BAY BUILDING INDUSTRIES ASSOCIATION
BUSTLE VOLUME 2, ISSUE 3 AUGUST 2026
STRENGTHENING BBIA: BRINGING NEW IDEAS HOME FROM NAHB AMC
BUILDING LEADERS: BBIA INVESTS IN THE FUTURE OF OUR ASSOCIATION
BUILDING CONNECTIONS: YOUNG PROFESSIONALS TEE UP FOR GROWTH
BUILDING FUTURES: WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT CREATES NEW OPPORTUNITIES
TABLE Of CONTENTS NEW & RENEWING MEMBERS August 2026
AUGUST LUNCH & LEARN Recap of our lunch with Bob Majka, Executive Director of Port of Panama City
LEADERSHIP 101: UNDERSTANDING NONPROFIT BOARD SERVICE Recap from Kimberly Scott, COO and CFO of the Florida Home Builders Association, presentation on Board of Director Leadership
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BBIA TAKES ON NAHB AMC IN ST. LOUIS
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COMMITTEE LEADERSHIP
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Check out Stacy and Beth’s advenuture to St. Louis for the NAHB Association Management Conference
Breakdown of Committee Leadership
MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE Update on our Membership Committee
EDUCATION & WORKFORCE TASKFORCE Update on our Education & Workforce Taskforce
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TABLE Of CONTENTS BBIA COMMERCIAL Update on what’s going on in the Commercial World
GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS & PAC Update on Government Affairs & PAC Committee
YOUNG PROFESSIONALS COMMITTEE Update on the Young Professionals Committee
PROFESSIONAL WOMEN IN BUILDING COUNSEL Update on our PWB Counsel
INDUSTRY & ADVOCACY NEWS Updates for FHBA & NAHB
UPCOMING EVENTS Calendar of Upcoming Events
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BBIA
team
Chief Executive Officer
STACY ROBERTS Stacy@BayBIA.org 850-890-8554
Program Director
BETH KLEIN
Beth@BayBIA.org 850-819-1137
Secret Weapon
NIKKOLE GRIMES www.BayBIA.org 223 Forest Park Circle Panama City, FL 32405
August STAFF notes
Connecting. Leading. Learning. Growing.
As we wrap up another incredibly busy month, we want to thank everyone who helped make August such a successful one for BBIA. It was a month filled with education, networking, leadership development, advocacy, and plenty of opportunities to connect. This month, we welcomed Bob Majka, Executive Director of Port Panama City, for our August Lunch & Learn, hosted Leadership 101 with FHBA COO and CFO Kimberly Scott, and continued educating our members about BUILD-PAC and the importance of advocacy for our industry. Our Professional Women in Building Council enjoyed another Wine Down Wednesday while preparing for the upcoming Bill Black Wild Game Luncheon, and our Young Professionals gathered for Tee Up with the BBIA YPs as we continue creating opportunities for the next generation of industry leaders. We wrapped up August in St. Louis at the NAHB Association Management Conference, where we spent several days learning, networking, sharing ideas, and connecting with association professionals from across the country. We came home with plenty of new ideas that we are excited to put to work for BBIA and our members. Behind the scenes, we continued planning events, supporting our committees, recruiting members, working with sponsors, creating marketing materials, and preparing for an incredibly busy fall. Thank you to our leadership, board members, committee chairs, volunteers, sponsors, and members for continuing to support BBIA. We are excited to carry this momentum into September and all that is ahead!
With appreciation,
Stacy & Beth 05
NEW & RENEWING MEMBERS
August
Welcome & Thank You! Celebrating Our New & Renewing Members – August 2026 At BBIA, our strength is in our members—and we are proud to welcome the newest faces to our association and extend our heartfelt thanks to those who renewed their commitment in June. Whether you’re brand new or a long-time supporter, your membership fuels everything we do— from workforce development to advocacy, events, education, and more. Together, we are building a stronger future for our industry and our community. Thank you for being a part of the BBIA family!
New Members Cox Pools ReliantSouth Sims-Lohman
Renewing Members Advanced Fire Protection Services America’s Home Place ARCXIS Arthur Rutenberg Homes Barraco and Associates Coastal Classic Homes of Florida Daltile Discovered Coast Homes E. Leili & Associates Marine Construction Gulfeagle Supply
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Innovations Financial Credit Union INSIGHT Construction & Development James Hardie Kap Home Solutions Meeks Construction MK Weber Engineering Peoples First Insurance Services South Oak Title South Walton Cabinets Southern Coastal Homes
🌟 Your Support Builds Our Success—Thank You for Being Part of the Team!
