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Top Officials from Surface Transportation Board & National Home Builders Association to Speak at Vinyl Industry Fly-in
The speaker list for this year’s vinyl industry fly-in got even better with the addition of two key industry insiders: Gerald Howard, CEO of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and Patrick Fuchs, vice chairman of the Surface Transportation Board (STB). They join political oracle Charlie Cook in providing executives across the vinyl value chain with fresh insights into the political landscape.
Gerald Howard will discuss how to keep home building affordable through house finance reform, regulatory reform, workforce development, and the low-income tax credit. He brings to the discussion a long history in the housing industry that dates back to working for his father, a developer.
Before becoming CEO, Howard served in a variety of roles at NAHB, including chief lobbyist. He has also practiced real estate law in his home state of South Carolina and worked as the chief lobbyist for the National Council of State Housing Agencies. At NCSHA, he was instrumental in the development of the low-income housing tax credit.
Patrick Fuchs will discuss railroad and other logistical issues. He was confirmed by the Senate and sworn in to a 5-year term on January 17, 2019.
Before his appointment to the Surface Transportation Board, Fuchs was the senior professional staff member working on surface transportation and maritime issues for the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. While there, he played an integral role in the development and enactment of major railroad legislation, including legislation to improve rail project delivery, rail financing, and hazardous materials safety. Fuchs as also served as a policy analyst and presidential management fellow at the Office of Management and Budget and worked for the U.S. Department of State, the Government Accountability Office, and the National Center for Freight and Infrastructure Research and Education.