2024
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
DeAnne Hankins
Executive Director, Greater Fort Smith Association of Home Builders
Rocky Walker
President, AHBA Representative, Greater Fort Smith Association of Home Builders
Builder/Broker/Realtor, Cobblestone Homes
Rocky Walker is a second generation builder and says of his childhood that he “grew up on the job site”. He built his first spec house just after graduating high school in 1990 and has been building ever since. After high school, he continued to build homes while earning a BS in Business Administration from Arkansas State University. He and his wife, Mandy, have three children. They consider themselves very blessed as parents that their children are healthy, successful, and good people. Rocky loves that his wife is active in their business stating that, “she helps with everything from designs and décor to the company books”. As a small company, Rocky believes that it is more important than anything to strive to be better and provide quality service for customers--whom they consider friends. Rocky has had the pleasure of serving as the President for the GFSAHB twice over the course of his membership. He’s directly been involved with the builds of three showcase homes and is scheduled to be the 2021 State HBA President and, as he puts it, “chief trouble-maker”. Rocky describes himself as “an intense person,” but he firmly believes that “you gotta laugh, at least a little, every day”.
Chuck Fawcett
Vice President, Greater Fort Smith Association of Home Builders
Owner, Chuck Fawcett Realty
Chuck is the owner/Broker of 5 offices with over 70 real estate agents working for him. He is the President of Fort Smith Board of Realtors 2015 & 2016, President 2014 & 2015 of GFSAHB, member of Fort Smith Chamber of Commerce, served as President/Vice-President/and on Board of Directors Fort Smith Razorback Club since 1997. He worked as a Chairperson for the Fundraising Committee- Northside High School Softball field built at MLK Park. Chuck received the Arkansas Realtors Distinguished Service Award in 2016. He published the GFSAHB Parade of Homes magazine for several years.
He and his wife, Shannon Fawcett, have four children, seven grandchildren, and one great grandchild due in March.
Fred Kirkwood
Secretary/Treasurer, Greater Fort Smith Association of Home Builders
Chief Customer Officer Business Development, AOG
Fred Kirkwood is Senior Vice President of Customer Development with Arkansas Oklahoma Gas Corporation (AOG). He has been with the company for 33 years and served in a number of positions. AOG, a Summit Utilities company provides natural gas service to approximately 60,000 customers in Western Arkansas and Eastern Oklahoma.
Fred holds a Bachelor of Business Administration, Marketing Management. He graduated in 1983 in the top 10 percent of the class with academic and athletic honors.
Fred has been very active on the board of numerous professional and civic organizations. He also does volunteer work for the community and has coached AAU girls’ basketball. Some of the organizations Fred is currently, or previously, serving on are:
Fred has been a member of the Greater Fort Smith Association of Homebuilders for 32 years. He joined as a representative of AOG to established business relationships with other industry professionals. He has served in a number of positions including member and Chairman of the Associate Council, Board member and currently serves as Treasurer, member of the Executive Committee and a member of the Trustees Board.
Fred has been married for 32 years and has a daughter age 28 and twin four-year-old girl grandchildren.
Steve Robberson
Past President, Greater Fort Smith Association of Home Builders
Owner/President, Robberson Custom Homes
Steve Robberson is the Owner/President of Robberson Custom Homes, Inc. Married to his wife, Joanie, since 1995, Steve says that one of the joys of growing older is watching the family grow and expand; Steve is a father, grandfather, and great grandfather. The Robberson “Clan” is now 28 strong.
Steve grew up in the home building industry starting his own business in January, 1976. He has since been the builder of several hundred homes in the River Valley having built in Sebastian, Crawford, Franklin, Johnson, and Logan Counties.
Robberson Custom Homes, Inc was the Builder of the 2015 Showcase Home located in The Borough of Middleton Subdivision in south Fort Smith. They currently have projects going in Lavaca and Stoneshire Subdivision in Chaffee Crossing. To be known for their Integrity and Professionalism is always a goal of this company. Steve says, “I’m not a speedy builder…. I’m a quality builder.” With two sons involved in the business, their finished products always reflect their sense of pride and attention to detail.
