Scott Coulombe's friendly demeanor is obvious in the grin that often emerges when he speaks. But as the Collier Building Industry Association's new executive director talks about building a sustainable economy in Southwest Florida, it's also obvious he's not afraid to say what he thinks. Straight talk is part of his job.

"This is a people business that I'm in, and I like people," says Coulombe, who in early July replaced David Ellis as the new face of Collier's developers, builders and other construction professionals. "But there's a tendency to rely too much on government these days, to legislate rather than communicate. I explain how issues affect this industry and how rules and government can affect private business."

With more than 1,400 members, the CBIA is one of the largest trade groups in Florida. Leading a staff of eight, Coulombe educates builders, nurtures consensus among members, and works with organizations such as the Greater Naples Chamber of Commerce and the Economic Development Council of Collier County. But his primary task is to track legislation and represent the industry before lawmakers.

"A building association is like a chamber of commerce, but it's far more political," says Coulombe. "We have several other functions, but this is probably the most regulated industry there is, so the majority of my work is in governmental affairs."

Coulombe's expertise in that area is one reason a CBIA search committee hired him last summer. Before moving to Naples, Coulombe was executive director for the Home Builders Association of Greater New Orleans, a position that required strong relationships with more than 40 parish presidents, city officials, state legislators and other politicians.

Coulombe's people skills and sharp eye for pending legislation paid off in New Orleans. During the 2003 legislative session, he helped usher eight bills through the state legislature. He also stopped one bill that would've allowed manufactured homes in virtually any Louisiana neighborhood. In 2004, the Louisiana Home Builders Association named Coulombe the industry's top legislative advocate.

Another reason Coulombe was selected as CBIA's new leader is his experience in Southwest Florida. In the early 1980s, he was working as an account executive for a Port Charlotte trade magazine when a group of Charlotte builders asked him to lead a local chapter of Five County Builders, a regional building trade group. By 1985, Coulombe had helped establish the Charlotte Builders and Contractors Association. As that group's first executive director, Coulombe led the organization through 14 years of rapid growth.

Since coming to Naples, Coulombe has maintained a hectic schedule that includes meeting with members of the CBIA, networking with leaders in other areas of business, studying local regulations and contacting government officials.

"He brings a wealth of experience to the job and he's been a quick study coming up to speed with issues in our local community," says Collier Enterprises' Tom Conrecode, who co-chairs the CBIA Governmental Affairs Committee. "I've certainly been impressed with his work so far."

While his experience in New Orleans made him a "wiser and smarter" advocate, Coulombe says his Port Charlotte work has been invaluable. And coming up to speed locally hasn't been too difficult because the problems that face Collier County builders all have a familiar ring. "Impact fees, growth management, the environment-all of these issues were on the schedule when I left Florida and they're all still here," says Coulombe.

Coulombe notes that those issues not only affect the building industry, they affect business in all areas and can harm our quality of life. One of Collier County's most troublesome problems, a dearth of affordable housing, is a good example.

"Those who make $30,000 to $100,000 a year have a hard time finding homes here, and that's when a community has to stop and take a look at things," says Coulombe. "Nurses, EMTs, teachers and police, these people will have to travel here to work."

Although impact fees are burdensome for local builders and contribute to the shortage of affordable housing, they're only part of the problem, says Coulombe. "I think we can be more creative with land development issues in Collier County," he says. "If we could increase density in some areas while increasing green space in others, maybe we could take some of the sting out of those impact fees."

Land development regulation is just one of the thorny problems Coulombe hopes to tackle in a creative way. Mostly he wants to make sure government officials are willing to discuss issues with the building industry before those issues result in new laws.

"In general, we want open communications in government-open-door policies," says Coulombe. "Most politicians want to do the right thing, but maybe they don't know what the right thing is on every issue."