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"Mike Wilson Out, Abrams In at Home Builders Association"
"BOARDMAN, Ohio -- A new direction for the Home Builders/Remodelers Association of Mahoning Valley means a new face at the top, with the resignation of longtime executive director Mike Wilson.Replacing Wilson as executive director is Terry Abrams, who joined HBA six years ago as marketing director and later became deputy executive director. In a statement released last week, the HBA board of directors announced it has set "a new course," beginning in 2005, as a "volunteer-driven organization" to reduce expenses. "They really just wanted to be able to first and foremost save money and to have more of a stake in the association. The board of directors wanted to have more control over what we did as an organization," said Joshua Aikens, HBA director of training and development.In the 14 years Wilson led the HBA, he became a highly recognizable figure in the Mahoning Valley, appearing on television commercials to promote the trade group. He also appeared before community groups in his off-hours role as an impersonator of William McKinley.Wilson, hired as HBA's executive director in September 1990, resigned effective Dec. 15, though Aikens said he has been gone since Nov. 24. In the release, HBA officials noted that the organization's membership quadrupled under Wilson's leadership and won more awards than other associations in the nation. "Mike was also recognized nationally as the best executive director in North America," HBA officials said. "We haven't lost a heartbeat," Abrams told The Business Journal. "It's business as usual."Abrams pledged to be accountable to the board and be frugal. He said HBA will continue to promote the activities it has staged in the past including its home tours and annual home-and-garden show. The industry association also will become more aggressive in providing training at its Boardman facility, he added. Prior to joining HBA, Abrams was vice president and director of marketing at First Western Bancorp in New Castle, Pa. Previously, he was a television personality at WGAL-TV in Lancaster and he served as general manager of WBZY-AM in New Castle. Abrams spent more than six years in Pennsylvania politics as executive director of the Republican State Committee and as assistant to both the speaker and the majority leader of the Pa. House of Representatives. Visit the Home Builders/Remodelers Association of Mahoning Valley at www.hbamahoningvalley.com"