Since receiving their local charter in 1960, the Home Builders Association of Metropolitan Harrisburg has been serving the home building industry in Dauphin, Cumberland, Juniata, and Perry Counties.
Headquartered in Harrisburg, the association currently has more than 300 members – most recently they welcomed Affiliate Members.
Jerry Leach, Executive Vice President, works closely with local President Joshua Juffe and staff members Lori Fetterhoff (Director of Communications and Events), Chanell Moore (Membership and Accounts Coordinator), and Bethany Ledda (Administrative Assistant). Together – and with the guidance of the Board of Directors – they produce a variety of events while offering support for workforce development and benefits for members.
The Home & Garden Design EXPO is held the last weekend in February each year. The annual event brings thousands of homeowners to the Farm Show Complex to see the latest in home innovation and connect with builders, suppliers, and companies connected to the home building industry. Seminars and demonstrations are offered through the show and one of the biggest features are the incredible garden and outdoor displays where guests can enjoy a taste of Spring.
The HBA showcases members each year with the Pyramid Awards. This nationally recognized program is a way to honor the most distinguished area professionals in building, remodeling, sales, and marketing.
In the Fall, the Parade of Homes is a nine-day event that opens the doors of new homes across the region to showcase Builder Member projects featuring the latest in design and innovation.
Other membership events include golf outings that raise funds for PAC and for workforce development scholarships.
Over the years, the members have raised over $400,000 in scholarship to provide local students who go on to secondary education in a building industry field. But while raising money is vital, it’s certainly not the only way the HBA of Metro Harrisburg members support and promote workforce development. The local is very involved with the local vocational technical schools, as well as conducting middle school presentations on careers in the trades. Plus, they host an annual job fair in conjunction with the Harrisburg Area Community College.
That commitment to education is not just focused on the younger generation. The local’s office in Harrisburg has a large education facility that can host up to 60 students at a time. Code training sessions are offered when necessary and the room is available for rent for business-related meetings and trainings (at a discounted rate for members). Members can also use the “Member Guest” office if they are working away from their office and need a place “to land” and make call, copies, or use the internet in privacy.
If all that weren’t enough, the members reach out to others in the community by hosting food truck festivals three times a year. These events draw in more than 800 members in the local business park and serve as an excellent opportunity to network and possibly recruit new members.
Being right in the Capital Region, it’s no surprise that the HBA of Metro Harrisburg has a strong level of support and connections to the legislators as well as PaCAH.
All this great work and service to their members has not gone unnoticed. The HBA of Metro Harrisburg has collected their share of awards over the year recognizing excellence. Among those honors are:
- PBA Grand Award Highest Numerical Increase in Membership – 1991
- PBA Association of the Year Award – 1991
- NAHB Remodelers Council CADRE Award – 1993
- NAHB National Membership Day – Most New members – 2002
For 60 years now, the HBA of Metropolitan Harrisburg has been a leading supporter of the home building industry. Their strong sense of service to members and the community around them is a shining example for everyone in our industry.