September
LUNCH & LEARN August Lunch & Learn Connection. Insight. Opportunity. Mark your calendar and make plans to join us for our upcoming BBIA Lunch & Learn on:
🗓️ Tuesday, September 15, 2026 📍 Capt. Anderson's Event Center 🎤 Keynote Speaker: Melanie Griffin,
Secretary of the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulations We're excited to welcome Melanie S. Griffin, Secretary of the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR), as our keynote speaker. DBPR plays an important role in Florida's building industry, overseeing licensing and regulation that directly impact contractors, businesses, and professionals across our state. Join us for an inside look at DBPR, current issues affecting Florida's building and construction industry, and what industry professionals need to know as Florida continues to experience growth and development. Whether you're a contractor, builder, developer, supplier, or business leader, this is a great opportunity to hear directly from state leadership and stay informed on the issues impacting our industry!
Enjoy a delicious lunch, make valuable connections, and gain powerful insight—all in one great event!
Register Here: 07
August Lunch &
Learn
BBIA welcomed Bob Majka, Executive Director of Port Panama City, for an inside look at the Port’s impact on our regional economy and the opportunities ahead as Bay County continues to grow. Members also heard an important Government Affairs update on BUILD-PAC from BBIA Vice President and GA Chair Brian Knox, while the City of Lynn Haven joined us to answer questions on building, codes, and development. A special thank you to our sponsor, Farm Credit of Northwest Florida, along with SmartBank, Angel’s BBQ and Catering, Captain Anderson’s Event Center, our volunteers, and everyone who joined us for another great afternoon of education, networking, and industry connections!
Thank you to our Sponsor:
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LEADERSHIP 101: UNDERSTANDING NONPROFIT BOARD SERVICE
BBIA was honored to welcome Kimberly Scott, COO and CFO of the Florida Home Builders Association (FHBA), for Leadership 101: Understanding Nonprofit Board Service. Members gained valuable insight into volunteer leadership, board responsibilities, and how different communication and leadership styles can help us work better together. Thank you to Kimberly for investing in BBIA’s current and future leaders as we continue building a stronger association for the future! Ready to get more involved? BBIA is currently accepting interest in Board, Foundation Board, and committee leadership opportunities.
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It’s time to recognize the members who show up, step up, lead, volunteer, and make a difference in BBIA and our building industry! Nominations are now open for: Builder of the Year Associate of the Year Hammer Award Hall of Fame And we’re excited to introduce THREE NEW AWARDS for 2026! Residential Project of the Year Commercial Project of the Year Community Impact Award Have a residential or commercial project your company is especially proud of? Self-submissions are welcome! Has a fellow BBIA member gone above and beyond this year? Don’t assume someone else will nominate them. Deadline: September 30, 2026 Nominations and project submissions must be submitted by a current BBIA member. Award recipients will be announced and celebrated at the 2026 BBIA Christmas Awards & Installation Banquet on Thursday, December 3, from 5:00–9:00 PM. Let’s celebrate the people, projects, and impact that represent the best of BBIA!
BBIA TAKES ON NAHB AMC IN ST. LOUIS
BBIA’s Stacy and Beth traveled to St. Louis for the 2026 NAHB Association Management Conference (AMC), joining association professionals from across the country for several days of education, networking, and idea sharing. From workshops on association best practices and non-dues revenue to industry updates from NAHB Chief Economist Dr. Robert Dietz, President & CEO Jim Tobin, and NAHB leadership, the conference provided valuable insight and plenty of fresh ideas to bring back to BBIA. Beyond the sessions, AMC offered an opportunity to strengthen relationships with our NAHB family, learn what other HBAs are doing successfully, and discover new ways to better serve our members and grow our association. A special thank you to BBIA leadership for continuing to support professional development opportunities like AMC. Stacy and Beth returned to Bay County with full notebooks, new connections, and plenty of ideas ready to put into action! Next stop: AMC 2027 in San Antonio, Texas!
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The Biggest Little Lumber Yard in Panama City!
