HBA Cornerstone Magazine, July 2026

CORNERSTONE MAGAZINE

2026 Leadership Board

Heath Kelly President Heath Kelly Construction

Jessica Ford Secretary FD Builds

Tom Hammond 3rd Vice President Hammond Engineering

Stephen Moorhead Legal Counsel

Moorhead Law Group

Shon Owens Vice President Owens Custom Homes

Janson Thomas 2nd Vice President Swift Supply

Josh Peden Financial Officer Hudson, Peden & Associates

Josh Rayls Treasurer Holiday Builders

Kevin Sluder Past 2rd Vice President Gene’s Floor Covering

Austin Tenpenny Immediate Past President aDoor Properties

2026 Home Builders

Association of West Florida Board of Directors

SENIOR OFFICERS

Heath Kelly, Heath Kelly Construction, President

Austin Tenpenny, aDoor Properties, Immediate Past President

Shon Owens, Owens Custom Homes, Vice President

Josh Rayls, Holiday Builders, Treasurer

Jessica Ford, FD Builds, Secretary

Kevin Sluder, Gene’s Flooring, Past 2nd Vice President

Janson Thomas, Swift Supply, 2nd Vice President

Tom Hammond, Hammond Engineering, 3rd Vice President

Josh Peden, Hudson, Peden & Associates, Financial Officer

Stephen Moorhead, Moorhead Law Group, Legal Counsel

ASSOCIATE BOARD MEMBERS

Keith Branch, Good Foundations

Wayne Briske, Community Bank

Mickey Clinard, Centennial Bank

Laura Gilmore, Fairway Mortgage

John Hattaway, Hattaway Home Design

Lindy Hurd, First International Title

Shellie Isakson-Smith, Guild Mortgage

Mary Jordan, Gulf Coast Insurance

Daniel Monie, KJM Land Surveying

Nick Newkirk, FPL

Zach Noel, Clear Title of NW FL

Suzanne Pollard-Spann, Legacy Insurance

Marty Rich, University Lending Group

John Scanlon, Pensacola Energy

Pam Smith, Real Estate Counselors

BUILDER/DEVELOPER BOARD MEMBERS

Dax Campbell, CamCon

Amir Fooladi, ParsCo

Travis Gottstine, Homewood Construction

Fred Gunther, Gunther Properties

Thomas Henry, Thomas Homes

Alton Lister, Lister Builders

Matthew Peek, Expedition Homes

Jennifer Reese, Reese Construction

Doug Russell, R-Squared Construction

Wilma Shortall, FD Builds

Anton Zaynakov, Grand Builders

2026 COMMITTEE CHAIRS

Ambassadors – Suzanne Spann

Builder Member Services – Zach Noel

Cost & Codes – Keith Branch

Dream Home – Amir Fooladi

Education/Professional Development – Janson Thomas & Lindy Hurd

Governmental Affairs – Austin Tenpenny

Past Presidents – Amir Fooladi

Tradesmen/Workforce Development – Mary Jordan

CORNERSTONE MAGAZINE

JENNIFER MANCINI

Executive Director jennifer@hbawf.com

Publisher Malcolm Ballinger malcolm@ballingerpublishing.com

Executive Editor Kelly Oden kelly@ballingerpublishing.com

Art Director Ian Lett ian@ballingerpublishing.com

Graphic Designer/Ad Coordinator Ryan Dugger advertise@ballingerpublishing.com

Editor Morgan Cole morgan@ballingerpublishing.com

Assistant Editor Dawn Gresko dawn@ballingerpublishing.com

Sales & Marketing

Jaami Clement, Account Executive jaami@ballingerpublishing.com

Maggie Banks, Account Executive maggie@ballingerpublishing.com

Cornerstone, the monthly publication of the Home Builders Association of West Florida serving Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties, is published monthly, twelve (12x) per year. Send address changes to HBA of West Florida, 4400 Bayou Boulevard, Suite 45, Pensacola, Florida 32503-1910. Cornerstone, is published in the interests of all segments of the home building industry and is distributed to its members and others associated with the HBA of West Florida. HBA of West Florida and Ballinger Publishing does not accept responsibility for, or endorse any statement or claims made by advertisers or authors of any articles. Every effort has been made to assure ac-curacy of information, but authenticity cannot be guaranteed. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written consent of Home Builders Association of West Florida, Copyright ©, 4400 Bayou Boulevard, Suite 45, Pensacola, Florida 32503-1910, 850.476.0318. Advertisers and advertorials in Cornerstone do not constitute an offer for sale in states where prohibited by law.

