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HBI Board of Trustees

PAMELA HUGHES PATENAUDE
Principal, Granite Housing Strategies, LLC
FERNANDO ARTURO GIL-ENSEÑAT
Principal FGE LLC
RENEE ZENTZ
CEO, Housing & Building Association of Colorado Springs
CARIN BARTH
Co-founder & President, LB Capital, Inc.
ERIN DEWEESE
Vice President for Finance, Brian D. Wiggs Homes Inc.
JOHN “CHUCK” FOWKE
2020 Chairman, NAHB
EUGENE GRAF, IV
Owner, E.G. Construction LLC
GEORGE C. HESS III
Founder and Chairman, Vantage Homes Corp.
TIM HOURIGAN
Executive Vice President of Human Resources, The Home Depot
BRIAN K. JOHNSON, ED.D.
CEO, Advance Higher Ed, LLC
ADAM ROCKE
Senior Director of Events and Programs, U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation – Hiring our Heroes Initiative
SCOTT SEDAM
President, TrueNorth Development
BRAD SIMONS
Vice President & CEO, Magleby Construction
PATSY SMITH
Trustee Emeritus, HBI Board of Trustees
TOM WINTERS
Senior Director of Sales, Sherwin Williams
GREG UGALDE
President & Chief Legal Officer of Torrington-based T&M Building Co
CHUCK BAKER
Director, Business Development, High Tech Pursuits Unicorn Team, Microsoft
STEVE DEWITT
Deputy Executive Director of the Association for Career and Technical Education
MEL MARTINEZ
Former U.S Senator and Chairman of the Southeast U.S. and Latin America JPMorgan Chase & Co
Alfonso Costa Jr.
Executive Vice President, Falcone Group
Dr. Bryon Ernest
Founder and Chief Positivity Officer, Leadery Global
Dr. Casey Sacks
President, BridgeValley Community and Technical College
Carl Harris
First Vice Chairman of the NAHB Board

HBI Executive Leadership

ED BRADY
President and CEO
JEREMY ALBRITTON
Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President, Business Operations/Shared Services
JEREMY HURLEY
Vice President of Workforce Training & Employment
EMILY PRICE
Senior Vice President, Development and Partnership Engagement
TAMMY JO SCRIVEN
Vice President of Human Resources
GREGG ROMANO
Senior Vice President, Program Operations
BETHANY SHEAN
Vice President of Education Services
LAUREN SULLIVAN
Chief of Staff
YVETTE WATSON
Vice President of Marketing and Communications
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Pamela Hughes Patenaude
Principal, Granite Housing Strategies, LLC

Serving as chair of the HBI Board of Trustees, Pamela Hughes Patenaude is an accomplished real estate, housing policy, and disaster recovery expert with a four-decade record of success as an executive in government, nonprofit sector, and private industry. Patenaude is an Independent Director of loanDepot, Inc. (NYSE: LDI) and a member of the Audit Committee. Patenaude is an Independent Director for Target Hospitality, Corp. (NASDAQ: TH) and is Chair of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and a member of the Audit Committee. Additionally, Patenaude serves on the Board of Directors for Habitat for Humanity International as well as the Board of Directors for the Bipartisan Policy Center. Patenaude is a Trustee and Vice Chairman of the Home Builders Institute (HBI). Patenaude is also a member of the Social Impact Advisory Board for the Center Creek Housing Funds. Patenaude is Principal of Granite Housing Strategies, LLC, serving as a strategic advisor for clients engaged in real estate development, affordable housing, and disaster recovery management. Patenaude is the recipient of the 2022 Housing Visionary Award for the National Housing Conference.

Fernando Arturo Gil-Enseñat
Principal FGE LLC

Gil-Enseñat was the Secretary of Housing of Puerto Rico. He served as the associated administrator for acquisition and contracting in the Public Housing Administration of Puerto Rico. He has a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez, a Juris Doctor from the Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico, and studies toward a master’s degree in private international law at Washington College of Law.

Gil-Enseñat was responsible for negotiating relief funds for homeowners severely affected by 2017’s Hurricane Maria. Hundreds of thousands of homes were damaged or destroyed. Repairing or replacing the roofs was particularly daunting in Puerto Rico, where many homes are built “informally,” without permits or titles. Gil-Enseñat fought for the fair treatment of Puerto Rico’s families and the equitable distribution of relief funds.

