A member of NEFBA for 27 years, Ricardo Morales III, better known as Rick, is the 2015 president of NEFBA. He is also president of Morales Construction Co.
In 1987, he assumed the day-to-day operations of the construction segment of the various enterprises his father established that include Morgran Mini Warehouses, Morales Construction, Morgar Realty and Phillips Highway Commerce Park.
Morales graduated from The Bolles School and matriculated to Wofford College in Spartanburg, S.C., where he earned a bachelor’s degree in finance. Wofford is a private liberal arts institution with nationally recognized academic programs.
Although he interned in the financial industry while in school, Morales became a general contractor working for a large contractor before he joined the firm founded by his father, Ricardo Morales Jr. The business was primarily real estate, and the younger Morales developed the construction side of the business.
Early in his 30-year career as a general contractor, Morales saw the value of being a NEFBA member.
Morales has served on the NEFBA board of directors since 1990, and he is a member of the board of the Florida Home Builders Association, WJCT Public Television and Radio, HabiJax and the JAX Chamber of Commerce.
He was first appointed to the Florida Judicial Qualification Commission by Gov. Jeb Bush and reappointed to the commission by Gov. Rick Scott.
Morales Construction was a Pinnacle Award builder even before the award was created. For Morales, it was a matter of good business practice.
Morales and his wife Amy, an educational consultant, have two children, Ry (Ricardo IV), 17, and Marlo, 15. The family enjoys outdoor activities including boating and skiing (water and snow), and Morales adds golf and travel to his list of favorite leisure time activities.
As he begins his year as president of the state’s largest local home builders association, Morales shares his goals and philosophy of leadership.
Taking on the duties of president of one of the most influential home builders associations in the state, if not the country, must seem somewhat overwhelming. What have you done to prepare yourself for this important leadership position?
NEFBA is a large, multi-faceted organization with geographic and special interest councils and a number of committees that hold regular meetings each month. Each month’s calendar is full of social, networking, educational and a multitude of events and activities.
As first vice president, I got a taste of what it’s like trying to keep up with that hectic schedule. Fortunately, I can count on the exceptional quality of leadership I see in the councils and the committees. And, the NEFBA staff is shaping up into a cohesive, detail-oriented team to ensure the smooth operation and functions of the association.
I also have access to the on-going involvement of past presidents, whose experience, expertise and grasp of the industry and our market are invaluable. The NEFBA Executive Committee is not only the training ground for future presidents, it is staffed by visionaries whose sound judgment and council I know I can trust.
What are the challenges the industry faces today?
The largest hurdle we face as an industry is the labor shortage. The challenge to us is to provide a workforce that is well-trained and experienced.
Our Apprenticeship Program is ramping up, and the past year saw more than 100 new apprentices enrolled, but we face the challenge of competing against private trade schools that offer training in a shorter time period.
The shorter time frame is attractive if prospective students don’t know the facts: the shorter training doesn’t always prepare them adequately and they often incur substantial debt. NEFBA’s apprentice program offers a good living during the training period, quality training, on-the-job experience and a debt-free education.
Getting that message to prospective apprentices will enable us to grow the program and meet the demand for workers.
Who are the major influences in your life?
My father has had the greatest influence on my life. The day my father graduated from college, Fidel Castro took over control of the family business, leaving my grandfather and his family homeless. The story has a happy ending.
My father and two brothers came to the United States and started over. Their entrepreneurial spirit and their resilience enabled them to create their own successful businesses.
They continue to inspire and motivate me. In them, I see what is possible with determination, courage, strength of character and enterprise.