HBA Honors Late Builder by Creating Grants for Young Professionals

IBS
Published

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

Subscribe to NAHBNow

Log in or create account to subscribe to notifications of new posts.

Log in to subscribe

Latest from NAHBNow

Membership

Mar 10, 2026

NAHB Announces 7 Fall Recruitment Competition Winners

For their efforts, top Builder winners earned LG laundry machines, and Associate winners and all runners-up earned International Builders’ Show (IBS) VIP ticket packages, including registration to the show, IBS House Party tickets, opening ceremony seat reservations and VIP Closing Concert tickets.

Building Systems Councils

Mar 09, 2026

Laura Dwyer Wins SA Walters Lifetime Achievement Award for Systems Built Housing

The NAHB Building Systems Councils has awarded the S.A. Walters Award for Lifetime Achievement in Systems Built Housing to Laura Dwyer, recognizing her decades of leadership, innovation, and service to the homebuilding industry.

View all

Latest Economic News

Economics

Mar 10, 2026

AD&C Loan Volume Falls Despite Declining Financing Costs

Single-family construction lending fell in the fourth quarter, according to data released by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC).

Economics

Mar 09, 2026

Lower Mortgage Rates Boost Refinancing While Purchase Activity Slows

Mortgage application activity increased month-over-month as the 30-year fixed mortgage rates reached a three-year low.

Economics

Mar 06, 2026

U.S. Economy Loses 92,000 Jobs in February

The U.S. labor market weakened in February, as payroll employment declined and the unemployment rate rose to 4.4%. The cooling labor market could place the Federal Reserve in a challenging position as policymakers weigh slower job growth against inflation pressures from rising oil prices.