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Remodelers Have a Passion for Community Service
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Remodelers with the Home Builders Association of Hartford County in Connecticut built an accessible ranch home for wounded Iraqi War veteran Marine Sergeant Jared Luce and his wife last year. |
When it comes to community service, remodelers rise to the challenge.
“Volunteering is the rent you pay for your time on earth,” says Alan Hanbury, CGR CAPS, of House of Hanbury Builders in Newington, Conn., and many of his fellow remodelers agree — in both words and deeds.
The Collier Building Industry Association (CBIA) Remodelers Council in Naples, Fla. earned the NAHB Remodelers’ 2007 CADRE award for community service by renovating the home of Dan Davison, a motivational speaker and quadruple amputee. The remodelers made Davison’s condominium more accessible and added modern and practical features to complement his active lifestyle and many interests.
The Davison condominium renovation is just the latest community service project tackled by the Collier remodelers.
“We are always looking to help someone who is giving back to the community who could use our services,” said Tom Lykos, CAPS, of The Lykos Group and a former chairman of the CBIA Remodelers. “It is our chance to give back to the community that supports our businesses, and it’s probably one of the most rewarding things we do.”
“For these projects to be successful, you have to get a small core group of committed individuals to divide the work and let them do what they do best,” Lykos said. His fellow remodelers were eager to volunteer for the Davison project and generously donated time, materials and money to the remodel.
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Remodelers renovate the Naples, Fla. home of Dan Davison, a motivational speaker and quadruple amputee. | Two Homes for Wounded Iraqi War Veterans
In Connecticut, the Home Builders Association of Hartford County Remodelers Council helped build homes for two injured Iraqi war veterans. Working with Homes for Our Troops, the remodelers and other HBA members built the soldiers accessible ranch homes.
Both projects were led by general contractors and completed last year. Members donated time, services, material and funding for the projects.
The Hartford County HBA’s remodeling council has been involved in annual community service projects for the last 17 years. According to Ann Beaudin, the council’s coordinator, in addition to Homes for Our Troops, remodelers supported projects for organizations such as Habitat for Humanity and Rebuilding Together to help families in need and were involved in many local community projects.
“As remodeling professionals, it’s a good way of giving back to the community,” said Beaudin. “It also helps to establish a positive image about the mission and work of the remodelers council and the HBA.”
“Our annual community service projects have all been well received,” added Russ Liljedahl, CGR, CGB, CAPS of Liljedahl Bros., Inc. in West Hartford and a former remodelers council chairman. “We have done improvements to local playgrounds, helped families in need and recently teamed with the West Hartford Exchange Club to provide repairs to a local youth shelter.”
Such projects, he said, are “a good time for remodelers to help the community and bond together with other professional contractors.”
Giving Back Across the County
Among recent projects, remodelers in the Greater Iowa City Area Home Builders Association have used universal design principles to remodel a home for a person with cerebral palsy, built an outdoor shelter at a camp for underprivileged children and created ramp kits that can be quickly assembled for people who need ramps to improve accessibility.
“The remodelers are awesome,” said Joan Tiemeyer, EO of the Iowa City HBA. “Their hearts are into everything they do. They want to give back to the community.”
Remodelers with the Home Builders Association of Northern Colorado created a wheelchair ramp program for community residents in need and now build ramps on a regular basis. The remodelers raised money through the HBA’s new home and remodeling show to establish a foundation to fund the ramp program. Last year, the remodelers built six ramps.
The remodelers are the “movers and shakers of the organization.” said Dottie Weber, EO of Northern Colorado HBA. “They are the best group of volunteers for absolutely everything.”
Like their counterparts in Iowa City and northern Colorado, remodeler members of the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties in Washington, created a Rampathon program for residents in need, according to Jay Schupack, executive director of the Master Builders Care foundation. The remodelers also volunteer to paint homeless shelters for the foundation’s Painting for Tomorrow project.
The Greater Houston Builders Association Remodelers Council regularly participates in Habitat for Humanity’s Home Builders Blitz, where, last year, more than 400 homes were built nationwide in a single week.
“As the committee chair for this project, I was fortunate to have a first-rate team that pulled together to complete the project in five days,” said Rob Hellyer, CGR, GMB, CAPS, of Premier Remodeling and Construction in Houston.
“Our home was perhaps the only one in which no materials or labor were paid for. Everything was 100% donated by suppliers and trade contractors of the remodeling companies involved,” he noted. “Everyone involved found it extremely gratifying on many levels.”
“Of course we were doing good for a deserving family, but we also were being a part of something much bigger, Hellyer continued. “For myself as the committee chair, I saw what was possible when a team of such highly motivated and skilled people pulled together for a common goal.”
Getting Back More Than Giving
“It’s really neat to put on the tools and work with fellow remodelers — even competitors — and help someone directly,” said Scott Sevon, CGR, GMB, CAPS, a remodeler from Palatine, Ill. “These opportunities have touched me in a powerful way and inspire me to be involved.”
“If we work in and claim to be a part of the community, we owe our support — in the measure available to each of us — to its well-being,” said Greg Miedema, CGR, CAPS, of Dakota Builders in Tucson, Ariz. “The sense of pride and satisfaction ought to be reward enough.”
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One of two ranch homes built last year for injured Iraqi veterans by remodelers and other members of Builders Association of Hartford County. |
 Earn NAHB’s New Green Designation at the National Green Building Conference
The Certified Green Professional (CGP) designation teaches builders, remodelers and other industry professionals techniques for incorporating green building principles into homes using cost-effective and affordable options.
Both required courses for the CGP will be held at the National Green Building Conference, May 11-13 in New Orleans.
For more information, visit www.nahb.org/GreenBuildingConference.
 Increase Your Professional Credibility
The Certified Graduate Remodeler (CGR) designation emphasizes business management skills as the key to a professional remodeling operation.
Remodelers who earn the CGR become members of an exclusive national program and gain recognition as industry leaders.
To learn more about the CGR designation, visit www.nahb.org/CGRinfo, or call The Professional Designation Help Line at 800-368-5242 x8154.
 'How to Find a Professional Remodeler' Available at BuilderBooks.com
The brochure guides consumers from the dream to the reality of having their homes remodeled by skilled and trained professionals. Sections include what to look for in a professional remodeler and what questions to ask.
To view or puchase this publication online, click here, or call 800-223-2665 to order.
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