The Nevada Builders Alliance is a professional organization representing the construction industry and affiliated sectors. Its mission is to create a positive business environment for its member companies and communities. With over 700 member companies, representing tens of thousands of hard-working Nevadans in every corner of the state, Nevada Builders Alliance has become the voice of the construction industry.
Legislative & Industry Activities
As the primary mission of Nevada Builders Alliance, legislative advocacy is the cornerstone of what the organization does. According to Aaron West, CEO of the organization, “Our primary mission is to advocate for policies that advance our industry at the local, state and federal level.” This mission leads the Builders Alliance, and West in particular, to lobby for support of bills that bring positive changes to the building industry and the economic development of our state.
Since economic development is critical to the construction industry, Nevada Builders also works together with the state’s Regional Development Authorities on a variety of projects and initiatives. One such project is the creation of the Certified Sites Program. Certification means that the key approvals, documentations and assessments most commonly required for commercial uses will already be in place to assist businesses to quickly locate on site. “The Nevada Certified Sites Program closes a critical gap in the region’s competitiveness with other states,” says West. “Certified sites also increase the viability for projects by removing unknowns about a site, and by accelerating the site’s due diligence and implementation timeline.” This program allows us to speed up access to viable building sites, meet the needs of upcoming growth and spur our communities’ economic development.
Workforce Development
Recognizing that the development of an available and skilled workforce is integral to the success of the construction industry, Nevada Builders is leading the charge in Workforce Development. According to West, the success of these efforts rests on the ability to form strong partnerships. To that end, West points to the development of the Nevada Construction Collaborative (NCC), a partnership of several industry organizations in the state “By bringing together the key industry players, we can accomplish more than all of us working separately,” says West. Case in point: the creation of the BuildNV.org website, a one-stop resource for anyone considering a construction career in the state of Nevada. “BuildNV.org allows us to provide an array of resources for everyone: students, military/veterans as well as those experienced trade people considering relocating to our state,” says Pam Duxbury, Outreach Coordinator for the Builders Alliance. “In addition to resources, job-seekers may upload a resume which can be accessed by all member companies in those organizations in the NCC.” Adding to the organization’s workforce development efforts, the collaborative also held Northern Nevada’s first-ever Construction Career Day in October. This event drew over 650 students from the region who participated in hands on activities provided by over 35 local area construction industry companies and organizations.
Other workforce development efforts and partnerships include the development the Construction Gateway Program with Western Nevada College and JOIN, Inc.; Workforce 60 again with JOIN, Inc; and Construction Pathways with JOIN, Inc, Truckee Meadows Community College and Western Nevada College. These grant-funded programs are designed to provide a pathway to training and employment within the construction industry. Additional partnerships with the Employment Services of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) and the Army PaYS program, are designed to reach the military and veterans populations whose military experience might translate into valued construction skills and experience. And finally, positive partnerships with the state’s largest school districts in Washoe and Clark counties provide Nevada Builders the opportunity to support CTE and STEM education as well as provide information on career opportunities for students interested in the construction industry. “Working with our community partners and member companies is critical to meeting today’s workforce needs” says Melissa Caron, owner of A.M. Smith Electric and Vice-President of the NBA board.
Member Benefits
As with any organization, member benefits ultimately have an impact on the shape of the organization. Nevada Builders goes to great lengths to provide valued and relevant benefits for its members.
“The strongest asset in our membership benefits package is our Workers Compensation product,” says Stacey Rich, Nevada Builders Membership Coordinator. Together with ProGroup Management, Nevada Builders offers the most successful Workers Compensation program in the industry. According to Mark Turner, owner of Silver Oak Homes and NBA board President, this program has proven to be a strong incentive for membership growth. “We are fortunate to have such a great partnership with ProGroup. They allow us to offer a great product and their service and response to our members is second to none.” In addition to workers’ comp, Nevada Builders continues to explore additional insurance options for its members including group health and supplemental insurance and retirement/401(k) plans. “As the insurance landscape changes, it is important that we are on top of the options available and provide the most cost-effective and beneficial programs to our members,” says Larry Peyton, owner of Tahoe Insurance and Secretary of the NBA board.
Another product unique to Nevada Builders, is the creation of standardized contract documents for its members. Recognizing that the legal landscape changes with each legislative session, Nevada Builders Alliance, in partnership with Nevada law firm Kaempfer Crowell, designed standard template contract documents for contractors and subcontractors which reflect the most up to date legal requirements. According to Stephanie Allen board member and attorney with Kaempfer Crowell, “Developing standard template contract documents made sense. It allows our members to have ready access to up-to-date contracts while reducing the expense of seeking legal counsel on their own.”
Women’s Council
Since its inception in 2002, the Nevada Builders Alliance Women’s Council has provided the philanthropic support of the organization. Historically, the organization has focused on small community service projects. However, in 2016, the group introduced its scholarship program which provides scholarships to each of the four community colleges in the state that offer construction programs. Scholarships are open to all students who are enrolled in Women’s Council-designated programs and are awarded annually.