Since 1997, associate member Mike Chance of the Home Builders Association of St. Louis & Eastern Missouri has been helping fellow members learn more about green building practices and products.

As the regional manager for Velux, a manufacturer and distributer of skylights, daylighting systems and solar water heaters, Chance has worked with other associate members and builders on such education projects as green roofs and healthy homes.

When he first started working for Velux, Chance said company officials encouraged him to get involved at the HBA. “I decided to commit time and money to the association, and it’s been well worth it,” Chance said.

At the HBA, Chance initially joined its 50+ Housing Council and its Healthy House group, which later became its Green Building Council. While he acknowledged that members of both councils catered to clients who potentially could use his products, he saw his role at the HBA more as an opportunity to help members stay abreast of the latest industry advances.

“It keeps me in tune with what’s going on in the industry,” he said, “and lets me keep the builder members informed about what’s new in my area of expertise.” 

To do that, Chance said he participates in HBA events “and I help organize some of them.”

In particular, Chance worked with another associate member to educate members about the benefits and intricacies of green roofs. The member had installed a green roof on one of his buildings and Chance helped arrange a tour for members of the Green Building Council.

Such involvement has not gone unnoticed. Describing Chance as an “outstanding member,” Patrick Sullivan, the HBA’s executive vice president, said “he shows his leadership by helping to create educational sessions of benefit to our members. He helps us in more ways than I can count.”

Some of that includes building comradery and just having fun. Chance helps organize holiday parties and annual events, such as the 50+ bus tour, which are successful because the associate members come out in force for the members. “Basically, we just want to support the builders who support us,” he said.

“Those events aren’t just ads for our companies,” Chance said. “We provide a real service to the builder members.”

“It would be great if we could clone Mike and have more associate members active in this manner,” said Sullivan.