Who are we? and What do we do?Well the Texas Builder Marketing Group represents the gathering of some of the most active associates in the homebuilding industry. The group was organized for the purpose of providing information, education and networking opportunities to builders, including both HBA members who already know most of these fellow-members well, but also other builders active in the local marketplace.
How do you join? and what does it take to be a Texas Builder Marketing Group Member?Each member of the group was nominated by his fellow peers to join the group and each represents a different sector of the homebuilding industry. During their monthly meetings, members of the Texas Builder Marketing group share leads and opportunities, discuss industry issues affecting their businesses and plan the group’s ongoing special events. The goal is for each member to share their knowledge and learn from their peers in order to provide the best customer service possible by being informed and keeping their customers informed.
Lets Meet the Members
Martin A. Brady CLU,ChFC,MSFS has been in the financial services profession for over 30 years and specializes in impartial, unbiased, fee-based financial planning. He deals primarily with owners of closely-held businesses and their executives and salespeople. One of his primary markets is the residential construction industry. The firm he represents, Stevens Financial Group, has offices in Dallas and Ft Worth and is a member of both the Greater Fort Worth Builders Association and The HBA of Greater Dallas.
Larry Campbell has been in the appliance and related industries (including the remodeling business) since 1969. He managed Jarrell Appliance from 1999 through 2007 (recipients of the 2004 Greater Dallas Home Builders Association (HBA) Associate of the Year Award). Currently, he’s in charge of Builder Sales Development for Sub Zero/Wolf. He’s been active in the HBA since his return to the Dallas area in September of 1999 serving as Treasurer as well as chair for multiple committees. He also serves as a director for The Texas Association of Builders (TAB).
Duffy Frazier has been in the insulation business since 1979 and been a sales representative for Williams Insulation since 1989. Williams is owned by MASCO, a multi-billion dollar publicly traded corporation, and offers all types of insulation, including fiberglass, foam, and sprayed. In addition, Williams offer metal fireplaces, gutters, Tyvek housewrap, central vac system and personal escape and rescue ladders.
Gary Hubbard has been employed by Acme Brick Company since 1973. He is a 17-time winner of Acme’s President’s Club Award. Gary has served on various HBA boards since 1976.
Chris Ludwig has been with BMC West for 11 years, specializing in millwork for high-end custom homes. Chris sells custom entries, exterior and interior doors, moldings, stair parts, columns, and other specialty trim items. Chris enjoys consulting one-on-one in the field with builders, architects and designers. He has served as the HBA Metro East president in 2006, on the Metro East board, and the Dallas HBA big board. Chris was the Metro East division “Associate of the Year” three years in a row.
Kevin McLain has been associated with the homebuilding industry for over 28 years. He is a Senior Account Manager for DOW Chemical’s Building Solutions division, representing Syrofoam® insulation and Weather mate™ housewraps and barrier solutions. He is a member of the HBA of Greater Dallas, the Greater Fort Worth Builders Association and the HBA of Greater Austin.
Tom Sadler President of Executive Press has been involved in the building industry since the early 70's. Executive Press is a full service printing company servicing the building industry since 1997. Executive Press utilizes soy based inks and recycled paper as a commitment to be an environmentally friendly company. We help builders and suppliers in the building industry with their marketing materials and web site design and hosting. If you are looking for someone who understands the building industry call Executive Press.
John Sasseen With over 30 years of window experience with Pella, John purchased the North Texas distributor in 2001 and relocated to the Dallas area. Pella Texas Inc supplies a full offering of Pella windows and doors for both residential new construction, remodeling, and commercial applications with sales representatives dedicated to each segment of the industry. Pella also supports the sales with a dedicated service team. With a brand that is "Viewed to be the Best" Pella Texas is ready to serve all of your window needs.
Wesley Scott has been associated with the homebuilding industry for the last four years. He is one of the founders and principals of Arch-Tek (Archways and Ceilings Made Easy), a company that specializes in providing wood framing arches to the homebuilding industry. His products include; groin vaults, dome ceilings, barrel vaults, cove ceilings, and arch-kits. As the Vice President of Sales for Arch-Tek, he is a member of the HBA of Greater Dallas where Arch-Tek won the 2006 Vesta Award for Outstanding Customer Service.
