Brandon Leuallen, The Business Times

It wasn’t just a rarity when Randy Whetzell was sworn in Jan. 24 as the chairman of the board of the Colorado Association of Home Builders’ executive committee. Apparently it was a first.

The CAHB couldn’t confirm it, but its CEO, Ted Leighty, believes Whetzell is the first Home Builders Association of Western Colorado member to ascend to the chairmanship of the state organization.

And Whetzell believes that’s probably correct. His ties to the CAHB, which was formed in 1974, go back about 30 years, and Whetzell said no one from Western Colorado has been chairman during those three decades.

Western Slope trailblazer or not, Whetzell knew his day as chairman was coming, because the CAHB is set up for the chairman to serve two years in other positions – second vice chairman and first vice chairman – that lead to the chairmanship, which is for one year. That is followed by a year as the immediate past chair.

“It’s basically a four-year commitment,” said Whetzell, who knows for certain he’s a rarity as a nonbuilder serving as chairman.

Whetzell’s full-time job is market manager for Builders FirstSource in Grand Junction and Montrose. So, he may not be a builder, but he provides builders what they need and knows the business.

“It’s an honor to be able to be selected as a non-builder for this role, because it is a builder’s organization,” he said.

Leighty knows what the CAHB can expect from Whetzell, because he’s seen him in action.

“Randy has been an extraordinarily devoted HBA member and industry leader throughout his career,” Leighty wrote in an email interview. “Our industry depends on selfless volunteers like Randy to provide leadership and guidance, so that our members can provide housing options to meet the needs of Coloradans. Randy has done just that in his professional roles and as a local HBA leader, and we are looking forward to his leadership at the state level.”

Leighty described Whetzell as committed and reliable, and a trait that will serve him well is he encourages alternate viewpoints.

“Randy preaches the most important part of being an HBA member: You get out of your membership what you put into it,” Leighty wrote. “Engagement is key, for the well-being of both our individual members and the health of our industry. He has demonstrated that throughout his years of service.”

Three weeks into his term as chairman, Whetzell said the job “probably consumes some additional 20 hours a week, so it’s a whole other part-time job for sure.”

He also acknowledges he feels compelled to maintain the high standard of his predecessor.

“I’m following a really good man, Aric Jones,” Whetzell said. “It’s been a little daunting stepping into this role, just because the immediate past chair, he did a great job. Very informed, very educated individual, so it’s big shoes to fill for sure.”

He added the woman who will succeed him, Carrie Bartow, also boasts impressive credentials, which shows, “We’ve got a really great group of people on our leadership team.”

As for what the leadership of the CAHB does, Whetzell summed it up with: “We’re an advocacy group for the housing industry,” representing all of the state’s local HBA chapters.

Then, he gave his more detailed answer, explaining the CAHB has its own lobbyists and legislative watch dogs that are looking out for all things housing at every level of government. That’s housing affordability and attainability and all the things that would influence that. It’s building codes and legislative issues and water rights.

That said, Whetzell emphasized the CAHB, while looking out for builders, also is looking out for communities as advocates for smart growth and attainable housing and “doing that the right way and doing it in a realistic manner.”

“We want affordable housing,” he said. “Well, how do we get there? And that’s what we’re there for. Because we’re in the industry we look at the very real challenges and courses of action that are important to being able to create attainable housing. And how do we have the right conversations? And who do those conversations need to be with? And so on.”

Leighty said Whetzell is well-equipped to address the issues at the fore in 2025, and first and foremost is housing affordability and availability.

“Communities across Colorado, including the Western Slope, are struggling to provide housing for their workforce, and that situation is putting the American Dream out of reach for too many Coloradans,” Leighty wrote. “Randy has worked directly on this challenge in his own community and will now bring that experience to the state level as CAHB’s chair.”

Leighty added, “Our industry will also be addressing issues related to water, dredge and fill, labor availability and workforce development, and energy codes — all issues that Randy has firsthand experience with as a longtime leader in the homebuilding industry.”