Wichita Area Builders Association

08/28/2026

We’re trying something new: “Two-Minutes with Tyler”!

Although there’s no way to cover everything WABA does in two minutes, this will be a periodic, brief update on association activities and things we are paying attention to. In this episode, WABA President & CEO Tyler York discusses his time at NAHB’s Association Management Conference; WABA’s new three-year strategic plan; the Federal Reserve Chair’s warnings about inflation and what that may mean for the residential real estate market; the Kansas Economic Outlook Summit; and a new addition to WABA’s staff.

08/25/2026

We are excited to announce a new addition to our team! Introducing Angela Morales-Rivera, who will take the lead as WABA's Administrative Assistant, where she will help support the Association’s day-to-day operations and initiatives that advance our mission.

Angela brings strong organizational and communication skills to the role, along with a passion for helping teams stay organized and projects run smoothly. She also has a personal connection to the industry, having grown up with parents who work in the skilled trades.

Whether you call into the office or come in for a meeting, please introduce yourself to Angela and welcome her to the team!

08/24/2026

Help us celebrate Tyler York’s 40th birthday!

Today we are celebrating WABA’s President & CEO and a boss our team truly appreciates. Tyler’s leadership, hard work, sense of humor, and support for our team make a difference every day.

We may have gone a little overboard with the balloons, but a milestone like this deserves a big celebration! 🎈

Please help us fill the comments with birthday wishes and show Tyler just how appreciated he is!

Happy 40th Birthday, Tyler! We hope this year is your best one yet! 🎂

08/21/2026

WABA Build My Future 2026 is coming up on October 21st, and we’re looking for people and organizations ready to make an impact!

This hands on event introduces students to careers in construction and the skilled trades while connecting them with local businesses, educators, and industry professionals.

We’re looking for exhibitors, sponsors, volunteers, teachers, and students to get involved. If you know of a school that may be interested, please share this with them!

A huge thank you to our 2026 Build My Future sponsors for helping make this event possible. Your support gives students the opportunity to explore career paths, meet industry professionals, and experience the construction trades firsthand. We truly appreciate your investment in the next generation of our workforce!

Sign up or learn more here:
https://buildmyfuture.wabahome.com/

Questions about exhibiting or sponsorships? Contact Ashley at [email protected].

Questions for schools or teachers? Contact Kris Tina at [email protected].

Please share and help us inspire the next generation!

08/20/2026

Mark your calendars: the 2027 International Builders Show is back in Las Vegas and registration opens on September 1st.

Members of the Wichita Area Builders Association have specialized room rates at Resorts World, a short walk away from the Las Vegas Convention Center—or a quick ride in a Tesla via the Vegas Loop.

IBS is the largest expo and celebration of residential construction in the world. The Show takes place on February 2-4, 2027. You won’t want to miss it.

2 Weeks Until Registration Opens for One Epic Show ! 🎉

registration opens in 2 WEEKS!

Get ready to:

🏗️ Discover what’s new and next in residential construction.
💡 Learn fresh strategies and insights from the top experts.
🤝 Make the right connections that move your business forward.
🚀 Discover the hottest new products, ideas and solutions you can put to work immediately.

📅 September 1. Mark your calendar. , here we come! 🎰

08/15/2026

We beat the heat at Sand Creek Station in Newton for the Kansas Building Industry Association annual Build-PAC Golf Tournament! It was great to see HBA members from Topeka, Garden City, and Hutchinson join us in Newton.

Build-PAC is NAHB’s bipartisan political action committee. The more that Kansas raises for Build-PAC, the more it helps us support federal and state candidates who understand the issues affecting our businesses, our workforce and the communities we build. Staying engaged in elections and public policy matters because decisions made by elected officials have a direct impact on our industry. We appreciated having Marci Laffen (MarciLaffen4KSHouse District 12) join us for the day and riding the beverage cart with our staff!

🏆 Congratulations to our flight winners:

First Flight
🥇 Tyler England, True England, Mark Royer & Bruce Vaughn
🥈 Cole Flowers, Kord Sanders, Darren Young & Travis Young
🥉 Andrew Rhea, Seth Harmon, Dustin Sibley & Kirby Quinn

Second Flight
🥇 Michael Marnach, Adam Marnach, Melanie Marnach & Chad Relihan
🥈 Duane Schneider, Ron Killinger, Nick Niedens & Keegan Niedens
🥉 David Becker, Mark McKenna, Ryan McKenna & Josh Williams

⛳️ Closest-To-The-Pin: Jason Steuber
⛳️ Women’s Longest Drive: Anna Berblinger
⛳️ Men’s Longest Drive: Travis Young

A special thank-you to several of the sponsors who helped make the day possible:

• Lunch Co-Sponsors: Higgins Group, Inc. & Security 1st Title
• Beverage Stations: Wichita Winsupply, Professional Engineering Consultants (PEC) & First Security Bank
• Breakfast/Coffee Sponsor: Master Plumbing Inc – Darence Munsell
• Tee Top Sponsors: Jordan Spray Insulation & Kansas Builders Insurance Group (KBIG)
• Special Contests: WABA and Darren Ledgerwood, Insurance Agent (Eck Agency, Inc)
• Bourbon Raffle Donation: B & B Lumber Co. - Tom Baalmann
• Team Prize Awards Donation: Gary Bond & Mike Flores

