Issue link: http://digital.nexsitepublishing.com/i/1127356
Earning Our Reputation BY BONNIE GEERS 2019 MBAKS PRESIDENT QUADRANT HOMES MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT An association like MBAKS is only as good as its reputation All too often, reputation is reduced to a problem of brand management—as if a good public relations plan, SEO, and advertising alone can earn a company a decent reputation At MBAKS, we understand that a strong reputation is not something that is bought, but something that is earned In the homebuilding industry, businesses live and die by their reputation and having a reputation for integrity, trust, and professionalism helps drive success If we're lucky, these principles will translate into homebuyer loyalty and new referrals But just saying we have these principles isn't enough We must live them throughout our day-to-day work It is essential for businesses—especially ones that provide a service as critical as housing—to treat every customer with respect and every project like it matters most Consistently working with integrity will earn your business a positive reputation The same is true of MBAKS Our association and our overall industry's reputations are based on the respect we show and care we have for our fellow members and businesses, customers, communities, trades professionals, and elected officials—even those with whom we may disagree When I talked to state legislators at Hill Day in Olympia on April 2, I was struck by the esteem and trust they expressed for MBAKS, both for our representatives and our thoughtful approach to tackling housing issues The reputation MBAKS and our members have earned is paying off; we were treated as part of the solution this past legislative session If we continue to do our best work, our reputation will only grow Our association and our overall industry's reputations are based on the respect we show and care we have for our fellow members and businesses, customers, communities, trades professionals, and elected officials— even those with whom we may disagree. 4 master builder SUMMER 2019 in every issue