August 2020
News from the TBA
A Message from Brian K. Will, TBA President

Now eight months into my opportunity to serve as TBA president, I would like to offer some thoughts and give thanks for where we are as an association. The challenges have been unusual at best and anxious at the worst. Thanks to the fearless leadership of our many committee chairs, we have not only survived, but thrived! In January, we held the Early Bird Kick Off Party for the Spring Parade of Homes event. In early February, we marched through the hallways of the Capital for Legislative Conference.  In March & April, the postponements began: golf event, general membership meetings, councils, and Hard Hat Happy Hours.  However, in May, the Parade committee under the leadership of chair Jackie Hubbard with the Board of Directors made the decision to forge ahead creatively with the Parade of Homes by launching the event digitally on the traditional weekend of Mother’s Day. Directed by Farley Maxwell, the annual Don “Smokey” Young Golf Tournament was held at the beautiful Golden Eagle Country Club. It was a sold-out event with superior sponsorship support. On Father’s Day weekend, lead by chair Tyler Easom, the TBA held its annual Saltwater Fishing Tournament with 22 boat entries – 17 off-shore and 5 in-shore, again with amazing sponsorship support. Also in June the traditional walk through Parade of Homes event was successful with 15 of the 19 homes open to walk through that were not under customer closing contracts. A few weeks ago, we had a workday at the office and many of you came to spruce up, clean and repair our office. I am grateful beyond words for all of your participation and hard work and for a professional and hard-working staff!

A special thank you also to our council chairs, Jane Conn Green Building, Paul McManus Remodelers, Drexal Harris Membership, Rob Watson Governmental Affairs, Mark Kessler, Chair of the “Homes for the Holidays” Virtual Tour, and Rob Watson for technical help in the office.

What is ahead in 2020? The annual Skeet Shoot will take place on October 23 rd . November the 11th is tentatively scheduled for the Parade of Homes Awards Celebration at Goodwood Museum sponsored by Prime Meridian Bank, and from mid-November through December 31, a brand new “Homes for the Holidays” Event will take place in conjunction with the annual Remodelers' Showcase awards. 

Again, thank you for all your courage, perseverance, wisdom, and creativity. We are so thankful to be in residential construction deemed essential, truly the backbone of America! There is strength in numbers!


Brian K. Will
as TBA President, 2020 
Congratulations to the following TBA Builders honored with the Tallahassee Board of Realtors Realtors Choice Awards:
REALTORS ® ’ Choice Award

Tallahassee Builders Association
2020 Parade of Homes

Presented with honor to

Adams Quality Homes
283 Tillis Lane
Category: Under $305,000
Panhandle Building Services, Inc
258 N. White Oak Drive
Category: $305,000 – $330,000

Jason Wessinger Construction, LLC
131 Sellars Drive
Category: $330,000 – 410,000

Premier Fine Homes
3497 Jasmine Hill Road
Category: $410,000 - $500,000

Tallahassee Homes Realty, LLC
5795 Farnsworth Drive
Category: Over $850,000
Welcome and Thank You New Members!
New Members in July

ADT Security- Carlos Diaz, Associate
ADT Security- Daniel Hall, Affiliate
Robert Mike Seeders Plumbing-Mike Seeders, Associate
Robert Mike Seeders Plumbing-Linda Marshall, Affiliate






Thanks for Renewing! Member Since

Advantage Title Group-2019
Bill Kimberl Construction-2010
Capital City Lumber Co.-1988
Crowder Excavating-2012
MAS Unlimited-2019
Orange State Construction-1985
Richard Sneed Construction-2013
South Georgia Brick-1988
Southern Pipe & Supply-2019
South Pointe Builders Inc.-2017
Terminix dba Capelouto Termite & Pest Control-2019
Tile Designs LLC-2019
Worley Construction Inc.-1992
TBA is proud to announce that the CRSA (Capital City Roofing Association) has been named the First Place Winner of the STAR Award for the advancement of roofing .

When Wallwood Scout Reservation was devastated by Hurricane Michael, TBA members Farley Maxwell of Gulfeagle Supply and Ralph Davis of Streamline Roofing stepped up to organize members of the CRSA (also TBA members) with donations of money, materials and labor to make Wallwood whole again. To quote one of the volunteer Scout leaders who has been involved with Wallwood for many years “That is awesome news. Your team definitely earned that award. I can't think of another project that will touch so many youth in our community”.

Congratulations to Farley Maxwell, Project MVP and his team for the big win!

Save The Date For TBA 2020 Skeet Shoot at Talon Range on Friday, October 23, 2020.
Details coming soon.
Stay tuned for details coming soon on this brand new TBA Event! Homes for the Holidays Virtual tour will feature new homes and remodel projects from our builder members over the course of the last few years. This event will partner with a different charity organization each year with the 2020 charity of choice being Christmas Connection. The TBA is also combining this event with the annual Remodelers Showcase Awards....a sure way to add housing excitement to the community during the holidays!
TBA's Featured Members of the Month

This month's featured Builder is Kerwyn Wilson Jones of Jones Construction , President- elect for the Tallahassee Chapter of the National Association of Women in Construction and featured Associate is Gary Rowland, President of AAA Claims Consultants, Inc.

