FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Feb. 13, 2008
Contact: Brad Wurfel, 503-603-4508
Building industry celebrates excellence at annual awards ceremony
Nearly 400home building professionals gathered Feb. 9 in Portland for the fourth annual Excellence Awards.
The Home Builders Association of Metropolitan Portland issues the awards in a variety of categories to recognize outstanding work throughout the home building industry.
“It is important that wetake some time each year to applaud the individuals and companies who lead our industry through their efforts," said HBA Chief Executive Officer Dave Nielsen. “We were proud to have so many awards to issue this year, and so many difficult decisions to make when judging submissions. The Portland area’s homebuilding industry is home to some amazing talent and some outstanding professionals.”
The Excellence Awards program has grown from 25 awards in 2004 to more than 35 categories today. In addition to the Excellence Awards, the HBA presented its Annual Awards to individual members who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to the association in 2007.
The HBA Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Jim Standring of Westlund Industries and Jeff Fish of Fish Construction.
Standring has served in every leadership capacity possible during his 25-plus years of involvement at the Home Builders Association, including the Board of Directors, State Director, National Director, Portland HBA President, and OHBA President.
Standring has founded, served on or chaired countless public policy task forces and committees, from local sewage agencies and park districts to advising the governor’s office. His relationships with 1000 Friends of Oregon helped HBA create an alliance that surprised many back in the early 1990s, but which had significant impact on land use planning in the joint legislation the two organizations supported.
Jeff Fish is a well-known Portland builder who has spent much of his career working for better local government. He has served on numerous City Task Forces and Commissions, and is highly respected by leaders in the City of Portland. For the past five years, Fish has built the HBA PAC house to raise money for better government. His efforts on myriad housing initiatives and his great reputation among elected officials have helped the industry craft a strong, productive relationship with local government.
He has served on HBA’s Executive Committee and Board, served as a National Director at NAHB, helped with countless home shows and tours, chaired HBA's Political Action Committee, and has served on the Government Affairs and Education committees – to name just a few.
The award for Builder of the Yearwent toLegend Homes. The company's leadership teamactively participates ina long list business, networking and educational programs with the HBA and provides outstanding leadership in the home building industry. Legend Homes brought the industry together in 2007 as the builders foran episode ofthe ABC show “Extreme Home Makeover.” Together with other HBA contractors and suppliers, Legend Homes successfully completed the construction of a 3,980 square foot home for a very special Corvallis family.
Mitch Stanley of Stanley Home Renovation and Design was awarded Remodeler of the Year.Heis actively involved in HBA home shows and professional development opportunities in the industry.
NW Natural earned Associate of the Year for its sustained role of active sponsorship and support contribution and commitment throughout the Portland area's home building community. NW Natural has been a long-time supporter and title sponsor of the Street of Dreams and countless HBA events. NW Natural alsois a presenting sponsor of the 2008 Ultimate Open House New Home Tour.
Recipient for Trade Contractor of the Year is Terry Voss of Voss Framing. As a member, he has contributed time, product, and finds to a number of HBA activities and to the building industry. Voss is involved in the Oregon City Planning Commission, has contributed to the Political Action Committee House, and was a strong supporter of Legend Homes’ Extreme Home Makeover. He also stepped in to help with the first-ever New Home Showcase at the Spring Home & Garden Show.
Kimberly Wheeler of MBank was awarded for her contribution to HBA member recruitment. Wheeler recruited 40 members for the association in 2007. This is the second year Wheeler has won, and the first time in HBA history that any member has earned this award for two consecutive years.
Other Excellence Award winners can be found here
The awards program was sponsored by Lumbermens, Contract Furnishings Mart, HomeStreet Bank, The Oregonian, and Energy Trust NEW HOMES STAR program.
For more information about the HBA annual awards, excellence awards or other HBA programs, go to www.homebuildersportland.org.
The Home Builders Association of Metropolitan Portland is the leading voice for the residential building industry, representing more than 1,450 builders, remodelers and industry professionals. Since 1942, HBA has worked on behalf of our industry to promote diverse, affordable housing options to area residents.
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