Congressman Jeff Duncan accepts Defender of Housing Award from (from left to right) Rick Quinn, APB, Quinn-Satterfield, and Dave Hagan, APB, and Scott Daniel, APB, of Ryan Homes.

Your HBA leaders and PAC donors met this week with Congressman Jeff Duncan.

During the meeting our members discussed with Duncan the need to resume negotiations with Canada over the lumber tariff, the need for a long-term renewal of the National Flood Insurance Program, the labor shortage and the need to expand the guest-worker program and support training in the building trades, and a long-term solution to the the mortgage-finance system.

During the meeting, HBA of South Carolina President Rick Quinn, APB, presented Congressman Duncan with the NAHB Defender of Housing Award. Thank you Ryan Homes for hosting the meeting.

Fifth Annual Bridge Awards Recipients Announced

James Speer, APB

By James Speer, APB
President, Home Builders Association of Greenville
Partner, CarsonSpeer Builders


Each year the Home Builders Association of Greenville honors members for their contributions and achievements with the Bridge Awards presented by GBS Building Supply. The Sales and Marketing Council of the Upstate, a group within the Home Builders Association dedicated to education and professionalism in new home sales and marketing, recognized many of its members with 2017 Bridge Awards.

Nichole Moore, SMC Chairwoman, Tommy Coker, GBS, Terrie Easley, Greenville News, Kelly Bäcker, APB, Whitney Trexler, Greenville News, and Charlotte Norwood, Greenville News.

Tommy Coker, GBS, Nichole Moore, SMC Chairwoman, Michael Johnson, and Terrie Easley, Whitney Trexler, and Charlotte Norwood of the Greenville News.

The Greenville News Sales Agent of the Year 
New Home Sales Agent of the Year: Kelly Bäcker, APB, Ryan Homes
General Brokerage Sales Agent of the Year: Michael Johnson, The Haro Group of Keller Williams
Sponsor: The Greenville News

Tommy Coker, GBS, Nichole Moore, SMC Chairwoman, Tonya Lambrecht, APB, and Terrie Easley, Whitney Trexler, and Charlotte Norwood of the Greenville News.

Tommy Coker, GBS, Nichole Moore, SMC Chairwoman, Haro Setian, and Terrie Easley, Whitney Trexler, and Charlotte Norwood of the Greenville News.

The Greenville News Sales Executive of the Year 
New Home Sales Executive of the Year: Tonya Lambrecht, APB, Ryan Homes
General Brokerage Sales Executive of the Year: Haro Setian, The Haro Group of Keller Williams
Sponsor: The Greenville News

Nichole Moore, SMC Chairwoman, Amanda McCall, Tommy Coker, GBS, and James Speer, APB.

Lender of the Year
Amanda McCall, Prime Lending

The Haro Group of Keller Williams Historic District.

Ryan Homes.

Sales Team of the Year
Sales Team of the Year, General Brokerage: The Haro Group of Keller Williams Historic District
Sales Team of the Year, New Home Sales and Marketing: Ryan Homes

Million Dollar Circle
Sales and Marketing Council of the Upstate members who achieved new home sales of between $1 million and $5 million 2017:

• Tim Sterr, The Haro Group of Keller Williams Historic District
• Analeisa Latham, The Haro Group of Keller Williams Historic District
• Benjamin Patat, The Haro Group of Keller Williams Historic District
• Kayla Slice, The Haro Group of Keller Williams Historic District
• Cory Wickline, The Haro Group of Keller Williams Historic District
• Kathryn Farrand, The Haro Group of Keller Williams Historic District
• Julie Thaxton, The Haro Group of Keller Williams Historic District
• Nate Emery, The Haro Group of Keller Williams Historic District
• Aubree Lewis, The Haro Group of Keller Williams Historic District
• Jon Melton, The Haro Group of Keller Williams Historic District
• Houston Goodwin, The Haro Group of Keller Williams Historic District
• Marcia Jarisch, APB, Meritage Homes
• Pamela Fulmer, APB, Meritage Homes
• Sherry Criminger, APB, Meritage Homes
• Rita Norton, APB, Meritage Homes
• Crystal Daniel, APB, Meritage Homes
• Sheridan Burgos, APB, Meritage Homes
• The MacDonald Team, Berkshire Hathaway Home Services
• Tim Keagy, Berkshire Hathaway Home Services
• Melissa Morrell, Berkshire Hathaway Home Services
• Anthony Hackney, Berkshire Hathaway Home Services
• Wyatt Pollitz, Modern Real Estate Consultants
• Courtney Hughey, Modern Real Estate Consultants
• James Akers, Jr., Modern Real Estate Consultants
• Lee Vining, Modern Real Estate Consultants
• Bradley Smith, Cross Creek Realty
• Lisa McDowell, Allen Tate

SMC members who achieved new home sales of between $5 million and $10 million 2017:

• Lorraine Lewis, APB, Meritage Homes
• Anita Stoddard, APB, Meritage Homes
• Hunter Hurst, APB, Meritage Homes
• Emily Wilbourne, APB, Meritage Homes
• Margaret “Peg” Higgins, APB, Meritage Homes
• Kimberly Ryan, APB, Ryan Homes
• Denita Kozeny, APB, Ryan Homes
• Mary Beth Berry, APB, Ryan Homes
• Jessica Franco, Blackton Property Partners
• Christine Cashman, APB, Cothran Properties
• Stacie Thompson, ReMax Moves

