PWB Happy Hour Social

Join the Professional Women in Building Council for their Happy Hour Social at Firebirds Wood Fired Grill on January 17th, from 4-6 p.m. This event will include drinks, appetizers, and networking with other top professionals.

PWB and SMC Social

The Professional Women in Building Council and the Sales and Marketing Council have teamed up for their joint social at Grateful Brew on October 18th. Members of both councils will be there to network and enjoy the local brews provided by Grateful Brew and the good food offered by a local food truck. All members of the HBA are welcome to attend to learn more about the two councils.

October 18. 2016

5:30 - 7 p.m.

Grateful Brew

501 S Pleasantburg Dr

Greenville, SC 29607

Diversity in Design & Construction

Friends of the Home Builders Association, Women in Architecture, would like to invite all those interested to a Diversity in Design & Construction event, with guest speaker Dr. Kinneil Coltman, the Chief Diversity Officer at Greenville Hospital System. The event will be held at the GBS Showroom (103 Old Mill Road, Greenville, SC 29607) on May 11 at 5:30 p.m. Please RSVP by May 5 here.

IBS Has Exciting Opportunities for Young Professionals

The NAHB's International Builders' Show (IBS) is coming to Las Vegas in January, so buy your tickets today! If you are a Young Professional who is unsure of what benefit IBS will have for you, read on to see the opportunities at this year's show.

As the number of young professionals attending the Builders’ Show continues to grow, so does the education and events specially tailored to give up-and-coming industry professionals the tools they need to refine their skills, make new connections and have some fun!

Innovative Education
Explore cutting-edge innovations in technology, building materials, products and even financing through an exciting contemporary learning format in the NEW Innovation Hub. Attendees will also become the innovative resource behind developing topics being discussed in some “crowdsourced” sessions. Several sessions on various topics will be held inside the Innovation Hub during the three days of the show.

Residential Construction Management Competition
This competition is one of the highlights of the Builders’ Show and gives students the opportunity to apply skills learned in the classroom via the completion of a management project/proposal to a real construction company.
Proposals are submitted to a group of construction company executives who act as judges and students will defend their proposals to the judges in front of an audience. This is a great opportunity to watch students display their knowledge and skills. The competition takes place Monday and Tuesday, with the awards ceremony from 5-6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan 20.

Under-40 Panel Discussion & Mixer
Professional Builder magazine editors will lead a sure-to-be-lively panel discussion featuring some of the industry’s under-40 rising stars. During this session, the panel will reveal some of their challenges and accomplishments, as well as their thoughts about how the industry can attract more young people. Grab a beer and listen to the panel on Wednesday, Jan. 20, from 3:45-5 p.m.

Young Professionals After-Hours Party
One of the best ways to grow professionally is by meeting and networking with other industry professionals. The under-40 crowd will come together to enjoy incredible entertainment, an open bar and late night munchies, at the Foxtail Nightclub in SLS Las Vegas – one of the hottest new hotels on the strip — from 8-10 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 20.

Get complete descriptions and see additional young professional opportunities at IBS.

Time is Running Out to Save on IBS Tickets

NAHB's International Builders' Show (IBS) is a three day event where members of the building industry have countless opportunities to learn and network. Taking place January 19-21 in Las Vegas, there are multiple benefits of attending, ten of which you can find here. There will also be a presidential candidates forum where they will be asked about questions pertaining to the building industry.

If you want to attend, buy your tickets before November 20 and get them at a discounted rate. Also, members receive a discount so speak up about your membership! For more information about the show and the amazing opportunities it offers, click here.

Make the Most of Your Networking Opportunity at the HBA Homecoming Event May 31

by Melinda BrodyMelinda Brody and Company 

Networking…it is one of those things we love to hate. If you are in sales of any kind, you know that networking is a necessary tactic in developing new business and making more sales. So, why do we LOVE to hate networking so much? In my opinion it is because we really don’t know HOW to network properly.

When most of us hear the word ‘business networking event’, an image of walking around a room full of strangers, handing out business cards and trying to think of things to say to these strangers usually comes to mind. Also, if you are part of an organized networking event, you know the dreaded ‘1 minute elevator speech introduction’ is also probably on the docket as well. So the image becomes you walking around aimlessly, trying to think of witty and intelligent things to say to people you don’t know AND you are shaking in your boots about doing your ‘LIVE at the Improv’ 60 second infomercial! No wonder we love to hate networking!

According to Wikipedia Business networking is: a socioeconomic activity by which groups of like-minded businesspeople recognize, create, or act upon business opportunities. A business network is a type of social network whose reason for existing is business activity. There are several prominent business networking organizations that create models of networking activity that, when followed, allow the business person to build new business relationships and generate business opportunities at the same time.

GOSH – it even sounds hideous and boring!

So, how in the world can you network effectively and actually enjoy it?? Well, for starters you need to have a plan in place before you ever walk in the door! Here are 5 simple tips to make your networking efforts effective, and more importantly, FUN!

1. Do your homework. Find out in advance who is going to be there and then conduct a little research on them (Linked In is a GREAT resource for this!). Try to pinpoint 3 – 5 people who you REALLY want to meet before you ever even arrive.
2. Arrive early to the event. This allows you to get comfortable with your surroundings and ‘get in the zone’. Pretend you are the official ‘greeter’ and make a point to welcome and introduce yourself to people as they walk it. This is A LOT easier than walking up to a group of strangers and introducing yourself!
3. Do NOT, and I repeat, Do NOT give out your cards to ANYONE unless they specifically ask for it. In fact, don’t even TALK about yourself, instead ASK questions about the people you meet. Look at networking as a ‘fact finding’ mission….find out as many things as you can about the people in the room. If you do indeed meet someone who you think you could be a resource for, or vice versa, then exchange cards and make a point to follow-up.
4. Practice your 60 second elevator speech until you have it memorized. Trying doing something unique or different. Instead of saying ‘Hi, my name is Melinda Brody and I own a video mystery shopping company’ try something like ‘Who likes to watch themselves on video?’
5. Finally, relax and have fun. Think of business networking for professionals as a fraternity party for college kids (minus the keg of beer!). It is a chance to connect with a wide variety of people from diverse backgrounds and industries.

Networking is a big part of what you do as new home sales professional. So accept and embrace each opportunity. You never know WHO you will meet!

Your next HBA networking opportunity:

Try out what you learned in this article by attending the HBA Homecoming at the Dillard-Jones Southern Living Showcase House on May 31, 5:30 p.m.  Click here for details and to register.