NBN Online for the week of April 17, 2006

(Plain Text Version) for full graphical version, click here.

In This Issue:

Front Page
Multifamily Housing Demand on a Long-Term Upswing
Arizona’s Pygmy Owl Struck From Endangered Species List
Layouts for Living
Floor Plans: High in Style — Highly Affordable
Coast to Coast
Miami Price Dice?
Politics & Government
Help Bring Industry Concerns to Lawmakers on May 10
Economics & Finance
Builder Confidence in Housing Market Thins in April
NAHB Gets Relief on New Housing Bank Capital Regs
Tips
Builder's Tip: Making Low-Cost Crown-Molding Clamps
Business Management
Six Performance Yardsticks — and How to Measure Them
Regulations, Affordability Key Concerns for Production Builders
50Plus Housing
Two Honored for Contributions to 50+ Housing Industry
Remodelers
NAHB Has ‘Remodeling Month’ Resources for You
Environment
ESA Regulations: Tell Us How Well They're Working
Commercial
At Barely 30, Self Storage Comes of Age
Education
Want to Know More About Designations? Ask an Expert
Education Calendar
Construction Safety
Take Steps to Avoid the West Nile Virus
Sales
Trade Associations Are Well Worth Your Time
New Home Sales a Sweet Success
Design
Kitchens and Baths Are Getting Bigger
Sink and Urinal Combo a 19th Century Bathroom Curiosity
Workforce housing
Southern Nevadans Working to Address Housing Crisis
Labor
Florida Site Sparks Student Interest in Housing Careers
Building Products
Martha Stewart, Tony Soprano on Drive-By Home Tour
Builder's Engineer
Creeping Wood
TV
NAHB-Produced Programs on HGTV & DIY This Week
Endowment
C.P. Berry Construction Is True to Its School...Library
Hastak to Study Residential Wastewater Treatment
Association News
Get Double Discounts on Dell Computer Products in April
Whirlpool to Award Chillerator to Top NAHB Recruiter in May
GM $500 Exclusive Offer for NAHB Members
Find Employees Through New NAHB Online Career Center
NAHB Spring Board Meeting May 9-13
Calendar of Events
NAHB Career Center

Two Honored for Contributions to 50+ Housing Industry

The NAHB 50+ Housing Council will honor a builder and a community designer/architect as the 2006 Icons of the Industry during the Building For Boomers & Beyond: 50+ Housing Symposium 2006 next week in Phoenix.

The two icons are:

  • Edward J. Robson, chairman of  Arizona-based Robson Communities
  • Mike Kephart, AIA, the founder and principal of KEPHART, the national design firm headquartered in Denver


“The Icons give us all something to aspire to,” said Norman Cohen, a Marietta, Ga.-based builder and chairman of the 50+ Housing Council. “The honorees have helped to shape the 50+ housing industry into what it is today — a vibrant, diverse, rapidly growing part of the building industry — and their influence will continue to touch the housing profession for years to come.”

Now in its sixth year, the Icons of the Industry Awards program recognizes individuals who have contributed to the 50+ housing industry through leadership and innovation during the last 15 years or more.

 

Robson

 

Edward J. Robson
, chairman of Robson Communities

Robson Communities markets and develops five active adult communities: PebbleCreek in the Phoenix area, SaddleBrooke in north Tucson, Quail Creek in Green Valley, Robson Ranch in Arizona's Casa Grande/Eloy area, and Robson Ranch in Denton, Texas. Robson’s two other communities, Sun Lakes and SunBird in the Phoenix area, are sold out.

Robson Communities and its affiliated companies have sold and built nearly 20,000 homes and employ more than 1,500 people.

Robson has worked as a real estate agent, broker, developer and more. He says he gained his most valuable experience as director of corporate sales for the Del Webb Corporation in the early 1960s, and cites company founder Del Webb as his mentor.

A former member of the U.S. Olympics hockey team, Robson is the recipient of numerous awards for both his business achievements and humanitarian work.

 

Kephart

 

Mike Kephart
, AIA, founder and principal of KEPHART

KEPHART is a nationally recognized community design firm that designs planned communities and housing with sensitivity to municipal concerns, environmental diversity and builder profitability.

Established in 1974, the firm has won numerous industry awards. Kephart led the firm into the 50+ housing field in 1990 with the design of Viewpoint, an age-targeted community in North Olmstead, Ohio. KEPHART has since designed numerous 50+ housing communities.

Kephart continues in a mentorship role at KEPHART.

The two will be honored during the Icons of the Industry luncheon, which will also feature a discussion by former Del Webb CEO LeRoy C. Hanneman, Jr., currently of Element Homes in Phoenix.


 

Register On-Site for the 50+ Housing Symposium

Do you want to learn more about the fastest-growing segment of the housing market? Online registration is closed, but you can still register on-site for “Building for Boomers & Beyond: 50+ Housing Symposium 2006,” April 24-26 in Phoenix.

The seniors housing symposium is the premier educational and networking event for industry professionals who serve the burgeoning 50+ market.

For more information, click here.



Find Out What Boomers Want

Boomers on the Horizon: Housing Preferences of the 55+ Market,” available through BuilderBooks.com, can help you better build and market homes to this age group.

Capitalize on the niches, needs and opportunities of this rapidly growing market by learning their preferences. To view or purchase this publication online, click here, or call 800-223-2665.

To learn more about the 2006 50+ Housing Symposium, which will be held April 24-26 in Phoenix, click here.


 

Sponsored by
Freddie Mac

 
 
> Freddie Mac, Louisiana HFA Help Hurricane Victims Repair, Rebuild Homes
> Montana State Representative Bob Lake Cautions Against Extensive GSE Reform
 
 

Sponsored by
McGraw Hill
Construction

 
 
> Click here to tell us about your experience in the Gulf Coast...
 
 

Sponsored by
NAHB

 
 
> Building for Boomers & Beyond: 50+ Housing Symposium 2006
> NAHB Multifamily Pillars of the Industry Conference and Gala
> Construction Forecast Conference - Spring 2006