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Home Builders Institute is committed to providing trades training that strengthens the industry and changes the lives of a new generation of skilled workers. Solving the national labor shortage crisis requires commitment from individuals, companies and organizations aligned with our mission of changing lives through the skilled trades.

HBI brings decades of leadership, excellence, and dedication to our partnerships:

COMMUNITY
INVESTMENT

HBI uses a dynamic national skills training model that meets local workforce needs in communities nationwide. By facilitating partnerships within these communities, HBI helps them build a solid foundation of economic development and employment growth.

CREDIBLE
CONNECTIONS

HBI is connected with leading organizations, policymakers and association investing in housing and workforce development. Our deep-rooted network allows us to collaborate on solutions that address industry challenges. 

SOCIAL AND
ECONOMIC IMPACT

HBI changes lives every day by preparing individuals for careers with livable wages, financial security, and growth opportunities. Our programs create a positive, long-term impacts on social issues like housing addordability and employment.

OUR
LEGACY

HBI’s legacy comprises over 50 years of national leadership in skilled trades training with industry recognized curriculum approved by the Department of Labor and the National Association of Home Builders.

CONTACT US
to explore the possibilities!

partner testimonials

Heather Prill
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Heather Prill

Sr Manager, Strategic Partnerships and Hometown Giving The Home Depot Foundation

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JIMMY GILES

POLK COUNTY, FLORIDA CARPENTRY INSTRUCTOR

partner spotlight

OUR PARTNERS

DeWALT Logo - Design HBI Partner
The Home Depot Foundation Logo - HBI Building Partner
MiTek Logo - Softare HBI Partner
Job Corps Logo - HBI Partner
Florida Commerce Logo - Nearby Opportunities HBI Partner
The Brees Dream Foundation Logo - HBI Partner
Stand Together Trust Logo - HBI Partner
Illinois Department of Corrections Logo - HBI Partner
The Jaggers Family Foundation - HBI Partner
Harper Family Logo - HBI Partner
Eckerd Connections Logo - HBI Partner Second Chance Opportunities
Core Civic Logo - Tennessee Partner of HBI Construction
Path Stone Logo - HBI Investment Partner
Advocates for Human Potential, Inc. Logo - HBI Partner Improving Construction Business
Build Strong Academy Logo - HBI Academy Partner
National Housing Endowment Logo - HBI Partner Supporting Construction Programs
Reliance Worldwide Corporation Logo - HBI Partner
Herman and Patsy Smith Charitable Foundation Logo - HBI Houston Partner of Construction
Fioretti Charitable Fund Logo - HBI Funding Partner
National Nail Logo - HBI Brand Builders Partner
Trust Bank Logo - HBI Partner
The Edward and Brenda Martin Foundation Logo - HBI Partner
100 Black Men of America, INC. Logo - Atlanta Education
National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Logo
Greater Orlando Builders Association (GOBA) Logo
Relationships take time, but you can act now!
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HBI
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Home Builders Institute (HBI) is an exempt organization as described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

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contacthbi@hbi.org

(202) 371-0600

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Contacts Us

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Heather Frill

Sr Manager, Strategic Partnerships and Hometown Giving The Home Depot Foundation

In 2018, The Home Depot Foundation launched its trades training program, and together with HBI, committed to training the next generation of skilled tradespeople. “The home building and improvement industry desperately needs skilled workers, and these jobs bring financial stability to people and communities in need,” says Heather Prill, who manages the effort. Aligned with this vision, the Foundation and HBI created a trades training program for separating military service members and with the Foundation’s support, HBI has expanded its training programs into high schools across the nation. 

Heather Prill

All of the Foundation’s work is done through non-profit partners. According to Prill, “Together with HBI, we have trained nearly 1,200 service members and over 4500 high school students. We’ve just scratched the surface, and HBI is the right partner to continue to move our shared mission forward.”  

Jimmy Giles

Polk County, Florida Carpentry Instructor

Jimmy Giles, a carpentry instructor at Bartow High School and participant in HBI’s Future Builders of America (FBA) program, credits the HBI PACT curriculum funded by The Home Depot Foundation’s Schools to Skills Grant for transforming his carpentry classes.

“Up until HBI, there was no curriculum for what I was teaching,” said Giles. “HBI really helped me take 14 years of classroom experience and wrap it up in a concise way to teach students the necessary skills in carpentry.”

Since implementing the program, he’s seen tremendous growth in his students. “If we didn’t get The Home Depot Foundation grant in the beginning, my students would not be where they are today. The HBI PACT Program helps students learn new skills and apply them to build their future.”

MARIO GONZALEZ

Vice President of Workforce Training & Employment

Mario joined HBI as a Regional Career Development Coordinator of HBI’s Military Services in 2019 and was promoted to Associate Vice President of WTE Community & Corrections Programs in 2022.
Now serving as Vice president of WTE (2024), he oversees the daily operations of HBI’s WTE Community & Corrections, Military Services, & Academies programs, working with partners to advance HBI’s expansion and enhance job placement opportunities for graduates. Mario serves as the liaison between HBI and external stakeholders to include military installations. He ensures successful outcomes for HBI graduates from transitioning service members & veterans to justice involved adults & youths. Internally, he provides strategic operational perspective to HBI’s senior leadership team. Prior to joining HBI, Mario served for 21 years in the U.S. Army across multiple locations globally & nationally and has an MBA from Trevecca Nazarene University in Nashville, TN. Mario resides in Tennessee with his wife and children and spends time in Texas where his mother, adult children, and grandchildren reside. He enjoys the outdoors and serving in his community. 
JOSEPH F. LANDERS

Executive Officer of the Home Builders and Remodelers Association of Massachusetts

Joseph F. Landers, 71, is the Executive Officer of the Home Builders and Remodelers Association of Massachusetts having assumed that role in 2018 with a mandate from the Board of Directors to harmonize the five MA local associations, increase communications from the state to the membership, increase the public profile of the association,

create a path to financial stability and elevate the states lobbying efforts. Prior to taking on the challenging state association role, Joe was Chief Executive Officer and founder of Customized Structures Inc., a custom manufacturer of single-family, multi-family and commercial modular and panelized structures which began operations in 1984. Joe has been involved in the building industry, both site-built and factory-built, since 1973 and has worked in all phases of construction from development through design and production including on site management and sales. Customized Structures produced on average 330 single family homes per year, had an employee base as high as 180 and was known as the innovator in the production and design of modular components.

After the sale of Customized Structures Inc. to a private equity firm in 2003 Joe remained on the Board of Directors of the Company and functioned as a consultant to the CEO. He further took on the role of helping failing building systems companies return to profitability and successfully oversaw the sale of those companies. Mr. Landers has lectured frequently on the benefits and utilization of systems-built construction to building professionals around the country and has utilized his substantial professional and industry background to provide consultation services to both national and foreign companies interested in the processes and pitfalls of building and developing utilizing building systems components.

Joe attended Northeastern University and St. Anselm’s College graduating with a B.S. in 1972. 

Joe has been a member of the National Association of Home Builders since 1974. He is past president of two local Home Builders Associations and has served two terms as President of the  State of NH Home Builders Association. Joe is also a past president of the Modular Building  Systems Council of the NAHB, has been Chairman of the National Building Systems Council (BSC)  and has served five terms as a Trustee of the BSC during which time he created the BSC logo and  wrote the brochure “Most Frequently Asked Questions about Modular Homes”. 

In 1989, Joe received the National Pacesetter Award in recognition of his outstanding leadership  and contribution to the housing industry and in 1991 was awarded the title of Builder of the Year  by the Home Builders Association of N.H. In 1992 he was appointed by the Governor to the NH  Board of Fire Control within the Department of Safety and since then was reappointed three times.  He has served as a member on the State of New Hampshire Building Code Review Board and was  appointed by the Governor of NH to the Shore Land Protection Commission. Joe was selected to  receive the 2000 S. A. Walters Chairman’s Award, the premier award in the U.S. Systems Built  Housing Industry and was installed to the New Hampshire Housing Hall of Fame for his significant  and lasting contributions to the housing industry in the State of New Hampshire.  

Joe is a Senior Life Director of the National Association of Home Builders; he is served six terms on the NAHB Budget & Finance Committee serving as Vice Chair for four of those years, he has served  as Chairman of the Resolutions Committee, the International Housing Committee and the Building  Products Issues Committee of NAHB serving on the NAHB Executive Committee multiple times. 

In 2001 Joe was elected an Area Vice President of the National Association of Home Builders  representing builders through out the northeast. 

Joe is active in his community having served as finance chairmen of his church, is a member of the  International Order of Odd Fellows, and has served on multiple boards and committees on a  volunteer basis.  

Joe and his wife, Denise, reside in Plymouth, MA, they have two children, Jessica and Brad and two  grandchildren, Lily and Jack ages 13 and 11. 

Seth Appleton

President of U.S. Mortgage Insurers

The Honorable Seth Appleton is President of U.S. Mortgage Insurers. In this role, he leads USMI’s efforts to enable sustainable access to affordable mortgage credit for borrowers while protecting taxpayers. Seth previously served as President of MISMO, the real estate finance industry’s standards organization. Prior to that, Seth served as the Assistant Secretary for Policy Development and Research at the U.S.

Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD),
a position for which he was unanimously confirmed by the United States Senate. In addition to his service as Assistant Secretary, Seth concurrently served as the Principal Executive Vice President of Ginnie Mae, a government corporation guaranteeing the timely payment of
principal and interest on more than $2 trillion in mortgage-backed securities.

Before joining HUD, Seth worked on Capitol Hill, including serving as Chief of Staff for U.S. Congressman Blaine Luetkemeyer for more than eight years. A native of Missouri, Seth is a graduate of Stanford University and is a co-chair of the Bipartisan Policy Center’s Housing Council. 

Zach Harris

BuildStrong Academy of Greater New Orleans Graduate

Zach Harris is a native New Orleans resident, two-time graduate of Tulane University and a 27-year-old construction entrepreneur. Zach comes from a family of builders and grew up around real estate and residential construction. In fact, Zach enrolled in no-cost trades training at the BuildStrong Academy of Greater New Orleans with his mother in 2022, followed by his father and two brothers in 2023.

Zach Harris - HBI Build Strong Academy New Orleans Graduate

His construction company, Zach the Builder, crafts safer New Orleans homes via reliable roofing services. “The Academy classes cater to different experience levels and different interests. I had the construction business experience but needed to understand the craft,” says Zach. “You can’t be a great coach if you haven’t played football before.”

Outside of running his company, Zach enjoys using his in-demand skill set to give back to the community. To commemorate Memorial Day 2023, Zach and other students and graduates from BSA Greater New Orleans volunteered to help build a home for a veteran in the Lower 9th Ward.

2023 MVP Class Schedule
2023 MVP Class Schedule - HVAC