NAHB has honored five home builders around the country as the 2016 Young Professionals of the Year. The awards were given Monday evening, January 9th in Orlando, Florida, during the NAHB International Builders’ Show.
“David Belman, Robert Fallone, Eugene Graf, Sean Sullivan and John Williams are the future of our great industry,” said NAHB Chairman Ed Brady. “I’m honored to recognize their significant achievements and know they all have many years ahead in which they will continue to shine.”
The NAHB Young Professionals Award is designed to acknowledge each of five regional winners’ hard work and successes, performance and dedication, and outstanding potential as they begin to serve as leaders in the home building industry. It is awarded to industry professionals under the age of 45.
David Belman is president of Belman Homes in Waukesha, Wisconsin. A member of the Metro Builders Association of Greater Milwaukee, Belman has been elected the 2017president of the Wisconsin Builders Association. His company has won numerous design awards for its Parade of Home entries, was the first builder in the state to make smart home technology a standard feature in all homes and is active in the Make a Wish Foundation, Operation Finally Home and other charitable efforts.
Robert Fallone is president of Fallone Group LLC in Somerville, New Jersey and has been named the builder of the year by both his local and state home building associations. He started a Young Professionals group for the Metropolitan Builders & Contractors of New Jersey, and for the state he chaired a task force to create a health benefits trust, enabling New Jersey Builders Association members to obtain health insurance at more competitive rates.
Eugene Graf IV is the owner of E.G. Construction in Bozeman, Montana and active in the Southwest Montana Building Industry Association. He has been recognized as builder of the year by his local association, the Montana Building Industry Association and by Montana State University’s construction management program. In 2016, Graf served as chairman of the NAHB national political action committee.
Sean Sullivan is president of Living Stone Construction in Black Mountain, North Carolina and his company has been honored with national design awards and for innovation in green building. As president of the Asheville Home Builders Association he oversaw a 30% increase in membership. Sullivan is also past president of the North Carolina builders’ political action committee.
John Williams is vice president of construction services for K. Hovnanian Homes’ Houston, Texas division and will lead the Greater Houston Builders Association in 2018. At K. Hovnanian, Williams created an innovative training program for new construction managers that enabled the company to quickly bring new hires up to speed. He is also active in building codes advocacy work to keep homes safe and affordable.
Meet the 15 finalists for the award. For additional information about NAHB Young Professionals, contact Sahrah Zarei at 800-368-5242 x8431.