FIRST VICE PRESIDENT: Don Allen, Lackland Holdings— Fort Worth, Texas

Don Allen has been working in the single family development and homebuilding industry for over 40 years. He worked for 20 years as a consulting engineer, focusing on land development projects for large master planned as well as volume-oriented communities. He was also named the 1991 Young Engineer of the Year by the Fort Worth Chapter of the Texas Society of Professional Engineers. Don first became involved in the Greater Fort Worth Builders Association (GFWBA) when new City of Fort Worth policies became an issue for homebuilders. He helped create and served on a committee to work with the city staff and council, reaching an agreement to amend the city policies to both side’s satisfaction. Since that time, he has remained involved with the GFWBA, focusing much of his efforts on political and government affairs issues. In 2017-18 he served as president of the GFWBA and remains a member of the Board of Directors. In 2019 he was named the local Developer of the Year by GFWBA. In 2015 Don was appointed a state director of the Texas Association of Builders. He quickly became involved in the Government Relations Committee and HOMEPAC. In 2020 and 2021 he served as chair of the Government Relations Committee and has testified on TAB’s behalf before state legislative committees.

J.B. SANDLIN BUILDER OF THE YEAR Heather Laminack’s dedication and service has been a driving force behind the establishment of the Texas Association of Builder’s Professional Women in Building Council, a council that continually draws some of the largest participation at TAB’s board meetings and regularly features female leaders and mentors in the residential construction industry as speakers. The council has established a relationship with the Texas Builders Foundation to offer scholarships to women entering the residential construction industry. Along with that mission, the PWB has raised over $13,000 in 2022 to fund this initative.

Happy Wednesday! Meet Maia Koinm with Closet Factory DFW. Maia joined the GFWBA in November. Welcome to GFWBA!! Thank you for sharing your story.

Maia's life story is amazing and so worth the read:

In November, it’s not only Thanksgiving but on November 11, 1979, my family and I arrived to America. I was born in Vietnam right after the war and my dad was in the South Vietnam military. He visited the USA in 1969 to help with the American Military, and after the war, he was supposed to be gone for a weekend to a re-education camp as the South lost the war. Instead of a weekend, he was brainwashed and tortured in a North Vietnam Communist concentration camp for over 3 years. When he was released, I was born, and he realized the horrors that he had witnessed was not a life for our family. At 3 months old, my dad, mom, grandma (she was 77 years old and watching American movies, it was her dream to visit the USA), my cousin who was 15 years old, my sister who was 5, escaped Vietnam through the jungles. My mom said she gave me sleeping medicine so I would not cry as a newborn baby, but I just ended up laughing (this may explain why I’m always laughing) which was better than crying. My dad built a small boat and for a week, we were at sea where we were lucky not to be captured by the pirates of Thailand (there are some horrible things that happened to the people who were intercepted by the pirates) and landed in a refugee camp in Malaysia. It was called Bidong Island, and I researched that a Time Life journalist called in “Hell on Earth” for being the size of a football field with 90,000 refugees who lost everything except hope. After spending the first few months of my life in an overcrowded refugee camp, we would be sponsored by First Christian Church and arrive to a suburb of Oklahoma City on November 11 (11-11 is a special number and day for me) who gave us a home, food, and clothing as we arrived with nothing except faith and hope for a better life. My parents are my heroes, and I am very blessed that we made it. This would explain my work ethic and why I strive to be the best and treat everyone kindly, as the church showed us true compassion and helped us with our new lives here. My cousin finished high school in Oklahoma and went on to become a physician. My dad started a Vietnamese Organization to help refugees get on their feet, and in the 1990s, Governor David Walters gave him an award. Sadly both of my parents passed (my dad in January 2021 from Covid, and my mom in 2016 from a rare blood disease – HLH – that took her quickly within weeks of being diagnosed) but I know they live through me, and I try to keep up with the goodwill they started. I am also grateful for anyone who gives me their time to listen or to meet, because time is the most valuable gift you can give anyone.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cd8-f5GJ4zg is a short reel when I am asked about me. I have been mission trips within the USA and to Brazil, I love to travel as I’ve been blessed to visit 21 countries and 45 of the 50 United States, and I love animal rescues as I moved to a 7+ acre farm in Parker County as soon there will be exotic animals once we build a barn. I have only been in Texas for over a year to finally marry someone last October 2021, that I liked since the first week of high school in 1993. You can say I’m a romantic as I moved here for true love

