WHOLE HOUSE GENERATOR MAINTENANCE
An annual service call to a licensed generator specialist will ensure backup power is available when needed.
Whole house generators require periodic maintenance to remain in top operating condition. If your generator is not currently on a maintenance contract, or may need maintenance before the next hurricane season, Pensacola Energy encourages you to contact a qualified generator contractor for preventative maintenance.
Please consider using natural gas for your outdoor grill, cooktop and water heater. These appliances will operate without electric power and can reduce the load on your generator. You can earn up to $3,000 in rebates when converting to natural gas appliances.
Visit PensacolaEnergy.com or call (850) 436-5050 to learn more.
2024 Leadership Board
Austin Tenpenny President aDoor Properties
Josh Rayls Secretary Holiday Builders
Wilma Shortall Past 2nd Vice President The First Bank
Heath Kelly 1st Vice President
Heath Kelly Construction
Kevin Sluder 2rd Vice President Gene’s Floor Covering
Dax Campbell Immediate Past-President CamCon
Shon Owens Tresurer Owens Custom Homes
Janson Thomas 3rd Vice President Swift Supply
Josh Peden Financial Officer Hudson, Peden & Associates
2025 Home Builders
Association of West Florida Board of Directors
SENIOR OFFICERS
Austin Tenpenny, aDoor Properties, President
Heath Kelly, Heath Kelly Construction, First Vice President / President-Elect
Shon Owens, Owens Custom Homes, Treasurer
Josh Rayls, Holiday Builders, Secretary
Kevin Sluder, Gene’s Floor Covering, 2rd Vice President
Janson Thomas, Swift Supply, 3rd Vice President
Wilma Shortall, The First Bank, Past 2nd Vice President
Dax Campbell, CamCon, Immediate Past-President
Josh Peden, Hudson, Peden & Associates, Financial Officer
Stephen Moorhead, Moorhead Law Group, Legal Counsel
ASSOCIATE DIRECTORS
Bill Batting, REW Materials
Keith Branch, Good Foundations, Cost and Codes Chair
Rick Byars, Florida Power & Light
Mickey Clinard, Renasant Mortgage
Laura Gilmore, Fairway Ind. Mortgage, Affordable Housing Liaison
Chris Graye, Graye’s Granite
Thomas Hammond, Hammond Engineering, Civil Engineering Liaison
John Hattaway, Hattaway Home Design
Lindy Hurd, First International Title, Sales & Marketing Committee Chair
Shellie Isakson-Smith, SWBC
Mary Jordan, Gulf Coast Insurance, Tradesmen/Workforce Development Committee Chair
Daniel Monie, KJM Land Surveying
Alex Niedermayer, Underwood Anderson & Associates
Zach Noel, Clear Title of NW FL
Suzanne Pollard-Spann, Legacy Insurance Brokers, Ambassadors Committee Chair
Marty Rich, University Lending Group
John Scanlon, Pensacola Energy
Pam Smith, Real Estate Counselors, Pensacola Assn. of Realtors Liaison
Chris Thomas, Acentria Insurance
BUILDER DIRECTORS
Joel Coleman, P.E., Lennar
Chad Edgar, Joe-Brad Construction
Amir Fooladi, ParsCo, Jessica Ford, FD Builds
Fred Gunther, Gunther Properties
Drew Hardgrave, Landshark Homes
Thomas Henry, Thomas Homes
Alton Lister, Lister Builders, Governmental Affairs Committee Chair
Kyle McGee, Sunchase Construction
Jennifer Reese, Reese Construction Services
Douglas Russell, R-Squared Construction
Anton Zaynakov, Grand Builders
EX-OFFCIO / PAST PRESIDENT BOARD MEMBERS
Edwin Henry, Henry Company Homes
Shelby Johnson, Johnson Construction, Remodeler’s Council Chair
Russ Parris, Parris Construction Company
CORNERSTONE MAGAZINE
JENNIFER MANCINI
Executive Director jennifer@hbawf.com
Publisher Malcolm Ballinger malcolm@ballingerpublishing.com
Executive Editor Kelly Oden kelly@ballingerpublishing.com
Art Director Ian Lett ian@ballingerpublishing.com
Graphic Designer/Ad Coordinator Ryan Dugger advertise@ballingerpublishing.com
Editor Morgan Cole morgan@ballingerpublishing.com
Assistant Editor Nicole Willis nicole@ballingerpublishing.com
Sales & Marketing
Paula Rode, Account Executive, ext. 28 paula@ballingerpublishing.com
Geneva Strange, Account Executive, ext. 31 geneva@ballingerpublishing.com
Cornerstone, the monthly publication of the Home Builders Association of West Florida serving Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties, is published monthly, twelve (12x) per year. Send address changes to HBA of West Florida, 4400 Bayou Boulevard, Suite 45, Pensacola, Florida 32503-1910. Cornerstone, is published in the interests of all segments of the home building industry and is distributed to its members and others associated with the HBA of West Florida. HBA of West Florida and Ballinger Publishing does not accept responsibility for, or endorse any statement or claims made by advertisers or authors of any articles. Every effort has been made to assure ac-curacy of information, but authenticity cannot be guaranteed. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written consent of Home Builders Association of West Florida, Copyright ©, 4400 Bayou Boulevard, Suite 45, Pensacola, Florida 32503-1910, 850.476.0318. Advertisers and advertorials in Cornerstone do not constitute an offer for sale in states where prohibited by law.
