Lynn Harrison leads in marketing and relationship-building in Vancouver's home building industry Canadian Design and Construction Report special feature Lynn Harrison is president of B.C. - based Harrison Marketing Re- sources. She is also serving her third term as a Greater Vancouver Home Builders Association (GVHBA) direc- tor. Harrison says she has always been intrigued by the function and design of homes. Backed by an edu- cation in interior design, in the early 90s she worked for a company fo- cused on marketing and communica- tion efforts for builders. “One of our main clients, ParkLane Homes, an award-winning production builder, asked us to join them full- time,” she said. “It was an excellent environment in which to better under- stand the procedures of construction and marketing of a single family home, but also added the exciting process of building sustainable neigh- bourhoods.” Five years ago, she launched Harri- son Marketing Resources to focus on working with smaller builders and ren- ovators to market their unique brands. Although she recognizes the indus- try is still dominated by men, she says she has never let that influence her at- titude or approach. “The majority of the people that I meet and work with are very professional and passionate about the industry, just as I am.” She says it is not uncommon to have women in the sales and market- ing side of the construction industry, but in the last five to 10 years she has also noticed more women are enter- ing the construction trades. “It is still very male-dominated on the actual construction sites though,” she said. “For those companies who have women on their sites, they seem to have no issue with gender, they just want good work done.” She says from her own observa- tions the success of women on-site is more about the professional attitude of site management and the workers themselves - of both genders. “I also see more women going into trades and construction management training. With stronger demand for skilled workers, I think that there will be good opportunities ahead.” Harrison believes this demand will cause some change in old attitudes about who a ‘typical builder’ is. “Person- ally I don’t believe in hiring a woman be- cause she’s a woman, but because she’s the best person for the job.” Harrison says she has always been a supporter of GVHBA and as involved as she could as her career grew and evolved. She has been on GVHBA board of directors for the past eight years, chairing and partici- pated in numerous standing commit- tees and task forces. She was also chair of GVHBA in 2014. She says the association pro- motes the industry and encourages young people of both genders to get involved in all facets of construction. “We recognize that there is going to be a shortage of skilled workers in the future and we want to promote our industry as a viable career op- tion.” GVHBA partners with educational institutions, as well as promoting in- volvement of the younger employees in association events and commit- tees. The U40 committee for instance she says has been successful in bring- ing out a younger demographic to GVHBA events, getting them involved and listening to their ideas for the as- sociation. Harrison is also a member of the executive board of the Canadian Home Builders Association – British Columbia and the current chair of the CHBA-BC Marketing Committee. “I’m proud to be a member of this professional organization for the last 25 years. Throughout all the ups and downs of the housing industry, we never lost our focus on promoting the professionalism of the members and benefits for our consumers.” The Canadian Design and Construction Report — April-May 2015 – 37