Leadership & Staff

Ric Zehr, President

Ric is the Director of Development Strategies with The North Eastern Group in Fort Wayne which develops around 500 lots each year. Ric participates in all aspects of real estate development and entitlements including land acquisition, approval and implementation of new projects, site construction, community outreach, and legislative/political lobbying/oversite. He also served as the president of the HBA of Fort Wayne and currently serves as the president of the Allen County Regional Water and Sewer District.

Kenny Reinbrecht, Vice President

Kenny is the founder of Reinbrecht Homes of Haubstadt which currently builds around 120 homes annually in the Southern Indiana market. He still has an ownership stake in the company but has taken on an advisory capacity as his sons Steve, Phil, and Matt have taken over the day-to-day operation of the business. In recent years he has been involved in several public service organizations, having served on the board of the Economic Development Coalition of Southwest Indiana, now rebranded as Evansville Regional Economic Partnership as well as the board of the Gibson County Economic Development Corporation. He has also served on the Southwest Indiana Builders Association board and is a past president in 2012. Currently, Kenny is the political action committee chairman for SIBA. Kenny has also served as a council member for the Town of Haubstadt, Indiana for over 20 years, and many years as the president of the council.

Ryan Baker, Treasurer

Ryan is the Vice President of Rick Jenkins Builders in Terre Haute, Indiana which specializes in new homes and subdivisions. Ryan is a graduate of Indiana State University.

Marcy DeShong, Secretary

Marcy DeShong began learning the construction business from her family when she was a teenager. As a young mother of three, and with the support of her husband, Marcy began her business called Midwest Luxury Baths, Inc. in 1992. Here, she offered high-quality and quick bathroom remodels to residential clients all over Central Indiana. Eventually, the family business expanded into whole home remodeling. With that came a name change and Midwest Remodeling Services was born!

Rick Wajda, Chief Executive Officer

rick@buildindiana.org
(317) 917-1100 ext. 204

Rick Wajda is the CEO of the Indiana Builders Association. Rick joined the Indiana Builders Association for the second time in 2005 after a two year stint as the Associate Director of the Indiana Petroleum Council and Ohio Petroleum Council, trade organizations that represent the major oil companies with assets in Indiana and Ohio.  As the IBA’s chief lobbyist, Rick works with members of the Indiana General Assembly and Indiana’s regulatory agencies to insure housing affordability is taken into consideration when policy makers craft laws and regulations for Indiana’s citizens. Rick is also the Chairman of the Indiana Builders PAC and serves as a spokesperson for the industry on housing related issues.  Rick previously worked for the Indiana Builders Association for six years as the Association Services Director and Governmental Affairs Director.  Mr. Wajda is a past President of the Governmental Affairs Society of Indiana and currently serves on the Board for Habitat for Humanity of Indiana.  Rick is a graduate of Butler University in Indianapolis, Indiana where he received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Marketing.

Carlie Hopper, Governmental Affairs Director

carlie@buildindiana.org
(317) 917-1100 ext. 206

Carlie Hopper serves as the Governmental Affairs Director of the Indiana Builders Association. She advocates on behalf of membership with state elected officials and agencies for policies that promote and protect housing affordability in Indiana. Carlie earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Indiana State University. She previously served as the association’s Member Services Director and Regulatory Affairs Director.

Mollie Flook, Association Services Director

mollie@buildindiana.org
(317) 917-1100 ext. 205

Savannah, Communications and Events Coordinator

savannah@buildindiana.org
(317) 917-1100 ext. 203

Savannah Ayres serves as the Communication and Event Coordinator of the Indiana Builders Association. She connects the members with the latest industry updates and provides support for all association events. Savannah earned a bachelor’s degree in communication with an emphasis in public relations from the University of Indianapolis (UIndy). As a student at UIndy, she gained a plethora of opportunities participating in the student-run PR firm, Top Dog Communications for several different nonprofit organizations as well as worked as a program coordinator for campus events/activities. Prior to IBA, Savannah worked in the healthcare industry in a senior living facility as the Director of Celebrations and an HR Specialist. Savannah is a current member of PRSA.

Past Presidents

1952-53 *Andrew S. Place, South Bend

1954 *Gale Corley, Valparaiso

1955 *Ralph Shirmeyer, Fort Wayne

1956 *Charles Bartel, Muncie

1957 *Robert Meyers, Evansville

1958 *Clarence Baldwin, Highland

1959 *Ed Schroyer, Sr., West Lafayette

1960 *John Phrommer, Hammond

1961 *Albert E. Thompson, Indianapolis

1962 *Vern Ayers, Fort Wayne

1963 *Walter Leonard, Greenwood

1964 *David Augustus, Indianapolis

1965 *John E. Smith, Lafayette

1966 *Donald F. Overbay, Bloomington

1967 *Robert E. Zeager, Indianapolis

1968 *W. Howard Highsmith, Anderson

1969 *John P. Bullard, Griffith

1970 *John C. Hart, Sr., Indianapolis

1971 *R. Lee Smith, Fort Wayne

1972 *Otto Gibson, South Bend

1973 *W. C. “Bud” Bussing, Evansville

1974 **Charles Wilmore, Connersville

1975 *Charles Pechette, Indianapolis

1976 **Harold Palmer, Fort Wayne

1977 *Thomas B. Laycock, Indianapolis

1978 *John Davids, St. John

1979 *Harold Wiggins, Michigan City

1980 *Robert Stephens, Indianapolis

1981 Jud Motsenbocker, CGR, CAPS, Muncie

1982 *Roy Foster, Newburgh

1983 *Floyd Estes, Greenwood

1984 *Richard Jenkins, Terre Haute

1985 **John Waltz, Arizona

1986 Larry Swank, Mishawaka

1987 **Dean Crook, Vincennes

1988 *Frank Spivey, Indianapolis

1989 **Chuck Fortino, Elkhart

1990 Mike Ullery, Kokomo

1991 *Leon Calvert, Daleville

1992 Bob Coolman, Valparaiso

1993 **Bill Roach, Brownsburg

1994 **Phil Garrison, Indianapolis

1995 **Dennis Henderlong, Valparaiso

1996 **Dennis Wilson, Texas

1997 **Jake Wagner, Valparaiso

1998 *Carl Shepherd, Evansville

1999 *Charles Daub, Goshen

2000 Herb Delagrange, CGP, CAPS, Fort Wayne

2001 Joe Zehr, Fort Wayne

2002 Steve Heidorn, CGB, CGR, CGP, CAPS, Chandler

2003 David Kovich, Lafayette

2004 Larry Coplen, Warsaw

2005 Mike Bell, CGR, CAPS, CGB, CGP, GMB, Westville

2006 Mike Hannigan, Jr., Carmel

2007 Stephen Robinson, CGB, CGR, New Castle

2008 David Compton, Indianapolis

2009 Dennis Spidel, CGB, CGP, CGR, GMB Angola

2010 Andy Place, Sr., CGB, CGP, South Bend

2011 State Rep. Doug Miller, CGB, Elkhart

2012 Will Wright, Carmel

2013 Greg Furnish, CGP, Memphis

2014 *Tom Mullen, MIRM, CMP, CGB, CGP, Indianapolis

2015 State Sen. Linda Rogers, Granger

2016 State Rep. Jim Pressel, LaPorte

2017 Lance Swank, Mishawaka

2018 Patrick Richard, Lafayette

2019 Don Thieneman, Floyds Knobs

2020 Brett Harter, Leesburg

2021 Jeff Thomas, Fort Wayne

2022 Paul Schwinghammer, CAPS, CGA, CGB, CGP, GMB, Anderson

*Deceased, **Non-Voting