A local builders group has selected a new executive officer to carry out its mission.
The Dallas Builders Association (DBA) named Gena Godinez as its newest executive officer on Wednesday, marking the organization’s first major leadership change in about a decade, according to a DBA news release.
“We are excited to have Gena join our team. Her vast knowledge, past experience and positive attitude allows her to step in and keep the Association operating at the highest level,” said DBA President John Porizek, one of the seven members of a committee that selected Godinez for the role.
“We look forward to being able to learn from her past successes, and Gena, in turn, having the opportunity to learn from our staff’s accomplishments in their individual roles,” he said, per the news release.
As the organization’s new top official, Godinez will use her nearly 20 years of experience as executive officer at the West Texas Home Builders Association (WTHBA) in Lubbock to ensure local members are able to build quality housing for residents and communities in the Dallas area.
Besides serving as executive officer in Lubbock for 18 years, Godinez also co-founded West Texas Hero Homes, a non-profit organization that specializes in building mortgage-free homes for veterans and first responders.
Despite her wealth of experience serving the building community in West Texas, Godinez will have to adapt to the circumstances builders face in Dallas, including a housing supply shortage, slow permitting times, and construction delays, among other development setbacks.
In July, former DBA Executive Officer Phil Crone officially stepped down from his role for a new position as vice president at Leading Builders of America (LBA), a national builders association based in Washington, D.C., which provides policy analysis, research, and information related to the impact legislative and regulatory decisions have on the housing market.
“I’ve been warmed by all the well wishes,” Crone told The Dallas Express prior to his departure in July. “On one hand, it can be difficult to move on after 17 years, but on the other hand, it will be good to take on new challenges with the knowledge and expertise gained over the years.”
During her time in West Texas, Godinez doubled WTHBA’s membership, making it the third-largest local homebuilders association in the state and earning her multiple accolades for the accomplishment.
“I am very proud of the success that the WTHBA has had over the past 18 years,” said Godinez in a statement, per the news release. “I look forward to this new opportunity and feel privileged to be able to lead such a prestigious organization as the Dallas Builders Association.”