The IBS Scholarship Program offers NAHB members between the ages of 21-35 with the opportunity to attend the building industry’s biggest event. This is part 2 of a 3-part series.
Twenty-one ambitious young professionals have been awarded a scholarship to attend the 2019 NAHB International Builders’ Show® (IBS) in Las Vegas this coming February. Many have never attended before, and all are eager to learn more about the building industry by exploring new products, connecting with other industry pros and attending the many education sessions available. Here are their stories.
Sherry Ferguson | HBA of Greensville
Sherry’s love for remodeling and home building started at a young age. She and her husband Mark own Ferguson Builders in Greenville, South Carolina, which specializes in residential remodeling and custom home building. Before joining Ferguson Builders full-time, Sherry was an educator; continuous learning is a core value for her personally, and for the business. She believes that learning the “how tos” of doing business smarter ultimately leads to a stronger team that can serve the community of Greenville even better, and she looks forward to the many learning opportunities that IBS provides.
Andrew Hayes | Southern Arizona HBA
Andrew Hayes is the Vice President of Operations for family-owned and operated Hayes Construction, Inc. in Tucson, Arizona. Hayes Construction specializes in custom home construction, and because their customers are often seeking options to save on their electric bill and conserve water, they are focused on green and energy efficiency techniques for the home. One of Andrew’s objectives in attending IBS 2019 is “to learn about building science and all of the technologies that will be introduced.”
Jen Haywood | HBA of Greater Des Moines
Jen is founder and owner of Texturious Designs, a home remodeling and virtual consulting business in Des Moines, Iowa. She enjoys helping her clients visualize the finished space and showing them that interior design can be easy, organized and inexpensive. “My design philosophy is that the build environment—the spaces around us—directly impact our mood, our behavior and our interactions. I believe our industry, in particular design, has a responsibility to acknowledge this impact … and to help satisfy the needs of the space.” During IBS, she plans to network with other attendees and vendors, and research interesting and innovative products that she can share with her clients.
Edward Hunt | Park City Area HBA
Edward works as a carpenter for Jorgenson Builders LLC in Heber, Utah, building custom homes. He enjoys the new challenges that come with building and is always looking to increase his knowledge to better himself and increase the quality of homes he builds. “I’m looking forward to the knowledge I can gain, such as how to construct a greener, more efficient home, as well as learning about the new products and technology that can go into our homes.”
Cassidy Jones | New River Valley HBA
Cassidy is the lead designer for Slate Creek Builders (SCB), a design/build firm in Blacksburg, Virginia. Cassidy was SCB’s first recruit after joining an NAHB Remodeler 20 Club (Club R9) in 2014. Since then, Cassidy has assisted SCB by managing the pre-construction process from initial client meetings through concept refinement, selections and contract presentation, and she plays a key role in the entire SCB client experience. “The Builders Show provides the opportunity to see new products and learn different business practices—all of these things I can bring home and share with others in the industry, and my clients.”
Kameron Klimes | HBA of Greater Kansas City
Kameron got his start in the trades as an apprentice carpenter in his hometown of St. Louis. In 2015, he committed to a year of service as an AmeriCorps national member with Habitat for Humanity of Kansas City. After his service, he stayed with Habitat as a construction supervisor. Through a generous lumber donation to his jobsite, Kameron was introduced to McCray Lumber & Millwork. The opportunity presented itself to join McCray Lumber as an outside sales rep, and he made the leap. Kameron believes that the more he knows about the products he sells, the better he can be at helping his customers select the right materials for their needs. “IBS is going to be a wonderful opportunity for me to network with people from around the country, learn how to do things better, and discover the latest and greatest in products.”
Matthew Lane | BIA of Central Kentucky
Matt gained a nationally-recognized qualification after completing a four-year carpentry and joiner apprenticeship in England. During that time, he was part of many projects, from renovations and restoration works to new home builds. Now living in central Kentucky, he has worked with local remodelers as a project manager and recently started his own company, LexGen Investments LLC, focused on contemporary design with an emphasis on energy efficiency, comfort and durability. Matthew feels that being aware of new products as they come to market is a great benefit of attending IBS. “Being able to suggest things to our clients—whether it’s maintenance-free products or environmentally-friendly options—those products give extra color to our palette as we work on new projects.”
Learn more about the IBS 2019 scholarship recipients and the program here.