The Builders Association of Greater Indianapolis (BAGI) named its highest recognition award winners during the Building Industry Awards Gala held January 15, 2010 at the Indiana Roof Ballroom.

Winners were:

Builder of the Year: Dan Wolf, Bedrock Builders

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.

Since joining the Association in 2001, Dan Wolf and his company, Bedrock Builders, have been very active.  During 2009, he was a member of the Hamilton and Hancock County Councils, his company is a member of the Building Partners of Central Indiana where he serves on the “Best Practices” Committee and he served as a BAGI Scholarship Trustee.

Wolf has served on the BAGI Board of Directors since 2006. During 2009, he was a member of the Executive Committee and when the President’s seat was vacated mid-year, he was asked to take over the position.

At the Awards Gala, Wolf was sworn in as the 2010 President of the Association. He is married to Christine and they have two children, Justine and Alex.

Associate of the Year: Teri Tillery, Indianapolis Power & Light

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

During 2009, this year’s recipient, Teri Tillery of Indianapolis Power and Light Co., was a member of the Johnson County, Sales and Marketing (SMC) and Remodelor’s Councils. She served on the Board of Directors for both the Sales and Marketing Council and Remodelors Council. Additionally, she was the SMC Treasurer and served as the membership co-chair for the Remodelors Council. In addition to this council involvement, she is a member of the BAGI Board of Directors, where she was recently named as the Secretary and is a member of the BAGI Membership Committee.

You will see Teri’s the smiling face at just about any BAGI event.  She is married to Bo and they have two children, Lauren and Jillian.

Esprit de Corps: Dan Kelley, Kelley Construction

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 joining BAGI in 2007, the 2009 recipient, Dan Kelley of Kelley Construction, has continued to find ways to get engaged and has been quoted saying “The more I do within BAGI, the more I like the Association and being a member.”

The Association can be a bit overwhelming to new members, especially for those who are running a personal business; but often times, a little progressive involvement makes it more manageable.  Dan Kelley started out by attending a member open house; then moved on to the monthly networking events.  From there, he became a member of the Associates committee and started to attend those meetings.  After that, he decided to test the waters and try advertising and sponsorships.

During 2009, he was a regular advertiser in the Sites magazine and supported the special section featuring trade contractors.  He was an advertiser in the Home Building and Remodeling Guide and purchased an online banner advertising campaign.  On the event side, he sponsored a special section at the Builder Bash geared towards service providers.

Kelley has also recently joined the Hendricks County Council and the BAGI membership committee and his company has become a vendor in the Building Partners of Central Indiana Group.

His two sons, David and Matt both work for their father’s business. Kelley was cruising the southern Caribbean the night of the awards, but his son David accepted the award on his behalf.

Mike Boeke Outstanding Service Award:  Mike Gorman, Gorman Homes

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 year’s recipient, Mike Gorman of Gorman Homes, has been a member of BAGI for over 20 years, joining in 1988.  During this time, he has served on the BAGI Membership, Green and Dues Committees; has been a Scholarship Trustee; has participated in many Parade of Homes Events; regularly attends Association meetings — rarely missing a golf outing; has obtained several NAHB designations; has been a Member of the Building Partners of Central Indiana; served on the Johnson County Council Board of Directors and as their President; and has been named the Johnson County Council Builder of the Year twice; first in 2002 and again in 2006. He served on the BAGI Board of Directors from 2003 – 2009; and was the Association President in 2008.

Beyond his BAGI commitment and involvement, Gorman is involved in several charities including Habitat for Humanity.  He has participated in many habitat builds and co-founded the Johnson County chapter.

He and his wife Connie have two children, Jason and Tiffany. In addition to his service award, Gorman received a clock recognizing his many years of service to the BAGI Board of Directors.

Firm Foundation Award: Vectren Energy Delivery

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.

This year’s recipient, Vectren Energy Delivery has been a member since 1978.  Throughout the years, they have continued to support the Association and the Councils through sponsorships, advertising and by encouraging employees to be engaged in the Councils and on committees.

