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
May 08, 2026
Win Business with NAHB's Newest Master CredentialsCertified Master Building Professional (CMBP) and Certified Master Remodeling Professional (CMRP) are designed to set the most accomplished builders and remodelers apart from the rest.
May 07, 2026
5 Important Contributions Home Builders Don't Get Enough Credit ForThe housing affordability conversation has many villains and very few heroes. Builders rarely make either list, which is part of the problem.
Latest Economic News
May 07, 2026
Multifamily Developer Confidence Holds Steady in First QuarterThe Multifamily Production Index (MPI) had a reading of 44, unchanged year-over-year, while the Multifamily Occupancy Index (MOI) had a reading of 69, dropping 13 points year-over-year.
May 06, 2026
State-Level Employment Situation: March 2026State labor market conditions showed modest improvement in March, with job gains concentrated in several large states and the construction sector continuing to expand. However, employment declines across a number of states and mixed unemployment rate trends point to uneven momentum across regional economies.
May 06, 2026
Slight Rise for Open Construction Jobs in MarchThe number of open positions in the construction sector edged higher in March, per the Bureau of Labor Statistics Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS). The current level of open jobs is down measurably from three years ago due to declines in construction activity, particularly in housing.