President’s Message

Heath Kelly President

Heath Kelly Construction

Dear Members,

Summer is in full swing, and so is the pace across our industry. Between active job sites, upcoming events, and real movement on the issues that shape how we work, there is a lot to be optimistic about this month—starting at the national level.

After a multiyear effort, our NAHB has helped move the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act through both chambers of Congress with strong bipartisan support, and it now awaits final action to become law. For those of us who build, it is one of the most encouraging pieces of federal housing legislation in years. It works to reduce the barriers that hold housing back on five fronts: encouraging local land-use and zoning reform, providing incentives to update our aging housing stock, raising and inflation-indexing FHA multifamily loan limits to bring more apartments online, streamlining environmental reviews for small and infill projects, and strengthening the community banks that so much of our small-builder financing depends on. Taken together, it is a serious, forward-looking step toward building more homes more affordably—and it points our industry toward a healthier future.

Which brings me to something just as important. Progress like this does not happen on its own—it happens because of who sits in office and whether they understand our industry. This is an election year, and the people we elect locally, at the state level, and nationally will have everything to do with whether our jobs get easier or harder. I am not here to tell anyone how to vote; I am here to ask you to do it. Register, learn where the candidates stand on housing and construction, and make your voice heard at the ballot box. Few things shape our industry more.

There is another easy way to shape what comes next. FHBA is currently gathering member input through a survey on the topics and priorities to focus on in the year ahead. Take a few minutes to complete it—it is a direct line to the issues our association will carry forward on your behalf, and exactly the kind of member voice that turns into real policy down the road.

Looking ahead, I hope you will join us in Orlando for the Southeast Building Conference (SEBC) on July 29–30. It is shaping up to be a great show, with the products, education, and connections that keep us sharp and competitive. You will not want to miss it.

Closer to home, our 2026 Dream Home in Carrington Lakes is shaping up to be a true show-stopper, and neither I nor the committee can wait to show it off. My special thanks to all of the trades for their hard work and effort, and to Westerheim Homes for running this one as our contractor. You will be able to see it for yourself during our main summer Parade of Homes, running Friday, August 14 through Sunday, August 16, kicked off by our Kick-Off and Awards Party on August 13. The Parade remains one of the very best showcases of the craftsmanship across our membership, and this year promises to be something special.

Whether it is casting a vote, completing a survey, attending a show, or simply showing up—every bit of involvement moves our industry forward.

The momentum is real—let’s carry it forward.

Heath Kelly, HBA President

NEW MEMBERS! BUILDER

Uptown Construction

Total Revision

Timberland Homebuilders

ASSOCIATE

Precision Stoneworks

Sport & Wheat CPA

Woodland & Homes

Bettina Hoeft

Jessica Ford

SPIKES

Kevin Sluder

Mary Jordan

Dream Home Update!

Dream Home Update!

2026 Dream Home Donor Spotlight: Pensacol Energy

The Home Builders Association of West Florida is proud to recognize Pensacola Energy as a Platinum Donor for the 2026 Dream Home. As part of this year's project, Pensacola Energy provided a high-efficiency tankless water heater, giving future homeowners the comfort, convenience, and energy savings that come with today's advanced technology.

Unlike traditional water heaters, a tankless system heats water only when it's needed, providing an endless supply of hot water for long showers, busy mornings, or multiple family members using hot water at the same time Because it operates on demand, it can also help reduce energy costs by eliminating the need to continuously heat and store water.