Steve Smirnis has been involved in publishing for the homebuilding industry for over 15 years, working for a large North American publishing company before founding Building SAVVY Magazine in 2002. He has served on the Greater Fort Worth Builders Association Board of Directors for many years and is also an active member of the Greater Dallas Home Builders Association.
Geanie Vaughan ALA, CGA, CGP, was involved in commercial construction new business development for eight years before beginning her career in the residential building industry. She started in lighting for residential homes for Fred Lee 13 years ago in Atlanta before moving to the Dallas/Ft. Worth area 10 years ago. Geanie is the Marketing/Sales Manager for Lee Lighting in the Texas region. She has been on the Dallas Board of Directors and the Texas Association Board of Directors for the past 5 years. She has been named the Associate of the Year for TAB, Dallas HBA, and Greater Fort Worth BA. Geanie has also earned McSam and Vesta awards and is actively involved in various divisions and councils, as well as various charities.
Verrushka Verveckken founded DFW Interiors in 2003. With over 20 years experience in the building supply and furniture industries, Verruschka has established DFW Interiors as a leading authority on vanity product quality, design and production. She has currently designed the only ADA furniture style vanity on the market. Having graduated from the University of North Texas with her BBA in Marketing and being a Licensed Real Estate Broker, she is also a member of the Greater Dallas HBA, Texas Association of Builders, the National Home Builders Association and the National Kitchen and Bath Association.
Jim White CGP has played an active role in the new home industry for over 12 years. He began his career selling and installing home theater, alarm, and home networking systems throughout the Dallas area, and later joining the drywall industry. Returning to Dallas in 2008 after franchising to the Houston area, Jim is continuing his passion for residential and commercial drywall. He is an active member of DISCA and the HBA of greater Dallas. The company he is representing is PremRock Drywall, the first certified Green drywall contractor in the DFW area. PremRock has been serving the élite of Texas for over 10 years. Specializing in the most difficult & in demand finishes, including Level 5 slick wall, custom hand trowel, true Venetian plasters, & more!
Delfino Trejo Full service roofing company specializing on turn-key installation of metal, tile, synthetic or natural slate, and asphalt composition shingles over sloped roofs, as well as torch-down, EPDM, and TPO systems over flat roofs.
Being a member of the Texas Builder Marketing Group has made a significant impact on my business. Not only have I developed relationships with many successful individuals, I have increased my networking capabilities and homebuilding knowledge since I have been participating with the Texas Builder Marketing Group (TBMG). www.texasbuildermarketing.com
Since being active member, the TBMG has taught me the most valuable way to market one and ones business is to surround oneself with a core team of individuals working to market each other. Why is this so important? Well we all know that the number one way to acquire a new construction job is to get oneself in front of the builder or purchasing manager. Not an easy task when making cold calls or randomly stopping by a jobsite! To get in front of these key figures, it always helps to know someone who is actively working with this prospective customer. With a market as large as the DFW area it is impossible to be in the right place at the right time every time. Now imagine having hundreds of people in the right place at the right time working to market you. This is something that has become core in my day to day activities. Each day I have the opportunity to market one of my fellow colleagues to a building professional. .
How do we market each member for referrals? Well, the best way is to study and understand what your fellow member’s trade/products are. The best way to accomplish this is simple, sit down with them, get to know them, tour there facility, learn the tips and insights of his or hers sales pitch, and more importantly trust and have respect for your fellow member. You can’t sell or refer a member if you don’t believe in the product/trade yourself! This is why the Texas Builder Marketing Group ensures that all of its members have been adequately researched, and discussed amongst fellow peers before being voted into the group. The TBMG members are exemplary in their particular field of expertises and all are knowledgeable about the homebuilding industry.
The Texas Builder Marketing Group removes this barrier by allowing its members to actively share there customers and prospective customers with one another. With the doors wide open for networking, members have an opportunity to present themselves with out being tuned out, turned away or just plain ignored. It always helps to know the right person! Hint hint...TBMG members are those people!!
