The Professional Women in Building (PWB) Council of the Master Builders Association of Pierce County has achieved a remarkable milestone—being named 2024’s Council of the Year (Medium Category) by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). This incredible honor is even more impressive considering the council was only chartered in June 2024! The announcement was made on Monday, February 24, during the International Builders Show in Las Vegas.

Celebrating Excellence in the Building Industry

This national recognition highlights the outstanding contributions of the PWB Council in empowering women in the home-building industry. Here are some key achievements that led to this prestigious award:

✅ Inspiring the Next Generation – A groundbreaking partnership with the Girl Scouts of America aims to educate and inspire young girls about rewarding careers in construction and homebuilding.

✅ Record-Breaking Launch Event – The council’s kickoff event drew one of the highest attendances of any PWB event nationwide, demonstrating strong community engagement and industry support.

✅ Icons Panel Event – A dynamic discussion featuring influential female leaders in the building industry, offering invaluable insights and motivation to aspiring professionals.

Why This Award Matters

Winning the NAHB Council of the Year Award is a testament to the dedication, passion, and leadership of our PWB members. It showcases the council’s commitment to diversity, mentorship, and professional growth within the home-building industry.

If you’re looking to be part of a thriving network of women leaders, we invite you to join the Professional Women in Building Council. Together, we can continue to inspire, empower, and elevate women in construction.

For more information, contact Master Builders Pierce Membership Manager, Jenn Woslager, at jwoslager@masterbuilderspierce.com.

Let’s continue to break barriers and build a brighter future for women in the home-building industry!

We’re thrilled to congratulate the 2024 award winners who exemplify excellence, leadership, and a commitment to our industry and community. Let’s take a moment to celebrate these extraordinary individuals and companies.

At Master Builders Association of Pierce County (MBAPC), we are incredibly proud to celebrate these phenomenal winners who make our community stronger and more vibrant. Their hard work, dedication and achievements deserve the highest praise. Thank you again to everyone who joined us for this memorable evening, and here’s to continued success in 2025.

Ready to kickstart your career in the construction industry? The Construction Trades Training Academy is now enrolling for its 2025 cohorts! This is your chance to gain the education, skills, and tools you need to succeed—all at no cost to you.

Our program combines hands-on learning, classroom instruction, and real-world experience under one roof, with a strong focus on job placement, mentorship, and ongoing support. You’ll learn essential construction skills, including:

• Construction Basics: Master the fundamentals, including safety, materials, and tools.
• Jobsite Readiness: Gain the skills employers are looking for, from worksite safety to teamwork and professionalism.
• Carpentry Fundamentals: Get practical, in-depth training in carpentry to prepare you for immediate job opportunities.

With the demand for skilled workers growing, this is your opportunity to enter the construction industry and start earning a competitive wage. In Washington, carpenters make an average of $30/hour, setting you on a path to a rewarding and high-paying career.

Enroll Now for the Construction Trades Training Academy!

Don’t miss out—enroll now and build the future you’ve always wanted. Click the link to learn more and secure your spot in our 2025 cohorts. Your journey to a successful career in construction starts here!

https://www.biaw.com/construction-trades-training-academy/ Academy operations are supported by the Washinton Home Builders Foundation, BIAW, BOLT, Goodwill of the Olympic and Rainier Region, the City of Tacoma, and the Home Builders Institute.

The Remodeling Excellence (REX) Awards are presented by the Remodelors Council of the Master Builders Association of Pierce County. Every year, this event celebrates and recognizes quality craftsmanship and superior remodeling expertise. Festivities include a cocktail hour, dinner and awards ceremony.

This is a great opportunity to showcase your hard work and dedication to quality remodeling!

Each Entry Form must include the following:

• Completed Entry Form, for each project.
• Entry fee: $100 per project.
• Project photos (no more than 16 for whole house, 12 for all other projects) on a flash drive or emailed (including at least 2 before pictures).
• Project floor plans (line drawing are OK) emailed or on flash drive.
• Project descriptions (100-word Project Overview & 400-word Project Outline) on separate files (sheets of paper).
• Must be a current member of the Remodelors Council or Design Professionals Council to apply.

Completed REX Entry Form(s) must be received at the Master Builders Pierce Office by 4:00 p.m., March 31, 2023.

Download the REX application here

For questions about entry or guidelines, contact Master Builders Association Communications Director Bailee Butcher.

The International Builders Show (IBS) was back in Vegas and it was the biggest Builders show since 2008! Thank you to all 134 Master Builders Pierce members who attended and helped make the 2023 Builders Show a success. A special shout out and thank you to Bob Camp who was conference chair and planned the entire show this year.

Attendance Records Were Set at IBS

Nearly 70,000 residential construction professionals hit the ground running at the Builders’ Show. From the Central Hall to the new West Hall and everything in between, they rocked tens of thousands of residential construction professionals with 1,300+ exhibitors, 100+ education sessions, events, parties and so much more – all to take your business to the next level!

The week was charged with amazing energy, incredible new products, inspiring education sessions, demonstrations, fantastic networking events and awards celebrations.

Design & Construction Week

This year also marked the 10th anniversary of Design & Construction Week^® (DCW), the co-location of IBS and the National Kitchen & Bath Association’s (NKBA’s) Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS). DCW drew nearly 110,000 attendees and nearly 2,000 exhibitors occupying more than one million square feet of indoor and outdoor exhibits.