Renee Zentz
CEO, Housing & Building Association of Colorado Springs

Renee Zentz is the CEO of the Housing & Building Association of Colorado Springs, a member
trade association representing home builders, remodelers, developers, subcontractors,
suppliers and myriad other housing-related professionals in El Paso County.

In her 18 years of leadership with the HBA, Renee has been instrumental in developing a
culture of collaboration with community organizations and government entities – from
establishing monthly leadership meetings with head public officials to forging partnerships
with industry leaders. It is this collaborative advocacy which helps to strengthen the HBA’s
position as the authoritative voice and information source for housing to government, the
general public, and the housing consumer in El Paso County.

While Renee’s leadership strength is evident in her daily work and her professional
accomplishments, she truly works under the mark of a “servant leader,” as demonstrated in the
establishment of the 501(c)3, HBA Cares. This philanthropic arm of the Association connects
the needs of the community to the skills and abilities of the housing and building industry.
Renee is also President of a 501c3 call Careers in Construction Colorado who’s focus is
putting skilled trades into Colorado high schools. CiCC believes students deserve choices for
a sustainable and rewarding career, and the industry deserves a skilled workforce. Within 5
years, the program has grown 1,500 students, 25 high schools, without signs of slowing.

Carin Barth
Co-founder & President, LB Capital, Inc.

Barth is the co-founder and president of LB Capital, Inc., a private equity investment firm established in 1988. In addition to serving on The Welch Foundation board, she also serves on Enterprise Products Partners L.P. and Black Stone Minerals, L.P. She is chair of the Investment Advisory Committee for the Endowment at Texas Tech University, and a board member of the Ronald McDonald House of Houston. Previously, Barth served on the Housing Commission at the Bipartisan Policy Center in Washington, DC from 2011 to 2014 and was a commissioner of the Texas Department of Public Safety from 2008 to 2014. In 2004, she was appointed by President George W. Bush to serve as chief financial officer of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development until 2005. She received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Alabama summa cum laude and a master’s degree in business administration from Vanderbilt University’s Owen Graduate School of Management.

Erin DeWeese
Vice President for Finance, Brian D. Wiggs Homes Inc.

DeWeese is vice president for finance of Brian D. Wiggs Homes Inc. He has experience in sales, project management, and finance. In 2019, he served as president of the Home Builders Association of Greater Tulsa and chair of the National Association of Home Builders’ (NAHB) young professionals committee. DeWeese has been involved in the “Build My Future” initiative since 2018 and is passionate about providing a clear proven path for residential construction’s next generation.

John “Chuck” Fowke
2020 Chairman, NAHB

John “Chuck” Fowke, a Tampa, Fla.-based custom home builder with over 45 years of experience in the home building industry, is NAHB’s 2022 Immediate Past Chairman of the Board. Fowke took on the duties of NAHB chairman in June 2020.

As founder and president of Homes by John C. Fowke Inc., he has built hundreds of luxury homes throughout the Tampa Bay area.

Fowke has been active in the NAHB leadership structure at the local, state, and national levels throughout his career. A senior life director, he has served on the NAHB Board of Directors for more than 20 years and is a long-time member of the association’s executive board. In 2006 and 2009, Fowke was named Builder of the Year by the Tampa Bay Builders Association. He also served as president of the Florida Home Builders Association, where he continues to serve as a life director. Fowke also stays active in his community, having served as chair of the Charity Women’s Crisis Center’s Addition and Renovation Committee.

Eugene Graf, IV
Owner, E.G. Construction LLC

Graf is the owner of E.G. Construction LLC. He is a fifth generation Montanan a fourth generation Bozemanite, and a third-generation developer and builder. Since 2004 E.G. Construction LLC has participated in the Southwest Montana Building Industry Association’s “Parade of Homes.” He served as the association’s 2008 president. In 2008, 2016, 2018 Graf was awarded, “Builder of the Year” for SWMBIA for his dedication to the building industry. In 2011 Eugene was awarded as the Montana Building Industry Association Builder of the Year and served as president of that association in 2012-2013. He continues to serve on the association’s executive board. Graf is the state representative to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) executive board. He was the chair for the state and local government affairs committee in 2014 and chair of the NAHB Build PAC in 2016.