And a huge thank-you to all of our corporate sponsors, hole sponsors, and raffle prize sponsors. There are simply too many generous supporters to name in one post, but each of you played a part in making this event a success. We appreciate your continued support of WABA, KBIA and Build-PAC! Last but certainly not least, we must recognize our Kansas Build-PAC trustee, Tom Baalmann, for leading the planning of this year’s tournament. And special thanks to NAHB State Rep Mike Pressgrove, KBIA Chairman Patrick O’Kane, and KBIA Executive Officer Keely Carney for traveling across the state to be a part of this tournament once again!

08/14/2026

Our friends at Fisher Lumber invited WABA's staff out to their truss plant in Andale this week, and we got a firsthand look at how an essential part of a home comes together.

Fisher Lumber has been serving Kansas communities since 1955. The Andale location joined Fisher Lumber in 2013 and, in 2025, transitioned exclusively to manufacturing roof and floor trusses.

So, what is a truss? It’s an engineered framework of lumber that provides structural support for a roof or floor. Each truss starts with a precise design, provided by our homebuilders' architects. Lumber is cut to exact lengths and angles, arranged into the specified configuration, and joined with metal connector plates that are pressed into the wood. The triangular configuration of a roof truss allows loads from the roof to be efficiently transferred to the building's supporting walls. Floor trusses work on a similar principle and can also provide open spaces for plumbing, electrical and HVAC systems.

Being able to see the process up close was a great reminder of the engineering, technology, precision and skilled craftsmanship behind every construction project.

Thank you to the Fisher Lumber team for the invitation and the tour! It was great to spend time with Joe Fisher, Derek Fisher, and Blake Welch at the plant. And extra special thanks to Jeremy Berblinger for arranging the visit and joining us. Jeremy serves on WABA's Executive Committee as our two-term Secretary & Treasurer, and was a Vice-Chair prior to that. He is incredibly involved in our Association and contributes to its success every day for the betterment of the local home-building industry.

08/13/2026

Did you know:
WABA covers a membership service area of seven counties in south-central Kansas, including Harvey County. And last night, our staff and several WABA members enjoyed the opportunity to attend a community event in Newton to learn more about the newest employer in town, GAF - Roofing.

Originally founded in 1886, GAF has become the leading manufacturer of residential roofing shingles in North America. In fact, one out of every four homes in the United States are protected by a GAF roof. And right now, they are building their first new manufacturing plant in two decades — in Newton, KS. The facility is expected to become operational toward the end of 2027, and full production capacity is expected to be achieved by mid 2029. This means an estimated more than 130 new jobs in Harvey County, on top of GAF’s current local employees who have joined since the announcement in 2025.

It’s exciting to see an investment of this scale taking shape in our region. Beyond the jobs created at the plant, projects like this mean new opportunities for local contractors, suppliers, businesses, and families throughout the region.

We appreciated learning more about the project, connecting with Newton’s civic leaders, and seeing the progress being made. Congratulations to Newton, KS City Government, Harvey County Economic Development, Greater Wichita Partnership and all those involved in recruiting not just a major employer for the region, but also a great community partner.

08/12/2026

We had a great time visiting with Scott Bishop and Angela Lang at Nordic Stone earlier today!

Scott moved his business to the current location on N. Webb in Bel Aire about 11 years ago. Nordic Stone’s 25,000 square foot showroom has over 700 slab options to choose from. Their team will work with builders, remodelers and homeowners to find the best countertop or sink to complement the surroundings and the home itself.

Angela has been part of Nordic Stone’s team for a little over a year. She is an active member of WABA’s Professional Women in Building, Next Gen and Remodelers Councils — and involved in so many other professional and charitable organizations. Angela, thank you for being a rockstar of a volunteer, for WABA and for the greater Wichita community!

From standard finishes to the exotic: Nordic Stone has everything from granite, marble, quartz and other common minerals—and they can even supply you with a sink carved from petrified wood! If you are planning on updating your kitchen, bathroom or outdoor living space, give Scott and Angela a call to discuss your project.

08/11/2026

We are proud to announce a new title and promotion for one of our team members: please help us congratulate Debra Moore, Chief of Administration!

"With Debra's 28 years of experience on WABA's staff, she has become vital to our team, and our members," said Tyler York, President & CEO. "The announcement today makes official the roles that Debra has already taken on through the goodness of her heart: helping prepare new team members for success after onboarding, and serving as a senior advisor to me with her long-term institutional knowledge. This is all in addition to her coordination of the Parade of Homes every spring and fall. Like everyone on our team, she is always willing to lend a helping hand. I couldn't be more thrilled to officially recognize Debra's efforts with this well-deserved new title."

Congratulations, Debra! We appreciate all that you do.