Conference Information

Certification Courses
Dallas Convention Center, Hall C Meeting Rooms
Thursday, October 17th
9:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Building Codes and Standards
This course identifies the organizations that develop, revise and regulate building codes and standards. Emphasis is on state and local building departments, plan review, building permits, inspectors, code enforcement and the appeal process. Approved for CGB, CGR and CGA credit.
Speaker: Russ Moyer, City of Plano Code Enforcement

Professional Remodeler Experience Profile (PREP)
This course is an assessment tool for Certified Graduate Remodeler (CGR) candidates. It is designed to be an objective measurement of a remodeler’s experience in each of the following five core areas: 1) Marketing & Sales; 2) Business Management; 3) Design, Estimating and Job Cost; 4) Contracts, Liability and Risk Management; 5) Project Management. PREP is mandatory for anyone working towards the CGR designation, unless they entered the CGR program under the old system which utilized the profile. Approved for CGR credit.
Proctor: Randall Hall, Randall Hall Design/Build & Remodeling

Negotiating Skills
Get more of what you want in contracts, deals, and discussions by honing your negotiating skills at this hands-on class. This course provides a practical approach to interpersonal problem-solving and suggestions for negotiating specific situations. Ideal for small volume builders, remodelers, and associates who deal with customers, employees, trade contractors, suppliers, and government officials on a contractual basis. Approved for CGR and GMB credit.
Speaker: Beverly Koehn, Beverly Koehn & Associates

Taking Your Web Site to the Next Level
Offered in Groups I, III, IV, and VI
Learn how to use your web site as a marketing vehicle that goes beyond a brochure for your company. This session will include suggestions on business management and prospect management and identification.
Panel: Christina Patterson, PCA Web Design & Hosting (Groups I and IV)
Phyllis DeWitt, Marketing DeWitt (Groups III and VI)
Angie Tassan, Intelecon (Groups III and VI)

Kitchen and Bath Trends
Offered in Groups I and VI
A showcase of the latest trends in kitchen and bath design, innovative kitchen and bath product introductions and the latest in what consumers love about new kitchens and baths.
Speaker: To be announced

Building Green
Offered in Groups I and IV
Learn from a well-respected builder about building techniques achieving “Green” status. Educated and demanding clients often recognize the environmental benefits of building green and this session will provide you new building systems and products that will satisfy clients and build more profits for the builder.
Speaker: Ron Jones, Sierra Custom Builders

Construction Defect Litigation
Offered in Groups I and IV
A panel of experts will discuss construction defects and related issues that affect the building industry in Texas and surrounding states. The specific situations and occurrences will be supported with an overhead presentation with photographs of specific Texas claims and remedies for guarding against litigation. The expert panel will address all issues with Q&A from the audience after the presentation.
Speakers: John Hubbard, Vice President, 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty
Bob Bush, ESQ, Bush and Motes, PC
Jim McErlean, Vice President, 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty Insurance Services

For Builders and Suppliers: How to be Unique, Different From or Better Than the Competition
Offered in Groups II and V
From the book with the same name, this session (designed for any company with products, services or people to sell) will show you hot to “differentiate your self from the competition.” In today’s highly competitive marketplace, it is not unusual to find yourself among hundreds of others ardently pursuing the same piece of pie. During this session, you will be taken through a two-minute drill concept as well as learn how to create an Excitement Model for you, your products and services. These programs are designed to implement immediately and enhance your revenues!
Speaker: Martha C. Anderson, MCA Business Strategies

Design Secrets That Touch 21st Century Buyers
Offered in Groups II and VI
Sponsored By Closetmaid

Today’s buyer is so different from anyone you have previously experienced. Learn from these expert panelists about how to develop architectural designs that meet the very diverse needs this unique conglomeration of home buyers.
Speakers: Carol Lavender, Lavender Design Group
Mark Shekter, Graphic+Design+Group
Cindy Pierce, Ryland Homes

Handling the Difficult Client
Offered in Groups II and V
Today’s customers are very sophisticated and knowledgeable. This knowledge seems to make them extremely demanding and at times challenging to handle. Learn from this panel which comprises of Builders, Lawyers and Customer Service Experts on techniques that will help to avoid building for the “Client from Hell” and to set realistic expectations on both sides. This session will teach the importance of: walking away from a prospective difficult client; developing systems and procedures for improved and consistent customer service; identifying how to help your client set realistic expectation; and the importance of excellent communications.
Speakers: Lucy Katz, Katz Builders, Inc.
D. Steven Henry, Gardere Wynne Sewell, LLP
Kathy Kurtz, Lennar Homes
Gary Javore, Johnson, Kristopher, Javore and Cochran, Inc.

