Committees









Housing First Minnesota Committees & Task Forces

Advocacy Committee

The Advocacy Committee meets quarterly and provides strategic guidance regarding our five major areas of Housing First Minnesota's modern, comprehensive advocacy program: Legislative, Electoral, Regulatory, Legal, and Issue Advocacy.

We envision a world in which all who seek to own a home in Minnesota can do so and strive to provide the opportunity for homeownership for everyone, everywhere in our state. To achieve this, we seek to elevate housing and make it as vital to policymakers and influencers as the industry is to Minnesota's economy. As the leading voice for Minnesota builders, remodelers, trade partners, and their homeowners, we defend against onerous regulations and legislation that threatens housing affordability, and we support ordinances, legislation, programs, and policies that make sensible and cost-effective land use and building practices a priority.

*Given the sensitivity of issues discussed, this is a closed committee.

2025 Committee Chair – Andrew LeJeune, GlassArt Design.

Housing First Minnesota Staff – Mark Foster







Ambassador Committee

The Housing First Minnesota Ambassador Committee focuses its energy on recruiting new members and engaging current members. To achieve this, we strive to ensure that all members and prospects understand our core purpose and the breadth of services provided, all of which ultimately help them enjoy success in their businesses. Committee members must be well-versed in Housing First Minnesota so they may represent the organization effectively at trade shows and other industry opportunities, as well as welcome new members. In order to serve on the Housing First Minnesota Ambassador Committee, you must have been an association member for at least one year and have attended at least three events.

2025 Committee Chair – Karyn Braddock, Bloom Builders, LLC

Housing First Minnesota Staff - Kim Carter, Devin Lehnhoff



Artisan Home Tour Committee

Comprised of builders and remodelers who participate in the annual Artisan Home Tour, this closed committee is charged with broad oversight of the tour, including affirming entrance standards and offering guidance to staff regarding tour rules.

*This is a closed committee.

2025 Committee Chair – Amy Hendel, Hendel Homes

Housing First Minnesota Staff – Kate Gunderson



BIG Night Task Force

The BIG Night Committee plans and executes the Housing First Minnesota Building Industry Gala (BIG). The BIG Night is an exceptional evening of networking and is our industry celebration that showcases the best in the industry with Housing First Minnesota awards. Major Housing First Minnesota awards are given at the BIG Night: the Reggie, Trillium, ROMA, Bennie, Builder of the Year, Remodeler of the Year, Associate of the Year, Advocate of the Year, Legislator of the Year, Building Housing First Minnesota, MN Green Path Leadership Award, Rising Star, Robert L. Hanson Lifetime Achievement Award, and the Housing Industry Leader of the Year Award.

2025 Task Force Co-Chairs – Jon Coty DWELL44 & Kate Lawless O'Hara Interiors

Housing First Minnesota Staff – Mary Catherine Penny




Builders & Remodelers Show (BRS) Task Force

The BRS Committee places a strong focus on the Builders and Remodelers Show (BRS) to ensure that the event continues to be a premier opportunity to connect associates to their clients. 

2024 Task Force Chair (2025 show) – Masha Romer, Lelch Audio Video

Housing First Minnesota Staff – Mary Catherine Penny




Large Volume Builders Committee

The Large Volume Builders Committee represents the interests of Housing First Minnesota's largest builders. It meets quarterly to discuss issues pertinent to this market segment within our association and obtain advisory feedback about advocacy and other key programs. The Committee has guidelines that define a large volume builder and is limited to companies within that membership segment.

*This is a closed committee.

2025 Committee Chair – John Rask, M/I Homes

Housing First Minnesota Staff – Nick Erickson


MN Green Path Task Force

Minnesota’s Green Path Committee is charged with oversight of our green building and remodeling program, which has tested more than 35,000 homes, providing each of them with a Home Performance Report.

2025 Task Force Chair – Carole Griffith, McDonald Construction Partners, LLC

Housing First Minnesota Staff – Janice Meyer



Parade of Homes Committee

The Parade of Homes Committee provides broad oversight into the planning and implementation of the Parade of Homes events and website. This is a closed committee that is involved in developing the strategic plan for the tours, setting rules, imposing penalties, and providing insights regarding tour promotion to ensure maximum value for tour participants. Committee members serve three-year staggered terms; 75% must be builders, and the chair of the Committee must be a builder. The Parade of Homes Committee works to ensure that Committee members represent a balance between small, mid-, and large-sized builders.

