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Message from Our President

It has been an honor and a privilege to serve as the 2017 President of the Greater
San Antonio Builders Association (GSABA). I am proud to say that this has been a
year of many firsts for GSABA. We are blessed to have so many members who are
passionate about what we do, and support our advocacy programs and events.
Thanks to our Rally Day efforts in February, all 7 of our industry’s priority bills passed
during the 87th Texas Legislative session - an unprecedented success. GSABA hosted
its 1st Annual Residential Construction Career Fair in March, where 14-member
companies and more than 75 college students from our two NAHB/GSABA Student
Wayne Moravits Chapters met to talk about internships and full-time employment.
President GSABA carried that momentum into April, when we launched our 1st annual
Playhouse Design/Build competition. GSABA members 84 Lumber, McCoy’s Building
Supply and Builders FirstSource sponsored the competition with a new NAHB Student Chapter at UTSA.
GSABA hosted the most successful Parade of Homes to date in the Canyons at Scenic Loop with more than 10,000
folks attending the 10-day event in May. For the first time, GSABA published the Parade magazine ‘Parade Style’ and
produced the Product Tent in-house.
As the local political races heated up, the San Antonio Builders Political Action Committee interviewed pro-housing
candidates for Mayor and the City Council. We are committed to know our elected officials better and communicate
the industry’s critical issues. I also really enjoyed co-chairing the fundraising committee for the OneSA Bond Proposal
Campaign, which passed with ease. This $850M infrastructure investment, the largest in San Antonio’s history, was a
critical step in paving the way for a strong housing market for years to come.
Armadillo Homes broke ground in August on the 2017 Charity Home. The Greater San Antonio Education Foundation
(GSAEF), which is funded by the Charity Home, announced a $100,000 endowment at UTSA’s Construction Science
Management program in honor of Armadillo Homes’ Robert ‘Beto’ Gutierrez. GSAEF’s investment in students and
education programs for 2017 is the largest in the Foundation’s history.
In the Fall, GSABA hosted its first Battle of the Builders, which was a new event created to challenge companies to
compete in feats of strength. Highland Homes’ Megan Schauffele and the Sales and Marketing Council members
injected energy into this new event, which was a huge success.
The NAHB Student Chapter at UTSA was named “Student Chapter of the Month” by NAHB and garnered
considerable praise for their efforts in the Hurricane Harvey recovery efforts. In November, GSABA’s own Michael
Moore was inducted into the Texas Housing Hall of Honor.
This year of firsts for GSABA only raises the bar for this great Association. These events would not have been possible
without our members being engaged and supportive. In 2017, I’ve witnessed new friendships form, new ideas come to
life and our business community come together. I wish Bryan Smith much success in 2018.

Happy Holidays

6 DECEMBER 2017 | GREATER SAN ANTONIO BUILDERS ASSOCIATION