Produced byNorthwest Florida Daily News | (850) 863-1111
Tom SextonNWFDN Graphic Designer | [email protected]
April GaffkaNWFDN Sales Manager | [email protected]
BIA STAFF
STATE BUILDER DIRECTORS
ASSOCIATE STATE DIRECTORS
Alan BaggettExecutive Vice President
Jennifer FlemingEditor/Director of Marketing
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
LOCAL DIRECTORS
ALT ASSOC. STATE DIRECTORS
Thomas WatkinsWatree Construction
Rick GoffKGII Development
Jeri ToolanTew Construction
Tracy AcreeTracy Acree Construction
Jerremy WhiteheadSouthern Paradise Homes
Chris TaylorCM Taylor Contracting
Carmela BellResortQuest Real Estate
Tod WebsterAccurate Painting
Garrett FloydNiceville Insurance
June WeeksWeeks Engineering
Mike CrewCrew & Crew, P.A.
Scott WagnerEmerald Coast
Building Materials
Ken WrightPlatinum Real Estate
Megan MacDonnellWhitworth Builders
Greg Goodwin Greg Goodwin Construction, Inc.
PresidentJeremy Stewart
Jeremy Stewart Construction
Immediate Past PresidentTerry Jones
Compass Builders
First Vice PresidentEric Babin
Babin Custom Builders
Second Vice PresidentTerry Hymel
Bluewater Central Vacuum
Immediate Past SecondVice PresidentJoe Pelter
First Federal Bank of Florida
SecretaryKevin Reeves
A-Team Kitchen and Bath
TreasurerBobby Fisher
Arthur Rutenberg Homes
Life State DirectorFelix Beukenkamp
Beukenkamp Building Group
Presidential Appointment at LargeDebbie MooreOkaloosa Gas
Presidential Appointment at LargeMargaret Marusich
Carr, Riggs, and Ingram
Presidential Appointment at LargeJim Snider
Gulf Power Company
Presidential Appointment at LargeBetty Sims
CHELCO, Inc.
FOUNDATIONS
1980 Lewis Turner Blvd. | Fort Walton Beach, FL 32547
Phone: (850) 863-5107 | Fax: (850) 864-2037 | www.biaow.org
BIA Foundations is published monthly by The Building Industry Association of Okaloosa and Walton Counties for its members. The publisher has made every attempt to ensure the accuracy of all information presented herein, but provides no guarantees as to such. ©2011, Building Industry Association of Okaloosa and Walton Counties. All rights reserved.
The Building Industry Associationof Okaloosa & Walton Counties, Inc.
Mission StatementThe Building Industry Association of Okaloosa and
Walton Counties is a professional organization of build-ers, developers and associates affi liated with the Florida Home Builders Association and the National Associa-tion of Home Builders. The BIA serves the construction industry and the communities and government agencies in the area by� Providing information, education and resources;� Providing leadership to unify the industry;� Serving at the voice of the construction industry;� Promoting home ownership and� Serving as a link for members with FHBA and NAHB.The BIA will continually strive to increase membership
so as to remain the source of construction industry infor-mation and an effective service provider to its members.
THANK YOUPROGRAM SPONSOR CLUB MEMBER
The obvious question
that you have for me
is “Jeremy, how can I
derive valuable benefits
that will help me with a
return on my BIA invest-
ment, from joining and
participating on a com-
mittee?”
You will meet and
work with, other members who are from differ-
ent segments of the building industry, but share a
common interest with you; your current book of
business and gaining opportunities to do additional
business with builders or associate members. This
is the start of building your social capital. By
growing your social capital you will be actually
increasing your sales efforts. “How?” Imagine
how much time and effort it takes to perform the
dreaded cold call. Once you figure out the gate
keeper, which could be a person or the hated
voice-mail, and you have direct contact with the
potential customer, you then need to convince
them to meet with you. They may very well have
an existing and established relationship with
your competitor(s). 67% of all cold calls take 10
months or longer to deliver business. 10 months
OR LONGER. How much is that worth to you
in dollars spent with regards to time and lost
commissions? Developing friendships through
committee involvement could help you shave off
months of time because those other associates
may have relationships already with your targeted
potential accounts. Instead of a cold call you are
personally introduced to, in most cases, the deci-
sion maker by the associates you work with at the
BIA.
In a proverbial nutshell, you expand your sales
efforts, through your social capital connections,
thereby increasing your visibility and, by exten-
sion, your company’s brand. The average BIA
membership is normally less that a week’s salary.
Again, think about how much time it takes to de-
velop a relationship with ONE potential customer
through cold calling. I emphasized above 10
months of the 67% of the time it takes to sign up
a new account. That is approximately 40 weeks,
give or take a few days or so. Is one week’s sal-
ary invested to save multiple weeks of cold calling
worth it? Did I mention that time frame is only for
ONE potential customer? You may say “Jeremy,
I will be losing sales time by being involved on a
committee.” Yes, you will absolutely lose time if
you don’t utilize the committee’s overall benefits
and just go through the motions of volunteerism.
