Business Details
50+ Years
experience
Your Trusted Partner for Home Building Industry Solutions
Founded in 1941, we are a leading trade association representing residential building and remodeling professionals across six Oregon counties. Our organization provides critical advocacy, educational programs, and member benefits to over 1,400 builders, developers, subcontractors, and industry partners. With a $5 million annual budget and a dedicated team, we shape housing policy, host industry events, and offer specialized councils for professional development. Our advocacy efforts focus on housing affordability and streamlined development processes, while our educational initiatives include compliance training and building science programs. We maintain a 22,000 sq ft facility in Lake Oswego featuring conference spaces and classrooms.Our member benefits program delivers substantial cost savings through partnerships with insurance providers, fuel suppliers, and technology vendors. We produce three major consumer home shows annually, attracting 75,000-100,000 attendees. Our Government Affairs Committee works with local jurisdictions to advance pro-housing policies. We also operate a 501(c)(3) foundation focused on transitional housing projects. With national affiliation through NAHB and state-level representation via Oregon Home Builders Association, we combine local expertise with broad industry resources to support our members' success.
Services
Advocacy & Government Relations
Member Benefits Programs
Educational Workshops
Consumer Home Shows
Industry Networking Events
Home Building Foundation Initiatives
Council Participation
Continuing Education Credits
Housing Policy Development
Affordability Initiatives
Details
- Year established: 1941
Highlights and features
- We have over 80 years of experience advocating for the home building industry
- Our organization represents members across six Oregon counties with dedicated advocacy
- We offer exclusive member benefits that cover the cost of membership through savings
- Our team includes seasoned policy experts with deep industry knowledge
- We host 50-100 educational events annually for professional development
Services
Advocacy & Government Relations
We represent members' interests before local governments and regulatory bodies across six Oregon counties. Our team works with policymakers to address housing affordability challenges and streamline development processes. With decades of experience in housing policy, we maintain relationships with over 40 local jurisdictions to advance pro-housing solutions while balancing community needs with industry requirements.
Member Benefits Programs
Our exclusive member benefits deliver substantial cost savings through partnerships with insurance providers, fuel suppliers, and technology vendors. These programs include health insurance discounts, commercial fuel savings, workers' compensation discounts, and rebate programs. Our members access special rates on credit card processing, auto discounts, and energy efficiency incentives that often cover the full cost of membership dues.
Educational Workshops
We provide comprehensive educational programs meeting Oregon Construction Contractors Board requirements. Our workshops cover building science, compliance, and technical skills through webinar recordings and in-person sessions. Annual events like the BuildRight Conference and Housing Forecast attract hundreds of professionals seeking continuing education credits and industry insights from leading experts.
Consumer Home Shows
We produce three major annual consumer shows attracting 75,000-100,000 attendees. The NW Natural Street of Dreams, Portland Spring Home & Garden Show, and Homes of Tomorrow Today Tour showcase the latest building technologies and design trends. These events connect industry professionals with potential clients while demonstrating innovative building practices to the public.
Specialty Councils
Our four specialty councils provide targeted networking and professional development opportunities. The Home Performance Council focuses on energy efficiency, while the Portland Building and Urban Development Council addresses regulatory challenges. The Professional Women in Building Council supports diversity initiatives, and the Remodeling & Custom Building Council addresses specific market needs through regular meetings and collaborative projects.
People
Ben Hemson
Director of Policy and Government Affairs
Leads policy initiatives and government relations efforts for the Home Building Association of Greater Portland, working to advance housing affordability and industry-friendly regulations across six Oregon counties.
Isaac Ambruso
Deputy Director of Government Affairs
Former Maryland Home Builders Association Government Affairs Director with extensive experience in housing policy and government relations, focusing on responsible growth and development processes in the Portland region.
Questions
What areas do you serve?
We represent members across six Oregon counties: Multnomah, Washington, Clackamas, Columbia, Hood River, and Yamhill.
How can membership save money?
Our members access exclusive discounts on insurance, fuel, credit card processing, auto purchases, and energy efficiency programs that often cover membership costs.
What educational programs do you offer?
We provide building science workshops, compliance training, and continuing education credits through webinars, conferences, and in-person sessions.
What consumer events do you host?
We produce three major annual home shows: NW Natural Street of Dreams, Portland Spring Home & Garden Show, and Homes of Tomorrow Today Tour.
How do you support housing affordability?
Our advocacy team works with local governments to streamline development processes and promote policies that increase housing availability and choice.
What specialty councils are available?
We offer four councils: Home Performance, Portland Building & Urban Development, Professional Women in Building, and Remodeling & Custom Building.
