MHBA Monthly Member Profile: October (Professional Home Builders Institute)

Check out this interview with Keith Kristalovich (Vice President, Education & Training Partnerships) and Ileana Gomez (Manager, Admissions & Training Partnerships) , to learn more about this months featured member!

How long has your company been in business?
The Professional Home Builders Institute (PHBI) was established in 1987

What services do you offer?
We are an education institute that was established by builders, for builders. We focus on providing education and training that is specific to the new home builder industry. Since our inception, we’ve kept pace with the home construction industry’s ever-changing needs by designing and delivering practical education that meets or exceeds the national benchmarks established by the CHBA.

Describe your team in 3 words.
Helpful, Committed to Excellence, Fun

What is your company’s greatest achievement?
PHBI, started its grass roots in the province of Alberta in 1987 and has now grown into a national education & training provider supporting the new home builder industry from coast to coast. We are more than an education institute, we are industry. We have formed numerous industry or affiliated industry partnerships along the way including those with new home warranty providers, associated/industry stakeholders, an ever-growing subject matter expert base and home builder associations from across the country, including one with the MHBA. The partnerships are focused on providing new home builders access to current, high-level education & training offerings in order to support the industry in its ability to build better homes, sell more homes and improve their overall business and customer service skills.

What are your business goals for the upcoming year?
Continue to stay current with industry trends that require education and training. Develop and enhance training programs that support the trends. PHBI’s is presently planning to release a fenestration installation course in the back end of this year. The course is being developed in partnership with Fenestration Canada and will provide the new home builder industry access to a highly sought-after training program that will make a direct and positive impact to the quality of construction.

How long have you been a MHBA member?
PHBI has been an associate member since 2020.

Why did you decide to join the MHBA?
PHBI joined MHBA because it sees the value it brings to the local industry. PHBI wants to be part of this value equation in partnership with MHBA. Both our organizations are aligned on providing support, resources, advocation, education and training opportunities for the industry.

What is the best part about being a MHBA member?
The opportunities the MHBA provides PHBI to help support and network with the industry.

What is your favourite MHBA event?
The Fall Forum. PHBI prides itself in being a partner with the MHBA to provide education and training resources and facilitation on sought after industry topics to the MHBA membership at the Forum.

How has being a MHBA member benefited your business?
MHBA has provided PHBI a conduit to the local new home builder industry. In addition both organizations see value and are aligned on the power of education and training to enhance the skills and professionalism of its membership.

What is your favourite project that your company has done or service that you offer?
PHBI has had the opportunity to work on many projects over the years for the new home builder industry. One of the most recent successes was the development of its Leadership & Management Training Program in partnership with McGill University. This program provides the new home builder industry a high level training program (equivalent to university) over a just a couple a couple of days. The reviews to date of those that have taken the program so far have been excellent. We would highly encourage those looking at leadership and/or management training in their business to investigate this program.

What advice would you give to a business just starting out in your industry?
Keep education and training in the forefront of your business planning. Highly trained staff result in a higher performance of your business.

Anything else you would like to share about your company?
PHBI is planning to expand its partnership with the MHBA in the near future, including providing a direct link to access PHBI course offerings via the MHBA website. More information will be available to the MHBA membership soon.

Thank you to Keith Kristalovch (Vice President, Education & Training Partnerships) and Ileana Gomez (Manager, Admissions & Training Partnerships) and PHBI for participating in our Monthly Member Profile interview. Stay tuned to see who next month’s featured member will be! #MHBAMembersMatter