If you're looking for EEBA's new CEO, Aaron Smith, you'll likely find him in Minneapolis working on a remodeling project or playing outdoors with his family. Whether he's gardening, hiking, nordic skiing, downhill skiing, or playing hockey, his love of being outside is evident through the activities he and his wife, Jennifer, engage in with their three boys.
Aaron's extensive resume includes over 20 years in construction, building products, sustainability and non-profit board leadership. He also has considerable experience in sales and business development and believes his current position with EEBA is a culmination of all of the subject matter he's been passionate about during his life. His grandfather was a builder in Minneapolis and played a pivotal role in his love for the building industry.
“There's such a pride in building something,” says Smith. “My grandfather taught me early on that when you build something, it could be there forever. That stuck with me. There's something satisfying about building and providing a home, and joy, for someone. Our legacy is what we leave behind.”
He has always been driven by his grandfather's ideology and feels privileged for the opportunity to impact people - forever.
Aaron sees EEBA as a curator and educator with the important purpose of bringing people together and learning from each other. Focusing on four common themes within the organization - energy, water, human health, and resilience - and building upon an existing foundation, he believes EEBA can further assist builders improving their own techniques within these four pillars and beyond.
In 2020 you'll see improvements to the EEBA and Summit websites as they become more user-friendly. You'll also see an increase in EEBA's social media presence and outreach, as well as the edition of new Builder Benchmark Groups, a program focused on bringing builders together to learn how to both build sustainably and operate their businesses sustainably. In addition, EEBA has partnered with Thrive Home Builders and Pro Builder magazine to bring the Ultimate Z.E.N. (Zero Energy Now) home to the Summit in Denver, showcasing what it takes to build a zero energy decarbonized home.
“EEBA is a great organization with a great history and foundation,” says Smith. “I'm excited to bring a fresh viewpoint from a builder point-of-view. We have amazing people involved with EEBA but we need to touch more people and get more builders involved and move the entire industry forward.”
Aaron and the whole EEBA team will be out at the High Performance Home Summit in Denver September 29-October 1. Make sure you reserve your spot and be ready to ask Aaron about his spring chickens and love of cats (you'll have to attend the event to learn more).