Stop looking at it as a loss of time and become
aware of the time saved by having help from fel-
low members.
I encourage you to take the time to contact the
BIA and speak with our Executive Vice President
Alan Baggett or Marketing Director Jennifer
Fleming to explore all the exciting opportunities
and committee that you and your business can be
a part of.
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGEJEREMY STEWART JEREMY STEWART CONSTRUCTION
The Value of BIA: Volunteerism as a Benefi t
2012 Nail Drivers’ Golf Tournament
BIA EVENTS APRIL
The 2012 Nail Drivers’ Golf
Tournament is scheduled for Thursday
April 19th and will be held at the Fort
Walton Beach Golf Club, Pines Course.
This is a best ball tournament and will
start at 12:00pm. This tournament is
open to all BIA members and to the
general public.
There are many levels of sponsorship
for this tournament.
Hole In One Sponsor - $400. This
includes a 4 person team, a green or tee
sign, and a watering hole.
Eagle Sponsor - $300. This includes
a 4 person team and a green or tee sign.
Birdie Sponsor - $85. This includes one player and a green or tee sign.
Par Sponsor - $50. This includes a green or tee sign.
Watering Hole Sponsor - $100. Place a tent or table at a hole to giveaway promotional materials, snacks,
etc. (Tent and Table are not provided, this is just for the space).
All players of our tournament will receive before the tournament lunch (sponsored by Okaloosa Gas), goody
bags, all beverages sponsored by Gulf Power and Southeastern Sash and Door, and after tournament meal
(sponsored by Woody’s Hog Heaven). All of this plus golf for one low price!
This is always a great tournament with a putting contest, closest to the beer contest, a $25,000 hole in one
contest and more.
There will be many giveaways and prizes to win. We will also be holding a silent auction with vacation
packages and more to bid on!
Each year a portion of the proceeds goes to provide funds for both our Mike Josey Memorial Scholarship
Fund as well our McClarrie Memorial Scholarship. Functions like our golf tournament allowed us to provide 6
$1,000 scholarships in 2011.
If you have any questions about this tournament and would like to sign up, please contact Jennifer Fleming
at the BIA office at 850-863-5107 or visit www.biaow.org
APRIL 2012 • SERVING THE BUILDING INDUSTRY OF OKALOOSA AND WALTON COUNTIES
JENNIFER FLEMING BIA DIRECTOR OF MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS
Wednesday 4thGovernmental Affairs Committee Meeting
9:00am
Thursday 12thCox Pools – GMM
6:00pm
Thursday 19thNail Drivers’ Golf Tournament
FWB – Pines Course
Thursday 26thBIA Board and Committee Meetings
Friday 27thParade of Homes Entry and Material Deadline
BUILDING INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION OF OKALOOSA & WALTON COUNTIES
ADVANCED CONSTRUCTION & DEV., INC. ...................................Member Since 2003
AUXILIARY POWER SYSTEMS, INC. ..................................................Member Since 2001
BATH FITTER ..................................................................................................Member Since 2011
CM TAYLOR CONTRACTING, INC. .....................................................Member Since 1988
COASTAL LAND SURVEYING, INC. ...................................................Member Since 2008
COMPASS SOLAR ENERGY ...................................................................Member Since 2009
CUMULUS BROADCASTING ..................................................................Member Since 1995
DAVID WEEKLEY HOMES .......................................................................Member Since 2007
DESTIN FLOORING AMERICA ..............................................................Member Since 1998
GREATER GULF CONSTRUCTION, LLC ..............................................Member Since 2006
HENRY COMPANY HOMES, INC. .......................................................Member Since 1984
LOCALEDGE MEDIA...................................................................................Member Since 2011
OKALOOSA GAS DISTRICT
ONE HOUR AIR CONDITIONING & HEATING .............................Member Since 2010
RE/MAX AGENCY ONE, INC. ..............................................................Member Since 2008
ROMAIR CONSTRUCTION .....................................................................Member Since 2002
SHERWIN WILLIAMS ................................................................................Member Since 2002
THANKS FOR RENEWING
Single Family Dwellings – 21New Commercial Buildings - 2Additions (Residential & Commercial) - 5Remodeling (Residential & Commercial) - 20
(information provided by Okaloosa County Growth Management)
PERMITTING INFORMATIONOKALOOSA COUNTY | FEBRUARY 29, 2012
1. Jeremy StewartJeremy Stewart Construction
8 Spike Credits
2. Jeri ToolanTew Construction4 Spike Credits
3. Carmela BellResortQuest Real Estate
3 Spike Credits
4. Steve DixonDixon Kazek Construction
2.5 Spike Credits
5. Tod WebsterAccurate Painting of NWFL
&Terry Jones
Compass Builders2 Spike Credits
Get the inside scoop on what’s happening outside! April 12th all BIA members and their staff are invited to join us at Cox Pools in Destin. This is not your typical monthly meeting. In addition to good food, conversation, and fun, we will be selling raffle tickets for a chance to win a spa valued at $2,500! Cox Pools will also be offering significant discounts on furniture, spas and more to BIA members! This event starts at 6:00pm on April 12th. We hope to see you there!
