We’re excited to bring you a series of blogs featuring Brightwater Homes, a custom home builder in Georgia and South Carolina. In this three-part feature, you’ll hear from members of the Brightwater team. Follow along to hear more about how they’re leveraging CBUSA’s access to build lasting supplier relationships and improve product offerings for their net-zero energy homes.
In the competitive world of home building, success isn’t just about craftsmanship – it’s about connections. That’s where CBUSA comes in.
CBUSA’s group purchasing network brings independent home builders together, offering not just cost-saving opportunities but also a network of industry peers willing to share knowledge, strategies and best practices.
As a member of the Atlanta market, Steven Sanders-Myers, purchasing manager at Brightwater Homes, has had the opportunity to connect with other leading builders like Brad Robinson, president of Bradford Custom Homes & Remodeling.
Both pros can’t say enough about the value of these relationships.
A growing community of builders
CBUSA is more than just a network – it’s a community.
Builders of all sizes come together to share insights and support each other in navigating the complexities of the industry. When Brightwater Homes first joined CBUSA in 2019, the group had just 12 builders, with about seven or eight attending monthly meetings.
“It was great coming in at that point, building out a purchasing department to hear from some other business owners that were doing it,” Steven said. “Fast forward five years, we’re 55-plus builders now.”
And the relationships formed have been one of the key benefits.
“Having the accessibility with CBUSA to pick up pointers and tips from other builders that are building in that volume range has been invaluable.”
Steven Sanders-Myers
Purchasing Manager at Brightwater Homes
Brad agrees that the added value of networking with like-minded professionals is a rare opportunity that adds tremendous value.
“I’ve been involved with CBUSA for about a year now, and one of the biggest components I enjoy is the collaboration with other builders and the sense of community that’s created,” Brad said. “There’s not another place where you can have this sense of community.”
Rising together in a competitive market
The construction industry is inherently competitive, but the builders in CBUSA recognize that shared success benefits everyone.
“We know that, ultimately, if we elevate what we’re doing as an industry, it elevates all of us,” Steven continued.
“We’re in a competitive marketplace. It’s construction, it’s business – we’re here to make money, we’re here to build a great product, and we want to be the best at what we do. But we also understand … a tide rises all ships.”
Steven Sanders-Myers
Purchasing Manager at Brightwater Homes
This mindset fosters strong relationships among CBUSA members, as they work together to raise the bar for the entire homebuilding industry.
Aligning values for a stronger future
CBUSA also brings together builders who share similar values. For Steven and Brad, sustainability and long-term impact are key considerations in their work.
“Our relationship with Steven and Brightwater Homes is more so because of an alignment of philosophy,” Brad said. “We have a similar belief in sustainable building practices, building in such a way that we’re being conscious of our footprint and how we’re impacting the communities that we’re building in.”
Steven agrees that being a home builder carries an obligation beyond the present moment.
“Personally, I think being a home builder is a huge responsibility in how we’re thinking about the future, how we’re thinking about how this is going to impact today, but also what it’s going to do for future generations.”
Steven Sanders-Myers
Purchasing Manager at Brightwater Homes
“As we encourage each other on the building front to better what we do, it just makes us all better and gives us more of a rapport to the entire market that’s looking at builders as a whole,” Steven continued.
Experience the power of collaboration with CBUSA
At its core, CBUSA is about more than group purchasing – it’s about creating a network where builders can learn, grow and elevate the industry together. By sharing knowledge and supporting one another, CBUSA members don’t just improve their own businesses, they help shape the future of home building.
For builders looking to strengthen their networks, gain valuable industry insights and become part of a community that’s committed to excellence, CBUSA offers a clear path forward. As these builders have shown, when you work together, everyone succeeds.
Learn more about becoming a CBUSA member today.