George C. Hess III
Founder and Chairman, Vantage Homes Corp.

Hess is the founder and chairman of Vantage Homes Corp and chairman of Careers in Construction Colorado. He is active in industry, community, and civic organizations, including the Colorado Springs HBA board of directors, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) budget committee, and the John Zay Guest House of the Penrose Saint-Francis Hospital Foundation. Hess began his building career upon graduation from Colorado State University where he earned a bachelor’s degree in business management. 

Tim Hourigan
Executive Vice President of Human Resources, The Home Depot

Hourigan is executive vice president of human resources at The Home Depot. He was appointed to HBI’s Board of Trustees in January 2020. He oversees all aspects of HR management for over 400,000 associates. Hourigan’s expertise and board service enhances HBI’s partnership with The Home Depot Foundation.

Brian K. Johnson, Ed.D.
CEO, Advance Higher Ed, LLC

Johnson is a senior fellow in the Education Policy Center at the University of Alabama; national director of the Community College Leadership Program at Fielding Graduate University; president of Advance Higher Ed, LLC; and owner of Scottsdale, AZ-based Cultural Bridge Entertainment.

Johnson was the first African-American president of Montgomery College in Maryland. Prior to Montgomery College, Johnson served as president of the Allegheny Campus at the

Community College of Allegheny County in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania following 15 years of executive leadership at Maricopa Community Colleges, in Phoenix, AZ.

Johnson earned his doctorate in educational leadership from Northern Arizona University, and Master of Arts in education in counseling/human relations from Northern Arizona University, and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Ottawa University.

Adam Rocke
Senior Director of Events and Programs, U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation – Hiring our Heroes Initiative

Rocke is senior director of events and programs, U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Hiring our Heroes Initiative. He is a retired U.S. Army colonel and career infantryman who was a special assistant to the Army chief of staff and the director of the Soldier for Life program. He led the U.S. Army’s effort to create a network to connect soldiers, veterans, and families with employment, education, and the well-being required to successfully reintegrate into civilian society.

Rocke served in various infantry and special operations units, from platoon to brigade, including the Army Staff and Joint Staff, with numerous deployments overseas supporting the War on Terror.

Rocke served as the managing director of NS2 Serves, a non-profit that provides high-demand information technology training for U.S. veterans and transitioning service members. Previously, he was vice president of veterans affairs at FASTPORT, Inc., a digital technology company assisting veterans and military spouses with a suite of services supporting meaningful employment opportunities.

Scott Sedam
President, TrueNorth Development

Sedam is President of TrueNorth Development, a consulting and training firm focused exclusively on the building industry. TrueNorth conducts consulting projects and training workshops with more than 200 builder, supplier and trade clients in the U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Mexico. During the recent industry downturn, TrueNorth’s LeanBuilding processes saved clients more than $250 million, demonstrating clearly how to improve product, process, and profit without compromising the product or builder, supplier, and trade relationships. Sedam’s presentations are a popular feature at industry conferences and company meetings.

 

Brad Simons
Vice President & CEO, Magleby Construction

Simons is vice president & CFO of Utah luxury custom homebuilding company Magleby Construction. Simons is past president of the Utah Valley Home Builders Association and serves as a member of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) board of directors. Simons is actively involved in Habitat for Humanity and served as the 2014 president of Utah County Habitat chapter.

 

Patsy Smith
Trustee Emeritus, HBI Board of Trustees

Smith is trustee emeritus of the HBI board of trustees, and president of Herman Smith & Company, a business established by her late husband, a former National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) president, prominent land developer and philanthropist. In 2005, she established the Patsy and Herman Smith Fund for Excellence in the Trades to assist HBI programs and its students connect with the industry.

Tom Winters
Senior Sales Executive, Ply-Gem Industries Inc.

Winters is a senior sales executive for Ply-Gem Industries Inc. He has over 25 years’ experience in the new-construction home building industry. Winters’ focus on management through inclusion and diversity has helped him build a consistent track record for increasing sales through building strong customer relationships.

