HBNews_January 2013_16pg.indd

8 | HBA HOME BUILDING NEWS | PROTECTiNg yOUR iNdUSTRy | JANUAry, 2013 | HBApdx.org
HBF
FoundationNews
HOME BUILDERS FOUNDATION NEWS AND EVENTS • JANUARY, 2013 • HBA HOME BUILDING NEWS
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commitment to the HBF fulfills multiple goals
Your participation in 2013 benefits your community, your employees and your business
By Roger Neu,
President HBF
Board of Trustees
As the 2013 President of the
Home Builders Foundation Board
of Trustees, I wanted to share my
goals for the Foundation. I know
that we can accomplish these
goals by each of us volunteering to
do “something” for the Foundation
in 2013.
My first goal is to expand the
Foundation’s capacity so we
can complete three new shelter
development/remodeling projects
in 2013. That is up substantially,
but the need for homeless shelter
beds is enormous. Nearly 4,700
are homeless each night and the
average age is nine years old. To be
successful, we will need volunteers
to serve as “Builder Captains” for
these projects. These dedicated
individuals perform a task similar
to a general contractor on a
project. They identify potential
subcontractors and suppliers,
secure estimates for each activity,
ask that some or all of the labor
or materials be donated, and
then schedule and supervise the
project. They make our projects
happen.
Second, I want to double the
amount of scholarships ($20,000
vs $10,000) awarded to deserving
students. Last year we awarded
five scholarships to students with
an interest in the building industry.
We want that number to be 10 in
2013.
Third, I’d like to have more HBA
members volunteer to mentor
students enrolled in local colleges
and universities. Last year we
mentored 15 students, this year I’d
like to increase the number to 20.
Fourth, “Painting a Better
Tomorrow”, the Foundation’s one
day blitz of painting local homeless
shelters, had almost 80 volunteers
last year. I’d like to see that number
increased by 25 percent.
To accomplish these four
goals, it takes money. I have set
a fundraising goal for 2013 of
$225,000, up from $175,000 in
2012. The Foundation’s funds
are generated from donor’s
participation in the Auction in
April, Trap Shoot Tournament
in September and the Street of
Dreams Block Party in August. By
the way, the Street of Dreams Block
Party benefitting the Foundation
is a first time event. The Trustees
see great fundraising potential in
this event.
How do we accomplish
my goals? The magic word is
“volunteers.” The leadership will
come from a dedicated Board of
Trustees, a highly experienced
Executive Director, and two very
capable staff members. But our
secret weapon has been and
will continue to be the 1,000
members of the HBA. Who better
has the talent, time, and money
to efficiently and professionally
give back to the community by
doing what comes naturally –
remodeling and building projects
to provide safe, decent housing.
It’s January, the start of a new
year. Join me and the trustees, who
all volunteer their time, and make
a 2013 resolution to help solve
homelessness this year. Become
a Foundation mentor, Builder
Captain, donor, or participate in
the Auction, Trap Shoot and Block
Party. If you do, I know that we
will reach my goals for 2013. But
better yet, the 4,700 people that
are homeless each night will have
a few more beds available for a
safe and decent place to call home.
Home Builders
Foundation 2013
Board of Directors
Chris Beecher, Milgard
Tim Breedlove, renaissance Development
Tim Doolittle, Miller Paint
Jim Fisher, Primetime Development
Debra Finkelnburg, Union Bank
Mark Garber, Pamplin Media Group
Jason Haggart, UBS Financial Services
Darin Honn, Sussman Shank
Randy Kinnison, Genesis Mediation
Rick Lesniak, Blazer Custom Construction
Jan Lewis, Tryon Creek Construction
Luke Morley, Lakeside Lumber
Tim Nacrelli, Zepak
Roger Neu, Nupark
Dave Nielsen, HBA of Metro Portland
Lis Weller, rodda
A
B
c
D
A) HBF Builder Captain, Nathan
D. Young speaks to the media
at the kick-off event for the
Portland Rescue Mission’s Next
Step renovation project.
B) Tim Doolittle of Miller Paint,
Beaverton mayor Denny Doyle
and Ken Cowdery of the HBF
stop for a photo at the kick-off
event for the renovation project
for Boys & Girls Aid. Builder
Captain Roger Neu is heading
up the renovation of a 4-plex
that will be a transitional living
facility for homeless students in
Beaverton.
c) Bank of America volunteers and their families
joined others across the city to brighten the walls
of shelters during the 7th annual Painting a Better
Tomorrow volunteer blitz.
D) Ken Cowdery congratulates Caitlin Tucker on
her HBF scholarship award at an HBA All-Member
Lunch.
E) HBA mentors take time out of their day to talk
to students at PCC about employment tactics, business etiquette and communication. F) A record 43 teams were involved in the 8th
Annual HBF Trap Shoot in 2012 and raised over
$39,000 for the Foundation.
E
F
Foundation Hero:
Gary Phillips
Gary’s Vacuflo, Inc
“Gary has been a big supporter
of the Foundation for many
years, serving on the Workforce
Development Committee,
contributing to the success of
our Annual Auction, and most
importantly, donating product
to our building projects. ”
Ken Cowdery, HBF Executive
Director
Tell us about yourself:
Formally, I was an Air Traffic
Controller. But when the
Controller strike took place in
1981, I took a risk and started
my own business installing
Central Vacuum Systems in
Anchorage, Alaska. A few
years later I moved to Portland
and started Gary’s Vacuflo of
Por tland.
That was 25 years ago, and
today I am still pushing to
make my already successful
business better.
I feel very blessed to have
had the support and confidence of the community and
home builders, and intensely
believe in giving back to the
community. As a member of
the HBA for over 24 years, I
have been a part of the local Board of Directors, OHBA
State Board, and a supporter
of various HBF projects, including the Cordero House
for Boys and other local family
shelter projects. I have donated to the Homes for Troops,
PAC Homes, The Doernbecher
Hospital and other charities. I
am also a member of the
Divine 9, established to
giving back to the building community.
How did you get
involved with the
HBF?:
I saw the Foundation
as an opportunity to
interact with others
in the building
industry. This opened the door
to ways for Gary’s Vacuflo to
give back to the community.
When we donate a Central
Vacuum System to a shelter,
not only are we providing a
way to make daily cleaning
easier, we are also providing
improved indoor air quality to
the residents. These systems
are generally not budgeted for
in these community projects,
but are always appreciated.
It is personally rewarding
to us to install our Vacuflo,
Central Vacuum Systems into
new, remodeled or existing
shelters.
What are some fun facts
about you that not
everyone knows?:
I parachuted out of a perfectly
good airplane.
What is your favorite food
or candy?:
Tesuque Burrito at Adobe
rose in Sellwood… it’s also
my favorite restaurant!