HBAWF News
Dear Members,
Investing in the Future of Homebuilding
As we move into the busy spring building season, one challenge continues to stand out in our industry—the shortage of skilled labor. It’s no secret that the homebuilding industry is experiencing a significant workforce gap, and if we don’t take proactive steps to attract and develop young talent, this issue will only grow.
Recently, Mary Jordan, chair of our Tradesmen Education Council launched “Contractors in the Classroom,” with several high schools across Escambia County. I, along with several of our other Builder members had the opportunity to speak with high school students about career opportunities in the homebuilding industry. What struck me the most was how many young people simply aren’t aware of the rewarding, high-paying careers available in construction. Too often, students are pushed toward traditional four-year college paths without considering skilled trades as a viable and lucrative option.
As members of the Home Builders Association, we have a responsibility to change this narrative. We need to be more active in promoting trade careers, engaging with schools, and mentoring the next generation of builders, electricians, plumbers, and craftsmen.
So how can we make a difference? Here are a few steps we can take together:
• Engage with Local Schools – Get involved in our Tradesman Education Council! We have several opportunities available to go speak with local high school students. Partnering with high schools and technical programs to offer hands-on learning
experiences, internships, and mentorships is crucial. Many students don’t know what’s possible until they see it firsthand.
• Promote Apprenticeships & On-the-Job Training – Not every young person can afford expensive training programs. By providing apprenticeship opportunities, we can help them gain valuable skills while earning a paycheck.
• Scholarships: Our Tradesmen Education Council has $11,000 of scholarship funds available to be applied towards a trade school. In the past, it’s been very difficult to even get students to apply for this scholarship. Please help spread the word. Feel free to reach out to me at austin.tenpenny@adoorproperties.com or mary@gcinsurance.com for additional information.
• Support Vocational Education – Encourage your local schools and policymakers to invest in vocational training programs that teach real-world construction skills.
• Showcase Success Stories – Let’s highlight young professionals who have built successful careers in homebuilding. Seeing real-life examples of young trades thriving in our industry can inspire more to follow in their footsteps. If you know of a young tradesperson that is thriving in our industry, please reach out to me. We’d like to feature them in an upcoming issue of Cornerstone Magazine and on our social media pages.
This is not just an industry issue—it’s a community issue. A strong, skilled workforce means better-built homes, more opportunities for young people, and a thriving economy for all of us. I encourage every HBA member to find a way to get involved, whether it’s speaking at a school, offering internships, or mentoring a young apprentice. Together, we can build not just homes, but careers, futures, and a stronger industry for generations to come.
Thank you for your continued dedication to this industry. Let’s work together to make a lasting impact.
Sincerely,
Austin Tenpenny HBA President
Remodeling Market Poised for Growth in 2025
An aging housing stock, record levels of home equity and favorable demographics will create positive growth prospects for the remodeling sector in 2025, according to industry experts at a panel hosted by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) during the International Builders’ Show in Las Vegas.
The outlook bodes well for the remodeling sector. Consumer inflation remains a concern as shelter costs continue to be sticky despite tightening measures by the Federal Reserve. And while lower mortgage rates are potentially on the horizon, the process will be bumpy, as long-term interest rates could remain flat or even increase with larger fiscal deficits. These ongoing housing affordability challenges signal that demand for remodeling projects will remain solid in 2025.
