Our History

Builders Exchanges pre-date all other nationally recognized construction associations, and are the oldest form of cooperative alliance between segments of the construction industry in North America other than trade unions and guilds. The first Builders Exchange of record opened in 1862, in Nova Scotia, Canada.

The International Builders Exchange Executives (IBEE) evolved from the original vision of Dan Patrick, executive director of the Atlanta Builders Exchange in Atlanta, Georgia, who in 1948, along with 8 other exchange executives formed the "Executive Secretaries National Council" of Builders Exchanges. By 1951, the organization had grown to include participation from Canadian Exchanges.

In 2003, IBEE branded itself the Builders Exchange Network (BXNet/BXNetwork), and collectively represents over 70,000 construction-related businesses. IBEE's BXNet is the largest Association of its kind in North America.