BUILDER OF THE YEAR

Local wins statewide award

Local builder Michael Johnston Penn was presented with the 2011 Louisiana Home Builders Association Builder of the Year award Jan. 19 at the Louisiana Home Builders Association’s winter board meeting in Lafayette.  One builder is given the award statewide each year.  While nominations are made in secret, the state association has 6,000 member companies, and each association locally makes one nomination; there are 13 locals in Louisiana. “This is a competition against every builder across the state residentially,” said Dixey Robertson, executive officer of the Home Builders Association of Northwest Louisiana. “This is a great accomplishment for Penn.”  “Recognition of this award means more than just building houses, but also working for the good of the housing industry across our state,” Penn said. “It really says a lot about not just me but the employees and subcontractors of Penn Homes. You don’t receive an award like this without wonderful people backing you up, year after year. To be considered ‘best of the best’ is humbling.”  According to www.lhba.org, the Home Builders Association of Northwest Louisiana represents the home-building industry before state and regulatory bodies, serves as the chief advocate of private property rights, educates the general public as to the advantages of utilizing licensed builders, promotes professionalism in the home-building industry and promotes economic development and quality of life in Louisiana.  Penn, president of MJ Penn Companies Inc. in Shreveport for the past 19 years, holds a Bachelor of Science in construction engineering from Northeast Louisiana University, (now the University of Louisiana at Monroe) as well as three professional designations from the National Association of Home Builders – graduate master builder, certified graduate builder and certified green professional. He was also appointed by Gov. Bobby Jindal to the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors and has been involved in residential and commercial construction for more than 32 years.  Penn’s wife, Jodi, was present when he received the award – and surprised Penn by arranging for all three of his children to show up, unannounced.  “One thing I have watched over the years is Mike’s willingness to build into the lives of others in the industry,” Jodi said. “He has an insatiable appetite for education. It makes him a better person, and when he transfers knowledge to others, it increases the quality of everyone in the home building industry.  I’m overwhelmed with gratitude and  honored to be his wife.”  His success isn’t surprising,  considering how Penn grew up. Even as a child, he always had a passion for architecture and building.  During high school, Penn won an  architectural model-building contest at ULM, which propelled him to pursue a degree in construction. During the summers and between semesters,  Penn worked on a framing crew and gained knowledge about the residential construction industry and its processes.  “Winning this award means that our company is not just about building homes, but that it has a vision for making the entire construction industry and homebuilding process more enjoyable and less stressful for the consumer,” Penn said. But sometimes the best rewards don’t come in tangible form.  “The best day at my job is delivering a home to a first-time homebuyer,” Penn said. “Seeing the joy and anticipation on their face is priceless. Knowing you have really made a special moment in someone’s life and helped make someone’s dream of owning a home a reality is a great feeling.”Penn’s faith is also a strong factor in everything he does, on and off the job. “I seek God’s will for my life, my family and Penn Homes,” Penn said. “Any achievements I have made are because I depend on God for guidance.”  Penn hopes that over the next several years, Penn Homes will become known as the builder that provides superior value and service.” Penn said, “We want to continue to develop and become the best that we can by providing professionalism and dependability in the product that we sell.”

– Betsy St. Amant

The Forum News

The third part of TQM is Administrative Management.  The key to a well run business and office environment is the person in charge of the office and everything within its walls.  I would like for you to meet Kay King, Administrative Assistant at Penn Homes.  Kay is the first person that you talk to when calling or visiting our office.  Her friendly personality and positive attitude is an attribute that few posess.  

Kay has been an employee with Penn Homes for over 8 years.  One of Kay’s many important tasks is running the accounting department.  She brings a vast knowledge of accounting, learning mostly through trial and error.  She is gifted with seeing the whole picture of the business and how her work affects the overall accounting of the company as well as the projects.  She is a master at running accounting software, and with Penn Homes, using state of the art construction software that integrates both accounting and project management, her involvement is critical.  Keeping the projects payables and receivables by project along with meshing the work and schedules is a gift that Kay is blessed. 

On her personal side, Kay enjoys spending time at her country home where she has many dogs and animals.  Her favorite is her English Bull Dog “Cletus” that rules the roost while she and her husband are away.  

