For immediate release:

The Builders Association of Greater Indianapolis (BAGI) named its highest recognition award winners during the 44th annual Janus Ball held January 17, 2009 at the Indiana Roof Ballroom.

Winners were: 

Builder of the Year: Pete Gray, Executive Homes Construction Inc.

Builder of the Year is presented to an individual builder member who has worked diligently on behalf of the industry and the association over the past year.

Gray has been in the industry for well over 15 years and has been a member of BAGI since 1997.  In October, he was re-elected to the BAGI Board of Directors.  He previously served on the Board from 2001 – 2007; serving as the Association’s President in 2006.

Since joining BAGI, his company has participated in many Home-A-Ramas including the shows in 1999, 2001, 2003, 2006 and the 2008 show at the Willows in Zionsville – where Executive Homes received the People’s Choice Award.

He is currently a member of the Hamilton County Builders Council and Building Partners of Central Indiana.

Associate of the Year: Randy McKnight

This award is presented to an individual associate member who has returned significant time and service to the industry over the past year.

During 2008, McKnight was a member of the Hendricks County Council and the Johnson County Council…but was most active with Hamilton County Council.  There he served on the Board of Directors; was a member of the golf committee; and was council representative to the Hamilton County Habitat for Humanity Board of Directors.

In addition to his council involvement, McKnight was very active with BAGI. He is a member of the BAGI Board of Directors serving as Treasurer in 2009. From Board meetings to general membership meetings-he was always ready to help.  He took his responsibility as Home-A-Rama Committee Chairman very seriously spending countless hours onsite before and during the show making sure everything ran smoothly. This past year, in addition to chairing the meetings this event requires, he found time to travel to Cincinnati’s home show with the BAGI staff in an effort to find ways to improve the show.

Esprit de Corps: Micah Hill, The Re-Development Group

This award is given to someone who embodies the “Spirit of the Troops.”  It is presented to an individual who has demonstrated outstanding member involvement and who has become involved within the last three years.

Since becoming active with BAGI in 2006, Hill has maintained a steady level of involvement. 

As Co-Chairman on the BAGI Green Committee, he has been proactive in establishing the mission statement, the committee objectives and in developing talking points used by the Association and its members as it relates to green building initiatives and sustainability.  During 2008, he spent many hours presenting on behalf of the Committee at Council meetings, a BAGI Board of Directors meeting and to the Indiana Land Use Consortium.

Hill is also very active in the Building Partners of Central Indiana group.  For this organization, he serves on the Board of Directors and as Chairman of the Vendor Committee.

Mike Boeke Outstanding Service Award:  Jeff Scripture, Harrison & Moberly

The award bears the name of the late Mike Boeke of Davidson Industries whose daily devotion and service to the industry, community, and association was always above and beyond the call of duty.

This award follows Scripture’s previous Association recognition, as the first ever Esprit de Corps winner in 1997 and as Associate of the Year in 2000.

His industry involvement started at the county council level where he served as past president of the Hancock County Council as well as serving on their economic development, government affairs, and public relations committees.

A member of the BAGI board of directors since 1998, he was board secretary for two years and most recently served as parliamentarian. His BAGI committee involvement includes the Builder Standards, Economic Development, Nominations and Governance, Strategic Planning, Membership, and Political Action Committees.

Scripture’s involvement with the Indiana Builders Association includes parliamentarian, member of the Executive Committee, state director, board member of the Housing Protection Fund and member of the Land Use Committee.

Firm Foundation Award: WTHR-TV 13/Video Indiana

This award is presented to a BAGI member firm that has demonstrated commitment to the building industry through its involvement with the Builders Association of Greater Indianapolis.

WTHR-TV 13 has been a member of the Builders Association since 2004 and during this time, they have been instrumental in increasing consumer awareness of the Builders Association and its members.

For the last several years, WTHR has been the exclusive television media partner for the Quality Assurance Builder Standards message, the Parade of Homes and Home-A-Rama.  Through this partnership, BAGI has been able to maximize its media and event exposure.  In addition, WTHR has made available top marketing experts to the Association and continues to strive to understand and assist in reaching BAGI’s strategic plan objectives.  They have developed the New Homes and Communities website and prominently feature Association news on the Homes Central section of WTHR.com. Day in and day out, the staff of WTHR continues to find new ways to extend the Association’s message both on-air and online.

This year’s Janus Ball was sponsored by Citizens Gas, Best Cabinets, Indianapolis Power and Light, Frost Brown Todd Attorneys, Airtron, M/I Homes, Bedrock Builders, Indiana Geothermal, Speedway SuperAmerica, and Vectren Energy Delivery.

The Builders Association of Greater Indianapolis is a professional trade association representing residential homebuilders. For more information call 317-236-6330 or visit www.BAGI.com.