Executive Officer, Home Builders Association of Lake-Sumter

What is your no. 1 focus coming into this new position? I’m all about creating engaging experiences and effective resources for our members. I want to make sure our members feel valued, that they know what we are doing is to help them be productive and to make their jobs easier.
What excites you most about Lake and Sumter’s future? I think helping in creating the lifestyle and the landscape of an area people want to come to live in. It’s up to the people to decide what we become. We have lots of land, undeveloped land. We can create because the canvas is still pretty open. I’d like to see more people be engaged in the process, and not just be told what it is going to look like. They can be part of the direction we take.
What do you plan to do for the builders? The No. 1 thing I have my eye on is taking programs that educate both our builders, as well as the community, and using them to raise the bar on the home building industry, altering people’s perception of it. We have a lot of really great, dedicated people, so we want to stop unlicensed activity, which fosters a bad reputation.
What is your biggest hobby? Watching “Madam Secretary.” It’s my new version of “24.” I was a huge “24” fan.
Favorite podcast? John Maxwell. He used to be a minister but is now a motivational speaker. Nothing he says is earth shattering, it’s just a reminder to do the right thing.
Coffee or Tea? Coffee
Favorite quote? “Always take the high road, because there’s not a lot of traffic up there.”

PHOTO: FRED LOPEZ