Chairman's Column: A Brighter Future Beckons
By Horace Hogan II
2009 CBIA Chairman
As my tenure as Chairman of the California Building Industry Association comes to a close, I would like to thank all of you for the support you have given me and the Association this past year. Together, we met the enormous challenges of the past year and began to lay the foundation for recovery of our industry in the years ahead.
Those of you who know me best know it is not in my nature to dwell on the past, but to look to the future. I believe that hope comes in the morning and the dawning of every new day. And so, my final message dwells on the future of our industry and our Association, and not the extraordinary accomplishments of the past year.
The severe recession we continue to endure has wreaked havoc on our builders, our associates and our trade contractors. Many of our industry’s finest names have already succumbed to this economic tsunami, and the list continues to grow daily. But from this jetsam and flotsam will emerge new and stronger business enterprises.
The strength of our industry is not derived from the names of great companies; our industry’s vitality stems from the genius and the integrity of the individuals who create those companies. I am confident that with their genius, their integrity, and their honor intact, the entrepreneurs who make our industry so extraordinary will build new and better companies, communities, and homes. A brighter future for our industry beckons to us all.
A brighter future also beckons for our Association. John Young, Dan Lloyd and I have worked more closely together than any other officer corps in recent memory. We also have engaged Mike Winn in our processes to facilitate a smooth transition for the coming year. The entire team of officers is a dedicated cadre of individuals who will serve our Association with distinction in the years to come.
The year ahead also signals what I believe will be a huge leap forward for our Association with the appointment of Elizabeth “Liz” Snow as our President and Chief Executive Officer. Liz is the consummate professional association manager with a strong strategic track record of getting things done in Sacramento. With Liz’s leadership and vision, a stronger economic climate, and the support of our staff and members, we will be able to significantly enhance the Association’s contributions to our industry.
The other great thing our year ahead portends is the leadership of John Young as our Chairman. I can say with complete confidence that the combination of Liz and John represents the beginning of a new and prosperous era for our industry. An era that has long been awaited, and an era that is long overdue.
John is a dear friend, respected colleague, dedicated servant of our industry and a passionate advocate on our behalf. Leaders like John do not come often, but he comes at a critical juncture for our industry and our Association. He will redeem the hope and the promise of our industry every moment of his tenure as Chairman.
I close by thanking all of you for the assistance and energy you brought to our Association. I also want to acknowledge the contributions of several key players for our success during the past year. First and foremost, I have to thank Steve Doyle, whose encouragement and support led me to pursue a position of leadership within our Association. I have long admired Steve’s leadership and his ability to conduct meetings in a manner that ensures that the full range of options is fully considered. Thank you Steve for considering me as an option to lead this great Association and garnering support for my election to the officer corps.
I want to thank Layne Marceau for his leadership of CMBC this year and his willingness to continue to do so for the foreseeable future. Speaking of excellence, I also have to thank Larry Gotlieb for his fantastic management of the Government Affairs Committee and George Dale for his enthusiastic leadership of the Member Services Committee.
I can’t imagine getting through the year without the counsel and leadership of Wes Keusder, who has faithfully served us as Immediate Past Chairman for two years in a row. Wes also did a great job as Chairman of PCBC this year, and humbly accepted the position of Co-Chairman of PCBC in 2010.
I have to thank all the Executive Officers of the local associations that hosted me when I visited them this past year. I also must congratulate them for the work they have done this past year making it possible for our industry to begin to revive itself.
I also have to thank the staff at CBIA for its extraordinary efforts on behalf of our industry and our Association this past year. Tim Coyle and his team in Government Affairs did a yeoman’s job in 2009. Ed Manning and his team at KP Public Affairs seemed unstoppable in the pursuit of our goals. Jeff Klein’s sage advice protected our financial well being and husbanded our financial resources for the future. John Frith and Mike Strech were tireless advocates on our behalf, and we will sorely miss their contributions in the coming year. Scarlett Vanyi kept us organized and focused.
I was taught that the last person mentioned in thanks is the one who holds the place of honor. That place rightly belongs to Bob Rivinius. I met Bob almost 20 years ago in Dallas at an event called the 5 O’clock Club that CBIA used to sponsor at NAHB. I went to this event with some trepidation that I might be thrown out. I knew I was a member of BIA-Orange County and BIA-Southern California, but I wasn’t confident that I was a member of CBIA.
I was a long way from home at a pretty big show, and I dearly wanted to see some other California builders, so I took the chance and thought I’d crash the cocktail party. I walked up to the party and who is the first person I met with a smile on his face and his hand stuck out to shake? Bob Rivinius.
I never forgot that moment, and how welcome Bob made me feel at my first CBIA cocktail party. Bob has been, and continues to be, a tremendous ambassador for our Association and our industry. Bob was an invaluable resource during my tenure as Chairman; my confidante and my friend, and I can truly say that the things we accomplished this year were due in large part to his tireless efforts on our behalf.
I am proud of the role Bob played in assisting the officers in the search for a new President and CEO for CBIA, and I am grateful Bob has offered to assist our new President and CEO as we move to capitalize on the platform Bob has created. In his new role as Executive Advisor, we will continue to benefit from his experience and his great wit. Thank you, Bob.
With that, I close this message in gratitude for the incredible and wonderful experience I have had as Chairman of the finest building industry association in the country. I missed you Ray.
Horace Hogan II will hand over the chairmanship to John Young at CBIA's Fall Meetings in Napa Oct. 14-16.