Greg Ugalde
President & Chief Legal Officer of Torrington-based T&M Building Co

Greg Ugalde, a Connecticut-based builder and developer, was NAHB’s 2019 Chairman of the Board. Ugalde is president and chief legal officer of Torrington-based T&M Building Co. Inc., and is the founder and owner of GFU Investments, LLC. Ugalde’s involvement and experience with NAHB at the local, state and national levels, as well as a keen interest in workforce development, will be an asset to HBI’s Board of Trustees.

Chuck Baker
Director, Business Development, High Tech Pursuits Unicorn Team, Microsoft

Chuck Baker brings over 20 years of executive experience in the consumer-packaged goods, technology, nonprofit and corporate philanthropy sectors. He currently serves as the Vice President of Philanthropy and Community Relations for Wells Fargo, with oversight of the foundation for six counties in the Bay Area. Prior to Wells Fargo, he served as the Executive Director of the 100 Black Men of the Bay Area. He has been featured on the cover of Black Enterprise, was nominated as a NBC Universal Grios 100, has successfully built and sold two businesses, and is an active volunteer and board member for several nonprofit organizations. Chuck has a BSBA degree in finance at Georgetown University and attended the JL Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.

Steve Dewitt
Deputy Executive Director of the Association for Career and Technical Education

Stephen DeWitt is Deputy Executive Director of the Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE). Since assuming this role in 2013, DeWitt has served in a variety of roles including the national organization’s efforts in content development, partnerships and its outreach agenda. He formerly served as Senior Director of Public Policy beginning in 2006 and he remains closely connected to the Association’s advocacy and policy work. He currently serves on several Boards and advisory committees. Mr. DeWitt holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Florida Southern College and resides in Washington, DC.

Mel Martinez
Former U.S Senator and Chairman of the Southeast U.S. and Latin America JPMorgan Chase & Co

At the age of 15 and at the height of the Cold War, Mel arrived in the United States from Cuba through the auspices of the Catholic Church in a program that came to be known as Operation Pedro Pan. He rose to be elected as the first Cuban-American to serve in the United States Senate. During his term, he served on several committees including Armed Services; Foreign Relations; Banking, Housing & Urban Affairs; Energy and Natural Resources; Commerce, Science and Transportation; and the Special Committee on Aging. He also served as General Chairman of the Republican National Committee in 2008.

Prior to his time in the Senate, President George W. Bush appointed Senator Martinez as the 12th Secretary of the United States Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) where he served from January 2001 through December 2003.

In 1998, he was elected as Mayor of Orange County (Orlando, FL) and before beginning his public service, he practiced law for 25 years. He received both his B.S. and J.D. degrees from Florida State University.

He currently serves as Chairman of the Southeast & Latin America for JPMorgan Chase & Co. and is on the boards of Marriott Vacations Worldwide as Lead Director and NVR, Inc. He is also a member of the Order of Malta.

Alfonso Costa Jr.
Executive Vice President, Falcone Group

Alfonso Costa Jr. serves as Executive Vice President of the Falcone Group, where he is responsible for leading the company’s workforce housing division and public-private partnership (P3) opportunities. Headquartered in South Florida, the Falcone Group is a real estate development & investment firm that has developed and acquired more than 20,000 multifamily apartments, 15 million square feet of commercial space, and 30,000 single-family homes throughout the country.

Mr. Costa previously served in the Federal Government as Deputy Chief of Staff & Opportunity Zones lead for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). In this public service role, Mr. Costa was responsible for overseeing housing policy aimed at reducing regulatory barriers to affordable housing development, as well as the Opportunity Zones initiative. Mr. Costa held the title of Chairman’s delegate and HUD’s lead representative on the Federal Government’s inter-agency White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council, and for his efforts was ranked #10 in the Opportunity Zone Magazine’s “Top 25 OZ Influencers of 2020” list.

A former 5th-grade teacher as a Teach for America (TFA) corps member, Mr. Costa is now an active social advocate through philanthropic & academic volunteer work on both the national and local levels. Nationally, he serves as an Ambassador for the Fitwel® Certification System, Public Sector Fellow of the Harvard Alumni Real Estate Board, Housing Advisory Council Member of the Bipartisan Policy Center, Full Member of the Urban Land Institute (ULI), and Emerging Leaders Council Member & basketball alumnus of New Heights Youth (New York City).