I look forward to meeting other members, and you’ll see I do remember people and have a good memory, and my goal is sincere – is to developing last relationships and if we can help each other, that’s even better, as my life in the USA started because of kindness and an open heart to help others as was evident with my family and the wonderful congregation of First Christian Church of Midwest City, OK.

Member Monday! Meet Michael Endsley, Business Development Representative with Andersen Corporation.

From Mike:

I will celebrate my 25th wedding anniversary this year to my lovely wife Tara. We have 2 beautiful daughters Taylor and Ragen.

My favorite hobbies are playing my guitar, fishing, hunting, and BBQing!

Meet Ryan Jacobson of Ryan Jacobson Design. Ryan
is a residential architect designing custom and spec
homes for builders and clients all over DFW. He
specializes in modern/contemporary but can design any
style of home.

Ryan enjoys spending time with his family taking them
skiing or to the beach. Ryan is married to Kim who is a
realtor with Compass. Kim has listed several of Ryan’s
homes he designed over the years. They have two
daughters Elizabeth and Kate and a son Jordan. Ryan
is a proud Texas Tech alumni and loves attending Tech
sporting events.

Ryan and Kim are currently building their first home
together and Ryan plans to turn Ryan Jacobson Design
into a residential design-build group providing
architecture/interior design, realtor services, and home
building to their clients.
#MemberMonday #membermonday #membermondays
#membermondayspotlight #DoBusinessWithAMember
#greaterfwbuilders #greaterfwbuilders
#greaterfortworthbuildersassociation

It's Member Monday! Meet Ron Smith with Tri-County Electric Co-Op!

Ron Smith is a Certified Key Account Executive and Community Relations Specialist with Tri-County Electric Cooperative based in Aledo, TX. He’s been with the company since January 2022. Ron is responsible for managing key commercial/industrial accounts with Tri-County by offering energy efficiency growth-oriented solutions to members within the company’s footprint. Prior to coming to work for Tri-County Electric Cooperative, Ron worked for an investor-owned utility company in Louisiana for 21 years serving as a Director of Customer Experience, Manager of Governmental Affairs, and Director of Quality Assurance. Ron received his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Marketing from Southern University, and an MBA from the University of Phoenix. Ron is also a United States Army veteran. He has 3 adult children. Ron loves to read, travel and mentor students.

Be sure to introduce yourself to Ron at one of our events! #DoBusinessWithAMember #MemberMonday #greaterfortworthbuildersassociation #greaterfortworthbuilders #fortworthbuilders

Happy Monday! Meet Andrew Bettis of Bettis Construction Inc. Andrew is the latest recipient of the GFWBA Remodeler of the Year Award. Andrew serves on our Board of Directors, has chaired the Young Professionals Committee for several years and is a co-chair of the Clay Shoot Committee. Andrew is also one of the driving forces behind the Santa Claus Project, making sure that Christmas happens for children from the Boys and Girls Club - not even COVID could stop Andrew and his team from delivering. If you don't know Andrew, you need to!

Happy Monday! Meet Tiffany Acree of StrucSure Home Warranty. Tiffany is a long-time GFWBA member and StrucSure Home Warranty is a Platinum Partner. Tiffany is the most recent recipient of the Rupert Pridemore Associate of the Year Award and is a past recipient of the prestigious Herman J. Smith Legend Award. Tiffany is a dedicated association member, belonging to HBA's throughout the state. She is also active at the state and national level. If you have not had the pleasure of meeting Tiffany, you are missing out! #MemberMonday#Membership#MEMBERS#MemberSpotlight

Today on Membership Monday we want to recognize 1st Place Signs and Promotional Products. Thank you for your many years of membership and support of the association! #MembershipMonday