Additional benefits of a tankless water heater include:

A longer lifespan—typically 15 to 20 years with proper maintenance

Compact, wall-mounted design that frees up valuable floor space

Continuous hot water with fast recover y, making it ideal for larger households

Environmentally friendly operation while adding long-term value to the home

Pensacola Energy's suppor t extends beyond their generous product donation. Throughout Parade of Homes weekend, their team will have a presence at the Dream Home, helping educate visitors about the benefits of natural gas appliances and energy-efficient home solutions. They will also be assisting with marketing effor ts to help promote the Dream Home and the Parade of Homes to the community.

The HBA is grateful for Pensacola Energy's continued par tnership and commitment to suppor ting quality construction, innovative home features, and the success of this year's Dream Home

Thank You To Our Committee & Generous Donors

at began as a vision to create ble housing has now resulted in s achieving the dream of p while helping strengthen throughout our community

complished without the incredible e extend our sincere gratitude to ever y company, trade par tner, supplier, and individual who contributed materials, labor, ser vices, discounts, and f inancial suppor t across all three homes

Your willingness to give back helped transform an ambitious idea into a reality and demonstrated the true spirit of our industr y

The success of these homes is a direct reflection of the many members who answered the call to support a project that benef its our entire community

We would also like to extend a special thank you to Austin Tenpenny with aDoor Proper ties. From the earliest conversations surrounding the project to the closing of the f inal home, Austin played an instrumental role in helping move this initiative for ward. Whether coordinating with vendors, securing donations, assisting with construction effor ts across all three projects, helping solve challenges as they arose, or ensuring the countless details required to bring each home to completion were addressed, his dedication never wavered. Austin's leadership, commitment, and willingness to step in wherever needed were invaluable to the success of this project, and we are deeply grateful for the time and effor t he invested over the course of this multi-home initiative.

As we celebrate the completion of the f inal home, we are reminded of what can be accomplished when our industr y comes together with a shared purpose. Thank you to ever yone who helped make this project a success and for continuing to demonstrate the positive impact the building industr y can have on the communities we ser ve.

HBA Events

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Recap

Our June Member Social was another great reminder of what makes the Home Builders Association of West Florida such a strong organization the people.

Hosted at Mathieson Brewing Company, the event brought together a wonderful mix of familiar faces and f irst-time attendees. We were excited to welcome new members, including Spor t & Wheat and Upton Construction, while also catching up with many of our long-standing members who continue to suppor t the association year after year.

The evening provided a relaxed setting to reconnect with industr y colleagues, make new introductions, and build relationships that strengthen both our businesses and our association. Whether attendees were new to HBA or have been involved for decades, the conversations throughout the evening reflected the value of being par t of a strong local building community.

Thank you to ever yone who joined us and helped make the event a success. We look for ward to seeing even more members at our next Member Social. Stay tuned for details on our upcoming events we hope to see you there!

NAHB Helps Secure Passage of Historic Housing Bill

The House today overwhelmingly approved the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, advancing to President Trump legislation that NAHB helped shape through a years-long advocacy effort to significantly boost housing production.

“NAHB applauds lawmakers for working in a bipartisan, bicameral way to pass historic housing legislation that will deliver real benefits for the American people,” said NAHB Chairman Bill Owens. “The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act will help expand the nation’s housing supply by reducing regulatory barriers and encouraging local governments to reform zoning and land-use policies that have limited home building.”

Top 5 Provisions

This once-in-a-generation housing package includes more than 50 sections addressing housing supply, financing, disaster recovery and other priorities. NAHB provided input to Congress on many parts of the bill, but these five provisions are especially important to members:

• Land-Use and Zoning. The bill targets restrictive zoning and land-use policies that have limited residential construction. It directs the Department of Housing and Urban Development to work with stakeholders, including home builders and developers, to identify best practices and give state and local governments options to increase housing production. It also rewards communities that adopt policies that expand supply and support housing growth.

• Aging Housing Stock. This provision authorizes a pilot program to provide grants and forgivable loans for home repairs and health-hazard mitigation in aging housing.

• Multifamily Financing. FHA-insured multifamily loan limits have not changed in 12 years and no longer reflect market conditions. Raising those limits and indexing them to inflation will better align financing with construction costs and support new apartment development.

• Environmental Reviews. This provision streamlines the National Environmental Policy Act review process for small and infill housing projects, helping them move to construction faster.

