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
Aug 05, 2026
Spring Membership Drive Rewards Strongest HBA RecruitersForty-eight home builders associations (HBAs) achieved tremendous recruitment and retention success in the 2026 Membership Drive program.
Aug 04, 2026
Podcast: 2 Key Lawmakers Explain Challenges in Passing Major Housing BillOn the latest episode of NAHB’s podcast, Housing Developments, CEO Jim Tobin and COO Paul Lopez are joined by Reps. Mike Flood (R-Neb.) and Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.) to discuss the importance of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act and how they worked together to finalize this once-in-a-generation housing package.
Latest Economic News
Aug 04, 2026
Construction Job Openings RisingThe number of open positions in the construction sector increased in June, 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.
Aug 03, 2026
Residential Construction Spending Slips as Remodeling Activity WeakensPrivate residential construction spending declined 0.3% in June, while substantial downward revisions to improvement (remodeling) spending significantly altered the sector’s recent trajectory.
Jul 31, 2026
Housing’s Share of GDP Moves Lower in the Second QuarterHousing’s share of the economy was 15.8% in the second quarter of 2026, according to the latest estimates of GDP produced by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. This share is down from 15.9% in the first quarter and is at the lowest level since 2019.