First, let me say “Thank you” to our ticket
sponsor Eglin Federal Credit Union and all of the
businesses that participated in the 33rd Annual
BIA Home Show held on March 24th-25th. Early
reports from some several exhibitors are that
the Home Show produced good solid leads that
have turned into jobs. Eric Lewis, owner of
Architectural Gutter Systems, said this year’s Home
Show will keep him busy with work for several
months to come. Patsy Bland, with Century 21
Wilson Minger Agency out of Niceville reported
that she and her team have several contracts on homes and lots as a result of
this year’s Home Show. The overall impression that most vendors had was
that people are looking to build, buy or remodel their homes. I like to thank
the wonderful staff of the Emerald Coast Convention Center for their help
again this year, we are so fortunate to have such a beautiful facility here in
Okaloosa County. Did you know that the BIA hosts a Fall Home and Garden
Expo in Crestview?
Did you hear about the “House that Facebook Built”? Our very own Tew
Construction, a family-owned home builder and real estate developer in
Crestview, is using an innovative design strategy in building their entry for
the upcoming BIA Parade of Homes® scheduled for June 9th-17th. Through
a series of Facebook polls, Tew Construction is building a social media cus-
tomized house with everything from the doorknobs to the insulation being
picked by visitors to the home builder’s Facebook page. The idea began after
Tew Construction President Jeri Toolan candidly posted a poll on Facebook
to decide what material the new home’s fireplace would be built with. After
an overwhelmingly positive response, she began to offer more questions to
the Facebook community concerning the style, material, and colors for the
new home. Popular topics of customization have been the color of marble in
the bathrooms, material for the shingles, and what to make of the extra room
included in the design. The home will be featured in the March-April, 2012
issue of Florida HomeBuilder magazine. Speaking of the Parade of Homes,
have you made plans to enter your new home? All the information can be
found on the BIA website, www.biaow.org. Also, call us at the BIA there are
great opportunities to advertize in this year’s Parade of Homes Guide. When
was the last time you golfed? Get your team together and make plans to play
in the 2012 NAIL Drivers Charity Golf Tournament scheduled for April 19th
at the Fort Walton Beach Golf Course. With lunch, dinner and lots of prizes
and a portion of the proceeds benefit the William “Mac” McClarrie Memorial
scholarship fund as well as the Mike Josey Memorial Scholarship Fund. Last
year the BIA was able to award six, one thousand dollar scholarship top stu-
dents from Okaloosa and Walton counties. Not a golfer, that’s ok, the BIA still
is looking for raffle items, goodie bags items and their a few watering hole
sponsorships still available.
SPECIALTHANKS
Special thanks to CCB Community Bank for sponsoring our March 15th Board of Directors Meeting!
Special thanks to CHELCO for sponsoring our March 16th Legislative Update Meeting!
BIA EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENTALAN BAGGETT BIA EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT
Five Star ClubThrough February 29, 2012
BBVA Compass Bank – Associate MemberLinda Knapp, (850) 226-1680
Sponsor – Erica Wright, Platinum Real Estate
CCB Community Bank – Associate MemberDerek Lott, (850) 682-0484
Sponsor – Jeremy Stewart, Jeremy Stewart Construction
Purr-Fect Painting – Associate MemberMartin Greenway, (850) 368-1072
Sponsor – Carmela Bell, ResortQuest Real Estate
WELCOME NEW MEMBERS
TIME FOR RENEWALA & S I.C.F. Wall Systems, Inc.
A-1 Builders, Inc.
America Home Key
Barton Homes, Inc.
Baywoods Development Group, Inc
Brooks Builders of N.W. Florida, Inc.
CenturyLink
Coastal Carpet & Tile Carpet One
D.R. Horton, Inc.
Elevating Systems & Services
HomeTown Garage Doors, LLC
James Taylor, Jr. General Cont., Inc.
Key Lime Construction, LLC
King Electric of Okaloosa, Inc.
Kish Contracting, Inc.
Lewis B. Jones Construction
Metal Recycling
Paradise Closets and Storage, LLC
S.C. Designing, Inc.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR!!! Saturday, September 29, 2012 Crestview Community Center
Appliance Gallery by WalcoCrystal Shores Construction, Inc.
Cuchens & Company
SORRY TO SEE YOU GOThese members have chosen not to renew their BIA membership. If you know anyone from any of these companies, please call them and let them know how important it is for the building industry to be a member of the BIA of Okaloosa and Walton Counties!
VISIT WWW.BIAOW.ORG FOR MORE INFORMATION
THE DEADLINE TO ENTER A HOME INTOTHE 2012 PARADE OF HOMES IS FRIDAY APRIL 27TH.
THIS IS THE DEADLINE FOR ENTRIES AND ALL MATERIALS.
NOT JUST ANY
DEADLINE
April General Membership MeetingCox Pools