NAHB Mourns Passing of Former Staff Member Ignacio Cabrera
NAHB mourns the passing of Ignacio Cabrera, a longtime NAHB staff member, on July 12. He was 79.
Cabrera, who retired from NAHB in 2009 after more than 35 years of service, led the International Builders’ Show (IBS) sales team and was a catalyst in creating the extensive show experience that is IBS.
“Ignacio was a critical component to the success of IBS throughout his career at NAHB,” stated NAHB CEO Jim Tobin. “Without his drive and creativity, the show would not be what it is today.”
Originally born in Cuba, Cabrera grew up in Queens, New York, before moving to Washington, D.C. in 1968. He and his husband, Bill Sawyer, were frequent travelers and entertainers, and often hosted friends and family in their Georgetown home.
Cabrera is survived by his husband and his sister, Luisa Cabrera Mendoza, her husband Julio G. Mendoza, and their two daughters Cecilia and Gabriela.
A memorial mass was held for Cabrera on July 18 in Washington, D.C. Donations may be made to his favorite charity, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
Latest from NAHBNow
Sponsored Content
Dec 23, 2025
The 5 Types of Builders — and the One Built to ProsperMost builders want the same things: predictable profits, less stress, and a business that doesn’t grind them down year after year.
Construction Costs | Material Costs
Dec 23, 2025
Lumber Capacity Has Peaked for 2025An annual revision to the Federal Reserve G.17 Industrial Production report shows current sawmill production levels above 2017 by 7.5%, but just 0.3% above 2023 levels.
Latest Economic News
Economics
Dec 22, 2025
State-Level Employment Situation: September 2025In September 2025, nonfarm payroll employment was largely unchanged across states on a monthly basis, with a limited number of states seeing statistically significant increases or decreases. This reflects generally stable job counts across states despite broader labor market fluctuations. The data were impacted by collection delays due to the federal government shutdown.
Economics
Dec 19, 2025
Existing Home Sales Edge Higher in NovemberExisting home sales rose for the third consecutive month in November as lower mortgage rates continued to boost home sales, according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR). However, the increase remained modest as mortgage rates still stayed above 6% while down from recent highs. The weakening job market also weighed on buyer activity.
Economics
Dec 18, 2025
Lumber Capacity Lower Midway Through 2025Sawmill production has remained essentially flat over the past two years, according to the Federal Reserve G.17 Industrial Production report. This most recent data release contained an annual revision, which resulted in higher estimates for both production and capacity in U.S. sawmills.