Young, Old, and Gold

This article first appeared in the September/October 2023 issue of Pro Builder.

Like a proud parent, I have an affinity for every issue of Pro Builder that we deliver to our weird little world, and this issue is no exception. But if I’m being honest, this one is my favorite among the “kids” we’ve delivered so far this year.

Why? Because the issue you’re holding in your hands or reading online features some of the very best people and companies our industry has to offer, beginning with the inspiring profiles of our annual Forty Under 40 class, representing housing’s next generation of leaders and innovators.

I won’t say this year’s group is more special than in previous years, but these folks are truly impressive: running their own companies, divisions, or departments; having a positive impact on their communities; and helping builders do better with their sales and marketing, use of technology, and business systems.

With that, renowned talent broker Rodney Hall also gives a well-deserved shout-out to the over-60 contingent of home building’s workforce. It turns out Boomers aren’t quite as retiring or tech-challenged as Gen Y and Z may perceive, and they still have some gas left in the tank to serve any building business with valuable experience and expertise.

But wait, there’s more! Following the Under 40 feature are profiles of two builders, Camelot Homes of Scottsdale, Ariz., and Stone Martin Builders of Opelika, Ala. Both earned—and I mean earned—National Housing Quality Awards (NHQA) recognizing their operational excellence across multiple aspects of their businesses.

In fact, Camelot Homes took the feedback gained from its Bronze NHQA in 2021 to score the coveted Gold award this time around, placing the company on a pedestal with the best-run home building operations in the country—a trajectory Stone Martin Builders, a Bronze recipient this year, is likely to follow, given its commitment to continual improvement across its operations.

Then there’s our Q+A with physician Sameer Sood, co-founder of FwdSlash, a start-up that sees the very real (if not always clearly apparent) connection between personal health and housing insecurity and seeks to make attaining quality shelter easier and more affordable for high-risk communities. I saw Sameer and his team in action at the Housing Innovation Summit Pitchfest this past spring in Denver, and his message and his company’s mission are inspiring and eye-opening.

And lastly, exclusively in this issue’s digital edition and on our website, we feature Buena Esperanza, a Best in American Living Awards winner that’s a truly remarkable transformation of a drab, downtrodden motel into a vibrant, uplifting haven for our nation’s veterans, the unhoused, and others living well below the median income.

I hope you enjoy—and can glean ideas and inspiration—from this issue. That would really make me a proud papa!

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