After 36 years of leading the Home Builders Association of Central Arizona (HBACA) as CEO, Connie Wilhelm announced her retirement effective December 31, 2022.

Connie placed her mark on Arizona’s political landscape in 2000 by leading the fight against one of the more prominent no-growth initiatives in the history of the State. Proposition 202 was filed by the Sierra Club and would have devastated the home building industry and Arizona’s economy. Initially supported by over 70% of the voters, by election day that support had flipped, resulting in 70% of Arizona voters rejecting the proposal. The Arizona Republic named “Arizonans for Responsible Planning” one of the best grassroots campaigns in Arizona’s history. The defeat of Prop 202 was one of the three statewide initiatives Connie successfully defeated.

Among her many legislative victories, Connie led the fight at the Capitol to reform Arizona’s impact fee statutes under the slogan “growth should pay for its fair share, but no more.” At the time, Arizona had vague impact fee standards resulting in the home building industry paying for services for existing residents. After several years of fighting with the League of Arizona Cities and Towns, the reforms were signed into law. This bill saved millions of dollars of unnecessary costs while allowing cities to build critical infrastructure needed for new growth.

During her time at the Association, Connie was passionate about careers in construction. She spent considerable time on workforce development, working to fill the labor shortage. At the Lewis Prison in Buckeye, she helped introduce people to career opportunities at the Second Chance Center, training inmates in trade skills before release. And in March 2023, the first class of students should start at the Home Building Academy with the goal of graduating 400+ students in the first 18 months. Connie will continue to oversee the Home Building Academy.

“For more than three decades, Connie has been the face of the HBACA. Through good times and bad, Connie has been the one constant in the home building industry. She was a tireless advocate for the Association in Arizona politics fighting against onerous regulations and fees. We thank Connie for her leadership, her passionate support of the industry, and her tenacity in fighting for our members.” - Brad Schoenberg Chairman of the HBACA Board of Directors and Division President of Taylor Morrison Arizona.

Connie’s legacy in Arizona extends beyond her work at the HBACA. She currently serves on the board of directors of the Arizona Tax Research Association, the Arizona Science Center, and is a member of the County Attorney’s Business Advisory Committee and the Department of Corrections Stakeholders Committee. Prior positions include the Governor’s Regulatory Review Committee, the board of directors of the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco, the Arizona Housing Commission, the Arizona Chamber of Commerce, the Arizona Foundation for Resource Education, Teach for America, and the National Association of Home Builders’ Construction, Safety and Health Committee.

Connie has been an unwavering champion of the home building industry and has made a lasting contribution to the growth and prosperity of Central Arizona. The HBACA and the home building industry will greatly miss Connie and her leadership.

Jackson Moll, Vice President of Municipal Affairs, has been named the new CEO of the Association.

HBACA members please make plans to join us as we honor Connie and her commitment to the industry on January 12, 2023, at the Board of Directors Installation.