Kansas Builder Elected Chairman of NAHB
Carl Harris, a Wichita, Kan.-based small volume spec and custom home builder with more than 40 years of experience in the home building, remodeling and light commercial construction industry, today was elected as the 2024 chairman of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) at the conclusion of the association’s leadership meetings during the NAHB International Builders’ Show in Las Vegas.
Co-founder and Vice President of the Carl Harris Co., Inc and Managing Partner of Harris Homes, Harris has built homes in many communities around the state of Kansas.
“In this pivotal election year, our top priority will be to work with Congress and the administration to implement practical solutions to ease the nation’s housing affordability crisis,” said Harris. “The best way to bring down shelter inflation is to enact policies that will allow builders to construct more homes. This includes policy changes such as repealing inefficient regulatory rules, speeding up permit approval times and providing resources for skilled labor training to address the severe worker shortage in the construction industry.”
Harris has been active in the NAHB leadership structure at the local, state and national levels throughout his career. A Senior Life Delegate, he has served in leadership for over 20 years. Harris has served as NAHB State Representative for Kansas and as a chairman of several influential NAHB committees and councils, including the Federal Government Affairs Committee, the State and Local Government Affairs Committee, the Construction Safety and Health Committee, the Commercial Builders Council, and BUILD-PAC, the association’s political action committee.
Harris is a former president of the Kansas Building Industry Association and has chaired several of the state HBA’s committees, councils and task forces. His local association, the Wichita Area Builders Association (WABA), awarded him the Cornerstone Award for his outstanding work in the industry and community. He also served as president of the WABA.
Actively involved in his local community, Harris served eight years on the Newton City Commission and was elected mayor of Newton twice, from 1996-97 and 2000-2001. He served more than 15 years as a Newton/North Newton Planning Commissioner and on the Newton/Harvey County Airport Commission. He also served on the Newton Board of Codes, Standards and Appeals and as Newton Public Building Commissioner.
As an Eagle Scout, Harris wanted to give back to the Boys Scouts of America, serving as a Cubmaster, Assistant Scoutmaster, District Chairman and Council Program Chairman, and he was awarded the Silver Beaver Award for volunteerism and leadership.
Harris and his wife, Lori, enjoy working together in their business and serving their community. They have one son, Christian Harris, who they also build with.