New Executive Officer Joins MCBA
By Maria Korolov
(Indiana Builder Magazine: 1996)

A new executive officer is joining the Monroe County Building Association this year. Beth Beach is graduating from Indiana State University at Terre Haute with a major in accounting and moving to Bloomington.

For the past two and a half years, in addition to studying accounting and Spanish, she has been working for the Home Builders association in Terre Haute as assistant executive officer. Her work included managing the budget, tracking reports, and assisting with organizing the Home Show and the Parade of Homes.

During her tenure there the office has grown from one employee to three, efficiency has increased, and the income coming in from the Home Show has consistently increased.

"We've grown quite a bit," she said. "One reason why I was interested in the position is is that Bloomington is a growing community."

"I think that the MCBA has large potential to grow," she added.

Although Terre Haute is smaller than Bloomington, she says, the organization was bigger than the MCBA, with about 200 members.

"I think the MCBA has the potential of being at least as large as the organization in Terre Haute."

As part of her new job, Beach will be responsible for the day-to-day operations of the MCBA office.

"I will be doing some marketing, in a way," she said, "To get new members, to keep current members renewing, and to make sure that the fundraisers such as the Home Show and the Parade of Homes go well. There's a lot of organizational work that goes into that."

Beach's interest in the home building industry has roots in her family history. Her father, a professor of construction trades at the Vincennes University, founded the Home Builders association in that town and was president and area vice president for the organization.

After she graduates from college on May 11, Beach said that she hopes her move to Bloomington will be permanent because she says she feels there is a lot of potential for the area.

As an MCBA employee, does she plan to build her own house?

"For now, I'll rent," she said. "But hopefully, someday..."

When asked for her hobbies, it took a while for her to respond.

"I mostly work," she said.

But, when pressed, she confessed that she's a big fan of IU basketball's Bob Knight.

"My all-time favorite player was Steve Alford," she said. "He's now the head coach for Southwest Missouri State. He helped them win the national championship in 1987."

She also enjoys watching the Indianapolis Colts play and, when she gets a chance, goes downhill skiing at Paoli Peaks. So far, no broken bones.

To relax, she likes to read books such as Stephen King's "It."

She has also been an active volunteer during the previous couple of years. As a member of the sorority Alpha Omicron Pi, she's participated in raising money for arthritis research by
helping to organise several events, including a bowling tournament and a rose sale during Valentine's Day.

While a college student, she also spent a sumber abroad in Costa Rica. The experience not only allowed her to practice her Spanish, but also significantly enriched her and widened her horizons.

Beach is single, and is the youngest of two children. Her older brother lives in Texas.

Ten years from now, Beach says that she sees herself doing something connected to home building.

"I've always been intersted in the building industry," she said. "I think that by working for the MCBA I'll have a good start on deciding what I want to do with my future."

Does the future, perhaps, include running a building company?

A pause and then, hesitantly with a hopeful note: "I've thought about it."

"I'd have to look at how my life goes but it's always something I was interested in."

Meanwhile, thinking of the short term, Beach will move permanently to her Bloomington office the second week of May.

"I'm very interested in meeting all the members," she said. "If they want to stop by the office and there's anything I can do to help I would be more than happy to do that."

She'll be in and out of the office until then, finishing up her studies and training her replacement at Terre Haute.