BIAW Celebrates Four New Certified Builders
June 10, 2022
The BIAW Certified Builder program continues to expand, with four new builders joining its ranks. Here’s your chance to get to know them better. For more information on becoming a Certified Builder, visit BIAWCertifiedBuilder.com or contact BIAW Education at education@biaw.com.
AMYWORKS
AMY
ECKLUND started their company in 2010 because they wanted to do excellent remodeling work for their community and create good jobs for their employees.
Ecklund’s focus is on kitchen, bathroom and basement remodels. Amy enjoys ADUs and DADUs for the potential these structures have to help with housing issues in the Seattle area.
A graduate of the Small Business Administration’s Emerging Leaders Program, Ecklund has 30 years of experience in the remodeling and home repair industry. An NAHB Certified Graduate remodeler, they are a current member of the Greater Seattle Business Association and a past participant of the University of Washington Foster School of Business Small Business Growth Collaborative Cohort.
Ecklund is a graduate of Evergreen State College and Lower Columbia College. When they’re not busy with a beautiful remodel, they serve as a BIAW Workforce Development Task Force member and co-host a regular podcast called “Let’s Talk…Home Repair.”
Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties
BAXTER CONSTRUCTION
BRICE BAXTER founded Baxter Construction in the summer of 1995. He has earned several certifications in construction and restoration, including:
- CAPS, Certified Aging in Place
- CGR, Certified Graduate Remodeler
- Certified Green Professional – Certified Asbestos Supervisor
- IICRC Water Technician – State certified to teach Continuing Ed.
Brice was named Remodeler of the Year for 2007, 2008, 2012 and 2015 by the Central Washington Home Builders Association. His hobbies are hiking, photography, traveling and reading. He loves spending time with his wife, Melissa, and their five sons.
Central Washington Home Builders Association
WRK Construction
WAYNE KEFFER started WRK Construction in Spring 2004, after working in the residential construction industry in Kitsap County since 1986. He has experience in all construction phases, including framing, finish work, customer service, insurance-related work, project management and full-service remodeling.
Wayne is a Certified Graduate Remodeler (CGR) and a Certified Aging-in-Place (CAPS) professional through the NAHB. He has also served on the Board of Directors for the Kitsap Building Association (KBA) for over a decade and was the President of KBA (2012). Wayne has also been recognized as a Remodeler of the Year (2014, 2008, 2009) as well as Builder of the Year (2011). Wayne served as a BIAW state director and chair of the BIAW Remodelers Council. Additionally, he has been nominated several times for BIAWs Remodeler of the Year and earned BIAWs Excellence In Remodeling Awards. Wayne was also recognized as one of the Top 40 Under 40 Professionals impacting his industry in 2005.
Wayne has established himself as a leader in the residential remodel and construction industry, with local knowledge, industry education, dedication to craft, and commitment to his customers and employees.
Building relationships with local building department personnel add to his ability to navigate the complex process of enhancing your home.
LAPIERRE ENTERPRISES
KYLE LAPIERRE is a second-generation homebuilder, primarily building custom homes in the Tri-Cities. Founded in 1959, LaPierre Enterprises has built a reputation as one of the area’s top companies for custom homes, remodeling and commercial jobs. LaPierre Enterprises has expertly completed projects ranging from custom homes to tenant improvements on an agricultural processing facility.
LaPierre started as the company’s Realtor for his dad, Duane, and uncle, Dennis, in 1994. While Kyle pursued a teaching degree at WSU, he realized the building industry was the career path he was meant to follow. For the last 25+ years, Kyle has developed relationships with clients who have become like family, building them multiple homes as their needs evolved.
He has also been highly involved in his local association along with both BIAW and NAHB. He has been HBATC president multiple times, served as BIAW president in 2009, and won the BIAW Builder of the Year award in 2008. LaPierre also volunteers as a trustee with The Wishing Star Foundation, where he enjoys being hands-on with their wish builds and annual Send a Friend a Goat campaign.