Steve Robberson has been a proud member of the Greater Fort Smith Association of Home Builders since 2006 and is currently serving in the capacity of Vice President of the Association. Steve hopes the GFSAHB can grow its influence in seeing area homes being built by licensed qualified builders with all area homes of the future being built to quality specifications, energy efficiency, and lasting values. The Association works tirelessly on local, state, and national levels to keep common sense regulations upheld, and the unnecessary regulations removed.
David Edwards
AHBA Past President/AHBA Representative, Greater Fort Smith Association of Home Builders
Owner, Edwards Construction Company
David Edwards is a third generation home builder. He holds a General Contractors License, a Residential Building License, a Lead Based Paint Renovators License and an Arkansas Real Estate Broker License. His grandfather, John Holder Edwards, built his first house at Board Camp, near Mt Ida, Arkansas in 1905. The house became the first “painted house” in Montgomery County after David’s grandfather applied the 15 gallons of white wash he ordered from the Sears and Roebuck catalogue. “It was a real standout of a home,” David says. David’s father, Gerald, took over the company after returning from World War ll. After David graduated from Arkansas Tech University in 1974 he went on to work with his father. Gerald became a member of the Fort Smith Home Builders Association during its second year of existence. Through his father’s example, David learned the importance of strong friendships within the industry to help fight the battles that would come up during his career as a builder. David joined the GFSHBA and has been an active member since 1974. Through the years that have followed, it has become evident that there truly is strength in numbers. David took over the company when his father retired in 1989. David has been president of the Fort Smith Association of Homebuilders twice and has been president of the Arkansas State Association for an extended term of one and a half years. He is a graduate of the National Association of Homebuilders Graduate Builder Institute and a 250 Penny Spike Club member. He has served on the City of Fort Smith Building Board of Appeals for three terms.
Emily Rucker
AHBA Past President/AHBA Representative, Greater Fort Smith Association of Home Builders
President, Rucker Fine Homes
President of Rucker Fine Homes since it’s start in 1996, Emily Rucker, has built over 475 homes in the community. She’s an alum of University of Tulsa, holding her degree in Criminal Justice. She served on the Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board from 2007 to 2016. Emily Rucker was the first female builder in the Arkansas Home Builder Association, and became the organization's first female president in 2006. When the Extreme Home Makeover television show came to Alma, Arkansas in 2006 to build a new home for the family of Morgan Nick, Emily was one of six lead builders that helped complete the project. She was the builder for the GFSAHB Showcase Home in 2006. She served as state representative for the National Associate of Home Builders in 2008-2013, and then again in 2018. She served in the National Association of Home Builders as an Area Chairman for Region 8, covering the states of Arkansas, Mississippi, and Louisiana from 2014-2016. From 2008 to 2010 she became Nationally Certified in CGP, CAPS, and CGB. In 2018, the Northwest Arkansas Business Journal named her in the Top Ten Women in Business. Her involvement with the GFSAHB came from a desire to be more involved with other professional builders and to have input in the legislation that affects the industry. Of the organization, Emily says that it brings security to the community and a knowledge that they are hiring professionals who are invested in serving the community. Emily Rucker has been married to her husband, Steve Rucker, for 40 years. She is the mom of two children and a grandmother to four granddaughters. She likes the motto, “If God brings you to it, he will bring you through it.”
Dean Pendgergrass
Associate Council Chairman, Greater Fort Smith Association of Home Builders
Commercial/Fleet Sales Manager, Breeden Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram
Dean Pendergrass works as a Commercial/Fleet Sales Manager for Breeden Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram. For the last six years Dean has been Certified in Chrysler Commercial sales and is a Certified Ag Dealer. He’s served as a board member for Downtown Fort Smith Business Association, been involved with the Steel Horse Rally along with the Heart to Heart Pregnancy Support Center. He’s the Associate Chair for the GFSHBA, a member of the Arkansas Cattlemen’s Association and a member of Business By Referral.
His involvement with GFSAHB came about naturally through the organization’s partnership with Ram. He’s proud to be involved with an organization that brings the local Builders and Remodlers of the industry together.