If you would like to be featured as the Builder or Associate of the month, please submit your information to the office by the 15th of the month for consideration.
Kerwyn Wilson Jones, Jones Construction
I love getting up to build houses every morning!” said an enthusiastic Kerwyn Jones-Wilson, active Tallahassee Builders Association (TBA) member and owner of Jones Construction and Design LLC of Quincy, Florida.  Kerwyn’s love of construction began at an early age when her father was a masonry instructor at Gadsden Technical Institute (GTI), where she would sit at the back of his classes and wait for her dad after school. Building seemed a natural career path for Kerwyn, a career path she is now committed to promoting for young people in the community.

As a member of the Carpentry Board for Gadsden Technical Institute, Kerwyn discovered there was a need to find ways to encourage students to get into construction. The TBA leadership agreed. With the support of TBA and GTI, Kerwyn reached out to the Gadsden County School Superintendent, guidance counselors and principals to organize a program to introduce students to the Future Builders of America (FBA).

FBA was launched in 2003 to promote the many construction industry opportunities for Florida’s students. Local construction, trade and professional associations partner with local schools through FBA chapters to help students get a real world understanding of what it means to be part of Florida’s construction industry.  FBA offers scholarships, leadership skills development, local career fairs and student chapters. 
The Gadsden County Chapter of FBA is now offering meetings at Gadsden Technical Institute in order to centralize the program instead of splitting into individual high schools. In Gadsden County, all high school students may attend GTI in the mornings for an elective, such as carpentry. 

Working with contractors at real job sites, students are learning safety, use of equipment, painting, landscaping, building inspection and even office work. One student even shadowed a local county judge that handled construction law, getting to sit alongside the judge in court.

 “It is a great experience for the students, and they love it,” Kerwyn said. After working with mentors in the industry, many of the students have been offered summer internships by some of the contractors. Students like the idea of going into a trade that provides high income, job security and growth. 

Gadsden’s FBA is in its third school term and growing. Local support, including the Tallahassee Builders Association, provides instruction, time and supplies for these future construction professionals. Kerwyn encourages the students, telling them to be determined and not to give up. “The construction industry can be a rewarding and satisfying career,” she said. Kerwyn can be reached at 850-459-6140 or jcdbuilders@aol.com.
Gary Rowland, President AAA Claims Consultants, Inc.
PLEASE CONTINUE TO CHECK THE TBA WEBSITE OR FACEBOOK PAGE FOR UPDATES RELATIVE TO COMMITTEE MEETINGS AND EVENTS. THANK YOU.
August Events
Click on the link to be directed to the Tallyba.com Calendar of Events. Plan to attend by clicking on the event and submitting your RSVP.

NEW TBA OFFICE HOURS:
7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Subject to change during major events .

August 3, 2020, Monday
Homes for the Holidays Virtual Tour Meeting
3pm-4pm
Via Zoom

August 4, 2020, Tuesday
Parade of Homes Wrap Up Meeting
1pm-2pm
Via Zoom

August 4, 2020, Tuesday
GA & PAC Candidate Endorsement Meeting
2pm-3pm
Via Zoom

August 6, 2020, Thursday
GA Meeting with guest from Blueprint
10am-11am
Via Zoom

August 11, 2020, Tuesday
Membership Committee Meeting
10:30am-11:30am
Via Zoom

August 11, 2020, Tuesday
Joint Green Building Council and Remodelers Meeting with guest   Mike Peacock, Energy Sales Director for Rinnai America Corporation.
11:30am-1:00pm
Via Zoom

August 12, 2020, Wednesday
Executive Committee Meeting
10:45a.m.-11:30a.m.
Via Zoom
No Board of Directors Meeting in August

August 17, 2020, Monday
Homes for the Holidays Virtual Tour Meeting
3pm-4pm
Via Zoom
TBA Corporate Sponsors

In accordance with guidelines recommended by the CDC, President Trump and Governor DeSantis, the TBA will continue to conduct itself in a manner consistent with those guidelines for the health and safety of our staff and members. Please note that all meetings will be conducted via Zoom (teleconferencing) until otherwise indicated. Be sure to check the Memberzone calendar for instructions or call the offic e at 385-1414.
When recruiting new members remind them that they were able to continue to work through the pandemic because the local, state and national HBA federation fought hard to keep construction deemed essential. Dues dollars hard at work for you!

During this week’s FHBA Virtual Board meeting, President Michael Bourre reminded everyone that the Federation fought the battle to have construction deemed essential in FL per COVID 19, however, he warned that the fight must continue in terms of carrying through with CDC job site guidelines for safety measures, (flyer attached.)  Please be aware that there are people going around taking photos of jobsites where guidelines are not being adhered to and are reporting builders to the authorities.  

We do not want to jeopardize our distinction of deemed essential. 

  Interested in being a part of the Green Building Council and/or The Remodelers Council?



Call Linn Glass at 385-1414 for details.




Don't forget to pick up your copy of The Better Living Guide, the Official 2020 Membership Directory for the TBA!

These are available at Prime Meridian Bank locations and at the TBA office.
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