NAHB Taps New Head for Political Action Committee

BUILD-PAC is the political action committee of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), one of the most influential lobbying groups in Washington. The PAC raises funds from NAHB's 140,000+ members to support pro-housing, pro-business candidates at the federal level, spending nearly $3 million in a single recent election cycle. The NAHB's key policy priorities include addressing housing affordability, developing the workforce, managing material costs, and reforming housing finance. The association actively lobbies Congress on issues like burdensome regulations, building codes, and energy efficiency standards that can impact the cost of new homes. For example, the NAHB has advocated against certain energy code updates, estimating they could add up to $31,000 to the price of a new home. Will Cooper, Jr., brings a background in both affordable housing and legislative affairs to his new role. As President and CEO of WNC, a company that has acquired over $21.5 billion in affordable housing properties, he has overseen the creation and preservation of more than 120,000 units across 49 states. His prior experience includes working in government and legislative affairs for Honda North America. For business students aiming for construction management, skills in budgeting, strategic planning, and leadership are highly transferable. Entry-level roles like Project Engineer or Assistant Project Manager often serve as a gateway, providing on-the-job training in the technical aspects of construction. Emphasizing analytical and business skills can be a key advantage for graduates without a dedicated construction degree. The B2B sales landscape in construction is increasingly digital. Companies now use e-commerce platforms for everything from material procurement to project-based pricing. Sales professionals need to be adept at using CRM systems and other sales automation tools to identify and nurture leads, as traditional methods like cold calling are becoming less effective. Key decision-makers in this space include project owners, general contractors, procurement managers, and architects.