The NAHB/Westlake Royal Remodeling Market Index (RMI), a quarterly survey of NAHB remodeler members that provides insight for the remodeling
industry, continues to exhibit positive sentiment, especially when compared to other housing sectors.
“Remodeler sentiment has remained in positive territory, well above the break-even point of 50, since the second quarter of 2020,” said NAHB Economist Eric Lynch. “One of the key factors for growth in the remodeling market is the aging housing stock, which continues to drive renovation projects. Home owners are increasingly choosing to tap into their home equity and invest in improvements rather than relocate, creating long-term growth prospects for the industry.”
The RMI survey also showed that 98% of remodelers cited that most or some of their consumers are familiar with the aging-in-place concept. That share was 75% in the fourth quarter of 2004, indicating a significant increase in awareness among consumers over the last two decades and thus creating additional opportunities for growth in the market.
Lynch noted that while the industry has seen gradual improvements in the availability of labor and materials over the past few years, both remain ongoing challenges for remodelers. According to RMI survey results, the top five fields that remodelers reported labor shortages in include: carpenters-finished, carpenters-rough, framing crews, bricklayers/masons and concrete workers.
Remodelers report the products most difficult to get are appliances, windows and doors, HVAC equipment, plumbing fixtures and fittings and cabinets.
“Although the remodeling industry faces certain headwinds, favorable demographics and characteristics of the current housing stock will boost remodeling activity in 2025,” said Lynch. “NAHB is forecasting residential remodeling activity to post a 5% gain in 2025, and a nominal gain of 3% in 2026,” said Lynch.
Attendees also heard from Alan Hanbury, Jr., CGR, CAPS, GMR, president of House of Hanbury Builders Inc., based in Newington, Conn., who presented on best practices for remodelers to grow and manage their businesses profitably.
For remodelers, a few best practices stand out in ensuring sustained success. “Many business owners overlook budgeting, yet establishing a clear financial strategy is crucial for controlled growth,” said Hanbury. “By tracking expenses and forecasting needs, business owners can maintain healthy financial practices and avoid unnecessary strain.”
Hanbury noted that focusing on the quality of work over discounting will also be a better driver of leads, growth and revenue for those in the remodeling industry.
Remodelers who consistently track the true billable hourly cost of employees will gain invaluable insights into their operation’ profits. “Without monitoring it, you’ll never understand the true cost of your workforce,” noted Hanbury. “It’s also very important to have financial targets, which allow you to benchmark against your competitors as well as your past efforts and know where your business stands in the marketplace.”
Source: NAHB
DOE Suspends Energy Efficiency Mandates on Key Home Appliances
In a move supported by NAHB, the Department of Energy (DOE) has announced it will postpone the implementation of the latest round of restrictive energy efficiency mandates on key home energy appliances, including for gas powered instantaneous (tankless) water heaters.
The DOE press release noted that these actions “are a key step in undoing the previous administration’s burdensome policies that have driven up costs, reduced choice and diminished the quality of Americans’ home appliances.”
In addition to the tankless water heaters, the DOE has acted to postpone the new overreaching efficiency standards for the following home appliance rules:
• Central Air Conditioners
• Clothes Washers and Dryers
• General Service Lamps
• Walk-In Coolers and Freezers
• Commercial Refrigeration Equipment
• Air Compressors
Additionally, the DOE is creating a new energy efficiency category for natural gas tankless water heaters that would exempt these products from the Biden administration’s onerous efficiency rules and allow for fair standards that balance efficiency with availability of product features desired by consumers.
NAHB has been actively advocating against efforts to limit the availability and use of gas stoves, and will continue to support efforts to maintain a variety of home appliance options for consumers to help improve housing affordability.
On the congressional front, NAHB continues to work with lawmakers in both chambers to advance congressional resolutions introduced in the House and Senate that seek to block the Biden administration’s recent attempt to ban natural gas water heaters.
Source: NAHB
Don’t wait until the last minute to earn your Continuing Education Units (CEUs)! The Florida Home Builders Association (FHBA), in conjunction with Building A Safer Florida and the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, is offering a FREE webinar on March 11, 2025, where you can earn 7 CEUs—all from the comfort of your home or office.
