On Friday evening, the Central Oklahoma Home Builders Association celebrated its final Christmas Banquet and Officer Installation at our building of over 40 years, closing an era at The Regal Room.  It was a grand event, with friend, fellow builder, and 2007 President Caleb McCaleb awarded with “Builder Of the Year,” and Jim McWhirter of Gemini Homes installed as the 2008 President.  I was installed as Vice President, while Mark Dale of Carriage Homes was installed as Treasurer, and Jim Schuff of Vesta Homes was moved into the Secretary position.  As this year’s Vice President, I look forward to serving as President of the association for 2009.

It was a pleasure to serve on the Executive Board this past year with Caleb as President, and he couldn’t be more deserving of the honor of Builder of the Year.  Jim’s inauguration speech was both entertaining and inspiring, and I look forward to serving on his board along with Mark & Jim as we get the new COHBA building underway, and face many hot issues in our industry.

The Oklahoman Business section ran an article in Saturday’s business section, and here is the press release from the event…

The Central Oklahoma Homebuilders Association is now under the direction of a nine member Executive Committee.  Jim McWhirter, Gemini Homes, will be at the helm of the 2008 board.  The announcement comes on the heels of the organization’s final Christmas banquet at the organization’s “Regal Room” facility, which has served as its home for more than 40 years.  COHBA also named Caleb McCaleb as the 2007 Builder of the Year.  Associate of the Year has been awarded to Kelley Ranney.

The new president, Jim McWhirter, joined COHBA in 1983 and has been a member of the Board of Directors for eight years.  He says that he is looking forward to creating a united effort among board members and the surrounding community.

“I am excited about COHBA this year.  There are many changes going on in our industry.  I’m looking forward to promoting a united effort between our builders, developers, municipalities and legislature.  Those groups working together will insure better and more positive results for our Oklahoma consumers,” says Jim McWhirter, President of Central Oklahoma Home Builders Association.

Other additions to the board are:  Jeff Click, Vice President; Mark Dale, Vice President Treasurer; Jim Schuff, Vice President Secretary; Vanessa Shadix, Associates Council Chair; Mike Gilles, President of Past Presidents; and John DeVere, Membership Chair.

This year’s Christmas Party and Installation of Officers has a special significance, as it will be the last one of its kind for COHBA.  Historically, the Association’s facility has been at 625 North West Grand Boulevard since 1965 and has provided banquet facility accommodations for many community businesses, civic events, chambers and community events over the past forty plus years.  The Association feels a sense of sadness as they leave a building with a tremendous amount of history, but they are excited about the future as they begin the process of building the new facility which will be located on Britton Road east of Broadway Extension.

“The most exciting project for the association is the upcoming groundbreaking and building of our new state-of-the-art headquarters and learning facility.  Our new home for the Central Oklahoma Home Builders Association will be a flagship for generations of builders and building associates to come,” says outgoing president, Caleb McCaleb.

McCaleb believes the largest challenge in the next year or two for COHBA and its incoming leadership will be overcoming the national perception that real estate is in crisis all around the United States.

“In fact, OKC has been doing well during this national slump and we anticipate a positive real estate market for the foreseeable future in our area,” says McCaleb.

The Oklahoma City Home Builders Association is a not-for-profit, professional trade organization, which is an advocate for the Oklahoma City housing industry and serves 1400 members.  The association is a corporate channel through which builders contribute time, money and services to local community service projects and education initiatives.

COHBA is an affiliate of the Oklahoma State Home Builders Association, a federation of more than 12 associations statewide with more than 3,000 members.  COHBA members include builders, remodelers, developers, suppliers, manufacturers, architects, engineers, real estate brokers, lenders, attorneys and other industry professionals.