• Community Banks. NAHB members rely on community banks to finance residential construction, but fewer of these lenders remain on Main Street. Multiple provisions are aimed at strengthening community banks and expanding access to housing credit.

NAHB Fights for the Strongest Bill

This legislation caps a three-year NAHB effort to combine key bi-partisan housing bills from the previous Congress into a single package that would meaningfully increase housing production and lower costs. Throughout the legislative process, the House and Senate developed separate versions of a comprehensive housing bill. The bill the Senate passed in March included positive provisions to streamline environmental reviews and improve aging housing stock, but it also would have required institutional investors to sell build-for-rent (BTR) single-family homes within seven years. NAHB and Urban Institute estimates found that the mandate could have sharply reduced investment in single-family rental housing and cut singlefamily production by 40,000 to 72,000 units annually. The Senate bill also lowered FHA-insured multifamily loan limits and removed some land-use and zoning reforms.

By contrast, the House amendment to the Senate housing bill:

• Removed the seven-year BTR forced-sale requirement

• Increased FHA-insured multifamily loan limits

• Added land-use and zoning reforms

• Inserted community bank provisions to support housing lending

Before the House amended the Senate bill, President Trump called on lawmakers to pass the Senate version without changes. NAHB was the first major industry stakeholder to urge House Financial Services Committee Chairman French Hill and Ranking Member Maxine Waters to stand firm and ensure the final bill excluded any forced-sale provision targeting BTR single-family homes.

As the process advanced, NAHB worked with House and Senate lawmakers to pass a final housing package that combined the strongest elements of both bills

and reflected Congress’s goal of increasing the nation’s housing supply. The legislation, which was approved by the Senate on June 22 and will be signed into law by the president shortly, does just that: It preserves key NAHBsupported House provisions, including removal of the BTR forced sale mandate, and adds a Senate provision authorizing the Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery program for three years.

Legislative Conference Provides the Final Push

It is no coincidence this major housing package passed Congress less than two weeks after the 2026 NAHB Legislative Conference. On June 10, more than 1,100 NAHB members met with lawmakers on Capitol Hill to urge passage of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act and press for two key House-backed changes: removing the forced sale of BTR housing and increasing FHA multifamily loan limits.

The housing bill was NAHB members’ top legislative priority. In roughly 300 meetings with lawmakers, members stressed the need to send this vital legislation quickly to the president’s desk.

Before heading to Capitol Hill, members heard from Chairman Hill, who worked closely with NAHB throughout the process.

The multiyear effort resulted in landmark legislation approved with overwhelming bipartisan support in both chambers of Congress, reinforcing that housing is a national priority. “The bill will expand housing opportunities for buyers and renters, strengthen homeownership and address affordability challenges in communities nationwide,” said Owens.

SPIKE CLUB

In construction, a spike is a steel object that is essential to making a building strong. As in construction, the HBA of West Florida sees a Spike as someone that works to keep our association strong. Spikes work on the recruitment and retention of members in addition to keeping members active with the association. Anyone is eligible for Spike status. On Spike credit is awarded for each new member recruited and an additional credit is awarded for that new member’s renewal on or before their anniversary date. If you help to retain a member, you are eligible to receive a half point for each member.

Spike Club Levels

Spike Candidate 1-5 Credits

Blue Spike 6-24

Life Spike 25-49

Green Spike 50-99

Red Spike 100-149

Royal Spike 150-249

Super Spike 250-499

Statesman Spike 500-999

Grand Spike 1000-1499

All-Time Big Spike 1500+ Spike Club Members and their credits as of 3/31/26.

Statesman Spike

Harold Logan

Super Spike

Rod Hurston

Royal Spike

Rick Sprague 213

Edwin Henry 210

William “Billy” Moore 184

Bob Boccanfuso 165.5

Charlie Rotenberry 150

Credits

Red Spike 100 Credits

Oliver Gore 115

Newman Rodgers IV 115.5 Ron Tuttle 111

Ricky Wiggins 101.5

David Holcomb 100.5

Kevin

Stud-to-plate connectors

Thr eaded rod systems