Gregg started his firm, Gregg Bossen, CPA, in 1989 after graduating from Emory University in 1987. He currently supports more than 250 clients, and specializes in tax accounting and small business services. Most of Gregg’s clients are small business owners, contractors, and nonprofits, many of whom use QuickBooks®. Realizing the need many of his clients shared for qualified instruction Gregg branched out into the arena of QuickBooks Education. Since 2000, he has been teaching his own QuickBooks® seminars around the country for various groups and industries. Now a Certified Advanced QuickBooks ProAdvisor, he has taught over 600 seminars to more than 16,000 students who are both new and advanced QuickBooks users (including many other CPAs, who are themselves considered experts in the software).
Anne Caywood
Anne was admitted to the North Carolina Bar in 2001, following her graduation from the Wake Forest University School of Law. After practicing construction litigation in Raleigh for several years, Caywood joined Pharr & Boynton, PLLC as an Associate Attorney. She has also been admitted to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina. She handles General Commercial Litigation, Construction Law, Real Estate Litigation, Professional Liability and Products Liability. Caywood is a Certified Superior Court Mediator. Caywood enjoys serving as a speaker and North Carolina Builder Institute instructor for numerous state and local HBA education events and conferences.
Donald Chaney
Don works as an industrial hygiene consultant/technical trainer/compliance inspector for the N.C. Deptartment of Health and Human Services Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Branch. Chaney is a Registered Environmental Health Specialist/Registered Sanitarian (REHS/RS); N.C. Accredited Asbestos Inspector, Management Planner, and Supervisor; and N.C. Certified Lead-based paint Risk Assessor and Supervisor.
Spencer Combos
Spencer has served the construction industry for over 6 years helping his clients become more profitable by focusing on financial discipline, saving money and planning for retirement. Spencer is the vice-president of Accounting Etc., Inc., in Cary, NC with his business partner and wife Debbie Combos, who is the President and founder of the practice. Together, they serve general contractors and developers in all aspects of accounting, financial software, tax preparation and planning.
Steve Easley
Steve is an internationally recognized construction consultant specializing in solving building science related problems and educating building industry professionals and their trade partners. His work focuses on increasing quality of construction, sustainability and reducing costly mistakes that lead to construction defects and call backs. Services provided include job site quality analysis, design review, educational seminars, mediation and product consulting. Steve is nationally known for his cost effective, practical approaches to building high performance structures and quality assurance.
Steve’s mission is helping industry professionals build structures that are durable, energy efficient, healthy and comfortable to live and work in. He has more than 30 years of industry experience. He has performed thousands of jobsite quality surveys and presented numerous building science seminars to construction professionals around the world with an annual audience of 8-10,000 industry professionals. He is a frequently requested speaker because of his practical approach to building science, his dynamic speaking style and his unique ability to explain complex concepts in simple terms that can be integrated into practice. Steve speaks regularly for these and other professional organizations and conferences.
Carol Flammer
Carol, President of Flammer Relations, is a proven public relations and social media professional known for her ability to attract positive media attention for the corporations she represents. With nearly 20 years of experience in the Atlanta market and throughout the Southeast, Carol is known for achieving media placements that drive traffic for real estate clients and generate brand awareness for business-to-business clients. As the publisher of a number of online blogs and forums, Carol encourages clients to think beyond traditional media and seeks to maximize their search engine optimization through social media. Her expertise in pitching traditional media extends from pitching society media to mainstream feature coverage to trade publications to real estate specific outlets.
Tim Fitzgerald
Tim has served the construction industry for more than 25 years as a master project scheduler, claims consultant, expert witness and project manager. Having worked as a scheduler for projects as large as $450M, and as a claims consultant on matters of scheduling, productivity, efficiency and damages, Fitzgerald is able to bring to his presentations practical aspects of scheduling, as well as first-hand knowledge of the many traps and pitfalls embedded in the scheduling process. Fitzgerald is the president of Fitzgerald & Associates, L.L.C., in Raleigh, N.C., serving owners, designers, general contractors, subcontractors, suppliers and developers in matters ranging from claims, claims avoidance, scheduling and expert witness testimony. His expertise includes commercial, industrial and residential projects for private, state, federal and quasi-public (airports) projects.
Paul Foresman
Paul is Director of Business Development for Design Basics, America's largest home plan design firm. For the last five years, their focus has been understanding the woman's role in purchasing a new home. Design Basics has helped over 100 home builders successfully adopt a woman-centric approach for their companies.
