the smallest improvements
could help your family’s budget. Replacing
incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescents
can save you up to three-quarters of the electricity
previously used by incandescent bulbs.
Make sure you change your furnace filter
regularly. A dirty filter will make the furnace work
harder to regulate the temperature and will cost
you money.
Put an insulating blanket on your water heater.
The U.S. Department of Energy says that adding
insulation to your heater can reduce standby heat
losses by 25%-45% and save 4%-9% in water heating
costs. The blankets cost anywhere from $15 to
$50 and are easy to install.
Invest in a programmable thermostat and set it
to lower the heat automatically when your home
is empty during the workday, and at night when
everyone is asleep. Programmable thermostats
can save about $180 per year in energy costs,
according to Energy Star, a joint program of the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S.
Department of Energy.
Conserve water, and reduce your water bill, by
making simple changes such as running dishwashers
and clothes washers only when they are full and
taking short showers instead of baths and turning
off the water when you are shampooing or soaping.
De-Clutter
and Help Others
Donating your unused items to charity could be
a lifesaver for homeless or needy families. If it’s
in good condition, your out-of-style or outgrown
clothing could keep a family warm during the
cold weather months.
Many local charities also accept donations of
household items that are in working order. That
lamp, toaster or set of dishes gathering dust
in the garage could help furnish a home for a
needy family.
When you redecorate or remodel, don’t put
out-of-style-but-usable home furnishings such
as light fixtures, bathroom vanities, and even
doorknobs in the garbage. Habitat for Humanity
ReStores and other organizations will pick up
and re-sell them at a fraction of the cost of new,
and the proceeds help build Habitat homes.
THRESHOLD JANUARY 2019 11

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
Article provided by National Association of Home Builders
12 THRESHOLD JANUARY 2019

2019 SPONSORSHIP
OPPORTUNITIES
SUPPORTING SPONSOR
$200/event
Available for the following events:
1. Home Show Reception (February)
2. Remodelers Night Out (July)
3. Nail Drivers Open (August)
4. Trap Shoot (October)
5. Annual Awards Banquet (November)
SIGN UP FOR ALL 5
EVENTS AND RECEIVE
20% OFF!
• Company name/logo on all event promotional materials including
event webpage, emails sent to 350+ GCRHBA members, and
THRESHOLD Magazine sent to 8,600 members and consumers
• Company name/logo printed on sponsor flyers
• Nail Drivers Open: Sponsor sign displayed on golf course
• Sponsor recognition during event
PLUS be included on
our 2019 sponsors
plaque that will be
displayed at the
GCRHBA office for
years to come!
NAIL DRIVERS OPEN HOLE
SPONSORS
are reserved for our 2018 sponsors. Please email
Melissa to be placed on our waiting list.
PARADE OF HOMES
SUPPORTING SPONSOR
Want to advertise not only to other GCRHBA
members but also to your consumers? We have
the perfect sponsor package for you!
HOST SPONSOR
Hosting an event at your place of business is
a great opportunity to bring other GCRHBA
members to you! If you are interested, please
email Melissa for availability.
If you are interested in
sponsoring or hosting
an event, please email
Melissa at
eo@crhba.org
THRESHOLD JANUARY 2019 13

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.
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.
14 THRESHOLD JANUARY 2019

SPIKE MEMBERS
SUPER SPIKE
James Sattler 466.00
Mike Farr 347.75
ROYAL SPIKE
Michael Flynn 268.25
Mike Sattler 224.50
Wayne Winn 208.75
Randy Dostal 183.50
Rob Hajek 173.50
Tom Takes 171.00
Doug Kohoutek 168.25
Jim Buresh 158.25
RED SPIKE
Mark Wood 126.00
Drew Retz 118.00
Tari Dailey 110.75
Alvin Frey 103.25
GREEN SPIKE
Joseph Ahmann 75.50
Robert Meyer 74.50
Paul Brundell 71.00
Jim McGrew 70.50
YELLOW SPIKE
Joe Sattler 44.00
JR Blok 43.50
Steve Erusha 42.00
Ron Valenta 34.00
BLUE SPIKE
Todd Frazier 24.00
Kyle Skogman 23.50
Chad Pelley 22.50
Bryan Thumma 21.00
Benton Frey 14.00
Brian Ophoff 12.50
Ray Vasser 11.00
Chris Mottinger 9.50
Dustin Lee 7.50
Dustin Kern 6.00
Jeff Platten 6.00
SPIKE
CANDIDATES
Six (6) credits needed to
become a SPIKE MEMBER
Bob Rathje 6.00
Paul Scallon 5.50
Mark Sillman 5.50
Tom Kurtz 5.00
Mark Ralston 5.00
Chuck Rhode 5.00
Todd Richardson 5.00
Pat Sauter 5.00
Jeff Melcher 5.00
Al Sattler 5.00
Ben Dahl 4.50
Jerry Sunderman 4.50
Timothy Vaske 4.00
Todd Wood 4.00
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
Brian Hancock 1.50
Mike Delaney 1.00
Casey Johannes 1.00
Hanna Kustes 1.00
Mike Ludvicek 1.00
Brad Nielson 1.00
Justin Wright 1.00
Zechariah Garman .50
NEW
MEMBERS
Christina Reel
Precision Drywall
Jeremy Tipton
Iowa Realty
A new
challenge
begins!
With a new year,
comes a new
challenge.
Who will wear a
crown in 2019?
THRESHOLD JANUARY 2019 15

Game Night
Thursday, January 24
5-7 p.m.
Leisure Zone
2343 Blairs Ferry Road NE
Join us at the
Leisure Zone showroom:
Play Billiards, Pool, Shuffleboard, Ping-
Pong, Air Hockey, Foosball, Darts
Take a soak in one of our hot tubs – bring
your suit!
Enjoy hors d’oeuvres, beer and other
beverages
Meet the new GCRHBA member team
and learn what we have to offer
Register online at
www.crhba.org
by January 22
16 THRESHOLD JANUARY 2019

Connect with Us
President
Board Member
Board Member
Rob Hajek
Home Repair Team
Office: 319.626.4663
robh@homerepairteam.com
JR Blok
Blok Construction
Office: 319.533.4394
jrblok2@mchsi.com
Drew Retz
Jerry’s Homes, Inc.
Office: 319.294.2290
drewr@jerryshomes.com
Vice-President
Dustin Kern
DK Land Services, Inc.
Office: 319.654.6706
dustin@dklandservices.com
Board Member
Randy Dostal
Thomas Dostal Developers
Office: 319.431.3881
allamericanlc@hotmail.com
Board Member
Robert Riley
Windows by Pella, Inc.
Office: 319.363.5768
robert.pellawindows@gmail.com
Second Vice-President
Jim Sattler
Jim Sattler Custom Homes
Office: 319.395.9157
jsattler@sattlerinc.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
Andrea Rhoades
Corridor Business Journal
Office: 319.665.6397
Andrea@corridorbusiness.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
Mike Farr
Cascade Manufacturing Co.
Office: 563.852.3231
mgfarr@cascade-mfg-co.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
Greg Steffen
Advanced Custom Counters
Office: 319.378.8677
greg@acctops.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
THRESHOLD JANUARY 2019 17

Need a
?
Visit crhba.org for all your
housing & building needs.
• Free Referrals • Reputable Members • Peace of Mind •
18 THRESHOLD JANUARY 2019
crhba.org • 319.395.0778