SMC members who achieved new home sales of between $10 million and $20 million 2017:

• Kate Edge, APB, Ryan Homes
• Valerie McCall, APB, Ryan Homes
• Joe Blackton, Blackton Property Partners
• Michael Johnson, The Haro Group of Keller Williams Historic District

SMC members who achieved new home sales of between $10 million and $20 million 2017:

• Kelly Bäcker, APB, Ryan Homes

Fifth Annual Bridge Awards Recipients Announced

James Speer, APB

By: James Speer, APB
   President, Home Builders Association of Greenville
   Partner, CarsonSpeer Builders






Each year the Home Builders Association of Greenville honors its members for their contributions and achievements at the annual Bridge Awards presented by GBS Building Supply.

Individual 2017 Bridge Awards honorees are:  

James Speer, APB, Chris Bailey, APB, and Tommy Coker, GBS.

BB&T Builder Member of the Year  
Chris Bailey, APB, Builder and Founder, Stoneledge Properties

Chris Bailey, APB, is a member of the association’s Board of Directors. His company, Stoneledge Properties, recently started an exclusive new home community, Le Jardin. Stoneledge Properties also is a builder in the new Hartness community, Hollingsworth Park at Verdae, and several other communities in the Upstate.

Eddie Howard, APB.

Palmetto Exterminators Remodeler of the Year  
Eddie Howard, APB, Owner, Howard Custom Builders

Eddie Howard, APB, is founder and owner of Howard Custom Builders an award-winning remodeler and builder. Howard Custom Builders is a supporter of the association’s community service activities and an exhibitor and contributor to the Southern Home and Garden Show.

James Speer, APB, Jamie McCutchen, PE, and Tommy Coker, GBS.

Richard A. Ashmore, Sr., Associate Member of the Year, Sponsored by BB&T
Jamie McCutchen, PE, President, CCAD Engineering

Jamie McCutchen is an instrumental leader of the Home Builders Association’s team of members who advocate for housing affordability and private property rights. Jamie currently serves as Chairman of the association’s Developers and Engineers Committee.

James Speer, APB, Nicole Ratcliff, PWB Chair, Holly May, Bruce Buckless, Acopia Home Loans, and Tommy Coker, GBS.

Acopia Home Loans Professional Woman in Building Award
Holly May, Realtor, BlackStream LLC

Holly May served as the 2017 Chairwoman the Professional Women in Building Council of the Upstate. She also was a Director of the Home Builders Association of Greenville.

Richard Bernath, Community Service Chairman, Jon Statom, Palmetto Exterminators, Tuck Williams, and Matt Shouse, APB, HBA President Elect.

Dan Rawls Community Service Award sponsored by Palmetto Exterminators
Tuck Williams, Home Works of America

Tuck Williams leads Home Works of America in the Upstate. Home Works is a Christ-centered nonprofit organization that provides home repair services to low-income homeowners while mentoring and discipling youth in the process.

Matt Shouse, APB, and Ben Moseley.

Committee Chairman of the Year
Ben Moseley, The Heirloom Companies

Ben Moseley has served as Chairman of the association’s Southern Home and Garden Show Committee. He also is Secretary-Treasurer and a member of the association’s Board of Directors.

James Speer, APB, Gene Dukes, Jarrett Smith, APB, and Tommy Coker, GBS.

Membership Award
Jarrett Smith, APB, Smith and Webb, LLC
Gene Dukes, Ferguson Enterprises

Jarrett Smith and Gene Dukes serve as Co-Chairmen of the association’s Membership Committee.

Matt Shouse, APB, and Nathan Kemper.

Rookie of the Year Award
Nathan Kemper, PestBan

Nathan Kemper became involved in the Home Builders Association in 2017 when he relocated to Greenville from Atlanta.

Matt Shouse, APB, and Mike Freeman, APB.

Spirit of the HBA Award
Mike Freeman, APB, ACA/Freewood Contracting

Mike is a long-time member and epitomizes the Home Builders Association. He was president of the association in 2014, is a National Director, and a loyal and generous contributor to the Southern Home and Garden Show.

OSHA Targeting Upstate Construction Sites

Your HBA was informed this morning that OSHA is targeting construction sites in Greenville, Spartanburg, and Anderson.  They call this a blitz enforcement.  OSHA currently has staff in the Upstate identifying sites for potential enforcement.  In particular, they are looking for fall hazards and struck-by hazards.

Be sure all of your sites, even single-home sites, are in full compliance with OSHA rules and regulations.

PEX/HDPE Service Pipe Rule Change at Greenville Water

Greenville Water recently adopted a rule that PEX and HDPE pipe must be installed with a tracer wire attached by the manufacturer.  Tracer wire attached by anyone other than the manufacturer will not be accepted.

In addition, Greenville Water has announced that repairs to PEX or HDPE pipe may not be made with "SharkBite" push-to-connect fittings.  Repairs may only be made using compression fitting as specified by Greenville Water's Standard Specifications, which can be found at greenvillewater.com.