News Summary
The Home Builders Association of Greater Cleveland and the Home Builders Association of Portage & Summit Counties have merged to create the Building Industry Association of Northeast Ohio. This significant consolidation aims to enhance resources and advocacy efforts for the building industry, welcoming a broader range of professionals. With nearly 600 members, the new organization underlines the importance of collective strength and aims for further industry involvement and educational initiatives. A leadership transition is set to occur as the new entity begins operations.
Cleveland, Ohio — The Home Builders Association of Greater Cleveland and the Home Builders Association of Portage & Summit Counties have officially merged as of September 12, creating the Building Industry Association of Northeast Ohio. This new organization aims to become one of the largest chapters in the country, combining nearly 600 members from the two associations. However, the merger is still subject to approval by the national Home Builders Association.
This strategic consolidation is expected to enhance resources, data sharing, and advocacy efforts for the building industry across Northeast Ohio. The merging of these two entities will also open up membership to a wider range of professionals beyond builders, including carpenters, painters, and drywallers. It emphasizes the importance of collective strength in numbers, as well as a commitment to better serving the regional construction community.
Brenda Callaghan, executive director of the Home Builders Association of Greater Cleveland, has underscored the significance of the merger, suggesting that combining resources will support enhanced advocacy and educational initiatives. The membership overlap between the associations, coupled with their connections to nearby Medina and Lorain chapters, positions the new entity favorably for advancing the interests of the building industry.
Andrew Gotlieb, who served as president of the Home Builders Association of Greater Cleveland, highlighted the intention to increase involvement within the industry while fostering support for Build PAC, the association’s political organization. With the merger, the new Building Industry Association of Northeast Ohio will have a broad sweep covering Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Portage, and Summit counties. There are aspirations to eventually expand the association’s reach to include more counties across the Northeast Ohio region.
Leadership Transition and Structure
Brenda Callaghan will be taking leave to join the HBA Charitable Educational Foundation, facilitating a consolidation of staff as the newly merged entity begins its operations. A temporary board of directors will be established to govern the transition and search for Callaghan’s successor. Furthermore, Andrew Gotlieb will be recognized as the last president of the Home Builders Association of Greater Cleveland before the new leadership structure takes effect.
Dan Smoulder of Petros Homes is set to become the inaugural president of the Building Industry Association of Northeast Ohio, starting on January 16, 2026. In terms of governance, the new association will implement a structure of one-year term limits for its presidents, alternating between leaders from the merged associations during different terms. This governance structure aims to ensure continued representation from both legacy organizations in the future leadership landscape.
Historical Context
The Home Builders Association of Greater Cleveland was established in 1943 and has undergone several merger discussions over the past four decades. The recent agreement marks a significant milestone in consolidating efforts for the building industry in this part of Ohio.
The new organization is committed to utilizing the combined resources to gain valuable insights into regional building needs while reducing redundancy in efforts previously undertaken by each association independently. The merger represents a proactive step toward better addressing local industry demands and advocating for improved standards within the building sector.
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Additional Resources
- Crain’s Cleveland: Two Northeast Ohio Home Builder Associations Approve Merger
- Wikipedia: Building Industry
- Cleveland 19: Highland Heights Family Battle with Contractor
- Google Search: Highland Heights Family Battle Contractor
- Crain’s Cleveland: 45 West Approved for Ohio City Build
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Home Building
- Cleveland Jewish News: Gotlieb Named President of Builders Association
- Google News: Gotlieb President Builders Association
- Cleveland.com: Cleveland Makes Bid to Attract Modular Home Manufacturer
- Google Scholar: Modular Homes
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