Recognizing Remarkable Talent

The inaugural day of the 2020 International Builders’ Show ended on a high note at the National Association of Home Builders Remodelers’ All Stars Celebration. 

Hosted at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort, this year’s celebration featured the 2019 Council Awards for Demonstrating Remodeling Excellence (CADREs) and Homes for Life award winners. NAHB also announced awards for individual achievements. 

Tim Ellis, 2019 NAHB Chair, opened with the CADREs, awards that recognize NAHB Remodelers (NAHBR) councils and their leaders whose work exemplifies best practices of the remodeling industry.

2019 CADRE award winners: 

For Public Relations and Promotion: Greater Houston Builders Association’s Remodelers Council

For Community Service Project: Greater Houston Builders Association’s Remodelers Council

For Membership Recruitment & Retention: Greater Iowa City Area Home Builders Association’s Remodelers Council

For Outstanding Associate Member: Amy Robinson, of the Greater Houston Builders Association’s Remodelers Council

For Outstanding Executive Officer: Danna Markland, of the Home Builders Association of Richmond

For Outstanding Council Chair: Frank Makoski, of the Home Builders Association of Greater Cleveland

The Homes for Life awards came next. Sponsored by Professional Remodeler and presented by Director of Content, Erika Taylor, these recognize excellence in aging-in-place designs and accessible home modifications. (In the spirit of growth and support for the industry, Taylor is working toward earning the CAPS designation in 2020.)

The 2019 Homes for Life awards were again open to non-CAPS designees, with entries submitted by a CAPS designee automatically entered into Best Overall CAPS Winner.

2019 Homes for Life award: 

For Two-story  Remodel: Reiko Lewis, of Ventus Design

For Whole House/Multi-Room Remodel: Nea May Poole, of Poole & Poole Architecture

For Multi-Generational Remodel: Iris Chadab, of Capitol Design Build

For Bath Remodel: Robert and Evelyn Lenton, of Lenton Company

For Best Overall CAPS Design: Bonnie J. Lewis, of 55+ TLC Interior Design

Following the Homes for Life awards, Ellis announced NAHB Remodelers’ One to Watch, which recognizes an NAHBR member under the age of 40. 

Individual Winners

The 2019 One to Watch is Nick Scheel, owner of Untamed Construction in Spokane, Wash. Since 1981, Scheel’s family has owned Arrow Contracting, also in Spokane. Scheel spearheaded Arrow Kitchen and Bath, bringing the company into the full-service design-build space. He also founded Untamed Construction, a specialty contracting company focused on luxury entertainment spaces. (See remodeling business tips from Scheel on page 18.) 

Ellis then presented the 2019 NAHB Remodeler of the Year award to Steve Cunningham, owner of Cunningham Contracting in Williamsburg, Va. The award recognizes superior business management, exemplary NAHB involvement, and outstanding contributions to the remodeling industry. Cunningham is no stranger to recognition: prior awards include the 2017 NAHBR Chairman’s Distinguished Service Award, September 2018 NAHB Remodeler of the Month, and the Best Builder Award from Peninsula HBA.

Hall of Fame 

The final honor of the night, induction into the prestigious National Remodeling Hall of Fame, went to Dan Bawden and Robert Criner. Bawden—president of Legal Eagle Contractors in Houston—is well-known for creating the CAPS program in 2001, and helped write the popular two-day NAHB Universal Design-Build course.

Criner has been an NAHB and NAHBR for nearly 40 years, and was named the 2013 NAHB Remodeler of the Year. He was the first recipient of the NAHB Certified Graduate Remodeler designation in 1989 and Graduate Master Remodeler designation in 2008. Criner has been instrumental in government regulations that affect remodelers, and has represented remodelers in front of a number of government bodies. 

To close out the night, Ellis swore in the 2020 NAHBR leadership team: Tom Ashley Jr., as Chair; Steve Cunningham, as First Vice-Chair; and Kurt Clason as Second Vice-Chair.