Steve Doyle’s Blog

Today is the final day of the 2009 Pacific Coast Builders Conference (PCBC). The three day educational conference was filled with thought provoking speakers, educational programming, recognition events and a great supplier / services exhibition. More than 13,000 people registered for this year’s conference and they will all be going home a little smarter, a little more informed and a little better educated on the latest and greatest for the community and home building industry.

My time at PCBC was spent at each of the various offering. I attended the Opening Breakfast and was fascinated by Fareed Zakaria’s powerful insights into the world’s economical and political realities. He took the audience from the biggest international news of the day, right down to its impacts on our local economy and neighborhood consumers. He provided tremendous insight and understanding of the issues critical to our daily business decisions.

I celebrated the induction of six new members into the California Homebuilding Foundation’s Hall of Fame. I’m proud to say I consider Forest “Woody” Brehm of Brehm Communities, Layne Marcaeu of Shea Homes, Chip Pierson of the Dahlin Group and Jeffrey Slavin of HomeAid good friends and colleagues. Ray Becker of DMB, who left us too early last year, was also a good friend and colleague. I was pleased to meet and get to know Richard Oliphant of Oliphant Enterprises, a builder from the Coachella Valley. All six of these gentlemen are very deserving and great additions to the Hall of Fame.

I spent a couple of days working the exhibition floor. Sustainability and Green Building were definitely the issues in the forefront for most exhibitors and many home builders and industry members. Upgrades in photovoltaic systems were big attention grabbers. New forms of insulation, high energy savings devices and appliances, and sustainable construction materials were also well represented. Learning to be a “greener builder” or “greener developer” was an easy goal to accomplish.

Likewise, the educational programs were focused on delivering the “Green” message. From the way home builders design new communities, to products going into their new homes, to how we advertise and market our “Green” product, if you wanted to learn about “Green” PCBC was a great source of information.

Brookfield’s own, Lora Heramb, VP of Sales and Marketing, headlined one of the first educational sessions of the conference, “Building an Effective Homebuilder Brand Using Social Media”. Lora, along with Jason Baer of Convince & Convert and Jonathan Bailey of Bailey Gardiner Inc, lead a discussion and provided hands on participation in the use of Social Media tools to reach out and touch the next generation of home buyers. I mean, when was the last time you sat down in a meeting or classroom and the leader of the program asked the audience to “turn on your cells phones and computers! We want your participation in this discussion.”

PCBC turned 50 in 2009! “The New Age of Invention” delivered on all cylinders! I’m sorry if you missed the Big Show! We’ve come a long way from the Palace Hotel in 1959. But, we are just getting started. Mark your calendars now and be sure to attend PCBC, June 9 – 11, 2010. It is the best of the best, when you need to know what is going on in the Community Development and New Home Construction Industry.