MOLD: Who is to blame?
Offered in Groups II and V
Sponsored By Anderson Windows, DuPont Tyvek and EBBA

This informative panel of experts will tackle a critically important and controversial issue affecting today’s home builder and remodeler – MOLD. Learn about latest product technologies and design practices that help prevent and resolve mold problems.
Speakers: Walter Scarborough, AIA, HKS Architects
Steve Easley, S.C. Easley & Associates (Group II only)
Jason Moyer, DuPont Tyvek Weatherization Systems
Mark Mikkelson, Andersen Windows, Inc.
Paul Majka, Shelter Source (Group V Only)

Options Management
Offered in Groups II and V
An option catalog is an essential part of managing a profitable home building operation. The creation and use of an option catalog forces a number of management topics to be discussed, outlined, written, and diagrammed before the construction of a home or option is started.
Speakers: Erik Cofield, Dean Williams Technology
Noelle Tarabulski, Builder Software Tools, Inc.

Building Homes for Everyone
Offered in Group III
There has been a re-emergence of the entry-level new home. In almost every community where homes are priced from the $70’s to the $100’s, more than 100 homes are selling annually. The entry-level buyers are willing to accept locations that have been overlooked for decades. In many cases, CDC’s (Community Development Corporations) are serving as the stimulus, and buyers are attracted to neighborhoods long thought to be marginal because of their location and reputation of the school districts. As new homes are built and entry-level buyers bring new life to these areas, they are also upgrading schools and creating a turnaround in the neighborhoods. It is a powerful phenomenon, and builders should consider areas that they might not have considered before, in order to build homes for everyone. This program allows you to look at projects as you have never done before like development, funding and financing.
Speakers: Kent Conine, Vice Chair of TDHCA, Conine Residential
David Jarvis, American Metro/Study Corporation
Ramon Flores, Fannie Mae

Merchandising and Strategies
Offered in Groups III and IV
Today’s building industry is very competitive. Learn from the experts how to set yourself apart form the competition by creating new design concepts and merchandising strategies. These techniques will have immediate impact on your new home sales.
Speakers: Tara Hutchison, The Point Group
Moderator: Mary DeWalt, DeWalt Design Group, Moderator

Retaining Quality Trade Contractors and Employees in a Competitive Environment
Offered in Groups III and VI
A dynamically interactive program in which participants will discover strategies and concepts to increase their trade contractor and employee retention. This program includes an assessment quiz that each participant will complete in order to examine their individual results with their employees. This program is designed for senior level managers, human resource directors, company owners and projects managers.
Speaker: Paul Montelongo, ContractorofChoice.com

How to Build a House in Mixed Climate that Meets the New Energy Codes and Reduces Opportunities for MOLD
Offered in Groups III and IV
Sponsored By Anderson Windows, DuPont Tyvek and EBBA

Learn from expert Steve Easley with S.C. Easley & Associates and Paul Majka with Shelter Source. You will learn where to install vapor barriers, when and where (climate) ventilation is sensible, situation and conditions that can encourage decay, molds, and other defects in wood components, understand how insulation works (the good, bad and ugly), select materials based on risk and learn about design and construction techniques to build durable and fail-proof structures.
Speaker: Steve Easley, S.C. Easley & Associates (Group III)
Paul Majka, Shelter Source (Group IV)

Beyond the Super Bowl Sales Rally: Sales Secrets of the Masters
Offered in Group V
Behold! The password to the land of divine success is in your reach! You will be the envy of all your peers once you tap into the sales secrets of the masters! High sales master, Beverly Koehn will channel the industry pro’s to share their treasured secrets of record sales and distinctive sales marketing.
Speakers: To Be Announced
Moderator: Beverly Koehn, Beverly Koehn & Associates

Storm Water Overview
Offered in Group VI
The Storm Water Pollution Prevention Overview is an excellent opportunity to learn the ins and outs of Storm Water Compliance. This session was custom developed by Paradigm Engineering and is EPA recommended. This course is designed to train class participants to do site inspections. Topics covered in this session are; background on clean Water Act, Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP), requirements, pollution sources and prevention, inspection training and site compliance maintenance, and the impact on the environment.
Speakers: Johnny Combs, Paradigm Engineering

Integrating the Team for Master Planned Success
Offered in Group VI
Integrating a team of architects, marketing consultants, merchandisers and advertising agencies form the beginning is the formula for success. Learn from the experts how to get the best results out of your team. Explore case studies of successful master-planned communities that resulted in record-breaking sales for the builder. You’ll leave this session with information that can be put to use tomorrow to help you achieve similar results.
Speakers: Lyda Akin, The Point Group
Elise Platt, E.A. Platt & Co.
William Devereaux, Devereaux & Associates

Introduction to Construction Spanish
Offered in Groups I and IV
The labor force is over 70% Spanish speaking in the Southwest building market and is expected to grow over the next ten years. Having the ability to speak Spanish on the job site will increase communication, productivity and will alleviate possible safety hazards. This session will provide an introduction to construction Spanish and necessary Spanish terms to help you perform your job more effectively.
Speakers: Joe Beaudette, Best Institute