Mr. Costa earned his law degree (JD) from Harvard University, master’s degree (MSc) from the University of Oxford (United Kingdom), and bachelor’s degree (BA) from Yale University.

Dr. Bryon Ernest
Founder and Chief Positivity Officer, Leadery Global

Dr. Byron Ernest is the Founder and Chief Positivity Officer of Leadery Global, offering custom tailored consultative packages for clients seeking stakeholder engagement, systems level visionary design, leadership development, education leadership, and facilitation services. has extensive experience leading online and in-person facilitation of groups globally. He has experienced diverse business contexts and engaged in cultural exchanges with colleagues from around the world, while tackling international issues related to education and other industries. Byron is a former (2010) Indiana “Teacher of the Year” and formerly served as Director of Educator Development and Partnerships for Noble Education Initiative, Inc. (NEI) where he developed and provided professional development and leadership training globally, including a leadership pipeline program, 3D Leadership, which he now delivers in seven states both virtually and in person. Byron also developed a complete series of virtual programs for teachers around the globe during the global pandemic.

Dr. Ernest holds a Bachelor of Science in Animal Science and Agricultural Education and a Master’s in Education from Purdue University. He received his Doctorate from Walden University in Administrator Leadership for Teaching and Learning. Dr. Ernest completed the Certificate for Advanced Educational Leadership program at Harvard University, where he continues Post-Doctoral Studies. Byron serves as a policy maker and citizen leader on the Indiana State Board of Education where he led a very successful statewide systemic change to Indiana’s graduation requirements. He chaired the Graduation Pathways Pathway’s Panel created by the Indiana Legislature to study and make recommendations to the Indiana State Board of Education. Ernest led the panel through a series of 10 stakeholder engagement gatherings to craft a successful Graduation Pathways Plan giving students many options for graduation as opposed to a single graduation qualifying exam. Dr. Ernest also currently serves as the immediate past chair of the board of directors for the National Association of State Boards of Education

Dr. Casey Sacks
President, BridgeValley Community and Technical College

Casey K. Sacks, Ph.D. is currently the President at BridgeValley Community and Technical College in Charleston, WV. Sacks previously served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Community Colleges at the United States Department of Education where she led work around workforce development, career, and technical education, adult education, and prison education. She has also served as the Vice Chancellor for the West Virginia Community and Technical College System where she focused on community college excellence and workforce development. Sacks has worked at colleges and universities in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Colorado.

Sacks serves on the Board of the SkillPointe Foundation, is a member of the Credential as you Go Advisory Board, and is part of the AEI Conservative Education Reform Network. She has held a research appointment at Rutgers University, was an Aspen Institute Presidential Fellow in the inaugural class, and earned a Ph.D. in Administration from Bowling Green State University.

Carl Harris
First Vice Chairman of the NAHB Board

Carl Harris, a Wichita, Kan.-based small volume spec and custom home builder with over 40 years of experience in the home building, remodeling and light commercial construction industry is NAHB’s 2023 First Vice Chairman.

As co-founder and president of the Carl Harris Co., Inc. and managing partner of Harris Homes, Harris has built homes in many communities around the state of Kansas.

Harris has been active in the NAHB leadership structure at the local, state and national levels throughout his career. A Senior Life Delegate, he has served in leadership for over 20 years. He has served as NAHB State Representative for Kansas, National Area Chairman for Area 11, moderator of the State Representatives, and as chairman of the Commercial Builders Council, Construction Safety and Health Committee, Federal Government Affairs Committee, State and Local Government Affairs Committee and BUILD-PAC.

His local association, the Wichita Area Builders Association (WABA), awarded Harris the Cornerstone Award for his outstanding work in the industry and the community, and he was presented its Chairman’s award twice. Harris served as president of WABA and as president of the Kansas Building Industry Association (KBIA), the state association. He has chaired various local committees, councils and task forces.

Actively involved in his local community, Harris has served eight years on the Newton City Commission; was twice-elected mayor; served over 15 years as a Newton/North Newton Planning Commissioner and on the Newton/Harvey County Airport Commission; he also served on the Newton Board of Codes, Standards and Appeals and as Newton Public Building Commissioner.