This online session focuses on the Florida Building Code Residential and meets Florida’s license renewal requirements including two advanced building code courses, one hour of wind mitigation, and four general credits.
• Date: Tuesday, March 11, 2025
• Time: 8:00 a.m.
• Location: Zoom
• CEUs Earned: 7 Register Now at www.learnfloridabuildigncodes.com
Affordability Headwinds Driving Home Buyers’
Interest in Smaller, More Personalized Homes in 2025
Home buyers continue to look toward smaller homes, with the median home size dropping from 2,200 square feet in 2023 to 2,150 square feet in 2024 — the lowest in 15 years — after holding strong at 2,300 square feet from 2019-2022. The same thing is happening to median lot sizes, which has dropped about 1,000 square feet in the last 15 years to 8,400 square feet.
Meanwhile, townhomes are also becoming increasingly popular, comprising a record 17% of the single-family market compared to 10% in 2009.
“There’s a simple reason this is happening: Townhomes are more affordable as material, lot and labor prices continue to increase,” said Rose Quint, NAHB assistant vice president of survey research. Quint highlighted that the premium buyers pay for new homes is shrinking. In 2024, the median price for existing homes increased 5% to $412,000 — the first time it has crossed the $400,000 threshold — while the median price for new homes dropped 2% to $420,000.
Builders are increasing overall living space by tacking on more porches and patios, with 68% and 64% of
new homes, respectively, incorporating these features. In addition to building smaller homes, they are also trying to address affordability concerns by offering sales incentives (64%) and cutting home prices (33%).
Although home size preferences in general are trending smaller, exact sizes differ by generation. Millennials prefer larger homes, with a median of 2,408 square feet, while boomers are looking to downsize to an average of 1,869 square feet. Both Gen X and Gen Z are looking for homes around 2,250 square feet.
Each generation is progressively more open to having a smaller home with higher-quality products and amenities versus a larger home with fewer amenities. More than half of Gen Z (53%) and millennials (52%) are willing to make that compromise, with that percentage increasing to 61% for Gen X and 70% for boomers. The same trend is true for incentivizing each generation to purchase a townhome of similar size and quality instead of a single-family home, with Gen Z looking for a 20% discount while boomers would need a discount of least 30%.
There’s no major consensus among generations for exterior styles, with Gen Z and millennials leaning slightly more contemporary and Gen X and boomers preferring more traditional home styles. Builders and designers are adapting to this plurality with a midcentury modern, or “retro revival,” style — mixing clean lines with warm textures and accents. Builders can find simple solutions, such as gable windows or mixed materials, to scale these trends down to an affordable scale.
Flexibility is also key for home buyers. Whether it’s designing for longevity and addressing different life stages at the onset or creating spaces that can be used for a variety of wellness activities or increased connection to nature, today’s homes need to reflect their owners and provide them a place to rejuvenate.
“People are being less influenced by influencers,” said Doug Cummins, senior associate/project manager at DAHLIN Group Architecture and Planning. “Buyers are becoming more sophisticated in what they want to see in their home and make it personal to them. A really simple idea can turn that house into a home for that home buyer. It makes them feel more connected to the space that they have.”
Certain preferences are common across all generations because they just make sense. Top technology features for all home buyers, for example, include security cameras, wireless security systems and video doorbells — highlighting a key interest in safety.
Consistently popular features, such as the great room, laundry room and garage storage, remain important for most buyers of all generations. Other top amenities and design options include:
• Drinking water filtration
• Special storage racks for wine/spices in the kitchen
• Both a shower stall and a tub in the primary bath
• Pull-out shelves in the kitchen
Additional information on home buyer trends can be found in NAHB’s What Home Buyers Really Want, available at builderbooks.com
Source: NAHB
Personal service, better understanding of coverages, and secure protection for your most valued assets.
Jordan Agent/Owner
Mary
Cassy Smith Operations Manager
Jim Crutcher Director of Marketing
Vicki Ruschel Personal Lines Manager Stop
HBA Builders Members Appointed to Serve on the Santa Rosa County Land Development Code Task Force
Santa Rosa County Commissioner, Colten Wright appointed HBA President, Austin Tenpenny to the Land Development Code Task Force during the BoCC meeting on Thursday, Feb.27th.
