IBS Education is one of the most popular parts of the NAHB International Builders’ Show® (IBS) each year. The 2023 IBS Education sessions happening Jan 31 – Feb 2 at our Vegas show will not disappoint. If you haven’t already, register for an Expo+Education Pass to experience everything IBS and IBS Education has to offer.
IBS Education sessions are your chance to learn from the top industry experts and experts in their field at IBS 2023: The Essential Industry Experience.
Meet One of the Expert Speakers at IBS in Vegas: Alexa Drees Walker
Growing up in the construction industry, Alexa Drees Walker’s passion for interior design and home building started early. As a kid, she accompanied her dad and CEO of Drees Homes on frame walks, saw him shake hands with homeowners and watched him grow and expand Drees Homes to be one of the largest home builders in the nation. This passion for crafting homes influences Alexa today.
She has over 10 years of experience in the field of interior design, and currently serves as the Design Center Director at Drees Homes. Alexa is proud to work for a company that makes custom homes easy with her focus on curating the most sought-after design trends and creating a personalized experience for each homebuyer.
Alexa has presented at the NAHB International Builder’s Show®, several national design studio industry conferences, and was awarded Pro Builder’s Forty Under 40 Class of 2021. She is DC PRO Certified and is a member of Design Studio Masters and YPO NextGen.
Alexa is slated to present “The Curated Home: Personalizing Selections While Optimizing Margins,” a Building Knowledge session at the Builders’ Show.
Get to Know Alexa
We caught up with Alexa to get a sneak peek into her session at the Builders’ Show and get to know her a little better.
What information or actionable takeaways can attendees expect to walk away with from your session?
Learn how to create desirable selection packages that create a positive customer experience while managing supply chain challenges and utilizing them as a tool to increase selection option sales.
What are you most looking forward to at IBS?
Every year I look forward to connecting with industry leaders and learning from them! Sometimes that happens in education sessions, but often I find it’s the casual conversations that lead to big a-ha moments.
What advice would you give to someone attending the Builders’ Show for the first time?
Schedule your time to you make sure you see everything important to you, but also block out some time to wander the floor. You never know what you will find!
What is the most interesting 2023 industry trend?
An increased acceptance of bold colors and patterns as a way to personalize our homes. I think we will see this reflected in all sorts of materials at IBS this coming year – be on the lookout for this trend in cabinetry, tile, countertops and light fixtures! Consumers are less worried about these types of semi-permanent materials “staying in trend” and are more focused on expressing their individuality.
The industry has changed so much in the last five years. What changes do you think we’ll see in the next five years?
I think we will continue to see a shift in how consumers purchase new construction homes. This includes both an increasingly virtual sales experience that we’ve heard many industry experts talking about, but we will also begin to see a change in how home buyers go through the selection sales experience as well. I think selection packages will play a big role in this, which is why I chose to present on this topic.
What do you think is the biggest challenge in the industry right now?
Meeting changing buyer expectations in a world of supply chain challenges and labor shortages.
Alexa’s session is “The Curated Home: Personalizing Selections While Optimizing Margins,” a Building Knowledge session at the Builders’ Show. It’s happening January 31, 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM. Register for the Builder’s Show Expo+Education Pass or a 1-Day Education Pass for Jan 31 to attend Alexa’s session.