He’s married to Misty Pendergrass, has 4 children and one son-in-law.
Randy Davis
Local Director/AHBA Representative, Greater Fort Smith Association of Home Builders
Customer Development Representative at AOG
Randy Davis has worked for AOG for the last 18 years. His involvement with the Greater Fort Smith Association of Home Builders started through his job at AOG. The organization, he says is “a great place to get the pulse of what is going on in the building industry through other builders, making contacts with potential customers and a great learning program”. Randy was nominated for Citizen of the Year for Greenwood AR in 2010, but he considers his greatest achievement being a father to his two children, Sarah and Roy. Randy and his wife, Claudia, have been married for 25 years. He believes in the old adage “keep your head down and follow through”.
Rose Catalano
Local Director, Greater Fort Smith Association of Home Builders
Branch Manager, SWBC Mortgage Group
Rose Catalano is a top producing Branch Manager for SWBC Mortgage Corp for the past 10 years. She’s a survivor of breast cancer and is celebrating 6 years of remission. She’s worked diligently to help Arkansas and Oklahoma residents received home loans for the last 37 years. She’s a licensed Mortgage Banker, and MBA member, and has received the Presidents Club Production award for the past seven years. She’s also an active member of the Fort Smith and Crawford Co Board of Realtors. For 35 years she has volunteered to help with the Special Olympics. She’s an active member of her church, Woodlands UM Church, along with many local charities. She considers volunteering and charity work to be her hobbies.
She’s been a member fo the GFSAHB for 37 years and has been active on local and state Associate and Builder boards for 24 years. She says that what sets GFSAHB apart is it’s dedication to serves the people by working with other homebuilders to do the right thing, fight for the industry politically, and knowing the importance a reputation of caring about the quality of work a professional homebuilder member represents.
Rose is a married to her husband, Bob, of 32 years. She’s the mother of two children, Jennifer who resides in Tulsa, and Dustin who, as a special needs adult, blesses his parents by living with them. Roses’ father, a homebuilder by trade, passed away at 67 from cancer. She has two brothers and sisters as well as a mother still living, at the age of 94.
Kirby Cockrum
Local Director, Greater Fort Smith
Risk Management Adviser, BHC Insurance
Justin Green
Past President, Greater Fort Smith Association of Home Builders
Owner, Justin Green Custom Homes
Justin Green, owner of Justin Green Custom Homes, has worked as a home builder and developer for the last 25 years. As a 2nd generation home builder he has served twice as President of the Greater Fort Smith Association of Home Builders. He’s been the Home Showcase Contractor for 3 years. He joined the organization after friends encouraged him to join by showing him all the benefits the association offered. He says of the organization, “We are a family. Builders that are supposed to be my competitors are some of my best friends. We all want each other to succeed.” Justin is married to his wife of 22 years and a father of two girls. He teaches Sunday School for teenage boys and is a member of the First Baptist church in Lavaca, AR. As a motto, Justin likes to ask, “You don’t have time to do it right but you have time to do it again?”
Ryan Lee
Local Director, Greater Fort Smith Association of Home Builders
OG&E
Ryan Lee is a Lead Program Manager at OG&E. He has eight years of utility experience focused on energy efficiency. He became involved with Greater Fort Smith Association of Home Builders after he was invited to join by a colleague. He believes that the organization’s value lies in the education that it brings to the public and the housing industry. Ryan Lee is married to his wife, Lindsay, of five years. They have one three year old daughter, Norah, and one on the way. As a personal motto, Ryan firmly believes as Calvin Coolidge:
“Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence.
Talent will not; Nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent.
Genius will not; Unrewarded genius is almost a proverb.
Education will not; The world is full of educated derelicts.
Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent."
