[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 15678]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  HONORING THE RETIREMENT OF JUDY BARNES AS CEO OF THE HOME BUILDING 
                  ASSOCIATION OF GREATER GRAND RAPIDS

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. VERNON J. EHLERS

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 18, 2009

  Mr. EHLERS. Madam Speaker, I rise today with mixed emotions to honor 
my good friend, Judy Barnes, who retires as Chief Executive Officer of 
the Grand Rapids Home and Building Association, HBA, of Grand Rapids on 
June 30, 2009. Judy has been energetic and optimistic in her duties at 
the Association, where she has served as CEO for 25 years.
  Judy's great attitude and outlook on life helped her successfully 
lead the homebuilding industry in Grand Rapids through good times and 
bad. When she took over as CEO in 1984, she helped grow the relatively 
small group to one of the largest HBAs in the nation through her solid 
work ethic and passion. Her professionalism and leadership skills 
garnered the respect of her constituency and the community, as she 
spoke on behalf of the HBA throughout the years.
  The Parade of Homes is an annual tradition for the Grand Rapids area, 
and for Judy Barnes. She played a key role in planning this fantastic 
event each year, and helped expand the number of homes in the event to 
over 250 at its peak. While the downturn in the homebuilding industry 
has reduced the number of homes in the Parade recently, it is still a 
great event that visitors have thoroughly enjoyed, thanks to Judy's 
hard work.
  Even as the housing industry fell upon difficult times, Judy never 
lost her optimism, and showed compassion as people lost homes to 
foreclosure, and as builders had difficulty staying in business. In an 
interview with the Grand Rapids Press, Judy said, ``The [homebuilding] 
industry will rebound. . . . I know it will be great again.''
  I wish Judy, and her husband Stan, the best of everything as they 
enter a new chapter in their lives. Judy has the wishes and blessings 
of many, many people who are grateful for her hard work and dedication, 
and also appreciate her contagious laughter and smile. Her hard work 
and personality will be greatly missed.

                          ____________________