Former Port Orchard Mayor Lary Coppola has been named as the new executive officer of the North Peninsula Building Association (NPBA).
Coppola succeeds FaLeana Wech, who has accepted the position of communications and public relations director with the Building Industry Association of Washington.
Coppola will be responsible for the day-to-day business operations of the association, as well as membership and revenue growth, including the group’s well-respected Future Builders Program, aneducational partnership that introduces high school and college students, to all aspects of the building industry.
He has served as a board member of the Homebuilders Association of Kitsap County (HBA) and on its Government Affairs and Legislative Policy Committees for almost 20 years. In addition, he has been a state director for the Building Industry Association of Washington, serving on its Legislative Policy Committee and its political action committee, the Washington Affordable Housing Council (WAHC).
Coppola served four years as mayor.
He was responsible for overhauling the city’s permitting system so now it is one of the fastest and most certain in the Puget Sound region. He was honored by the HBA as its city Official of the Year in 2010, and had been previously recognized twice as its Affiliate of the Year.
The Kitsap Association of Realtors (KCAR) has also recognized him as its Citizen of the Year and Associate of the Year twice each.
Coppola is the former president and chief executive officer of Wet Apple Media, which he founded. The company publishes the Kitsap Peninsula Business Journal, West Sound Home and Garden and Remodel Kitsap magazines.
He stepped down after being elected mayor and returned briefly to lead the strategic transition from a traditional print-based publisher to one that’s major focus is now primarily digital, showcasing online, social media,and smartphone-based publications with a printed component.
Since then, he has been engaged in consulting work with cities on how to effectively bring private sector business practices and LEAN management practices to government.
“We are excited to welcome Lary as the executive officer to our organization,” said Garret DelaBarre, NPBA president. “The NPBA and its members are advocates for continual improvement of building and business practices. Lary’s background in both the public and private sectors make him well-suited to help us continue to move forward programs that align with our mission to provide quality construction in our community.”
