Despite my many years of attending the International Builders’ Show, this year, it felt like I was seeing everything through fresh eyes. What was the catalyst for this new perspective? Before the show, I attended several NAHB committee meetings. What I learned in the meetings, and the inspiring people I met there, sparked a new outlook and momentum for me that prevailed throughout the entire event.
Carpe Diem
The NAHB committee meetings offer great insight into what’s happening in the industry at a national level. I learned about new NAHB initiatives aimed at helping the people they serve. I learned about policies that are coming down the pipeline—from labor laws, to environmental issues. I witnessed the passion the NAHB has for representing the professionals in the home building industry and the people we serve. And I witnessed the passion the home builders and suppliers have for moving this industry forward.
To get the most out of the show, I highly recommend taking the time before the event to attend the committee meetings to discover the common concerns shared by home builders across the country and the different approaches being used to address them. Don’t be surprised if the experience results in a renewed motivation to get involved. Fortunately, there is something for everyone, from sitting in the gallery, to leading a committee, to climbing the ranks of the NAHB. My big takeaway from this year’s show is discovering how valuable the committee meetings are for tapping into the collective energy to set the tone for the entire event.
Early Birds Win
Another good reason to arrive early at the show is to attend the Builder Partnerships Annual Networking Reception on Monday evening. Thank you to everyone in the Builder Partnerships community for making this year’s reception a huge success. We had a full house of industry professionals who gathered together for a night filled with conversation, laughter, and relationship building.
Year after year, what makes the reception so special is the opportunity to spend time with old friends and make new connections. The casual and intimate atmosphere provides a relaxed environment for our builder community to connect with our trusted manufacturer and service provider members. This year, we had the pleasure of naming TruTeam as our 2023 Partner of the Year.
Big Fun at the Big Show
During the show, we were honored to have so many of our partners and members of our builder community stop by our booth to say hello. We truly appreciate everyone for stopping by. Chuck and Emma loved spending time with each of you that visited our booth. If you missed me at the booth this year, it’s because I was busy attending education sessions and making the rounds on the show floor, networking and sharing ideas with some of the brightest minds in the industry. For me, that was the highlight of the show.
This year’s International Builders’ Show was one for the record books for a variety of reasons. The event celebrated its 80th year, and the show attracted the largest attendance in 15 years. It was exciting to be a part of it. We wish to thank everyone who took time out of their busy schedules to attend our reception and/or stop by our booth. We hope to see you next year at IBS 2025!
If you missed our IBS recap webinar on March 8,
watch the replay here or
listen to the audio recording here for more tips and takeaways.
