NCHBA ……Working for you! The next 14 issues of the North Carolina BUILDER will highlight one NCHBA staff.  Our goal is to better inform you who we are and how we can help you in your everyday business.

When not busy behind the scenes at the General Assembly, Paul Wilms can be found astride his Harley-Davidson, headed for the open road.

Paul Wilms was born in LeMars, Iowa, a farming community located on the Great Plains of northwest Iowa, which, as the home of Blue Bunny Ice Cream, bills itself as the “Ice Cream Capital of the World”.  While in High School he met courted the former Marguerite Watson, a foreign exchange student from Northern Ireland and an international swimming champion who still holds the Irish record for the 100-yard freestyle. They were married in Northern Ireland after Wilms’ freshman year in college.  While an undergraduate student at the University of Northern Iowa, Wilms worked as a radio announcer and disc jockey.

After receiving his undergraduate degree in geology, Wilms and his wife both attended the University of Alabama; Paul to earn his Master of Science degree in Civil Engineering and Marguerite to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Home Economics Education. Following graduation, Wilms served as an artillery officer based out of Camp Lejeune, NC. His duty took him to the Caribbean, N. Atlantic, South America, and Mediterranean areas. He was honorably discharged in September 1976 with the rank of Captain.

In 1976 Wilms joined the N.C. Division of Environmental Management as Water Quality Engineer. In 1985, under Governor Martin, Wilms was the Director of the Division of Environmental Management. In January 1990 Wilms joined the NCHBA family as the Director of Regulatory Affairs. In that capacity, he received nine national awards for member service and authored a nationally recognized, award-winning OSHA manual for residential construction. In 2000 he became the Director of Government Affairs and Assistant Executive Vice President of NCHBA.

As head of Government Affairs, Wilms represents the interests of NCHBA’s member firms in the N.C. General Assembly as NCHBA’s chief lobbyist. He also oversees all of NCHBA’s government affairs and regulatory programs. He has received national recognition for legislative successes was ranked as one of the most influential lobbyists (29/645) in the 2003 General Assembly by the non-partisan N.C. Center for Public Policy Research.  He has authored the North Carolina Builder feature section, Capitol Insider, on a wide range of topics and also numerous pieces of legislation ultimately enacted by the N.C. General Assembly. 

Wilms is a father of two and a grandfather of four – three granddaughters and one grandson who range from the ages of nine years to six months. Wilms has always had a passion for riding Harley Davidson motorcycles, often riding cross-country, and is the State Elder for Bikers for Christ. When not on his Harley, Wilms enjoys carpentry, woodworking, and reading.

Wilms can be reached at 1.800.662.7129 ext.403 or via email: .