2009 was a challenging year, but Vectren Energy Delivery still found the resources, both time and monetary, to stay engaged. From the Council standpoint, they are members of nearly all the councils.  Memberships include Hamilton, Hancock, Hendricks, Johnson and the Sales and Marketing Councils.  They are also represented on the Board of Directors for the Sales and Marketing Council.  On the BAGI side, they have employees serving on several committees including Builder Bash, Membership, Single Site Home Shows, and the Parade of Homes.  They subscribed to the association’s MarketGraphics service, attended most of the events held including the networking breakfasts and member open houses. They have also been dedicated advertisers and sponsors.

During 2009 alone, their sponsorships included: The BAGI Golf Outings; Preview Party at the New Home Showcase; a product sponsorship in the New Home Showcase; the Janus Ball; the Builder Bash and several of the Council Golf Outings. They also were an advertiser in the Home Building and Remodeling Guide.

The evening was sponsored by: Indianapolis Power & Light, Citizens Gas, Vectren Energy Delivery, Airtron, Bedrock Builders, Clark Appliance, Frye Electric, Remodelors Council and Speedway SuperAmerica.

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.

The grand opening of Stafford Place, located off 146^th Street, marks Drees Homes’ sixth community to open in Carmel, IN.  “Our decision to build Stafford Place is a testament not only to the Company’s financial strength to open new communities, but also to our faith in believing that Carmel continues to be among the top locations in Indiana where families prefer to live,” said Division President Steve Masuccio.  “Best of all, with its secluded setting and east Carmel location minutes from Clay Terrace, Stafford Place offers two advantages many buyers want:  privacy and convenience,” added Masuccio.

Drees worked hand-in-hand with the City of Carmel to preserve as many trees as possible, and augment the mature trees by adding new trees and plantings around the perimeter and interior of neighborhood. Stafford Place features a distinctive entryway and a portfolio of Tuscan-inspired homes.  With just 53 home sites, Drees’ Stafford Place community offers an intimate residential setting and a 3-acre wooded park with walking trails.  To date, the company has taken three lot reservations and sold two homes during a preconstruction sales period; prices start at $450,000.

Besides Stafford Place, Drees continues to build in Carmel at Village Green, a Brownstone-inspired townhome community bordering the Monon Trail, and Lakeside Park, situated off Towne Road.  Drees also built and completed The Lakes at Hazel Dell, Shelborne Park, and Kingsborough in Carmel, IN.

“It’s the time and place to buy a new home,” said Masuccio.  “With interest rates still at historic lows, great incentives, and the chance to choose the home site you want most, now is the perfect time to build your dream home.”

 Drees’ model homes are open seven days a week, Monday through Friday
1 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. For sales information about Stafford Place, please call 317-569-1080 or visit www.dreeshomes.com.

Extreme Makeover: Home Edition is coming to Indiana to surprise one deserving family with a brand new custom-built home. Hallmark Homes, based in Anderson, Ind., will build the home and is coordinating partnership, donations and volunteers.

“We are honored to be selected by Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. We look forward to building the home of their dreams in 106 hours flat,” says Paul Schwinghammer, president of Hallmark Homes. “It’s gratifying to know that we can help make a positive difference for a Hoosier family.”

It’s not just the family who will have a positive experience. “The real excitement comes in knowing how much the people who volunteer on this project will be changed,” says Derek Wilder, Hallmark Homes CEO. “It’s a great thing to be part of something bigger than yourself.”

Five families are being considered throughout the region and Ty Pennington, the star of the show, will show up on the doorstep of the selected family on Oct. 21.

Hoosiers will be able to visit the site during the build and to volunteer to help. More information is available at www.hallmarkextreme.com.

Businesses and community partners have already signed up to be part of the project. Anderson University is mobilizing students, faculty, staff and alumni to help make one family’s dream come true. Other partners include: Carter Lumber, Bilt Best Windows, Reese Wholesale, Climate Master, JN Stone, Modern Trailer Sales, Blakely’s Flooring, Madison Millwork, Schneider Electric and Ball State University.

A special Web site, www.hallmarkextreme.com, launches today to provide around the clock updates during the 106-hour race to the finish.