How Young Professionals Can Boost Your Business
As the home building industry continues to struggle through a labor shortage and need for younger talent, it’s more important now than ever to uplift, support and listen to the Federation’s youngest voices. That’s why NAHB is encouraging HBAs across the country to create and foster a Young Professionals (YP) group of members aged 45 and younger.
“Young Professionals bring access to tools and resources that not only me as the executive officer, but our other members who’ve been here for a long time, don’t even know are out there to make them work smarter, more efficiently and effectively,” said Heidi Van Kirk, EO for the South Central Wisconsin Builders Association (SCWBA).
The SCWBA recently started a formal YP group that she hopes will not only lead the HBA for decades to come, but keep it refreshed and relevant to what’s happening in society.
Van Kirk created the group after noticing the generational gap between YPs and older members, including how differently the two groups thought about business and even how to communicate. That’s why she felt it was vital for her younger members to have a space for themselves.
“They’re creating their own mini association within our association,” Van Kirk said. “So, at any of our events, they have their people that no matter what they feel comfortable with. They respect the knowledge that longtime members are sharing with them, but they still feel safe in this bigger sphere.”
Hannah West, the staff liaison to the Young Professional Impact Team at the Builders Association of Greater Indianapolis (BAGI), has also seen the importance of having a YP group at her HBA.
“YP membership is so important so the younger members have a voice and can pick their topics of interest,” West said.
The 25-plus member YP group recently learned about their communication styles and how they want to communicate with others using the Dominance, Influence, Steadiness and Conscientiousness (DiSC) assessment. Their hope is that learning more about themselves will help them succeed in networking with not only their peers, but other colleagues as well.
Learn more about how to start a Young Professionals group.
Latest from NAHBNow
Economics
Jun 09, 2026
Regulatory Costs Jump 40% in Five Years, Add $131,734 to New Home PricesA new study by NAHB finds that regulations at the federal, state and local levels add $131,734 to the cost of a new single-family home—26.4% of the average sales price of $499,500 as of January 2026.
Sponsored Content
Jun 08, 2026
7 Reasons Why Visibility Is Your Most Underrated Competitive Advantage Right NowIn slower markets, the builders who keep showing up often win — not because they're the loudest, but because they never go quiet. Those who have figured out the capital side of the business are more likely to maintain visibility.
Latest Economic News
Economics
Jun 09, 2026
Existing Home Sales Increased in MayExisting home sales rose to a five-month high in May as more first-time buyers stepped back into the market. The share of first-time buyer reached 35% in May, the highest since June 2020. However, sales remained weak compared to historical norms, with still-tight inventory continued to push up home prices.
Economics
Jun 08, 2026
Mortgage Applications Retreat in May, with ARMs Gaining ShareMortgage application activity declined again in May as higher mortgage rates continued to suppress the market, although adjustable-rate mortgages (ARM) gained some traction. According to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Market Composite Index, a measure of total mortgage application volume, applications fell 5.5% month-over-month in May on a seasonally adjusted basis.
Economics
Jun 05, 2026
U.S. Labor Market Remains Resilient in MayDespite rising inflation and ongoing economic uncertainty, the U.S. labor market remained resilient in May. Nonfarm payrolls increased for the third consecutive month, and the unemployment rate held steady at 4.3%.