As an Eagle Scout, Harris desired to give back to the Boys Scouts of America, serving as a Cubmaster, Assistant Scoutmaster, District Chairman and Council Program Chairman, and was awarded the Silver Beaver Award for volunteerism and leadership.

Carl is married to Lori for over 37 years, and they have one son Christian Harris, with whom they also build.

NAHB’s elected senior officers serve on a multi-year leadership ladder. Harris will become chairman of NAHB’s Board of Directors in 2024.

Gerald M. Howard
Chief Executive Officer, NAHB

Howard is CEO of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and has more than 25 years of association experience in Washington, D.C. He began his association career at the National Association of Realtors, where he served as a legislative analyst for tax issues. Prior to joining NAHB, Jerry served as the chief lobbyist for the National Council of State Housing Agencies where he was instrumental in the development of the low-income housing tax credit as part of the Tax Reform Act of 1986.

He joined NAHB as tax counsel in 1988 and served in a variety of roles, including chief lobbyist. Howard was promoted to executive vice president & CEO in February 2001.

Before embarking on his association career, Howard practiced real estate law in his home state of South Carolina. His exposure to the housing industry has literally encompassed a lifetime; Jerry grew up working in a variety of roles for his father, a developer.

Ed Brady
President and CEO

Ed Brady is President and CEO of Home Builders Institute (HBI), a national nonprofit that trains underserved populations, including veterans, transitioning military, high school students and justice-involved youth and adults for careers in the building industry.

A second-generation home builder from Bloomington, Illinois, Brady learned carpentry from a union master carpenter in college and started building houses in 1988. During Brady’s 30+ years in the industry, he has advocated for and defended the building industry through leadership positions at the local, state and national levels. He has served 12 years as independent director of the Chicago Federal Home Loan Bank, working with leading experts to advance the nation’s housing policy. He served as 2016 Chairman of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB).  After the housing crisis, Brady spent three years on the Bipartisan Policy Center Housing Commission. He has also served on boards for Illinois Habitat for Humanity, as well on other economic development and housing-related boards.

Brady holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Business from Illinois Wesleyan University. He was a licensed realtor in the mid-80s and currently hold his Tennessee contractor’s license.

Outreach for Ed Brady can be directed to Chief Of Staff Lauren Sullivan at lsullivan@hbi.org.

Jeremy Albritton
Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President, Business Operations/Shared Services

Jeremy joined HBI as Chief Financial Officer in February 2021.  In this role, he is responsible for ensuring that the organization has the financial capacity to execute on its strategy and is well positioned for long term financial health.  Jeremy leads the Financial Services team in their critical role as an enabler of mission delivery, with a customer-focused approach to operations and process innovation.

Prior to HBI, Jeremy served as the Chief Operating & Financial Officer of The Mission Continues.  In that role, he was responsible for optimizing finance, technology and HR operations to mobilize veterans in service to under-resourced communities. Jeremy also spent 12 years at the United Service Organizations Inc. (USO), one of the nation’s oldest and most venerable military service organizations.  During his tenure at the USO, Jeremy held Vice President-level roles in Finance, Development, as well as Operations & Programs. Jeremy served four years as Finance Committee Chairman of the George C. Marshall International Center in Leesburg, VA., and continues to serve as a committee member of the Jefferson Scholars Foundation.

Jeremy is from Charlottesville, VA, and did not stray far in getting his Bachelor’s degree from the University of Virginia’s McIntire School of Commerce.  Jeremy also has an MBA degree from the University of Maryland’s R.H. Smith School of Business.

Jeremy Hurley
Vice President of Workforce Training & Employment

Hurley joined HBI as the Associate Vice President of HBI’s Military Services in 2014 after over a decade of owning and operating an HVAC business in Georgia. Originally working as an HVAC instructor at Brunswick Job Corps, he has also served as a program manager, regional program manager and director of WTE.

Hurley manages all of HBI’s transitioning military programs. He oversees the daily operations of HBI’s Military Services programs and works with partners to advance HBI’s expansion and enhance job placement opportunities for graduates. Hurley serves as the liaison between HBI and military installations, ensuring successful outcomes for transitioning servicemembers and veterans.

Hurley, who served in the U.S. Marine Corps, draws on his passion for helping transitioning servicemembers to serve well-deserving students.

