Member of the Quarter: Ben Anderson

Category: Member-Features
08/05/2022

Member enjoys seeing ‘aha’ moments when young people find a trade

Ben Anderson, president and CEO of Benjamin Custom Homes, has an innate passion for showing young people “the good life” that comes from learning new skills and working in the construction trades.

His main involvement with HBA of F-M is serving as president of Home Builders Care of F-M Foundation and on the Foundation’s Executive Committee. He volunteers at the Herdina Construction Trades Camp, speaks in high school and college classrooms, actively fundraises at HBA events, and advocates for the industry every chance he gets!

"Member of the Quarter” recognition is a means for HBA of F-M staff to shine a spotlight on members who consistently go above and beyond the call of duty, eagerly volunteering their time for the betterment of the Association or Home Builders Care of F-M Foundation while promoting themselves within the community.

Ben volunteers at the 2022 Herdina Construction Trades Camp, teaching carpentry skills.

Ben says, “My involvement has led to wonderful employee hires and placed me with peers and professionals that have helped build me into a stronger advocate and business leader.”

 

Benjamin Custom Homes is a regular Parade of Homes participant and supporter of Association events and Ben assisted in constructing the “She Shed” that was raffled to benefit the Foundation this spring.

He loves speaking with high schoolers around the Fargo-Moorhead area about the opportunities in the trades that are available to them.

“Students are usually surprised when they learn of the high wages available to them and the open pathway to self-employment,” he says.

 

Ben’s favorite volunteer effort in 2022 was teaching at the Herdina Trades Camp. He enjoys seeing the “aha!” moments when young people find a trade that fits them, and feeding their hunger to learn.

Ben presents the Home Builders Care Foundation scholarship at the Herdina Camp graduation.

It’s safe to assume that he recognizes that same trait from when he was a teenager. Ben built his first custom home at age 15 and has been in the trade for 21 years. Just like the kids he now mentors, he has been a student of the trades and eager to learn new techniques since the beginning.  

HBA Executive Vice President Krista Mund says, “Ben is the first to raise his hand to assist the HBA’s Student Chapter members in their presentations to compete at the National Association of Home Builders’ International Builders Show, and he never hesitates to visit their chapter meetings to discuss scholarship opportunities. Ben was also an eager cheerleader in the Foundation’s Giving Hearts Day fundraising efforts and has taken a lead role in coordinating fundraising efforts at our Golf Outings this summer.”

When not working or volunteering, he spends his time with his kids coaching little league baseball or football and wake surfing, hanging out with friends, and loving his wife who is his everything.

More about Association and Foundation involvement:

Home Builders Care Foundation: Home Builders Care is the charitable arm of the Home Builders Association. It provides a positive outlet for the housing industry to give back to the community, building a framework for the future. Home Builders Care Foundation has supported students with $338,226 in scholarships and has given over $525,000 to community projects.

 Herdina Construction Trades Advisory Committee: Industry pros are the ideal pick for this advisory committee which coordinates hands-on activities offered to teens during the two-week summer academy. It takes many different trades volunteers to provide a well-rounded experience for the student learners to get a taste of everything from pouring the foundation to framing up the roof. But it’s not all committee work. Take your skills to the jobsite and work with students to share your expertise and love for what you do.

written by Krista Mund, Executive Vice President and Elizabeth Kosel, Education & Public Affairs Coordinator