Two splinter homebuilder groups have formed following financial troubles at the 64-year-old Metropolitan Omaha Builders Association.
The 15-member Home Builders Association of Omaha is led by homebuilder and former MOBA executive Gene Graves.
The 20-member Home Building Professionals of Greater Omaha is led by homebuilder and developer Jerry Torczon.
The fracturing underscores the concern in the home building industry over MOBA’s situation. Originally formed in 1946, MOBA severed ties with the national and Nebraska homebuilder associations, cut its staff and is considering selling a new headquarters just built in 2008.
“Good people have different views about how things should be approached in times of crisis,” said Graves, who is co-owner of Charleston Homes.
The two new groups appear to be putting different levels of emphasis on marketing and advocacy for homebuilder concerns.
Graves said his group wants to pick up the local charter with the National Association of Home Builders, which then would affiliate the new organization with the Nebraska State Home Builders Association.
“We feel that’s a unified effort we need to put forth,” he said. “We want to be part of the team.”
John Bachman, a development attorney working with the other new group, said the Home Building Professionals will focus more on marketing new home construction and is interested in offering home tours.
Bachman said the builders involved had concerns about MOBA’s finances and leadership and decided they would be better off as a separate group.
The organization will focus on representing homebuilders, Bachman said. MOBA has a broader membership that includes businesses related to new homes. Where builders now make up less than half of MOBA’s board of directors, he said, “that will not happen with this group.”
Torczon, owner of Birchwood Homes, said the group also will be involved in local issues such as consulting with city officials about building codes.
Torczon, who plans to be a member of all three organizations, said he could see the two new groups working under the umbrella of MOBA.
Jeff Brau, president of Brau Builders and MOBA, was unavailable Tuesday to comment. In a letter last month, he said MOBA was making changes to redirect its focus back on its members.
Kevin Woodward, president of the state builders association and owner of Grand Island’s Kevin Woodward Construction, said the organization is available to help MOBA. The national association, he said, has even offered financial help.
Woodward said MOBA still has a chance to continue its national and state affiliation. He said it is “absolutely huge” that some Omaha organization have that connection.
“It’s the power of many versus the power of one,” he said.
Graves said his organization includes Ted Grace Homes, KRT Construction and Regency Homes and will be soliciting new members.
Celebrity Homes, Omaha’s second-largest builder, will be joining all three local organizations, said Shawn McGuire, sales manager-broker for Celebrity Homes.
“They want to create these organizations to better our industry, and that’s great,” McGuire said.
Graves said he believes MOBA’s efforts have a good chance of success.
But within a couple of years, Graves said he believes that two of the three groups will go away, leaving one organization to represent homebuilders.
Contact the writer:
444-1128, jeff.robb@owh.com
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