Contact: jhurley@hbi.org

Emily Price
Senior Vice President, Development
and Partnership Engagement

Emily Price serves as the Senior Vice President, Strategic Partnerships and Development of Home Builders Institute (HBI). Before HBI, Emily served as the Senior Policy Advisor for the Council of the District of Columbia, Committee on Labor & Workforce Development. During her tenure at the Council, Emily successfully authored legislation creating Industry Sector Partnerships in Healthcare and Infrastructure for the District of Columbia. She was critical in the partnership, funding, and development of Information Technology and Direct Care Nursing pathways between the DC Workforce Investment Council and the University of the District of Columbia and Community College. She also facilitated the permanent establishment of a School Year Internship Program for DC youth.

Emily comes to HBI with over 20 years of workforce development expertise. At SOME, Inc. (So Others Might Eat), she was the Chief Program Officer, Center for Employment Training (CET) for 15 years. CET is a licensed post-secondary vocational skills training program with wraparound services. Emily was critical in the expansion and move of CET to the Conway Center, a housing, healthcare, and employment training center. The National Skills Coalition profiled Emily on the Leadership Spotlight Skills Blog in 2016. She was a member of the Mayor’s Workforce Intermediary Task Force, Mayor’s Adult Literacy and Career Pathways Taskforce, and an Aspen Institute Workforce Leader’s Academy graduate. Emily started her career as a Bill Emerson Congressional Hunger Fellow and AmeriCorps Promise Fellow. Additionally, she was the Board Chair of the Coalition for Nonprofit Housing and Economic Development (CNHED), a former Board Member of Southeast Ministries, the DC Jobs Council, and Southeast Children’s Fund.

Emily holds her bachelor’s and master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Kansas. She is a devoted KU basketball fan, Rock Chalk Jayhawk, and Washington Nationals fan, Go Nat’s!

Tammy Jo Scriven
Vice President of Human Resources

Tammy Jo Scriven is an HR professional who join HBI as the Vice President of Human Resources in January 2022. Tammy Jo has more than 20 years’ senior leadership experience in talent acquisition, performance management, organizational and workforce development and employee relations. Her career has focused on creating change and community impact in a range of professional environments, including non-profit, for profit, and government sectors.

Tammy Jo began her career focusing on advocacy and grassroots organizing in a variety of social justice areas — specifically, economic justice, housing and family homelessness, women’s health, reproductive rights, domestic and community violence and human rights. Then, after several years of working for community-based and national non-profit organizations, TJ decided to pursue a change in career to human resources. Her first HR opportunity was with Montgomery County (MD), followed by eight years with the City of Rockville (MD) and then with the District of Columbia government.

TJ uses her passion for HR to drive toward creating a high-performing, diverse and inclusive workplace culture where employees are engaged and share meaningful work experiences that align their talents with the organization’s needs. She is excited to capitalize on and expand the capacity of the HBI family and work in an environment committed to advancing economic opportunity in an inclusive way through providing access to leading edge skills in the construction industry. 

Tammy Jo holds a bachelor’s degree in Organizational Management from Washington Adventist University and a master’s in Human Resources from McDaniel College. She is a nature lover (born and raised in the pacific northwest of the United States), an avid football fan and has recently discovered her love of backyard gardening.

Gregg Romano
Senior Vice President, Program Operations

Gregg Romano joined Home Builders Institute (HBI) in 1993. In the years since then, Romano grew as a leader within the organization. As the Senior Vice President of Job Corps, he is now responsible for identifying and developing new business opportunities, promoting effective public relations and strengthening interactions amongst all Job Corps Center operators, regional offices and the program’s national office, as well as maintaining oversight of Job Corps career technical training programs, placement activities, apprenticeship endeavors and monitoring and evaluating HBI’s Job Corps Program performance.

Long imparting wide-ranging knowledge in career technical training and construction technologies, Romano has relied on more than 20 years of building experience and over 25 years of workforce-training and development connecting the two disciplines. As such, he has provided HBI an expertise in program management with the professional and technical skills to manage, develop and implement multi-site training programs and large-scale projects. Romano continued to demonstrate expertise in program management and was elevated to Director of Program Management of Job Corps in 2016.

