| Article from March/April 2007 Illinois Builders Journal |
| Get your designation, improve your business |
By Daryl Kemp, CGR, CAPS, GMB
President, Blackberry Builders, Inc. |
Greetings to all my colleagues
throughout the state. As the new chair of
the HBAI Education Committee, I want
to reach out and encourage members to
join our education classes and obtain
designations to improve their businesses.
Members who invest in themselves
will see improvements in their
businesses and set themselves apart from
their competition.
By tapping into the education
pipeline, you will make yourself more
marketable and informed. How much
would it be worth to be able to say, "I
saw that changing trend six months
ago?"
The classes help members forecast
and plan for the future. I cannot stress
enough how being taught by successful
members in our industry can make a
difference in your company.
Also, through local and national
advertisements, the NAHB is reaching
out to the general public to teach them
the importance of designations and
education, adding to the marketability of
your company.
The first step toward achieving your
designation is either the BAR for our
builder members or the PREP for our
remodeling members.
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Both are comprehensive assessments
of your ability to effectively run your
company. By checking for strengths and
weaknesses, the tests allow you to pass
over unneeded classes. The State of
Illinois now has six nationally licensed
facilities to administer classes.
Also added to the agenda for this
year are online classes for owners and
office staff. These classes are intended to
help staff be more productive and are set
up to help them learn at their own pace.
Education has been a passion of
mine for several years now and an
essential part of my business.
Knowledge is power and there is no
better time for the investment in yourself
and your company than now.
With the slowing market, it will be
the strong companies that survive. Don't
become a statistic, become a leader
within our industry. Contact your local
or state office to see how to get
involved. Visit www.NAHB.org and
search education for additional help.
I also want to personally thank my
predecessor, Doug Sutton, CGR, CAPS,
for getting all of us to this starting point
and for his continued leadership in
education for Illinois.
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