By Ted McIntyre
Emotional Collins-Williams Moved by David Horton Executive Officer Award
Although celebrating his 20th anniversary with OHBA, Mike Collins-Williams seems to have aged in dog years, with nary a silver hair to show for his tenure. But his contributions to OHBA would already suggest someone nearing retirement.
In a hugely popular choice during the President’s Gala at Blue Mountain Resort, Collins-Williams was presented the David Horton Award, which honours the legacy of the former OHBA Executive Officer who passed away in 2011 after more than 25 years of service. The award is presented to a deserving Association staff member who has exemplified Horton’s leadership qualities and commitment to the Association. Collins-Williams, Chief Executive Officer of the West End Home Builders’ Association (WEHBA), joined OHBA in July 2003 as an urban planning graduate. Under the leadership of Horton, Collins-Williams played a critical role in OHBA’s advocacy and policy priorities. In 2020, he assumed WEHBA’s CEO role and has revitalized and positioned this local as a prominent leader in the HBA network.
“Michael found his way into the home building association network as OHBA’s newest policy analyst,” OHBA’s new president, Dave Depencier, noted during the ceremony. “Guided by the mentorship of David himself, he began a transformative journey, climbing the ranks from a policy analyst to manager of government relations, director of policy, and senior director of planning and policy. In late 2020, he made the difficult decision to take the helm at a local chapter. Following in the footsteps of David as Executive Officer, drawing upon his exceptional leadership skills and deep industry knowledge, Michael led WEHBA to new heights. But his dedication doesn’t stop there. He consistently goes above and beyond for his local membership and is always willing to lend a helping hand to fellow EOs across the province. Furthermore, he’s co-chair of OHBA Advocacy Coordination Table, making substantial contributions to the Association’s goals and objectives. His remarkable journey, dedication and commitment to our association and industry inspires us all.”
“I don’t think it’s possible to convey how much this particular award really means to me,” Collin-Williams observed. “I owe my entire career, the success I’ve had, and the many friends I’ve made along the way to David. Way back in 2003, David Horton took a chance on a young punk kid with pink streaks in his hair coming straight out of planning school with no real-world work experience, and he hired me for an entry-level position as a policy analyst at OHBA. David was truly OHBA’s Rock of Gibraltar. He had these sayings, like ‘There’s no free lunch at OHBA,’ and ‘90% of what you worry about never happens.’ He gave me incredible opportunities to learn and grow both as a person and as a professional. He was my mentor. This is the only award I’ll ever care about, because it’s about David.”
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