Jim Garrison
Jim has been actively involved in the real estate industry since 1984, earning a position in the 100% club for RE/MAX 5 years in a row. Jim has been a mortgage originator since moving to Charlotte in 1993. Jim wrote his first North Carolina-approved CE class on creative financing in 1995. Since then, Jim has also developed and instructed many training classes for Realtors®, new & experienced loan officers, and financial planners. Jim’s CE courses on mortgage finance have been enjoyed by over 1,500 Charlotte-area real estate licensees. Jim is also a regular speaker for the Home Builder’s Association of Charlotte. Jim's Mortgage Matters column is featured monthly in the Properties of Charlotte section of the Charlotte Observer and has also appeared in the Charlotte Business Journal, Broker Agent magazine, Today’s Custom Home, and the New Home Journal. Jim has sold new and resale homes and originated the mortgages for them, so he has a unique perspective of what it takes for Realtors®, builders and lenders to succeed.
Gian Hasbrock, MIRM, MCSP, CMP, CSP, CRS, GRI, ePRO
Gian is president of WOWISM (Walk On Water Inspired Sales & Marketing, Inc.), a real estate marketing consulting firm specializing in education, training, and motivation based in Kill Devil Hills, NC. He serves as VP of Sales & Marketing for OBC Real Estate in Kitty Hawk, NC. OBC offers full service real estate, residential and commercial construction and remodeling, and property management services. This is his sixteenth year in real estate. Gian is a licensed real estate broker in North Carolina and Virginia, associated with Keller Williams Hilltop Virginia Beach. He is an authorized instructor for the North Carolina Real Estate Commission’s pre-, post-licensing and continuing education programs. WOWISM is a joint venture partner with NAHB Education and sponsors their educational programs. The company is also a sponsor of CE mandatory, elective and provisional broker transition courses in North Carolina.
Bill Jones
Bill is an instructor of Mechanical Board Drafting, CAD I, II, II & Statics & Strength of Materials at Central Carolina Community College in Sanford, NC. He holds licenses as a North Carolina General Contractor, North Carolina Building Inspector, and North Carolina Real Estate Broker. Bill holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Industrial Education from East Carolina University, Greenville, NC.
Catherine Judson
Cathy is a Senior Construction Technology Consultant with Construction IT Group and IConnect Group with offices in North Carolina and Virginia. Judson has over 20 years experience in construction technologies and works directly for builders, developers, sub-contractors, remodelers, general contractors, and construction trades. Judson’s expertise in pre- to post-construction processes, including back office-field-sales-buyer-trades-and the new trend towards web portal communication enable her to understand builder inefficiencies and how to flip existing stored data into real time information and alerts. Matching builder pain points to technology solutions, monitoring staff progress, and end-to-end results have allowed Judson to guide construction companies of all sizes towards reduced motion and mistakes.
Judson was the 1st NAHB Life Director from North Carolina, has served as an officer for the NCHBA and is a long-standing member of NAHB Business Management and Information Technology Committee.
Arnie Katz
One of the lead national trainers in Advanced Energy's Principles of Building Science courses, Arnie Katz also provides training programs for builders, insulators and HVAC contractors on techniques, products and practices that are effective and cost-effective. He has served as a trainer at Habitat for Humanity events in several states, and regularly presents at national conferences. Katz maintains a consulting relationship with a number of builders, developers and designers, helping them write standards and specifications, implement performance testing and quality control protocols and optimize the construction process based on their particular emphasis, be that energy efficiency, occupant health, comfort, or environmental responsibility. Katz serves on the Advisory Board for the National Healthy Homes Training Center. He has served on the Board of the N.C. Solar Energy Association, the Orange County Planning Board, the Chapel Hill Energy Task Force, the Chapel Hill Sustainability Committee and the construction committee of Habitat for Humanity of Orange County.
Beverly is President and Owner of Beverly Koehn & Associates, Inc. She brings more than 20 years experience in marketing, management and sales training to her programs. Beverly has successfully enhanced the performance of sales and service professionals across the country, both in the classroom and in the field. Her passion for excellence is immediately engaging. Beverly recently received NAHB’s highest honor – the Associate of the Year Award. Other industry awards received include Marketing Director of the Year, GSABA Associate Legend, Texas Association of Builder’s Associate of the Year, and NAHB Society of Honored Associates.
John Miller Jr., CPCU
John has been insuring residential contractors since 1984. He is a certified continuing education instructor for the State of NC for insurance education. He has been an instructor for insurance classes from Florida to Pennsylvania. John has testified before the state legislature on workers compensation issues. John is a veteran member of the HBA of Raleigh-Wake Co.
