Three new NAHB field representatives are off and running this month, ready to bring assistance from National and share best practices from across the Federation to HBAs all over the country.
They join a program that totals 12 staff members and a record of great meetings, good ideas and better connections for NAHB members who need a leg up to help their locals run a little better – or have great success stories to tell.
Let’s meet them.
Samantha Davis comes to NAHB from Frederick, Md. where she served as a meetings associate for the Biophysical Society. She has a nonprofit background from her work with the Equine Protection Department of the Humane Society of the United States. She has a bachelor’s in English literature from the University of Maryland and resides in Dallas, where she will work with her fellow Region D field rep Justin Reyes.
Ashley Wucher comes from the National Association of Realtors, where she served as the government affairs specialist lobbying on behalf of the housing industry. She has additional policy experience from her time working in the Michigan House of Representatives. She earned a Master’s of Jurisprudence from Michigan State University College of Law and a bachelor’s in journalism from Baylor University. Ashley lives in Grand Rapids, Mich. and will join forces with Region C field rep Alex Martindale.
Lauren Goodwin previously worked at the United Way of Central Alabama as director of the annual campaign, where she facilitated the summer fundraising campaign. She is a graduate of Auburn University with a bachelor’s in international business. She will be based in Atlanta, sharing Region B with field rep Dave Ashley.
Since January 2015, NAHB’s Regional Field Representative Team has visited 375 state and local HBAs in all 50 states. These reps have joined local leaders for Congressional visits, state house receptions, home shows, Parades, pig roasts and crab dinners.
Each field rep listens to the concerns of the HBAs they visit and directs them to the NAHB resources that can help them and their staff members. They listen for good news, too, especially when an HBA has a new member recruitment technique or non-dues revenue idea that can be replicated across the Federation – or simply congratulated right at home.
The next big challenge: reaching those HBAs with memberships so small or staff (or volunteers) stretched so thin that they haven’t been able to arrange a field rep visit yet, despite NAHB’s outreach.
“As a Federation, we have so much to learn from each other. That’s how we grow membership, increase revenue and overcome challenges to our industry. We encourage all our members to talk to their EOs to arrange a field rep visit,” said Michael Davey, NAHB director of field operations.