850-769-2246 www.midsouthlumberco.com
BBIA Committee 2026 Leadership Young Professionals Chair: Chad Overby Co-Chair: Carlen Liebe
Membership Committee Chair: Claudia Gunselman Co-Chair: Marty Perrett
Government Affairs Chair: Brian Knox Co-Chair: Natalie Cayson
Home Expo Chair: Dean Jackson Co-Chair: Bubba Davis
Professional Women in Building President: Alexandra Harkins Vice President: Cori Newman
Parade of Homes/ Scholarship Home Chair: Brian Knox Co-Chair: Chad Overby
Education & Workforce Taskforce Chair: Jeff Ury
Commercial Chair: Shannon Bona
Building Bay County Together
MEMBERSHIP
Committee
Chairwoman
Claudia Gunselman
CELEBRATING OUR ASSOCIATES: September is Associate Member Appreciation Month September is NAHB Associate Member Appreciation Month, and BBIA is proud to celebrate the Associate members who help make our association and our industry stronger! Our Associates are more than members—they are sponsors, volunteers, committee leaders, industry partners and some of BBIA’s biggest supporters. This month is a great reminder to thank them for all they do and, most importantly, to Do Business with a Member! Throughout September, NAHB is also offering special resources, recognition opportunities and benefits for Associate members. Click here to learn more about Associate Member Appreciation Month and see everything NAHB has planned!
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SECURE YOUR SPOT! Booths are going fast! 2027 HOME EXPO
Join us for the 2027 BBIA Home Expo, the ultimate showcase for all things home— hosted by the Bay Building Industries Association. With 60+ exhibitors, giveaways, and hands-on fun for the whole family, this two-day event is your chance to explore, connect, and get inspired! Whether you're planning to build, remodel, landscape, or upgrade your home—or you're just ready to add something fun to your space—this expo is your one-stop shop to meet licensed pros, explore new ideas, and discover what’s possible.
www.BayBIA.org
2027 is shaping up to be our best Home Expo yet! Please reach out to Beth for more details: Email: Beth@BayBIA.org Phone: 850-819-1137
Education & Workforce Task Force Committee CHAIR: JEFF URY
Building the Next Generation of Our Workforce
BBIA was proud to join Goodwill Industries of the Big Bend for the ribbon cutting of the new Springfield Construction Lab at the Goodwill Career Resource Center. This exciting program will introduce individuals to rewarding careers in the skilled trades while helping address the growing workforce needs of the construction industry. We are especially proud that BBIA Immediate Past President Curt Hartog is serving as the Construction Instructor, sharing his industry knowledge and experience with the next generation of construction professionals. Education and workforce development remain top priorities for BBIA, and partnerships like this help create meaningful career pathways while strengthening the future of our industry. Congratulations to Goodwill and Curt on this exciting new chapter—we look forward to seeing the impact this program will make in our community!
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COMMERCIAL Chairwoman Shannon Bona
Despite a last minute venue change, August's BBIA Commercial Meeting was highly attended. We transitioned from House of Henry to Maddie's La Casita located on Harrison Avenue. Our featured speaker Patricia Castellano with Heidt
Design
captivated
the
crowd.
Robust
dialogue ensued after her presentation with many questions regarding her specialty of Commercial Landscape Architecture.
Our members were
intrigued at the magnitude of her recent project, Margaritaville Latitude. It was also very interesting to hear Patricia compare and contrast her experiences in the Tampa Market and Northwest Florida. As a recent transplant, she admired how our region of Florida is very conscientious of smart development and carefully considers spatial planting design, especially in regards to tree replacement. The first half of the meeting we discussed expectations and plans for the remainder of the year. Due to Labor Day, we will not have a September Meeting, but we will resume in October.
For
the
months
of
October
and
November, our meetings will be held at the Panama City Beach Conservation Park's Pavilion to soak up Florida's "fall" weather. December will be held once again at Precision Stonework's PCB facility for a catered lunch to kick off the holiday season.
Lastly, we highlighted our Annual Halloween Party which was announced to BBIA Commercial members last month and more recently to the rest of the BBIA Community. It will be held on Thursday, October 15th from 6 to 9PM at Hotel Indigo. We will also be welcoming special musical guest, Frank Fletcher, to perform with his talented band. ALL BBIA MEMBERS are warmly welcomed to witness BBIA Commercials' community that we have built over the last year.
Interested in being a speaker? Please contact Shannon shannon@crownpoint.co 203-592-4688 October Presentor:
Government Affairs & PAC Committee CHAIRMAN: BRIAN KNOX
🏛️ BUILD-PAC 🏛️ A strong building industry needs a strong voice! BUILD-PAC, NAHB’s bipartisan political action committee, helps support candidates who understand the issues impacting housing, construction, small businesses, and our industry. BBIA is working toward our $5,000 BUILD-PAC fundraising goal, and every contribution helps strengthen our industry’s voice at the federal level. When we come together, we don’t just build homes — we help build the future of our industry.