What’s in a Name?

Actually, a name can make all the difference.  Contractors are licensed in the State of Louisiana in either their personal name or the name of a company.  Before the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors (LSLBC) can issue a license to a company, the company must be registered with the Secretary of State as a legal entity.  Once the license is issued, it can only be used legally by the name as it appears on the actual certificate.  Contractors are required by LSLBC Rules and Regulations, Section 109, to conduct business in their properly licensed name.  This means that bids must be submitted in the name as it appears on the license.  Likewise, contracts must also contain the properly licensed name.  To do otherwise is a violation which subjects the contractor to a fine, suspension or revocation of license.  An awarding authority should reject any bid that is not in the properly licensed name of the contractor even though the contractor may have a proper license with another name on it.

If you are licensed in your personal name, you may submit bids using a DBA (“doing business as”) as long as the properly licensed name is used.  For example, if I am licensed as Bob Smith, I must bid as Bob Smith, but may legally add Bob Smith DBA Smith Construction.  However, to submit a bid as Smith Construction would be a violation.  In this scenario, the contractor risks losing the job and being fined by the Board.

Doing business in your properly licensed name means just that, your bids, contracts, invoices and even your signage should all reflect the name as it appears on your license.

“Properly licensed and qualified contractors……It’s the Law!”

For any questions or further information, please visit our website at www.lslbc.louisiaana.gov or contact us by phone a at 225-765-22301 Ext. 2213 or send an email to newslettter@lslbc.llouisiana.goov

BULLETIN: 11-08

August 15, 2011

Trust, but Verify

On his desk in the White House, President Truman had a sign that famously stated, “The Buck Stops Here”! As a state licensed contractor, you should be aware that the law holds you accountable to contract exclusively with properly licensed contractors.  According to La. R.S. 37:2158A(4), the board may revoke, suspend, refuse to renew a license, or issue cease and desist orders to stop work, or debar a person or licensee for “entering into a contract with an unlicensed contractor involving work or activity for the performance of which a license is required…”

This prohibition not only applies to subcontractors that you may hire, but also to contractors that hire you. Even though you may not actually sign a contract, to verbally agree to perform work for an unlicensed contractor for a fee would still be considered a violation. Contractors found in violation of this statute may be subject to a maximum fine of $1,000 plus $500 court costs, as well as possible suspension or revocation of their contractor’s license. The unlicensed contractor is liable to the State Licensing Board for up to 10% of the value of his contract plus court costs, and will, in most likelihood, be removed from the project.

Don’t take a chance on unnecessary delays on your project, or put your license at risk. Take the time to know the status of contractors that you are working with.  Our website provides easy access for current information on all state licensed contractors.

If you still have any questions, contact the Compliance Division at the main office located in Baton Rouge for assistance. Don’t find out the hard way that when it comes to licensing law in Louisiana, “the buck stops with you.”

 “Properly licensed and qualified contractors…It’s the Law!”

For questions or further information, please visit our website at http://www.lslbc.louisiana.gov/ or contact us by phone at 225-765-2301 Ext. 213 or send an email to newsletter@lslbc.louisiana.gov.

After months of design, redesign, corrections, tweaks…Finally it is here!  Meet the Chateau Collection by Penn Homes.  The first two plans have rolled out and promise to be another spectacular creation.  The goal was to provide never before constructed sustainable exteriors that appealed to the demands of todays buyer.  Mixing old world stucco with used brick and stone was chosen as the facade.  Harmonizing the mix is key to curb appeal.  Our designer is provided as part of the total building package when selecting us to build your home.  Our designs include towering ten foot tall ceilings adorned with crown molding to suit your needs.  Open floor plans were selected where family can connect after the activities of the day.  Spacious Kitchens and Breakfast Nooks with granite countertops and stainless steel appliances anchor the finishes in this area.  The Master Suite provides for a perfect retreat from along days work.  Separate shower and garden tubs accompany each plan with large walk in closets in the Master Bath area.

Let Penn Homes build your dream home.  It all begins with a phone call to one of the numbers on this page or by simply clicking on the Contact Us button.