FBMA's Main Event and Gulf Atlantic Building Products Expo Just Six Weeks Away!

Hotel Reservations - To insure a room at Rosen Shingle Creek Resort and Convention Center, reservations must be made by July 30. To make your reservation, visit FBMA.org or call 866-996-6338. Make sure to identify yourself with FBMA to get the $159 rate. Shingle Creek will not have any rooms available after our room block is sold out so make your reservations today!

Kick-Off Breakfast - The Kick-off Breakfast will be held on Thursday, August 22 beginning at 7:30 a.m. Our Keynote Speaker is legendary football quarterback and now Analyst for THE NFL TODAY, BOOMER ESIASON. The cost is $89 per person. For a limited time, you may purchase a table for 10 for only $750, a savings of $140 so bring your customers—bring your staff—to this exciting event.

Tom Stead Memorial Golf Tournament - The Tom Stead Memorial Golf Tournament will return to Orange County National Golf Center and Lodge in Orlando on Wednesday, August 21. We are expecting around 240 golfers so you will want to sign up early!

Hall of Fame Luncheon - The Hall of Fame Luncheon, Thursday, August 22 at 11:30 a.m. allows everyone to see old friends and people from our industry. Please join us as we welcome our new honorees, Don Magruder with Ro-Mac Lumber and Supply, Inc. and Don Viscio with BlueLinx Corporation, and recognize our prestigious list of alumni that we have honored over the years. We encourage audience participation. We pass the microphone around the room and friends have a chance to tell the audience something about one of our honorees, a personal story, how they met or how that person has impacted their life since knowing them. This proves to be great fun and everyone enjoys the comments.

Executive Industry Panel Discussion - The 2019 FBMA Executive Panel, Thursday August 22 at 9:45 a.m. will be a must attend event as Don Magruder will host housing and construction leaders from throughout the state of Florida to discuss, "How Will Florida's New Homes of the Future Change?" Cost, regulations, and generational shifts are disrupting housing paradigm, and the housing industry must change drastically housing design and concepts to keep cost affordable for most Floridians. Most experts recognize huge changes in housing are coming and this panel will discuss their views of the future. This diverse panel of experts will discuss how you must change today to survive tomorrow.

Once in a Lifetime Motivational Breakfast with Sgt. Joey Jones - Combat-wounded Staff Ser-geant (Ret.) Johnny "Joey" Jones turned a traumatic, life-changing disability into a personal mission to improve the lives of all veterans. He is an outspoken military analyst for Fox News and Chief Operating Officer for the Boot Campaign and also appeared on CNN, Nightline and CBS. Rather it be on live television, in writing, or speaking to a live audience, Joey's genuine demeanor, thoughtful approach and innate humor allow him to masterfully connect with people of all walks of life on a gambit of issues. He simply believes we all need the opportunity to tell ourselves it's time to, "Get up, Get Over it, and Get Going."

He was raised in Dalton, Georgia and enlisted in the Marine Corps after high school. During his eight years of service, he worked as an Explosive Ordnance Disposal (bomb) Technician, deploying to both Iraq and Afghanistan on separate tours. During his last deployment to Afghanistan, Jones was responsible for disarming and destroying more than 80 improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and thousands of pounds of other unknown bulk explosives. It was during that tour on August 6, 2010 when he stepped on and initiated an IED, resulting in the loss of both of his legs above the knee and severe damage to his right forearm and both wrists. He has shared his experiences with service members at the White House as a guest of President Obama in 2012, and later with former President George W. Bush in 2014.

The breakfast will take place on Friday, August 23 at 9:00 a.m.

Pre-Centennial Bash - "Come Join the Fun" Everyone is invited. All attendees with badges are welcome. Don't miss out on the fun! We are celebrating early as your association is gearing up for its 100th year anniversary.

After a full day of events, plan to attend the "big" party. There will be games, heavy hors d'oeuvres, music and a wide variety of refreshments. All attendees will be given one drink ticket.

The Pre-Centennial Bash hours give attendees an opportunity to come right from the trade show or freshen up first. Arrive in dinner attire or dress how you feel...shorts, flop flops or whatever.

You can make the "bash" your last event of the evening or meet friends, customers there to plan the rest of your night.

So, come early, stay late.....the choice is yours but don't miss this exciting party!

Gulf Atlantic Building Products Expo At our Gulf Atlantic Building Products Expo this year, FBMA has invited the International Hurricane Protection Association (IHPA) to offer a new look to our trade show floor. IHPA is a statewide association that supports the hurricane industry. This year, we are designating a portion of our show floor for "Hurricane Lane". Hurricane Lane will consist of an entire isle of exhibitors displaying hurricane related products. This joint effort will increase over all attendance on the show floor as both FBMA and IHPA members will be walking the isles to visit all exhibitors.

Builders Day During our "Main Event", FBMA and IHPA are proclaiming Friday, August 23, as "Builders Day". Both associations are teaming up to invite builders from around the state as well as the Orlando Builders Association to attend our trade show and convention. Our combined goal is to increase builder and contractor attendance at the Main Event. It is also a great way for our retail dealers to network with their customers and enjoy the show.

Questions? Contact Betty at betty@fbma.org or call 352.383.0366.