Professional Bahamas Part 0ne | Page 11

For the past 33 years, Deborah Deal, President of Contemporary Bui ders XIX td.,has been a building contractor in an industry traditionally male dominated. Jokingthat she was an only child and her father wanted a boy, her passion for building and design started from an early age,as did her respect for the environment. A respected environmentalist and energy conservationist, Ms. Deal's respect for the environment has aided her career as a builder of "green" homes having built her first green home over nine years ago in Charlottesville with solar panels and back up batteries asits energy source. Ms. Deal is also a partner in South Ocean Palms, a "green" subdivision. From residential to commercial, new construction to retrofitting,the company covers all aspects of the field. Attention to detail,comingin on budget and on time has been the hallmarks of the success of the company. Ms. Deal has been blessed by experiencing working across the archipelago of Family Islands, which gave her a greater appreciation for The Bahamas. Ms. Deal has served on the board of the Bahamas Contractors Association and sits on the National Technical Committee of the Bahamas Bureau of Standards and Quality. She also serves as a Director of Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employers Confederation, where she chairs the Energy and Environment Division and is regarded as the Champion for energy reform and creation of the "Respectfully Committed to the Green Initiative". Sustainability and energy efficiency being so important in construction both globally and in The Bahamas,her desire is to ensure all Bahamians and residents alike are awarded the opportunity to better steward our country through Best Building practices. "If you have passion,a vision and the desireto exceed,take your dreamin your heart and your hand and run with it with all your might...don't stop,don't look back, don't second guess, just do it. ..And God said,"Iwill give you the desires of your heart!"