HBA Honors Late Builder by Creating Grants for Young Professionals
Derek Weiss was an ambitious business owner whose work brought bespoke and handcrafted millworks, cabinetry and furniture pieces to Detroit. The third-generation carpenter who worked at Home Dimensions Custom Carpentry in Holly, Mich., tragically passed away at the age of 39 in 2021.
In his honor, the Home Builders Association of Southeastern Michigan announced four $1,000 grants for HBA members to attend the 2025 NAHB International Builders’ Show (IBS), an event Weiss greatly benefited from in growing his business.
The grants were made by the 3 Rivers Community Foundation to four individuals aged 40 or younger, who are licensed remodelers or builders in Michigan and current members of the HBA.
The awardees are:
- Jacob Morris Beer of Nosan Signature Homes in Farmington Hills
- Hussein Mokahal of The LED Lion, Inc. in Dearborn Heights
- Gordon Russell III of Russell Building Company in St. Clair Shores
- Maxwell Zervos of Zervos Construction in Farmington
Latest from NAHBNow
Jul 15, 2026
One-Story Homes Becoming More Popular in New BuildsOver half of new single-family homes built in 2025 were two or more stories. But the share of homes started with two or more stories fell in 2025, reflecting increased building activity in regions that prefer single-story homes.
Jul 14, 2026
Get Big Summer Discounts on NAHB BuilderBooks' Top TitlesLooking for the best residential construction books to read in 2026? NAHB BuilderBooks titles offer practical insights you can put to work immediately.
Latest Economic News
Jul 15, 2026
Building Material Prices Continue to Rise Despite Energy Price DeclinesResidential building material prices, excluding energy, rose 0.5% in June and were up 4.6% from a year ago. Lower energy prices were apparent in June, as energy input prices fell 10.3% over the month. Meanwhile, prices for services rose 5.2% over the year, and were up 1.0% from the previous month.
Jul 15, 2026
Single-Family Permitting Continued to Weaken Through MayState-level permitting activity continued to reflect a divided housing market through the first five months of 2026. Elevated mortgage rates and ongoing affordability challenges continued to weigh on single-family construction across much of the country, while multifamily permitting remained comparatively stronger, supported by gains in several regions despite continued weakness in parts of the South.
Jul 14, 2026
Inflation Cooled in June as Gas Prices EasedInflation slowed to 3.5% in June from a three-year high last month, driven by a mid-June ceasefire agreement that stabilized oil markets and lowered energy prices.