BIA team attends NAHB Association Management Conference in Salt Lake City

Last month, members of our BIA-RRV team, Chief Executive Officer Bryce Johnson, Marketing & Events Manager Janna Koble and Education and Public Affairs Specialist Elizabeth Kosel, attended the National Association of Home Builders Association Management Conference in Salt Lake City.

The conference provided a platform for our team to engage in educational sessions and network with peers from builders' associations across the country. They spent valuable time with their peers from the other associations in North Dakota including the North Dakota Association of Builders, Forx Builders Association, Dickinson Area Association of Builders and Bismarck-Mandan Home Builders Association (see photo below).

Key takeaways include:

Innovative Event Ideas

• Non-dues revenue generation through events like bingo nights, a construction podcast, branded merchandise, subscription services and speed dating with builders and trade partners.
• Potential for utilizing AI in association and business processes.
• NAHB staff presented an overview of AI resources, sparking ideas for hosting a class for BIA members interested in streamlining their operations.

Importance of Strong Messaging

• Emphasis on having a clear message mission, and vision that members know and recognize.
  • BIA-RRV's current vision statement is, "Nurturing thriving, innovative, diverse housing and building industries in our community."
• Many associations face similar challenges, and establishing a strong identity is crucial for success.

Keynote Inspiration

• Comedian Stacy Pederson encouraged a mindset shift from “I have to” to “I get to.”
• This positive outlook can significantly change how we approach our work and contribute to our industry.

Economic Insights

Dr. Robert Dietz provided an economic forecast that addressed the current and future state of the housing market:

• Slowing growth expected
• Post-COVID population shifts, especially through immigration, helped boost housing demand in 2023.
• Job openings are trending lower, which could eventually ease interest rates.

Future projections

• Potential for mortgage rates to decrease to around 5% by the end of 2025.
• Rising regulatory costs now account for 23.8% of a new home's price, with NAHB planning further studies for updated estimates.

Be sure to attend our New Year Celebration next year, on Jan. 30, to hear more from Dr. Dietz!

Overall, the conference was a productive and enlightening experience for our team. The team returned with new ideas, a stronger sense of community with other associations, and a renewed commitment to driving the success of our BIA.

Below: Bryce, Elizabeth and Janna pictured with Jim Tobin, NAHB's chief executive officer.