Shivers Nellon
Board President
Home Builders Association of Greater New Orleans
Shivers Nellon is the first African American board president of the Home Builders Association of Greater New Orleans (HBAGNO). He is also the proud owner of four construction-based companies — Chase Remodeling and Construction Inc.; Nell Builders LLC; Nell Investment Properties LLC; and Nellon Holding LLC.
Nellon said working with the HBAGNO over the last four years has transformed his perspective on business and professional goals while also providing him with invaluable life lessons which he is committed to sharing with the next generation of construction industry workers.
What are you most excited about in the coming year? I’m most excited about the possibility of interest rates coming down. Lower interest rates means more people willing to make the leap into buying or building a new home, which is always good for a community’s growth. Despite the market being on a bit of a rollercoaster lately, and Louisiana’s and the Gulf Coast region’s ongoing challenges with the insurance companies, the American dream of home ownership is still alive for many people.
In the interim, the HBAGNO, with the support of the LHBA (Louisiana Home Builders Association) and NAHB (National Association of Home Builders), is doing its part to educate potential and existing homebuyers in our area. Fortified roofing and wind mitigation programs are available in both English and Spanish and can help new home builders and -buyers save dollars and protect their investment for the long haul.
What is the biggest challenge facing your industry today? Our biggest concern is the worker shortage. The construction industry is currently short about 360,000 workers nationally, with nearly 50,000 open construction jobs in Louisiana as of 2023.
Locally, we are working with several vocational programs — such as Drew Brees’ BuildStrong Academy in Kenner and Nunez’s (Community College) training and certification programs in Chalmette — to help provide a pipeline of workers to licensed contractors across our seven-parish service area.
Plumbing, A/C repair, electricians, roofers — all of these are well-paying trades that can lead young people and anyone wishing for a new career to a comfortable life. HBAGNO has been the home of local, licensed residential contractors for more than 80 years. It is my hope that we can continue to educate the public about all aspects of the residential housing industry and how safe, affordable housing benefits us all.