Steve Monroe
Steve is a bestselling author, speaker, and coach for individuals and companies wanting to strengthen their relationships with builders and in the building industry. He brings 30 years of sales and marketing success to this workshop. His presentation uses techniques, tactics and strategies that come in a fast-moving, interactive format, allowing attendees to have a positive and lasting learning experience.
Paul Montelongo, CGR, CSP
A nationally-recognized speaker, author, syndicated columnist, and entrepreneurial consultant, Paul Montelongo has built two multi-million dollar construction companies over the last 28 years. His companies have contracted with literally thousands of clients, from Fortune 100 companies to the private investor. Paul's companies have specialized in new home building, design/build remodeling, real estate development and insurance restoration.
Paul brings his practical, no-nonsense experience to businesses and organizations around the country. His programs are packed with genuine life stories, anecdotes and personal experiences from being in the trenches of the real world of business. Paul works with organizations to build team responsibility and personal morale. Paul's programs are customized for each group and designed to help you increase sales, improve customer relationships and strengthen your team.
Robert Privott
Robert is the Director of Codes and Construction for the North Carolina Home Builders Association. He holds North Carolina licenses as a Building Contractor, Electrical Contractor and Plumbing Contractor, and is certified in North Carolina as a Level III Building, Electrical, Fire, Mechanical, and Plumbing Inspector. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from East Carolina University and an Associate of Applied Science degree in Landscape Gardening from Sandhills Community College.
Sean Purcell
As Regional Manager of Risk Management for Builders Mutual, the dominant provider of insurance for builders in the southeast, Sean Purcell is passionate about providing safe workplaces in the construction industry. He designs classes to help contractors reduce injuries, lower insurance rates, prevent OSHA violations, and avoid lawsuits. Sean instructs OSHA 10-Hour Construction Industry Safety Course, Safety Pays: A Practical Approach to Safety on Your Jobsite, Fall Protection, and other risk recognition and avoidance programs. Bringing over nine years of expertise to the classroom as a prior safety director and site supervisor for a commercial contractor and safety consultant for a workers’ compensation company, Sean can easily translate knowledge and expertise into loss reduction, thereby maximizing builder profitability.
Dave Robertson
Dave has been involved in promoting resort and retiree real estate to buyers across the nation since the 1980s. He has been instrumental in building RPI Media, which was established as Realty Presentations Inc. in 1989, into a premier destination marketing company. They have generated billions of dollars in real estate sales for planned communities with their Ideal and Live South: publications, web services/sites and real estate shows. Dave has consulted for Reynolds Signature Communities, the State of Tennessee Rural Economic Development, Hometown Mississippi Retirement, the Evergreen Fund, and numerous other entities involved in the establishment, promotion and restructuring of planned residential communities. He currently serves as editor of Ideal Living Magazine and president of RPI Media. He chaired the American Association of Retirement Communities Board of Directors 2002-2006 and serves on the board. His network of industry contacts includes builders, developers and real estate marketers throughout the world.
David Smith
David earned his bachelor’s degree in Industrial Management and Technology from Georgia Southern University, after having served three years in the USMC. For over 25 years, Smith has been teaching students to become builders, superintendents and subcontractors through the community college system, while also running his own custom residential construction business. Smith serves on the New Hanover County Inspection Department Advisory Council and was appointed by the Governor in 2005 to the North Carolina Building Code Council. Smith is an Accredited Builder, Past President of the Wilmington-Cape Fear HBA and has served as a board member for over 15 years.
Tammie Smoot
Tammie brings more than ten years of proven Internet marketing experience and 15 years of practical building industry knowledge to the Carolinas as a professional and marketing consultant for The BDX. Tammie has a proven record as an exceptional sales & marketing professional in the building industry working for national, regional & custom builders, crafting cost-effective, results-oriented marketing programs. As an internet marketing specialist, she utilizes her extensive experience and knowledge of the industry’s inner workings to help builders, developers, Realtors, and builder marketing companies focus on finding and implementing solutions to achieve their marketing goals. Tammie’s expertise also extends to the demanding intricacies of web site development, tracking and internet media plans.
An accomplished public speaker and sales trainer, Tammie has applied her in-depth industry knowledge in training sales personnel, educating marketing groups and entertaining builder groups. Actively involved in the National Association of Home Builders, Tammie currently serves as the 2010 NAHB Professional Women in Building Chair. Tammie is Immediate Past Chair of the North Carolina Professional Women in Building Council and the North Carolina Associates Council. Tammie holds a North Carolina Real Estate Brokers license and is a member of the Institute of Residential Marketing.
