Fall Board Meeting Highlights
November 11, 2019
Over 175 members and guests gathered for BIAW’s fall board meeting at the Historic Davenport Hotel in Spokane. The annual Installation and Awards Ceremony honored the 2019 Builder, Associate, and Remodeler of the Year along with our newest Hall of Fame Inductee.
The 2019 Builder of the Year is Rick Hjelm. Hjelm has been a member of the home building industry for more than two decades. At the state level, Hjelm has served as chair of BIAW Legislative Policy Committee, Local Association Presidents Council, Education Committee and Remodelers Council and participated on the Washington Affordable Housing Council as well as been a National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) director for BIAW. By leading and instilling his wisdom to all he passes in the industry, Hjelm fully embodies the title Builder of the Year.
Winning Associate of the Year is Chris Lockhart. During his years as a member, Lockhart has been actively involved with his local association, the Master Builders Association of Pierce County. He has also been a champion recruiter focusing his time and attention on bringing in new members. Lockhart strives to grow and strengthen the industry, which is why he was a clear choice for Associate of the Year.
Remodeler of the Year winner is Deacon Band. Deacon Band is the owner of Band Construction and a partner of Pacific Northwest Building Forensics. Band Construction and Pacific Northwest Building Forensics are active in the Spokane community working on charitable projects for the KXLY Extreme Team, Transitions, Meals on Wheels, Wishing Star, Habitat for Humanity, among others. Band has always believed in doing the right thing and putting honest and quality in front of the bottom line. He truly enjoys what he does and most importantly the people he does it with. Band strives for the best and continues to exemplify the qualities of Remodeler of the Year.
Finally, Rick Hjelm passed the torch onto the 2020 BIAW President Sherry Schwab. Sherry Schwab has been a BIAW member for more than 25 years and heavily involved in leadership at BIAW and the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) as well as in her local association, the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties (MBAKS).
Thank you to everyone who attended the board meeting, it would not have been the same without all of you. A special thanks to Senator Mark Schoesler (R-9), Washington Secretary of State Kim Wyman, and Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (5th District) for speaking at our events.
Mark your calendars, the next board meeting is on February 24-26 at the Hotel RL in Olympia.