What the Lewis County Chapter of Olympia Master Builders Can Do For you
By Jill Williams, Communications Director of Olympia Master Builders
Olympia Master Builders (OMB) is a professional trade association representing companies located in Thurston, Lewis, Grays Harbor, Mason and Pacific Counties. OMB members come from all sectors of the building trades including home builders, remodelers, bankers, plumbers, electricians and attorneys.
The primary goal of OMB is to provide affordable housing for all economic segments of society. This is done by providing a voice before government, developing a professional building industry with educational and training classes, and by promoting and marketing our member services to the community.
OMB membership in Lewis County is about connections and collaboration with one another, as well as with the public. OMB partners with the local Chamber to bring public events, like the Home and Garden Show, that allow opportunities for the public to explore the ins and outs of our region’s finest builders, sub-contractors and associates. They also host monthly meetings to discuss the state of the building industry in Lewis County and issues that the area may be facing in the future. Members benefit greatly through networking and educating one another in this hands-on environment and have the chance to learn from their peers on how to network, create business plans, run effective meetings, and grow in leadership roles.
Becky Rieger, of Environmental Design, LLC., agrees, “The connections I have made through the Lewis County Chapter of OMB in the local building industry and in the community have been instrumental to the success of my company. The networking opportunities and public events continuously support our business growth, as well as provide personal, life-long friendships.”
One of the biggest assets of OMB is the Government Affairs Program, which is an effective political advocacy program in which OMB monitors regulatory changes in Lewis County such as permit fees, codes, zoning, planning, administrative reviews, procedures and policies, and advocates on behalf of the membership.
Erin Hall, OMB Government Affairs Director adds, “The Olympia Master Builders advocacy program works with city and county jurisdictions by developing relationships, providing expert insight, and testifying at public hearings. This work is all on behalf of OMB members to ensure their collective voice is heard on issues. This year, Olympia Master Builders Lewis County Chapter has worked to provide information on the implications of the Hirst fix, rural ADU requirements and much more.”
In a continued commitment to grow the local building industry and the community, the OMB Education Foundation offers scholarship grants to college or vocational/technical school bound students intending to pursue studies leading to a career in the construction industry. This year, the Education Foundation awarded over $13,000 in scholarships to seventeen students, four of which are from Lewis County, to assist them in financing their education.
OMB also provides a community service to Lewis County through their new online searchable database at omb.org and a printed membership directory. Both are a handy tool for the public to easily find members in Lewis County for hire in the industry.
Olympia Master Builders’ history of success is purely based on their active membership and their commitment to give back to the community. For more information about the Olympia Master Builders or how to apply for membership, please visit omb.org or call (360) 754-0912.
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