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HBI Leader Bill Paul Named Florida Builder of the Year
 Home Builders Institute (HBI) Immediate Past Chairman Bill Paul has been named the 2008 Florida Home Builders Association's (FHBA) Builder of the Year. The ceremony took place on Oct. 4 during the installation banquet at the association’s fall board of directors meeting.
Many past FHBA Builder of the Year winners were in attendance, including the award’s first recipient, John Koelemij, who received it in 1973.
Mike Rahn, FHBA’s immediate past 2nd vice president, presented Paul with the award, citing his 25 years in the home building industry and calling him “a person who has been our industry’s voice on a local, state and national level.”
Since joining the Tampa Bay Builders Association (TBBA), Paul has recruited more than 160 members into NAHB’s local affiliates, including 16 this year alone.
Paul is the immediate past president of the TBBA and he currently serves the state association as an area vice president and chair of the Governmental Affairs Committee and the FHBA Foundation.
In frequent communication with local political leaders, Paul is a noted advocate of housing industry priorities and he has led successful efforts to obtain funding for several important workforce development initiatives involving the state association and HBI.
Paul has played a particularly vital role campaigning on behalf of HBI’s Project CRAFT (Community, Restitution, Apprenticeship Focused Training), which is a model intervention program that helps rebuild the lives of court-involved youths by preparing them for productive jobs in residential construction.
“The famous quote, ‘when you want something done, ask a busy person,’ applies perfectly to Bill,” said Rahn. “He is Florida’s Builder of the Year because he simply gets things done. Our industry, our citizens and our state are better off because of his work.”
“What I love about this award is that it’s bigger than just construction,” said Paul. “I’ve met so many people in our industry who care about more than just themselves; they put their neighbors and their communities first. I am very appreciative that service is valued and recognized by FHBA.”
For more information on Project CRAFT, e-mail Dennis Torbett at HBI, or call him at 800-795-7955 x8908.
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