Bulletin Board Magazine 2019 Volume 2

What Am I?

SHORE BUILDERS Association of Central NJ, Inc.

WHATAM I? By Michael J. Kokes - SBACNJ G rowing up, my father always referred to himself as a builder. When people asked me what my dad did, I always responded with builder. His definition of builder was one who built and sold houses, and he was right, he was a builder. He was proud to be a builder. For over half a century my family has been building homes for people, around 21,000 in my estimation. Some years we built 30 and some years we built 1,000, but no matter what, we always built homes. So, when I continued on in the family business of real estate, I was a builder too, right? I’m not sure, let me explain. About 3 years ago we began the retirement process for my dad, which included among other things, divesting his assets. Through this process we sold a lot of property, and it has been quite the experience. As we were winding down operations, I took a moment one day to reflect with my dad’s Chief Financial Officer on the past. We spoke about the ups and downs, the fun times and the crazy, certain people, and things to keep in mind going forward. At the end of the conversation I made the following comment, “I hope I can successfully continue the family legacy of being a great builder.” Our CFO stopped, looked at me directly and said, “Mike, you aren’t a builder, you’re RED… R E D” he spelled out. Not exactly knowing what to say, I spit out the word, “What?” “R E D” he spelled out again, “a real estate developer.” Semantics I thought, and the conversation moved on to other things. Sometime later, while cleaning out the office building, I came across year end historical consolidated financials for our companies, going back 30 years. Never with a shortage of intrigue, I opened them up and started

COMMITTEES

to look through them. Maybe I could find some clues on how to be a great builder. Taking some time to look through them properly, I started to notice that the true financial success that my family experienced wasn’t exactly from homebuilding, but from all the other projects we were involved in, all the other RED (technically black for the accountants) projects. While homebuilding was a part of it, all the other real estate development like apartments, nursing homes, strip malls, banks and gas stations, actually made up much more of the company. It came together for me, and made sense why the Chief Financial Officer would make a statement like that, it was all dollars and cents to him. So, while my dad identified as a builder, he actually was a much broader definition then that, he was a real estate developer. A few reasons occur for why he called himself a builder (and still does to this day). The term builder is easy for the public to understand. Everyone generally understands the idea of being a homebuilder. The term, real estate developer, is much more broad and vague, and invites many more questions, sometimes it is easier to just keep it simple. Real estate developer doesn’t really roll off the tongue either, but more seriously, my dad was proud to be a builder. He was proud of what he created and the product he delivered. He enjoyed dealing with customers and finding out their life stories and being a part of it for them. For his generation, being a builder embodied his involvement and advancement of the American Dream, homeownership! What better way to contribute back to society?

Committees are a vital functional of our Association. Make your membership more meaningful by getting involved. Become an active member of a committee! Committees general meet one hour, once a month

Michael J. Kokes President - SBACNJ

❑ ASSOCIATE MEMBERS, MEMBERSHIP SERVICES AND PROGRAMS: This committee works for the betterment and benefit of the SBACNJ membership. This committee is responsible for the BEAM (Builders Employing Associate Members) Award as well as the Associate of the Quarter nominations. This commit tee recruits new members, screens prospective applicants and works to retain current members. ❑ GOLF CLASSIC: This committee meets 6 times per year, beginning in February, to plan the SBACNJ Annual Golf Outing. As a committee member it is important to be available the day of the outing to work as an event volunteer. ❑ LEGAL/LEGISLATIVE & ENVIRONMENTAL: This committee interfaces with local and state municipalities to maintain good relations, provide exchange information flow, and oppose adverse government regulations on the building industry in Monmouth, Ocean, Middlesex and Mercer Counties. The committee considers challenging ordinances, practices, and policies of municipalities which are harmful to SBACNJ members. ❑ SALES & MARKETING: This committee promotes professionalism in sales and marketing and further educates the members on the latest ideas available to Builder and Associate members. This committee also plans the Annual FAME (Fabulous Achievement in Marketing Excellence) Awards Banquet. The committee keeps industry views before the public and creates a better public image of the Association and the role it plays in the community. ❑ YOUNG PROFESSIONALS: This committee promotes participation and increases opportunities for young professionals in the building industry by developing interesting programs that provide a forum for networking, continuing education, professional growth, development of leadership skills and access to a professional community. ❑ PROFESSIONAL WOMEN IN BUILDING COUNCIL: This council is recognized and chartered by NAHB and is dedicated to promoting, enhancing, and supporting home building and women in the home building industry. This council is open to all member companies and their employees. There is a fee of $50 per member to join the council and is open to men as well.

If you are interested in joining one of the committees or being a member of the Professional Women in Building Council, please contact the SBACNJ Office in Lakewood at 732-364-2828.

Bulletin Board | 53 | www.shorebuilders.org

Bulletin Board | 54 | www.shorebuilders.org