Wisconsin Builder | Residential Construction

Protecting his Interests

Wendle fights for home builders

Politics, work force top his list of challenges

By Sean Ryan

Bill Wendle
ExecutiveVice President
Wisconsin Builders Association

The last time Wisconsin had a Democratic governor, Wisconsin Builders Association Executive Vice President Bill Wendle tailored his "Escape to Wisconsin" bumper sticker to read "Escape Wisconsin."

He stuck the "to" back on after Gov. Tommy Thompson won the state's top seat in 1987. But Wendle said he's worried that his escapist mentality could return if this November's elections jeopardize the builder-friendly climate created under 15 years of Republican governors.

"I think this is a wonderful industry and this is a wonderful state for this industry, but we're in a crossroads with these elections," Wendle said. "The No. 1 thing is getting people elected next fall that are considerate to the housing industry."

Wendle worked for the Wisconsin Medical Society for 20 years and then the Wisconsin Homecare Organization before coming to the WBA in 1995. In the midst of his second gubernatorial election with the association, he said he is most concerned that new leadership might allow Wisconsin's impact fees to increase, making property less affordable.

"I understand where they're coming from because it's an easy tax," Wendle said. "The Senate leadership has been very hard to deal with on this because they see it as a way to tax people that aren't voters."

Wendle said an impact-fee increase would discourage busi-ness leaders and home owners from moving into the state, and it would cause current residents to escape Wisconsin.

"We could go down that path of industries and businesses leaving the state, with the joke being that the last one out turn off the light," he said. "Economics have changed, and they can't recover from that without housing in the communities. If people can't buy a home, they can't buy cars or groceries."

Building the industry

As a side project to protecting the industry's political future, Wendle said he is pushing state schools to promote residential construction as a possible career for students. He said schools are neglecting the trades and encouraging all their students to move on to college or high-technology training.

"The education system has evolved over the last 20 years to market success by the number of people who go on to college," Wendle said. "We've been frustrated by the education system -- both in high school and in the tech schools -- not getting kids interested in the home-building and construction industry."

He said the WBA is sending agents to schools to teach students and advisors that people from any educational background could enjoy success in the trades. He said home building is a rewarding job, and contractors take pride every time they drive past a house they built.

"I get a little concerned that we don't sell that," Wendle said. "Take someone who repairs photocopiers. You're not going to drive by the WBA after you retire and say that you repaired their copier."

In the same way a contractor leaves a professional legacy of wood and concrete, Wendle said he wants his legacy to live on through the people he brought into the WBA.

"I want to come back in 20 years and see some of the people that I worked with here in charge of their own associations," he said. "I don't want a building named after me. It's the human side. The thing I really enjoy about my job are the people."