The 2015 Tyler Area Builders Association Executive Committee (from left) includes: Executive Vice President Libby Simmons; Vice President Erin Wright; Assistant Secretary/Treasurer John McKinney; Past President Kerry Hamblett; President Gary Bayless; Associate Council President Max Anderson and Secretary/Treasurer Clyde Beaty.

Longtime professionals in the homebuilding industry were honored for their work Tuesday by the Tyler Area Builders Association.

Ed Thompson, 52, developer and builder, received the Life Director Award after serving on TABA’s board of directors for 10 years.

Kerry Hamblett, who served as TABA’s president in 2014, received the Builder of the Year Award. Max Anderson, who is serving as associate council president this year, was given the Associate of the Year Award.

 

LIFE DIRECTOR

Thompson said he was surprised to receive the Life Director Award, which he said was a great honor because it recognized his dedication and love he has for TABA.

“I haven’t felt that good since childhood,” he said. “It makes me feel complete.”

Thompson was nominated as a Life Director in recognition of his vital leadership role to TABA, representatives said. A Life Director is a prestigious designation awarded by the Board of Directors to past board members who have been a driving force in the association. Life Directors serve as honorary board members and retain voting power in association affairs.

Thompson joined TABA in 2002, shortly after he began his first development, Lavender Estates. He said he saw the good things the organization did for the community and he wanted to be a part of it.

He worked as an electrician at Tyler Pipe for more than 12 years and Goodyear for 15 years. Since then, he has developed hundreds of acres, primarily in North Tyler, into a community of senior living, apartments, houses and retail centers.

He was just getting into developing and building when he joined TABA and older members who had been where he was were very supportive and several times “saved me from learning it the hard way,” Thompson said.

“It touched something in my heart,” he said. Because they had helped him, he wanted to help new members and has done that throughout the years.

“It’s a family … and I guess that’s why I served for so long,” Thompson said of TABA. “I wanted to make it better than it was when I came in and I hope I did that.”

Thompson believes he challenged every board member and president since he came on the board in 2004. He considers himself a forward thinker, but said the other members always valued his opinion.

Thompson never wanted to be president of TABA and prefers working behind the scenes. In his 10 years on the board, he has been involved on several committees, including for the organization’s annual parade and expo, and on the budget and finance committee. Through the years, he has enjoyed the education, camaraderie and networking within TABA and he encourages other builders to become involved.

“I did anything they asked of me and a lot of things that weren’t asked,” he said, adding that he was ready, willing and able to go above and beyond his duties.

Thompson has served on several community boards, including the Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Committee. He is also on the board of Texas State Plumbers Examiners and serves on the Tyler Economic Development Council, the city developer roundtable and the affordable housing committee.

“If you want a better community, you’ve got to get involved,” Thompson said.

He plans to continue to be active in TABA.

 

BUILDER OF YEAR

Hamblett said he was surprised to receive the “Builder of the Year” Award from TABA.

“It made me feel great,” he said. “I really appreciated it.”

Hamblett, 51, always has been interested in homebuilding. But it was only after working for a Fortune 500 company for 22 years in sales and marketing that he decided to follow in the footsteps of his grandfather and great-grandfather.

In 1995, Hamblett constructed his own house and in 2006, he began building houses as a side business. After U.S. Smokeless Tobacco was bought out, he got his walking papers and decided to make homebuilding a full-time career.

He admits he got into the construction business at the worst possible time. But he survived the economic downturn and building 10 houses in 2014, he had the best year he has had so far. He already has five houses under construction now.

Hamblett primarily builds houses in South Tyler, Flint and Gresham. He became a member of TABA in 2006. Because of his corporate background, he said he wanted to join the organization for peer interaction and soon became more involved.

“It was great serving” as president, Hamblett said.

Hamblett is serving as a director for the Texas Association of Builders this year.

In 2011, Hamblett participated as a mentor to the National Association of Home Builders’ student chapter at The University of Texas at Tyler and led students in the Residential Construction Management Competition at the International Builders Show. He has served as TABA’s Education chairman and Parade of Homes chairman.

Fellow TABA members nominated Hamblett as Builder of the Year for his wisdom and strong leadership of the association, representatives said.

 

ASSOCIATE OF YEAR

Anderson, 66, said he was surprised about receiving the Associate of the Year Award Tuesday.

“It was a great honor that I was chosen,” Anderson said.

Anderson was in the restaurant, baking and insurance businesses and got into the flooring business six years ago when Floors & Interiors came up for sale. The business was started in 1999, has five employees and offers all types of flooring for commercial and residential customers.

Anderson said it is his fourth year to serve on the TABA board and he became a member of the association in 2009.

“It’s a great way of networking in the industry,” he said.

As associate council president this year, Anderson will serve on the executive board and will represent the 400 to 500 associate members who are in businesses that support the home building industry.

Anderson has chaired the Social Events Committee and Home Products Show Committee and served on the Board of Directors. He was nominated for his enthusiasm and dedication to TABA, representatives said.

“It’s a great association to be a part of,” Anderson said. “Tyler is very fortunate it has the quality of builders it has … The association is all about the integrity of its builder members.”

 

OFFICERS

Also during the general membership luncheon at Hollytree Country Club Tuesday, Mayor Martin Heines installed the 2015 TABA officers.

New officers include President Gary Bayless; Vice President Erin Wright; Secretary/Treasurer Clyde Beaty; Assistant Secretary/Treasurer John McKinney; Immediate Past President Kerry Hamblett; and Executive Vice President Libby Simmons.

Directors (builders) are Jeff Andreason, Jason Campbell, Steve Cooper, Carlton Edwards, Trey Hunt, Mike Pardue, Roy Williamson and James Wilson.

Directors (associates) are Max Anderson (chairman), Sheila Dixon, Ryan Hall, Sam Oliphant and Shane Hagen.

TABA serves an area that covers Anderson, Cherokee, Freestone, Henderson, Navarro, Smith, Wood and Van Zandt counties.

Its mission is “Building Better Builders” by promoting quality, accountability and professionalism in the industry.