2025 Committee Chair – Katie Geddes, Lennar

Housing First Minnesota Staff – Katelyn Bloomquist



Remodelers Committee

Housing First Minnesota's Remodelers Committee is the leadership group engaged in supporting our remodeler niche. It also is involved in the planning, implementation, and strategic planning for the Parade of Homes Remodelers Showcase and provides input to the BIG Night Committee about the Remodeler of Merit Award (ROMA) and the Remodeler of the Year.

2025 Committee Chair – Andy Michels, Michels Homes

Housing First Minnesota Staff – Kate Wigley


Small Volume Builders Committee

The Small Volume Builders Committee represents the interests of Housing First Minnesota's smaller builder companies. It meets quarterly to discuss issues pertinent to this market segment within our association and obtain advisory feedback about the Parade of Homes and other key programs. The Committee has guidelines that define a small volume builder and is limited to companies within that membership segment.

2025 Committee Chair – Joe Braun, Style & Struture

Housing First Minnesota Staff – Mark Foster


Young Professionals Network

Are you a young professional (age 21-35) working in the housing industry? Join our network of Housing First Minnesota YPs! A few times a year, we host informal happy hours at local breweries and schedule YP meet-ups at large association events. Click here to join our email list and get the latest invites!

Housing First Minnesota Staff – Kristen Ober and Sarah Hinderman


Clay Shoot Task Force

This task force plans and executes the Housing First Minnesota Clay Shoot in October, hosted by the Young Professionals Committee. Positions on this task force are for one event.

Housing First Minnesota Staff – Mary Catherine Penny and Gabrielle Lanenberg


 


Housing First Minnesota Foundation Committees

Housing First Minnesota Foundation Committees

The mission of the Housing First Minnesota Foundation is to work in partnership with others to provide safe, durable, affordable housing for Minnesota's homeless, veterans, and others in need. We strive to accomplish this by partnering with social service organizations and other building professionals to rehabilitate existing facilities and build new ones, with a particular focus on helping the most people for the longest period of time.


Foundation Dream Home Committee

The Dream Home Committee reviews applications obtained via the Parade of Homes for Dream Home status and collaborates with staff to select fundraising Dream Homes for each spring and fall event.

2025 Foundation Dream Home Project Committee Chair – Jody Kern, Bell Bank Mortgage

Housing First Minnesota Staff – Sofia Humphries



Foundation Project Committee

The Project Committee reviews incoming requests for support, vets them against the mission, vision, and strategic plan, and then places them in a queue for consideration. Additionally, the Project Committee works with staff to oversee projects as they are under construction.

2025 Foundation Project Committee Co-chairs – Paul Roecker, Lyman Roofing and Siding and Meg Jaeger, Mega Remodel

Housing First Minnesota Staff – Sofia Humphries



Foundation Gala Planning Committee

The Gala Fundraising Committee has the primary responsibility of ensuring that the Gala is a successful fundraising effort. Committee members focus on driving the events yearly theme, obtaining silent and live auction items, soliciting sponsorships, and promoting attendance for the event.

2025 Foundation Gala Committee Chair – Madeline Landis, All, Inc. and Courtney Ernston, North Star Law Group, PLLC

Housing First Minnesota Staff – Sofia Humphries



Foundation Golf Planning Committee

The Golf Planning Committee oversees the three fundraising golf events benefiting the Housing First Minnesota Foundation. The committee plans the Housing First Minnesota Foundation Golf Tournaments (Classic and Invitational), reviews fundraising efforts and engages networks for potential donors of money, time, and in-kind support. The committee also solicits participants to engage in foursomes for all golf events.

2025 Foundation Gala Committee Chair – Jeremy Larson, Hampton Companies, Bob Bennett, retired and Richard Berg, Contract Interiors

Housing First Minnesota Staff – Sofia Humphries



Foundation Community Impact Committee

The Community Impact Committee aids in outreach and recruitment efforts to connect HFMF to other nonprofits in need of housing solutions in the state of Minnesota. The committee researches and recommends partner nonprofits, makes introductions and widens the scope of build project done by the Foundation. It is an integral part of vetting nonprofits who have applied to partner with HFMF.

2025 Foundation Gala Committee Chair – Jill Kalgerson, Rise-Build

Housing First Minnesota Staff – Sofia Humphries