smal l b u s i n e s s o f t h e mon t h
HULBERT HOMES INC.
MARK HULBERT
863.647.5815
464 W PIPKIN RD, STE 1
LAKELAND, FL 33813
C
] O N N E C T
www.HulbertHomes.com
“Our goal is to make
raving fans.” Even though
this is not Hulbert Homes’
official motto, owner
Mark Hulbert states that
by doing this, “we are
very close to achieving
our main philosophy
of providing a superior
product with quality
and integrity.
Hulbert Homes has
been constructing custom
homes in Polk and
Hillsborough counties
for 18 years. Much of
their success can be
reflected in the teamwork
atmosphere of the staff at
Hulbert Homes.
Instead of competing
apples to apples with
other builders, Hulbert
Homes believes it is their
process that makes them
stand out. The project
doesn’t start when the
foundation is poured,
but rather the first
encounter with builder
and homeowner. The
relationship is a critical
component of the Hulbert
Homes process. They
believe in discovering
the client’s dreams and
ideas, transcribing them
to paper, and from paper
to reality.
By the end of the
economic crisis of 2009,
Hulbert Homes, while not
untouched, came through
by standing by their
“quality and integrity”
principles and by shifting
to more environmentally
friendly methods and
products, thus providing
value and energy savings
for their customers.
During the recession,
Mark became a Certified
Green Professional with
the National Association
of Home Builders
(NAHB). Hulbert Homes
now strives to use green
products wherever
they can. The key is
in the payback period
(the period of time the
product will benefit the
homeowner) and the
positive impact on the
environment—both of
which are explored prior
to installation in a
Hulbert Home.
Mark learned
construction under the
tutelage of his younger
brother and later pursued
his contractor’s license.
In 1997, he built his first
home; customers who
remain friends to this
day. By the end of 2015,
Hulbert Homes will
break ground on their
700th home.
Along with the
NAHB, Hulbert Homes
is also a member of the
Polk County Builders
Association (PCBA)
and the Florida Home
Builders Association
(FHBA). Mark and Linda
Hulbert, along with
many of their employees,
are active participants
and contributors in
several local charitable
organizations such as
Highland Park Church,
Boys & Girls Club,
Project Care Outreach,
PACE, Idols Aside, Faith
Runners, Jesus Film,
Talbot House, and Young
Life and Alliance for
Independence. However,
possibly the most
notable act of charity
came in 2014—a mission
inconspicuously known as
the Polk City 3:4 Project.
Last year, a friend of
Mark’s, Tim Williams,
asked if he would donate
his time and expertise to
fix the roof of the home
of an elderly Polk City
woman and her 14-yearold adopted daughter.
BY JIM RUSSELL,
For more information on
the requirements for the
Small Business Award
and to view previous
recipients, please visit
LakelandChamber.com/
BusinessResource.
COMMITTEE
MEMBER JIM RUSSELL
PRESENTED THE MARCH
SMALL BUSINESS OF
THE MONTH AWARD
TO HULBERT HOMES.
PICTURED IN THE PHOTO
ARE JIM RUSSELL TO
THE LEFT AND MARK
HULBERT TO THE RIGHT.
10 | F O R U M F O R B U S I N E S S
After inspecting the
situation, Mark and Tim
decided they needed to
demo the existing house
and build a new one in
its place. He donated
Hulbert Homes’ time and
labor and rallied several
subcontractors and
suppliers to donate to the
cause. When it was all
said and done, the woman
and her daughter had a
brand new home, free
of charge.
Hulbert Homes has
a history of satisfied
customers. The evidence
is in the numerous letters
of gratitude, referrals,
and repeat customers
on the informative and
well-furnished website
(www.hulberthomes.com).
It is with great honor and
pleasure to award Hulbert
Homes, Inc. with the
March’s Small Business of
the Month Award.
CEMENT PRODUCTS & SUPPLY CO., INC.