Tom Stephani
Tom is president of Custom Construction Concepts, Inc. CCC develops commercial & residential land and constructs light commercial projects. Tom has had extensive experience in building custom homes & traditional neighborhood infill projects. In addition to his construction experience, Tom is a nationally recognized speaker and trainer on issues relating to the residential construction industry. He speaks regularly at the International Builders Show, Custom Builder Symposium, State and regional conventions, local HBA’s and industry shows. For consumers Tom creates, produces, and presents seminars on Custom Building, Buying New Construction, First Time Home Buying, and Remodeling. Tom currently serves on the National Association of Home Builder’s (NAHB) Custom Builder Committee and the National Sales & Marketing Council Board of Trustees. He was Chairman of NAHB’s Education Committee in 2000 and the Certified Graduate Builder Board of Governors in 2003. He is a Life Director of NAHB. On the local front, Stephani was president of McHenry County Home Builders Association in 1999, has chaired several committees, and was named its Builder of the Year in 2000 and 2002.
Michael Strong, CGP
Michael is Vice President of Brothers Strong, Inc. and GreenHaus Builders. Incorporated in 1990 by Michael and his father Don, Brothers Strong is a nationally recognized residential remodeling firm. GreenHaus Builders, their newest company, was opened in 2005 and specializes in the construction of healthier, high-performance Green Homes and has recently completed the first Gold Certified LEED home in the Gulf Coast region.
Under Michael's leadership, Brothers Strong has been named the 1999, 2003 and 2005 Houston Remodeler of the Year and the 2001 and 2003 Texas Remodeler of the Year. Among the many recognitions and awards Brothers Strong has received, however, Michael is most proud that Brothers Strong was named "One of the 101 Best Companies to Work For in the Residential Construction Industry" by Cahners Publications in 2002 and 2003, and the 2005 Small Business of the Year by the Houston Cy-Fair Chamber of Commerce. Michael has served on the H.U.D. Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing Committee since 2001. He is active in his state and local builders associations as well as the NAHB.
John Tooley
John is one of the nation’s leaders in the area of building science technologies. Hailed as a visionary in energy efficiency, Tooley has diagnosed and repaired more than 5,000 homes. He has participated in the weatherization of more than 10,000 homes. He is recognized for his contributions to many of the largest utility and building programs in the nation. Before joining Advanced Energy in 1996, Tooley led a number of companies dedicated to preserving the state of Florida through quality building practices. These companies included: Natural Florida Homes, Natural Florida Retrofit Inc., Star Insulation, Home Energy Reviews of Orlando (HERO), and Infrared Services and Inspections. Today, Tooley is responsible for business development with the organization’s Applied Building Science team. Regarded as a pioneer in the world of energy efficiency, Tooley trains builders and contractors all over the United States.
Hal VonNessen, MIRM
Hal is owner of RESH Marketing, in Columbia, South Carolina, which works with small- to medium-sized builders and developers. He speaks at the IBS, the Midwest Builders Show, and Smart Strategy Seminars. He received the Trina Ripley Award for excellence in education from the Institute of Residential Marketing (IRM), is a member of the NAHB Society of Honored Associates, the Faculties of the Institute of Residential Marketing (IRM), The University of Housing, and the Home Builders Institute. He is the principal writer of the IRM program on Advertising and Merchandising, served as IRM President and Education Committee Chairman, and board member of the NSMC and IRM.
Wallace West
Wallace is a native of Wilmington, NC and a graduate of the University of North Carolina. A NC Licensed General Contractor, he was a builder and developer in the Research Triangle Area of North Carolina for 12 years. During the 1990s Wallace served the housing industry as Regional Director for the National Association of Home Builders, Executive Director for the Home Builders Association of Mid-Florida and President of the Triangle Community Coalition. West is currently a principal in Coastal Carolina Streetscapes, LLC. He is a certified instructor for the NAHB University of Housing and an instructor for the NC Builders Institute.
Holly Woitovich
Holly brings over 21 years of experience with engineered lumber including design, application, engineering, sales and field support. She has been employed by Trus Joist/Weyerhaeuser (now called iLevel) in various roles since 1986 and has been in the Carolinas since 1987.Woitovich earned her Associate of Applied Science in Mechanical Engineering Technology with Structural Emphasis from Marion Technical College, Marion, Ohio.
