TUCSON, ARIZONA -- The Real Estate Community of Southern Arizona congratulates Michael Del Castillo, for his new leadership role as SAHBA Chairman for 2022. Michael recently had this to say to all SAHBA members.
I am truly honored to have the opportunity to serve as the Chairman of the SAHBA Board of Directors for 2022, and I know that my mother and father would be very proud that I will be the first Hispanic person to serve in this role in the organization’s prestigious 70-year history.
Throughout my time on the Board, I have been continually surrounded by talented, dedicated and focused individuals who have the best interests of our members and industry in their hearts. I would like to thank them – especially outgoing Chairman Tom Gansheimer – for their service to our organization. I would also like to extend my personal thanks to you, our members, for your ongoing support of all of us at SAHBA and would like to ask you for your continued trust and support as we embark on another important year for the organization.
It is no secret that the past two years have been unlike anything we’ve experienced in our lifetimes. The COVID-19 pandemic has posed healthcare and economic challenges throughout the world. The ups and downs caused by the pandemic have taken physical, financial and emotional tolls on many of us, our employees, friends and families. We’re also dealing with unprecedented issues in home building, as labor challenges, material shortages and regulatory hurdles have become daily occurrences for our industry.
Just because the calendar has rolled over to a new year, it unfortunately doesn’t mean these challenges are behind us.
That said, I can assure you that the SAHBA Board – and our professional staff – will continue to do everything in our power to ensure we navigate, adapt and most importantly move forward together.
The strategic plan and key priorities outlined below have been developed with this primary goal in mind.
In closing, I’m confident our industry will remain resilient and our association strong…but we will need your help. Together, we can accomplish our priorities to the benefit of our members and the entire home building community.
Thank you.
Michael J. Del Castillo
Division President, Richmond American Homes
2022 Chair of the Board
2022 STRATEGIC PLAN
“NAVIGATING, ADAPTING & MOVING FORWARD”
Nearly two years into the COVID-19 Pandemic, SAHBA and our members continue to face the challenges of a changing world. We have learned to expect - and plan for – ups and downs in our public health environment, constant disruptions in the supply chain, material price inconsistencies and persistent labor shortages. Together, we must not only navigate these challenges but adapt, accept them as our new normal and move forward seeking out ways to lessen their impact on our businesses and daily experiences.
Now, as much as ever, SAHBA must be a constant and reliable source of advocacy, information and opportunity.
OBJECTIVE
To navigate the current and ever-changing public health and safety circumstances while continuing to meet member expectations and move the Association forward.
GOALS
1. Adjust Advocacy Efforts to Respond to the Changing Market
The combination of challenges builders are currently dealing with is unlike any our industry has faced in the past. SAHBA will continue to work closely with builders, developers and trade partners to understand their current and expected needs and seek out solutions to help them succeed in selling, building and closing more homes. This effort will also include a continued focus on growing the workforce and seeking out career training opportunities for existing and potential new employees.
2. Strengthen the Home Show
The SAHBA Home Show has faced unprecedented difficulties resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. Our ability to execute two in-person events in 2021, was an impressive feat. In 2022, we will reinvest and revitalize the Show to restore it to the marquee community event for homeowners seeking to improve their homes and for exhibitors to showcase their products and services.
3. Grow Membership
SAHBA, like many member-based organizations, saw a decline in membership due to the pandemic. While we believe we have been able to stabilize our membership numbers since this initial decline, we recognize that it is now important to focus our efforts on growth. Our target for 2022 is a 5% increase in membership. We believe this can be accomplished through a targeted outreach campaign to industry-based businesses. We will also work to enhance and increase educational and networking opportunities and to re-work and expand other member benefits.
4. Continued Investment In the Association
Heading into 2020, SAHBA was in growth mode. The Board had just approved an extensive building update and staff growth had been budgeted. The pandemic, and its resulting effect on key revenue sources, necessitated a prudent financial pivot that proved effective in maintaining SAHBA’s overall financial health and well-being during this period. While some degree of uncertainty remains, we are confident that it is once again time to make the strategic investments necessary to adequately resource the Association to provide the complete level of service our members deserve.
5. Update and Streamline Administration & Operations
By default, the nature of a non-profit trade association is to put the needs of its members first. In times when finances are lean and staff resources stretched thin, it puts a strain on the administrative and operations of the organization. As we add staff resources and adapt to the new normal hybrid work and meeting environment, we will make improvements where appropriate to update our policies and procedures, streamline internal processes and use technology to create efficiencies.