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
Jun 04, 2026
Highest Paid Occupations in Construction in 2025The median wage of payroll workers in construction was $61,370 in 2025, with the top 25% earning at least $83,480. In comparison, the U.S. median annual wage was $50,980, while the highest paid 25% earned at least $80,520.
Jun 03, 2026
Top OSHA Violations of 2025; No Increase in Penalties for 2026In 2025, improper fall protection was once again the most-cited violation of OSHA jobsite rules. A failure to protect against falls also featured prominently in three other violations in the top 10.
Latest Economic News
Jun 03, 2026
House Price Appreciation by State and Metro Area in the First Quarter of 2026U.S. house prices continued to rise in the first quarter of 2026, but appreciation slowed markedly from the rapid pace seen during the pandemic-era housing boom.
Jun 03, 2026
State-Level Employment Situation: April 2026State labor market conditions remained generally positive in April, with most states recording employment gains despite signs of moderating national job growth.
Jun 02, 2026
Slight Increase for Construction Job OpeningsThe number of open positions in the construction sector edged higher in April, per the Bureau of Labor Statistics Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS).