News

Support the Legacy of the Marin Builders Association Scholarship Program

Since 1978 the Marin Builders Association Scholarship & Workforce Training Fund has provided nearly $1 million in scholarship awards to deserving high school seniors. Scholarship winners have gone into nearly every profession, including the building trades, construction management, engineering, architecture, and more. Our Scholarship Program offers an opportunity for all students pursuing a college, university, or trade school education to apply for a financial award. We emphasize the need for trained

Resilient Neighborhoods Presents: FREE Online Climate Action Workshops

Resilient Neighborhoods empowers people to take personal and local action to reduce their household greenhouse gas emissions and create connected communities resilient to disasters. We offer two workshops every season. Workshops are virtual and can be done from the comfort of your own home. You'll meet 5 times over 8 weeks with a team of Marin County community members. Meetings are 90 minutes followed by an optional Q&A session.Thursday Team Dates: Jun 12 (Kickoff), Jun 26, Jul 10, Jul 24 & Aug 7 6:30 -

Construction Related Hiring Opportunities

At the Marin Builders Association, we are often approached by graduates of our construction training programs, or those interested in pursuing a career in construction trades.   Often times, we are asked to connect these applicants to our members who may be hiring or offering an internship at their company. If your firm offers internships or if you have upcoming job opportunities, we want to hear from you! To join a short list of employers who are looking to hire or offering internships, please take 3

The National Waste & Recycling Association Announces Patty Garbarino, President of Marin Sanitary Service, as an Inductee into 2025 Hall of Fame

Arlington, Virginia—(March 27, 2025) —The National Waste & Recycling Association (NWRA) announced the list of 2025 Hall of Fame inductees, including Marin Sanitary Service’s President, Patty Garbarino.  “I am deeply honored to follow in my Father’s footsteps and be inducted into the Hall of Fame,” Garbarino said.  “This honor belongs to all the Marin Sanitary staff, the cities, and the residents that we serve every day.  Together, we are recycling materials to make our community and the world a better

Construction Training Program from Canal Alliance, College of Marin, and Marin Builders Association

Phishy Business Alert!

Phishy Business Alert! Think you can spot a fake email from a mile away? The cybercriminals are betting you can't. With over 160 billion spam emails flying around every day, even the savviest among us can get tricked. Some of these scams are sneaky. We’re talking fake shipping notices, spoofed invoices, and messages that look like they came from your boss (but definitely didn’t). Lucky for you, we’ve put together a quick guide to help you sniff out the phony stuff before you click.?? Check out the blog

Standing Room Only at MBA's March Member Morning

If you BUILD it, they will come! We welcomed over 130 guests at our March Member Morning on Thursday, March 20th. Thank you to everyone who attended and filled the room with such incredible energy!  The theme of the event was Member Connections and we could not be more proud to have provided our members with this opportunity to do just that. Special thanks to our delicious coffee and donut sponsor, George Petersen Insurance Agency! We hope to see all of you at the next one!

Free Safety Training Options for MBA Members

Marin Builders Association has been awarded a Susan Harwood Training Grant which will provide FREE safety training to contractors and their workers throughout Marin County. Your interest in the potential topics will help us determine what trainings to offer to you, our members. Your reply will take less than 2 minutes and will help us meet our grant requirements. We appreciate your help!   Take 2 minute survey

Windows 10 End of Life: Are You Ready for the Road Ahead?

?? Windows 10 End of Life: Are You Ready for the Road Ahead? ?? Still cruising along with Windows 10 like it’s your favorite old car? ?? It’s been reliable, but here’s the problem—the manufacturer is pulling the plug. After October 14, 2025, there will be no more security updates, no bug fixes, and no support—just a system running on borrowed time, wide open to cyber threats. Would you keep driving a car if the brakes stopped working? Probably not. So why risk running outdated, unsupported software?

MBA is Looking for a New Team Member

We're looking for the newest member of the MBA team!Job Title: Administrative & Marketing Support SpecialistLocation: Marin Builders Association, San Rafael, CAReports to: CEOPosition Overview: The Marin Builders Association (MBA) is seeking a highly organized, self-motivated, and versatile Administrative & Marketing Support Specialist to join our team on a part-time basis. This role is ideal for a self-starter with strong administrative skills, a passion for marketing, and a drive to enhance member

Congratulations Gabriela Shea on your Retirement!

Congratulations Gabriela Shea! Gabriela Shea, our Administrative and Marketing Assistant, who has been a valued and much-loved member of our team since joining in August 2016 will be retiring on March 13, 2025. As our Administrative and Marketing Assistant, Gabriela has played a crucial role in supporting our members, helping coordinate events, and contributing to our marketing efforts, leaving a lasting positive impact on the MBA and the broader community. Since joining the MBA in 2016, Gabriela has

Rebuilding Together East Bay Network a Finalist for 2025 Innovation Award

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Rebuilding Together East Bay Network is a Finalist for the East Bay Economic Development Alliance Innovation Award Berkeley, CA – February 24, 2025 – Local non-profit Rebuilding Together East Bay Network has been named a finalist for the prestigious 2025 East Bay Economic Development Alliance (EBEDA) Innovation Award in the Community Impact category. This recognition highlights the organization’s groundbreaking Big Skills Program, which equips construction trades apprentices and high

City of Novato Launches Express Building Permit Service

City Launches Express Building Permit ServiceStreamlined permitting process for registered and licensed contractors The City of Novato is thrilled to announce the launch of our new Express Permit Service for registered and licensed contractors. This service is designed to streamline and expedite the permitting process for select residential projects, saving you valuable time and effort. What is Express Permit Service?  Express Permit Service provides a faster and more convenient option for minor

California Employers, Get Ready! Wide Range of Employment-Related Laws Will Take Effect January 1, 2025 + 4 Essential California Employee Handbook Updates for 2025

New California employment laws are scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2025. These laws address a variety of issues, including the state minimum wage, discrimination protections, paid time off, and employers’ messages about unionization.  Quick HitsCalifornia’s minimum wage will increase from $16.00 to $16.50 per hour.New legislation clarifies that employers may not discriminate against workers because they have a combination of protected characteristics or do not have a driver’s license.California

New Law Changes in 2025 Affecting Licensees, Applicants and Stakeholders

Sacramento, CA – The Contractors State License Board (CSLB) is advising licensees, applicants, and other stakeholders of key legislative updates following the implementation ofSenate Bill 1455 (Ashby, 2024). This bill, effective January 1, 2025, extends the Board’s “sunset” date from 2025 to 2029 and makes other changes to the law, which are described below. Key Provisions of SB 1455    1. Public Works Project LicensingWhat’s New?  Awarding authorities must now ensure that public works project bidders

Home Hardening in Action

When wildfire swept through Camarillo, California, Steven Snyder’s fire-hardened home emerged unscathed amid widespread destruction in his neighborhood. By choosing to build with fire-resistant materials—Class A roofing, fireproof siding, ember-resistant vents, and a fully cleared defensible space—Snyder’s home stood resilient against the flames. His story underscores the critical role of wildfire-ready construction as California’s seasons grow more intense, especially in high-risk areas like Marin