Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/134677
6 | President's Perspective r e n e w e d Welcome to the first issue of Alabama Homebuilder magazine! Much like our industry and our members it has taken on a bold new look. I believe this bold look will help us to get to know each other better. Alabama Homebuilder will be a great help in reconnecting our members that may have lost touch in the downturn. As you turn the pages you will see pictures of old friends and the new ones you just met. If you think the old friends have put on a few pounds or have more grey hair since you last saw them we are blaming that on economic induced stress! The friendships that I made have helped me survive. They have given me a renewed sense of confidence in this industry. This association has given me long lasting friendships. I know there is always someone I can call for help of any kind. You'll notice that the cover of this issue includes the title "Southern Revival". Based on the interactions I've had with members so far this year at our statewide meetings and other events, I think our association and industry are going through a revival of their own. There seems to be a renewed sense of optimism among our members. Housing statistics are on the upward trend, a welcome sight for all of us. Members are enthusiastically participating in educational opportunities, fundraising events and meetings around the state. We're attracting new members and regaining some that had let their membership lapse. Our next opportunity to meet with our friends, old and new, will be at our Summer Meeting, July 18-20 at the Hilton Sandestin. We've got some exciting meetings and education lined up, including the latest housing forecast from Dr. David Crowe, Chief Economist for the National Association of Home Builders, as well as sessions on how to better balance your time and put technology to work for you from time management and technology expert Randy Dean. As always, we'll have lots of activities for people of all ages, so make plans now to bring your family and get ready for a weekend where you can learn a lot, network, and have plenty of fun while you're at it. It's an exciting time to be a member of the HBAA, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to serve as your leader this year. Let's keep the revival going! Taylor Burton 2013 HBAA President