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

Economics

Jul 08, 2026

Where Is Home Building Employment Most Concentrated?

Despite nationwide job losses, residential construction remains a significant source of local employment in many markets, particularly in rural areas.

Digital Media

Jul 07, 2026

Pro Builder Accepting Nominations for 2026 Young Guns & Legends Awards

Pro Builder recently announced it is accepting nominations for the 2026 Young Guns & Legends Awards, which honor rising stars and career legends in the residential construction industry.

View all

Latest Economic News

Economics

Jul 08, 2026

Mortgage Activity Flat in June, ARM Share Decreases

Mortgage applications stalled in June as higher mortgage rates dampened market activity. The Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Market Composite Index, a measure of total mortgage application volume, stayed relatively unchanged with a marginal decrease of 0.3% month-over-month on a seasonally adjusted basis.

Economics

Jul 08, 2026

Characteristics of Homes in Age-Restricted Communities

In 2025, approximately 47,000 homes were built in age-restricted communities, representing 3.45% of all housing starts. According to the Census Bureau’s Survey of Construction, roughly two-thirds of these homes (30,000) were single-family units, while the remaining 17,000 were multifamily units.

Economics

Jul 07, 2026

Residential Construction Employment Concentrated in Rural and Smaller-Market Counties

Residential construction employment continued to soften in recent months, reflecting elevated interest rates, ongoing affordability challenges, and slower home building activity.