flexiblefullpage
Currently Reading

NAHB Student Competition Set Me Up for Success

Advertisement
billboard
NAHB

NAHB Student Competition Set Me Up for Success

Exposure to a variety of aspects of home building plus career opportunities are just some of the benefits of participating in NAHB's Student Competition


By Jordyn Croom, Manager of Land Acquisition and Entitlements at Oakwood Homes June 11, 2021
Row of light bulbs
This article first appeared in the NAHB Builder Outlook 2021 issue of Pro Builder.

The NAHB Student Competition is a monumental project that gives students an opportunity to be exposed to all the facets of the home building industry.

For most construction management students, the focus of their studies is on building science, estimating, scheduling and the process of constructing homes, buildings, and infrastructure. However, to be successful in this competition, students must broaden their scope of understanding and think about more than just the construction operations by looking at projects in their entirety from soup to nuts.

Instead of just focusing on the role of an onsite construction manager/supervisor, they get to play the role of market analyst, financial analyst, landscape architect, sales counselor, marketing manager and operations manager. It is the ultimate test of critical thinking skills. Furthermore, the actual deliverable for the competition is very much like what any company would turn in to their asset/investment committee for approval of new projects. This competition is about as “real world” as it gets.


Light bulbs

 

During the two years that I competed, I had the amazing opportunity of working with highly talented professionals that formed the foundations of the local network that I came to build as a professional in the industry.

 


 

For myself, this competition exposed me to the vast expanses of the home building industry. From my classes at University of Denver, I knew that I was interested in this industry, but I did not fully come to realize the many opportunities that exist within the industry until this competition. During the two years that I competed, I had the amazing opportunity of working with highly talented professionals that formed the foundations of the local network that I came to build as a professional in the industry. In fact, it was thanks to the competition that I was offered an incredible job with Oakwood Homes after graduation.

After finishing presenting with my NAHB Student competition team, the Chief Operating Officer from Oakwood Homes, who had been sitting in the audience during the presentation, approached me and asked if I would be interested in being one of the first rotational associates in their pioneering, accelerated leadership program. Three years later, I am a manager of entitlement and acquisition for the Oakwood Land Company, and I continue to utilize the skills I acquired in this competition every day.

 

Advertisement
leaderboard2

Related Stories

Business Management

WOTUS Rulings Cause Confusion for Home Builders

NAHB Housing Policy Briefing: Lack of clarity for land developers and builders regarding waters of the United States; construction labor market update

Awards

Apply Now for the 2024 Best of IBS Awards

The 2024 Best of IBS Awards are now open for applications

Women in Construction

Professional Women Builders Inspire Change in Their Communities

The National Association of Home Builders recognizes women who are having a positive impact on the industry

Advertisement
boombox2

Top Articles

Advertisement
boombox1
Advertisement
native1
halfpage2

More in Category

COVID-19 may be easing its grip on the U.S. after a disastrous two years, but lingering supply chain disruptions have builders holding onto their pandemic business tactics

An archive of NHQA-winning companies that represent home building's best in Total Quality Management

Don’t let the current hype about single-family B2R communities obscure the need to create long-term sustainability and asset value

Advertisement
native2
Advertisement
halfpage1

Create an account

By creating an account, you agree to Pro Builder's terms of service and privacy policy.


Daily Feed Newsletter

Get Pro Builder in your inbox

Each day, Pro Builder's editors assemble the latest breaking industry news, hottest trends, and most relevant research, delivered to your inbox.

Save the stories you care about

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet lorem ipsum dolor sit amet lorem ipsum dolor sit amet.

The bookmark icon allows you to save any story to your account to read it later
Tap it once to save, and tap it again to unsave

It looks like you’re using an ad-blocker!

Pro Builder is an advertisting supported site and we noticed you have ad-blocking enabled in your browser. There are two ways you can keep reading:

Disable your ad-blocker
Disable now
Subscribe to Pro Builder
Subscribe
Already a member? Sign in
Become a Member

Subscribe to Pro Builder for unlimited access

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.