September is Associate Member Appreciation Month
September 4, 2024
September is here, and it’s time to celebrate Associate Member Appreciation Month, which recognizes associate members’ contributions to the homebuilding industry. Associate members are the backbone of our industry, consisting of suppliers, service providers and product manufacturers, and building homes would not be possible without them.
Associate Member Appreciation Month is a time to honor and thank associate members for their contributions to the association. Let’s start by reflecting on some very important associate members who were honored at the 2023 BIAW Fall Board Meeting.
2023 Associate of the Year Luellen Smith
2023 BIAW Second Vice President Luellen Smith is an owner/partner in Rhino Wine Cellars & Cooling Systems with her husband, Doug. A dedicated and prolific membership recruiter, she enjoys serving in leadership at BIAW, her local home builders association, the Master Builders Association of King & Snohomish Counties (MBAKS), and the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). Earlier this year, Smith took on the role of Chair of the NAHB Professional Women in Building (PWB).
Read more in the November/December 2023 edition of Building Insight.
Associate Advisory Council’s 2023 Star Associate Award Winners
Each year, BIAW’s Associate Advisory Council recognizes outstanding associate members representing their local association, community and the building industry. Congratulations to the 2023 Star Associate Award Winners:
- Brittany Vaughn | Cashmere Valley Mortgage, CWHBA
- Ryan Smith | Homer Smith Insurance, JCHBA
- Brenda Nunes | KW Nunes Group, MBAKS
- Aaron Murphy | ADM Architecture, KBA
- Jeremy Dagget | Rainbow Sweepers, NPBA
- Sue Elkin | Homeownership Center NW-Tacoma, MBAPC
- Kathy Sanchez | Northwestern Mutual, SICBA
- Andrew Northrop | Spokane Hardware Supply, SHBA
- Kristen Mesner | Spokane Teachers Credit Union, HBATC
Read more about these amazing associate members throughout this year’s Building Insight magazines.
How you and your local association can participate in Associate Member Appreciation Month
- Honor top associate members for the 2024 Associate of the Year Award. The BIAW Associate of the Year honors men and women who have made significant and lasting contributions to BIAW. Builder, Associate and Remodeler of the Year winners are honored during the BIAW Installation and Awards ceremony held in conjunction with the BIAW fall board meeting. If you have questions about the BIAW B/A/R of Year, contact BIAW staff member Kristi Dohring at 360-352-7800, ext. 113. Download the nomination form. Deadline for nominations: Oct. 18, 2024.
- Nominate associate members for the 2024 Star Associate Awards. Know an associate member who gives back to our industry at the local, state and national levels? The Star Associate Awards also recognizes associates’ community service, political activity, and/or environmental efforts. Local associations may submit one nominee per year. If you have questions about the Associate Advisory Council’s Star Associate award, contact Raelle Vitali at 360-352-7800, ext. 137. Download the nomination form. Deadline for nominations: Sept. 30, 2024.
- Browse even more ideas to jumpstart your Associate Member Appreciation Month celebration in NAHB’s 50 Associate Member Appreciation Ideas Guide.