Tim Mays
Past President, Local Director, Greater Fort Smith Association of Home Builders
Owner, Tim Mays Construction
Tim Mays Homebuilder, Inc. was formerly known as M&M Quality Homes. The original Mays construction company was founded in 1958 by J.L. Mays, Larry’s father. Larry joined J.L. in 1960, and together they were J.L. Mays and Son Construction for twenty years. Tim joined the business in 1985 when he teamed with his father to give us Larry Mays and Son Homebuilders. Together, Larry and Tim built well over 400 homes in Crawford and Sebastian Counties, and Tim gained nearly twenty years of experience from one of the best. When Tim's father retired in 2002, Tim took over the 3rd generation business and has since built over 300 homes ranging from $130K to over $900K. In 2016, Tim’s oldest son Colten joined the business. Tim cannot be more excited that this family business will continue on through a fourth generation.
The Mays family has been dedicated to building fine, quality homes in the Fort Smith area for more than 60 years now. The excellent reputation of the Mays family is proof that hard work and pride are presented in each and every home built. Tim strives to live by his motto: Keep Balance. He believes in keeping God first, family and others second, and self last.
Tim has been involved with the Greater Fort Smith Home Builders Association for many years dating back to when his dad was president. Tim was on the board of directors for many years and was president in 2018 and 2019. Tim believes the Greater Fort Smith Home Builders Association is an asset to our community because it gives people who aren’t sure who to turn to about new homes an avenue to help with decision-making.
Ronald Rouse
Local Director, Greater Fort Smith Home Association of Builders Association
Owner, Ronald W Rouse Builder, Inc
Ron has been building homes and developing subdivision for over 50 years, has served as president of the GFSAHB and on the Board of Adjustments and Appeals and on the Planning Commission of Fort Smith.
Ron became involved in the Greater Fort Smith Association of Home Builders in 1964 by his father, and has been a member since that first visit. He feels that the association brings professionalism to the building business and all suppliers and businesses associated with it. Ron’s grandfather, Hudson Rouse, worked on building houses when he wasn't farming in the winter and Ron’s father, Harley Rouse, built houses in the Fort Smith area from 1948 till 1980s> Ron is proud to say that the tradition passed down to his son, Mark, who operates in NorthWest Arkansas.
He firmly believes that everyone should be able to have a home.
Paul Walker
Local Director, Greater Fort Smith Association of Home Builders
Builder & Realtor
Paul R Walker has been in the home-building industry since 1972. He’s a self-employed builder and realtor in the Fort Smith community. He served as a Trustee on the board of the Greater Fort Smith Association of Home Builders and previously as a President for the organization for 3 terms. He’s been on the board of directors for the past 35 years. To Paul, the association brings industry competitors together to build friendships, it protects the public, and instills professionalism within the building industry on a local and state level. He says that building is risky and rewarding, but that if you get started and stay with it, it’s very rewarding.
Paul is married to Sandy Walker and together they have two sons and five grandchildren. Paul is a religious man and holds to the Christian passage, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and he will bring it to pass”.
Don Wise
Local Director, Don Wise Construction
Donnie Wise grew up in the construction business. Donnie left his corporate career in telecommunications 15 years ago and moved back home. Together with his father, Don Wise, they run Don Wise Construction and have over four decades of experiences in building quality homes. In addition to the construction company, Donnie is a licensed real estate agent.
Donnie is a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church where he volunteers his time to the youth and church ministry. He is also an avid cyclist competing in various races throughout the year. To help continue promoting cycling in the River Valley he serves on River Valley Cycling Advisory Board. Additionally, he helped develop and continues to serve on the Brave the Mud Run committee to raise funds for the Leflore County Crisis Services.
His involvement with the Greater Fort Smith Homebuilder’s Association comes from the belief that a strong homebuilder’s association makes a community a better place to live due to outreach programs. He also is a strong believer in learning from one another and he feels the best way to do this is by talking with other builders, trades, and industry-related companies.
He loves spending time with his wife, two daughters and grandson. If he isn’t cycling, in his free time he loves traveling around the country and exploring national parks.
His goal in every new build is to give his clients the best experience possible. He is committed to working hard for his customers. He provides quality service to build relationships with clients and more importantly, maintain those relationships by communicating effectively.
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
David Edwards
Rose Catalano
Paul Walker, Chairman
Fred Kirkwood
Emily Rucker
SPONSORS