HBA proudly represents over 350 local businesses with employees who live and work in the community. Our mission is to protect and promote the residential construction industry and to advocate for our members’ rights to work and build in a free market and to do it well. And we do so not at the expense of the health and safety of the people we are building for.
We look forward to our President, Austin Tenpenny (aDoor Properties) representing the Association and working alongside the other appointees on the LDC task force and we are confident that productive conversations will take place.
Additionally, BoCC Chairman Kerry Smith appointed Mike Patterson (Adams Homes) to serve on the LDC
Task Force. We have full confidence that both Austin and Mike will do great work as members of the task force and we thank them for their service not only to our industry but also to the entire community.
Thank you to the SRC BoCC for their confidence and trust in the HBA.
Explore the Many Ways to Connect with NAHB
ContentNAHB has a wide range of communication channels for members, HBA staff, and anyone interested in the residential construction industry to stay on top of the latest housing news and the Federation’s efforts to tackle top priorities.
Blogs
The NAHB Now blog is the premier news destination for the home building industry. The blog keeps members apprised of efforts by NAHB’s staff experts to tackle key issues, updates from Capitol Hill and state houses, the good work being done by HBAs across the country, and more.
For nationally acclaimed economic analysis, NAHB also publishes Eye on Housing, featuring content by NAHB Chief Economist Dr. Robert Dietz and his expert staff. For the latest on the International Builders’ Show, check out the Know the Show blog. And the Best in American Living blog offers inspiration in home design and development.
Social Media Outlets
Beyond blogs, NAHB has a robust presence on popular social media and digital communication channels. Follow NAHB on Facebook, LinkedIn, X and Instagram for the latest from NAHB. And check out some of NAHB’s specialized groups on Facebook and LinkedIn, such as Professional Women in Building, NAHB Remodelers, NAHB Associates, and other dedicated content areas. Just search in Facebook and LinkedIn for NAHB groups.
The International Builders’ Show has its own social accounts on Facebook, LinkedIn and X to keep IBS attendees informed about the latest developments for the upcoming show. These accounts are must-follows for anyone planning to attend the show in Las Vegas.
Podcasts and Videos
NAHB also produces a podcast, Housing Developments, featuring CEO Jim Tobin and Chief Operating Officer Paul Lopez, that dives into important topics in the home building industry. Subscribe to Housing Developments through your favorite podcast provider or watch each episode on YouTube.
Speaking of YouTube, NAHB has an award-winning production department that makes professional videos for the industry. The NAHB YouTube channel features content such as the popular safety video toolbox series, skilled trades promotional videos, the Chairman’s Update, and much more. And be sure to check out the IBS YouTube channel for videos from the show.
Member Community and Updates
Engage with other members directly on NAHB Connect, a platform exclusively for NAHB members to exchange ideas and network digitally. No staff, no non-members — just home builders, remodelers, and associate members discussing their businesses.
NAHB also offers a wide range of email newsletters covering all areas of the Federation to help keep members up to date on the latest news. Check our list of newsletters and subscribe to those that suit your interests.
Learn more about these and other key digital media and publications from NAHB on nahb.org.
SPIKE CLUB
In construction, a spike is a steel object that is essential to making a building strong. As in construction, the HBA of West Florida sees a Spike as someone that works to keep our association strong. Spikes work on the recruitment and retention of members in addition to keeping members active with the association. Anyone is eligible for Spike status. On Spike credit is awarded for each new member recruited and an additional credit is awarded for that new member’s renewal on or before their anniversary date. If you help to retain a member, you are eligible to receive a half point for each member.
Spike Club Levels
Spike Candidate 1-5 Credits
Blue Spike 6-24
Life Spike 25-49
Green Spike 50-99
Red Spike 100-149
Royal Spike 150-249
Super Spike 250-499
Statesman Spike 500-999
Grand Spike 1000-1499
All-Time Big Spike 1500+ Spike Club Members and their credits as of 01/30/2025.
Statesman Spike
Harold Logan
Super Spike
Rod Hurston
Royal Spike
Rick Sprague
Edwin Henry
William “Billy” Moore
Red Spike
Charlie Rotenberry
Oliver Gore
Newman Rodgers IV
Ricky Wiggins
David Holcomb
Credits
Credits
Kim
Spike Credits
Shelby
Mary
