CB/USA LEADERSHIP

As a founder and CEO of CB/USA, Bill Smithers has taken his company’s innovative purchasing concept to custom and independent builders nationwide, providing them with powerful business systems, superior knowledge and market strength that they could not have enjoyed on their own. Under Bill’s leadership, CB/USA members have been able to lower their material costs, improve their levels of service, share best demonstrated practices and generate rebate income through their collective purchasing efforts. As a builder for many years and now the head of an organization dedicated to the improvement of business practices and financial performance of the building industry, Bill has combined intimate knowledge with the insight of hundreds of CB/USA members to deliver exceptional results for all active participants. Bill’s vision of building the most powerful network of custom and independent builders across the country has become a reality for CB/USA members. The company’s use of technology, process development and relationship building has set a new standard of excellence for the industry and improved the way its builders run their businesses.

Bill began his long tenure in home building at housing giant Ryland Homes, where he worked in all phases of Division operations. During his 10 years with the company, Bill was integrally involved in the formation and implementation of strategies and business systems necessary for success in the highly competitive world of production building. In 1992, Bill was promoted to Division President in Ryland’s Washington, DC market, making him the youngest executive officer in the company. In 1995, Bill left Ryland to start University Homes, a high-end custom building company that specializes in both the design and construction of new homes and large-scale remodeling projects. University Homes was named Builder of the Year in 2003 by the Custom Building Council of Northern Virginia and their projects have received Finest for Family Living Awards in 2001, 2002 and 2003, 2005 and 2006.  Bill is a past Chairman of the NVBIA Custom Builders Council and an active member of his NAHB Builder 20 Club.

Bill’s success in putting custom and independent builders at the forefront of their industry was recognized at a national level in 2006, when he was chosen by Builder Magazine as one of “The 50 Most Influential People in Home Building”.  

Combining the teamwork developed in the US Army with the analytical rigor learned at the Boston Consulting Group, Brendan challenges CB/USA on a daily basis to move faster and deliver more value to members. Upon joining CB/USA in 2006, Brendan quickly set about creating the system architecture that enables rebates from invoicing through to member distribution. Accountability to CB/USA members permeates Brendan’s initiatives, and he is passionate about bringing real-time, web-based reporting to members on their purchases, cost savings, and rebates. Another area of focus for Brendan is examining how the next generation of web-enabled services can advance the custom building industry.

Before joining CB/USA, Brendan worked at the Boston Consulting Group on strategic initiatives in both financial and operational roles. Working with an international automotive parts supplier, Brendan developed financial models which provided new insights into the current and future profitability of various product lines. Brendan also led a business process re-engineering team which brought lean manufacturing, higher quality and reduced costs to North America’s largest truck manufacturing plant. Other projects included developing an emerging markets strategy for a large hedge fund, finding new business opportunities for an athletic apparel company, and benchmarking costs for a chemical company against Chinese competitors.

Rounding out a diverse background, Brendan served in the US Army for over six years both in the US and in the Middle East. As an officer in the Corps of Engineers, Brendan led with distinction and elevated his unit to new levels of achievement in every role. Brendan earned his undergraduate degree from the United States Military Academy at West Point and an MBA from Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management. Currently, Brendan lives with his wife in Arlington, VA and is an avid outdoor adventurer and Washington Nationals fan.

Brian leads a talented operations team responsible for the performance and growth of CB/USA’s national purchasing network of the industry’s most respected homebuilders. Brian combines his passion for the homebuilding business with years of operational leadership experience to develop programs and tools that have successfully achieved cooperation amongst historically fragmented independent homebuilders. Among Brian’s most important initiatives is the continuous development and enhancement of CB/USA’s web-based purchasing software that is revolutionizing the way builders make buying decisions as well as the manner in which suppliers market to their customers.

Before joining CB/USA, Brian spent over 3 years with John Wieland Homes as a manager in both the homebuilding and supply chain businesses. As Director of Operations for John Wieland’s Forrest Material Supply, Brian managed a $40M cost center responsible for the distribution of building materials in a support of a $720M homebuilding operation. Brian rounded out his career at John Wieland Homes gaining valuable experience as a Signature Builder in one of the company’s most luxurious Atlanta subdivisions.

Brian began his career as a U.S. Army Engineer Officer serving in the US, Egypt, and Bosnia, where he focused on infrastructure re-construction efforts. Brian earned an undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering from the United States Military Academy at West Point and a Masters in Civil Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology.