The Value of Your Membership!

Troy Fritz from Weaver Homes

- “For us (Weaver) it is being involved in an organization that has its hand directly on the pulse of our industry, to the point it helps guide our business decisions in this market. We wouldn’t be as well off without the BIA.”

Mike Reeves from Kimley–Horn

- “I appreciate the relationships that we develop with other members and the collaboration that occurs as a result of those relationships.”

Jane Arthur Roslovic 2023 BIA President Treplus Communities

Joe Thomas from Metro Development - “I believe there is more power in numbers, I believe we have greater access to decision makers due to the number of members.”

Jonathan Wilcox from Wilcox Communities - “I get a lot of value out of making connections with elected officials and development professionals that I wouldn’t otherwise make without my BIA membership.”

Our members are working hard on advocacy issues for development and construction for both the single family and multifamily products. The City of Columbus is working with our members to streamline the approval processes. They are also working with our members on the landlord rental rights. Our Builders and Developers Council meets monthly to discuss the issues going on with the eight counties we represent. They have their finger on the pulse of the rapidly growing Licking County initiatives.

It is that time of year to renew your membership with the BIA. The members of the BIA have the largest impact on resolving the housing issues in central Ohio and we need everyone’s help. It is also a good time to think about how you and your organization can get more out of your membership. At BIG Night, Joel Rhoades, CEO of Epcon Communities, who was receiving the Baldy Esper Jones award commented “we find the more we put into it (BIA), the more we get out of it and we are a better company because of our involvement in the BIA.”

At Treplus Communities, Julie Stein, VP of Marketing, is active in the Parade of Homes marketing efforts at the BIA and the 55+ Council at the NAHB levels. Nicki Martin, Director of Land Acquisition and Entitlement, is a co-chair of the Builders and Developers Council, Jim Lipnos, SVP of Site Acquisition and Construction, is a past president and Geoff Arthur, President, is on the board of the NAHB 55+ Council. “We have really learned that it is beneficial to give of our time for Treplus and the BIA.”

Your membership gets you in on all of the advocacy the BIA is working on every day. Our industry in central Ohio is growing at such a rapid pace. The Housing Study commissioned by the BIA Foundation, which is posted on the BIA website, is an invaluable tool for any size homebuilder planning their next project.

The opportunities for you and your organization to get involved and get the most out of your membership are significant. The benefits of the BIA are better engaged employees and enthusiasm about their industry, the opportunities for networking and learning about best practices with peers. I would encourage you to have your staff go to the website and sign up for a program, a council or attend one of the plethora of meetings that are offered each month. Take advantage yet this year of the Golf Classic, Big Gun Clay Shoot and the POH/ Parade of Excellence Party.

Lastly, if you are reading this article, it will remind you that you receive the Building Insider four times a year chockfull of relevant information. However, do not miss the online weekly updates that are emailed to you. Pass the articles around internally or to your friends, colleagues and peers in the industry. Now that the local print newspapers are gone, the BIA staff gathers and disseminates weekly the latest news that is relevant to our members in the communities in which we work.

Renew, join, refer and bring a peer!