UPCOMING GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS EVENTS
Young Professionals Committee Chairman
Chad Overby
BBIA YPs Tee Up for the Golf Tournament
The BBIA Young Professionals beat the heat and hit the links indoors at The Back Nine for Tee Up with the BBIA YPs! The evening brought together networking, friendly competition, and plenty of fun as our YPs gear up for the BBIA Golf Tournament on October 2. A special thank you to ABC Supply Co. and Century 21 Ryan Realty for sponsoring the event and supporting
our
growing
Young
Professionals
program. We also welcomed our youngest future BBIA leader, Miss Sadie, and celebrated Carlen Liebe,
who
will
take
over
as
BBIA
Young
Professionals Chair in 2027! Want to get involved with the BBIA YPs? Contact Beth at Beth@BayBIA.org to get plugged in!
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Thank You Sponsors:
PROFESSIONAL
Women In BUILDING
President: Alexandra Harkins
PWB Wines Down & Gears Up for Wild Game Luncheon BBIA’s Professional Women in Building Council enjoyed another wonderful Wine Down Wednesday at Burgunbarrel! A special thank you to Burgunbarrel for the incredible hospitality and to everyone who joined us for an evening of networking, laughter, and connection. Now, PWB is gearing up for the 2nd Annual Bill Black Wild Game Luncheon, with proceeds helping support scholarships for women pursuing education and careers in the building industry. Thank you to our PWB community for continuing to support, connect, and empower women in our industry!
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INDUSTRY & INDUSTRY & ADVOCACY ADVOCACY News News
Industry News – August Highlights from FHBA & NAHB
FHBA Florida Update 2026 Legislative Wins: FHBA is highlighting several measures passed by the Legislature and signed into law that aim to streamline building permits and inspections, septic permitting, stormwater compliance and development approvals. Faster Permitting: New legislation expands the use of private providers and qualified contractors and includes provisions designed to reduce local permitting bottlenecks and unnecessary delays. Protecting Florida Builders: FHBA continues to advocate on issues including impact fees, building permit funds, construction lien law, building code requirements, workforce issues and housing affordability. Looking Ahead to SEBC 2027: Following this summer's Southeast Building Conference, FHBA has announced that SEBC 2027 will return to Orlando July 21–22, 2027, featuring education, networking and the Southeast's largest building industry trade show.
NAHB National Update Builder Confidence Remains Low: The NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index edged up one point to 35 in August, as elevated mortgage rates, construction costs and economic uncertainty continue to pressure the new-home market. Builders Continue to Use Incentives: 35% of builders reported cutting prices in August, with an average reduction of 6%, while 63% reported using sales incentives to help attract buyers. Major Housing Policy Movement: NAHB is highlighting the newly enacted 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, which includes provisions aimed at reducing regulatory barriers, encouraging zoning reform and increasing housing production. Tariffs & Material Costs Remain a Concern: NAHB's August advocacy update is focused heavily on tariffs, the economy and additional duties on Canadian softwood lumber, all of which can affect the cost of building homes. Remodeling Outlook: NAHB economists expect remodeling growth to slow heading into 2027, but longer-term demand remains encouraging due to an aging housing stock and growing renovation and aging-in-place needs.
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UPCOMING
Events
September 2
September 15
September 18
Burgunbarrel
Capt. Anderson’s Event Center
Capt. Anderson’s Event Center
BBIA PWB WINE DOWN WEDNESDAY
SEPTEMBER LUNCH & LEARN
BBIA PWB BILL BLACK WILD GAME LUNCHEON
11:30am-1:15pm
10:30am-2:00pm
Our keynote speaker, Melanie
This unique fundraising event
Griffin, Secretary of the Florida
supports empowering women in
Department of Business and
the trades. Great exotic meats,
to members!
Professional Regulations will be
raffles and a silent auction.
September 28
October 2
October 5
Bay Point Golf Club
Conservation Park PCB
5:00pm-7:00pm Every First Wednesday of the month, come join us for a night of networking and friendship. Free
joining us.
2026 BBIA GOLF TOURNAMENT
YP POLITICAL PULSE Panama City Center for the Arts 5:30pm-7:30pm Join our local Young Professionals
7:00am-2:00pm
at the Policial Pulse and hear hor
Join members, friends, and fellow
our candidate will help the YPs in
industry leaders for a fantastic
our area. This event is open to
day on the green full of friendly
everyone and is free
competition, great food, and even better company
October 6
BBIA GA 2026 CANDIDATE BREAKFAST FORUM
Capt.Anderson’s Event Center 8:00am-10:00am
Join the Bay Building Industries Association Government Affairs Committee for the 2026 Candidate Breakfast Forum.