Prior to joining HBI, Romano worked as a journeyman carpenter, foreman, superintendent and owned, managed and administered all functions of a construction/home-remodeling company. He graduated summa cum laude from Southern Illinois University, earning a Bachelor of Science in Workforce Training and Development, and has conducted graduate degree work towards his Master of Science in Project Management at Thomas Edison State University (formerly Thomas Edison State College), Trenton, N.J.

Contact: romano@hbi.org

Bethany Shean
Vice President of Education Services

Bethany Shean joined HBI in 2006. In her role as Vice President of Education Services, she is responsible for leading organization-wide learning management and program evaluation solutions including instructor orientation and training, curriculum development and certification, organizational analytics, and learning management system extended enterprise solutions.

Shean provides an in-depth knowledge of instructional design and learning management with more than 15 years of experience in multiple industries. Since joining HBI, Shean has collaborated with the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) to implement several nationally recognized courses related to the needs of the building industry. Shean has also provided leadership on several HBI committees including the Regional Instructors Supporting Everyone Committee (current), HBI Safety & Health Board (2016 – 2019), the New Employee Orientation Committee (2018 – 2019) and the Strategic Planning Committee for Employee Engagement and Culture (2017).

Prior to joining HBI, Shean served as an instructional designer for both corporate and university settings including Freddie Mac, Strayer University and ING Direct. She also acted as an adjunct professor for computer ethics at Strayer University for eight years. Shean graduated with honors from Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania, earning a Master of Science degree in instructional technology and a Bachelor of Arts degree in mass communications.

Contact: bshean@hbi.org

Lauren Sullivan
Chief of Staff

Lauren Sullivan is Chief Of Staff at Home Builders Institute (HBI). As a member of the executive team, she assists with day to day operations and works alongside the President and CEO on special projects and strategic initiatives. Lauren is the primary point of contact for internal and external audiences on all matters pertaining to the President and CEO. She also manages communications and activities with the HBI Board of Trustees.

Prior to joining HBI, Lauren spent 10 years in Federal Government service. Lauren worked on Capitol Hill for the Senate Sergeant at Arms Office (2011-2017), before joining the staff of the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture (2017-2021). As a member of the Secretary’s staff, Lauren served as Director of Operations and senior advisor, managing the long-term strategy and outreach of Department initiatives and priorities.

A native of the Washington, DC area, she received her Bachelor’s degree from Miami University in Oxford, OH, and received her Master’s in Public Relations & Corporate Communications from Georgetown University.

Contact: lsullivan@hbi.org

Yvette Watson
Vice President of Marketing and Communications

Yvette Watson is the Vice President of Marketing and Communications at the Home Builders Institute (HBI) where she is responsible for leading multichannel integrated marketing and communications, digital media, brand management, media relations, executive communications, thought leadership, stakeholder outreach and creative direction.

Yvette is a strategic leader with a unique blend of corporate communications experience developing integrated communications plans, internal and external communications programs for associations, pharmaceutical and corporate clients. Her critical thinking has led her to develop and implement successful national communications programs to ensure communications strategies are aligned with organizational goals.

Yvette was Vice President at WE Communications where she guided communications strategy and planning for the Microsoft analyst relations program and investor relations. Prior, Yvette spearheaded communications and marketing for the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) where she led internal and external communications, executive leadership and media relations. She prepared the Executive Director and Board Chair for interviews and landed articles in The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, U.S. News World Report, Black Enterprise, International Business Times, Inside Philanthropy, The Boston Globe and Mic. While at NSBE, she orchestrated communications plans for partner programs such as Google Code Success, ExxonMobil Scholarship, LinkedIn Hack Day and the Northrop Grumman Integrated Pipeline Program and increased engagement for NSBE members.

Yvette was an adjunct professor at Bowie State University and Howard County Community College. While there, she delivered classroom instruction on critical thinking and interaction in a lecture format to collegiate students and taught Media Ethics, American Public Opinion, Fundamentals of Public Speaking and Introduction to Human Communication courses.

A graduate of Howard University with a Master of Arts in Communications and a Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations. She secured an Executive Leadership Certificate from Cornell University and a Digital Management Certificate from Georgetown University. She is a Life Member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

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