Letter From Editor - Craig Foster

Craig Foster

BIASC Chief Operating Officer

Welcome to the fifth edition of Southern California Builder. This issue is loaded with powerful content for your reading pleasure. Our inside feature focus for this edition is on our Orange County Chapter – but as you’ll see, there’s much more.

This edition features a Tribute to General William Lyon, a champion for the home building industry. Nearly a year after his passing, we remember and recognize the General for the great homebuilder and legend that he was; a man who did so much for our region and our industry in so many ways. I cannot thank his son, Bill H. Lyon, enough for his time and assistance in putting our tribute article together and for the great photos that he supplied to us. We appreciate all your help and insight, Bill.

Also included in this edition is a special interview with Joan Marcus Webb of The New Home Company. Joan shares many business and personal details of her career and life, so please enjoy this true insight into one of the BIASC’s newest icons.

Speaking of true insights, don’t miss the Q&A with BILD’s attorney, Jennifer Hernandez, the 2021 Economic Outlook by Scot Wild of John Burns Real Estate Consulting, and Shopoff Realty Investments Vice President James O’Malley’s deep dive into why advocacy is important for our builders, and much more.

You’ll also find great updates from the Anaheim Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Irvine Chamber of Commerce. As always, I need to recognize my team that is so instrumental in helping me put out a quality, relevant and entertaining publication. BIASC Public Affairs Manager & SCB Editor Karissa Willette, Randy Carver, VP Client Services at Kovach Marketing, and our BIASC Reporter Laer Pearce. Thanks guys, you are the best.

A brief operational update:

BIASC in 2021 is doing well. Our reserves are solid, and membership has increased by 86 members over the last few weeks with our new membership programs. There’s more to come as BIASC Immediate Past Chair Tom Grable leads our new Builders for Members campaign as well as our new Regional Membership Committee. 2021 events are going live and in-person! We are adding new events constantly so please stay tuned for more details on these exciting opportunities. We will be having our first all-BIASC Governing Board and Chapters’ Boards meeting in June in Palm Desert. This will be the first time all regional and chapter boards will be gathered to collaborate and plan advocacy and long-term strategies for our builders and associate members.

Thank you all for your continued support of the Southern California Builder magazine and the BIASC.

Craig Foster