October 7
BBIA PWB WINE DOWN WEDNESDAY Burgunbarrel
5:00pm-7:00pm Every First Wednesday of the month, come join us for a night of networking and friendship. Free to members! .
BBIA COMMERCIAL MEETING 11:30am-1:00pm Join us an afternoon of networking. This event is bring your own brown bag lunch and it ffree to attend for all members
STAY
NEVER MISS THE ACTION!
Connected
Follow us on social media! Facebook
Youtube
TikTok
X
BBIA Industry Partners Support. Connect. Grow. Join an exclusive network of local leaders in construction, home building, and trades industries. Partnering with BBIA means investing in the future of our community.
Gold Partner
Silver Partner
As a Platinum Partner with BBIA, your business will receive premium exposure across our most visible platforms and events. This partnership includes:
As a Gold Partner with BBIA, your business will receive valuable visibility and benefits at key events and across BBIA’s digital platforms. This partnership includes:
As a Silver Partner with BBIA, your business will gain solid visibility across our events and communications. This partnership includes:
Website Visibility: Your logo and link will be featured on BBIA’s homepage as a Platinum Partner, with enhanced placement at the top of our membership directory.
Website Visibility: Your logo and link will be featured on BBIA’s homepage as a Gold Partner, along with an enhanced membership directory listing at the top of your section.
Event Recognition: Your logo will be prominently displayed at all BBIA events, on-screen and on table tops during Lunch & Learn meetings.
Event Recognition: Your logo will be displayed at all BBIA events, including on table tops during Lunch & Learn meetings.
Digital Presence: Your logo and link will appear in every BBIA Bustle Digital Magazine, distributed monthly to our members, along with two annual promotional business spotlights.
Digital Presence: Your logo and link will appear in BBIA’s Bustle Digital Magazine bi-monthly, with one annual promotional business spotlight.
Platinum Partner
$10,000
Social Media Promotion: Enjoy quarterly promotional announcements on our social media platforms, plus four business spotlights on our Facebook page each year. Email Branding: Your logo will be included in all outgoing BBIA emails as a Platinum Partner. Exclusive Event Perks: Four complimentary registrations to each Lunch & Learn Meeting Complimentary sponsorship of a Lunch & Learn meeting Sponsor or host one BBIA Social Complimentary exhibitor booth space at the Home Expo Complimentary tent sponsor at our Clay Shoot Complimentary tent sponsor at our Golf Tournament Complimentary table at the BBIA Christmas Installation & Awards Dinner Parade of Homes Magazine: Full-page advertisement in the official Parade of Homes magazine. What They Do Video: A new series focused on who you are and what you do!
$7,000
Social Media Promotion: Enjoy two promotional announcements on our social media platforms annually, plus two annual business spotlights on our Facebook page. Email Branding: Your logo will be included in all outgoing BBIA emails as a Gold Partner. Exclusive Event Perks: Two complimentary registrations to each Lunch & Learn meeting Complimentary sponsorship of one Lunch & Learn meeting Sponsor one BBIA Social Complimentary booth space at the Home Expo Complimentary tent sponsor at our Clay Shoot Two complimentary registrations at the BBIA Christmas & Awards Dinner Parade of Homes Magazine: Half-page advertisement in the official Parade of Homes Magazine. What They Do Video: A new series focused on who you are and what you do!
$4,000
Website Visibility: Your logo and link will be featured on BBIA’s homepage as a Silver Partner. Event Recognition: Your logo will be displayed at all BBIA events, including on table tops during Lunch & Learn meetings. Digital Presence: Your logo and link will appear in BBIA’s Bustle Digital Magazine quarterly, with one annual promotional business spotlight. Social Media Promotion: Enjoy one promotional announcement on our social media platforms annually, plus one annual business spotlight on our Facebook page. Email Branding: Your logo will be included in all outgoing BBIA emails as a Silver Partner. Exclusive Event Perks: One complimentary registration to each Lunch & Learn meeting Sign sponsor for the Golf Tournament Sign sponsor for the Clay Shoot
Questions? Please contact us at: Beth@BayBIA.org
Annual Industry Partners Platinum
Silver
Thank You!
See you soon!