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Member Profile: Getting Involved, Giving Back
The latest in a series that profiles members of local NAHB Remodelers who are strengthening their local councils through networking and recruiting new members. The grassroots champions who are being highlighted in this series have collectively recruited more than 400 new members for the NAHB Remodelers to date.
 Josh Dunn
President
Premier Media Group
Tacoma, Wash.
Josh Dunn is a strong advocate of giving back to the community, and through his involvement with the Master Builders Association of Pierce County (MBAPC) and Olympia Master Builders Association (OMB) in Washington, he’s constantly finding new ways to do so.
Dunn, the founder of Premier Media Group (PMG), heads a multi-faceted publishing company that produces local magazines for western Washington — including 425, South Sound and other titles with a collective readership of more than 100,000.
One of the secrets of his publishing success has been his ability to develop a strong understanding of local communities, serving as the leading authority on how to get the most out of living in the region.
Building Connections
Another key to PMG’s success, Dunn said, is building relationships with the local business community, including building and remodeling. Dunn joined his local HBAs less than 18 months after starting his business and he has participated on a number of councils and committees ever since.
“Being active in these associations has definitely increased our capacity to build relationships,” Dunn said.
Dunn and his staff have been very active in the HBAs’ Remodelers Councils and membership drives. “Our overriding goal is to see the entire region be successful,” he said. “The more we can help our fellow members get involved and connected with the resources they need, the better off we all are.”
In addition to publishing, PMG provides its clients design services, brand consulting, custom publications and marketing. Dunn and his staff share a great deal of media and communication savvy with fellow HBA members to help the associations connect with their members and to help the members connect with their customers.
Filling in Gaps
While Dunn may not know all the nuances of the remodeling business, that doesn’t stop him from connecting with and sharing ideas with members. “One thing that every business owner wants to know is how to run a better business, especially in the areas of marketing and communication, where they often are not as strong as they want to be. I can offer valuable insights and ideas in those areas, and I’ve built some great relationships as a result.”
Dunn also notes the need for increasing public awareness of the value of doing business with members. “In building and remodeling, just as in other industries, communication and branding are ongoing challenges and we need to constantly refresh our messaging to persuade consumers to hire our members,” he said.
“Reaching younger audiences can be especially challenging — and we stress that these days it’s not enough to just maintain a Web site, you also need to use additional channels and tools, such as blogging, media feeds, search engine optimization and others,” Dunn added.
“With organizations like MBAPC and OMB, what you get from them is directly linked to what you put in,” he said, adding that at the same time that he has increased his knowledge of the building and remodeling industry, he has also introduced builders to new communication and marketing ideas that are at the leading edge of his own industry.
“When you focus on adding to the community and building the brotherhood, the close business relationships will come,” Dunn said. “For me, that’s the payoff.”
 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.
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