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Discover Some of the Highlights of IBS

• IBS kicked off with the country’s leading advocate for skilled labor and the CEO of the mikeroweWORKS Foundation, Mike Rowe, who set the story straight to debunk the myths and misperceptions about the trades and to help close the skills gap during the DCW Opening Ceremonies
• 1000s of attendees filled education sessions so they were standing room only
• Demonstrations in the Construction Performance Zone and the NEW Craft Techniques Zone were hot, hot, hot places to be to gather innovative ideas and information
• Tours of The New American Home® – the official show home of IBS – welcomed thousands of visitors to its luxurious, innovative and energy-efficient home
• New in 2023! Experiential learning in our IBS Education Super Sessions and Learning Labs provided attendees with a new learning experience, including lively debates, free-flowing town halls, live demonstrations, one-on-one interviews with industry leaders super-charged educational sessions during interactive and informal sessions
• Attendees were excited to share their fun experiences, so the exhibit floor popped up all over social media buzzing with demos, talks, firepits, a tequila tasting, snacks, the foldable house (yes, you read that right) in the Outdoor Exhibits in Pro Builder Show Village and so much more
• 2023 Best of IBS™ Awards were announced Thursday afternoon, with Door Stud by Door Stud LLC winning Best in Show.
• Plantd was named Most Innovative at the Start-Up Zone.
• Niche industry professionals discovered new solutions and made new connections during daily networking breakfasts, coffee chats and discussions in the IBS Centrals

• Official networking events included the U40 & Young Professional Meet-up and evening events like the IBS House Party, The Nationals^SM Awards, the Best in American Living™ Awards and the Young Professionals Party
• The DCW Closing Concert Sponsored by LG, featured singer/songwriter Sheryl Crow
• The sold-out Pro Builder & Remodeler’s U40 Leadership Summit pumped up young up and comers in the industry to get them ready for the IBS experience
• The House That She Built continued to make an impact with book signing events, education sessions and more with the author and real-life women who inspired the children’s book
• NAHB Members enjoyed exclusive perks at NAHB HQ during doughnut & coffee mornings, happy hours, enrichment sessions, giveaways and more

If you are interested in attending or being an exhibitor for 2024’s IBS, save the dates of February 27-29 in Las Vegas. If you have any questions about the International Builders Show, please contact Communications Director Bailee Butcher with Master Builders Association at bwicks@masterbuilderspierce.com.

Thank you to everyone who supported the cause. We could not do it without your mentorships and donations of time and money.

Dessert Dash History

Back in 2008, the recession tightened the budget and the scholarship fund was nearly exhausted. The dessert dash was formed to help the scholarship fund and has grown in the past 14 years from $650 to $16,254 in 2021.

We are ecstatic to announce we surpassed that with $25,882 this year. This money will be invested in the next generation of workers and programs that support our industry.

Scholarships

Master Builders Pierce County encourages young professionals to consider and pursue a career in the home building industry. We hope Master Builders awards motivate and inspire students to further their education in this field.

Master Builders Scholarships open in February 2023. Please check out the scholarship requirements on the website to apply.

For more information on scholarships or grants, please contact Communications Director Bailee Butcher at bwicks@masterbuilderspierce.com. 

Bailee Butcher, Communications Director

November is Spike Appreciation Month, a time to recognize the efforts of one of the most active and dedicated members at the Master Builders Association of Pierce County – the recruiters. Member-to-member recruitment efforts are the largest source of growth for our association.

The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Spike Club recognizes our members’ outstanding efforts recruiting new members and retaining the members we already have. Spikes are honored for their contributions to the association and are regarded as accomplished and connected members. Additionally, Spikes receive:

• A complementary ticket, for qualifying Spikes, to the biggest party of the year, the IBS Closing Spike Concert, with a chance to win special VIP access
• Increased visibility, recognition and networking opportunities at industry events
• Unique and valuable lapel pins for each level of achievement
• National recognition on the Spike Wall of Fame and Top 100 leaderboards
• Additional VIP treatment throughout the year

In addition to these national benefits, local spikes are recognized at the annual Spike party thrown by Membership Director Jennifer Murphy and at the state level, BIAW, at their summer board meeting and Spike Party.

Interested in becoming a Spike? Read more about The Spike Club and download the Prospect Rolodex to jump-start your recruiting.

For more information on Spike Appreciation Month, recruiting and membership, please contact Master Builders Pierce Membership Director Jennifer Murphy at jmurphy@masterbuilderspierce.com.

All of the awards are based on membership voting and nominations. Additional criteria is also judged specific to each award, in addition to the level of Master Builders Association of Pierce County involvement for each member. Once the nominees are presented, the Awards Committee reviews each member and selects a winner.

DESIGN PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR

Nominees:
Contract Furnishings Mart, Cristina Gotti
Olympic Landscape, John Sullivan
Phase II General Contractor, Tara Waits
Winner: Contract Furnishings Mart, Cristina Gotti

ASSOCIATE OF THE YEAR

Nominees:
Contract Furnishings Mart, Cristina Gotti
Rush Residential, Scott Walker
Copy Wrights Printing, Mailing, Signs –  Mark Coleman
Flagstar Bank Home Lending, Tram Bowen
Tacoma-Pierce Chamber, Kristi Brady
Bill Korum’s Puyallup Nissan, Ciera Lopez
Soundbuilt Homes, Kurt Wilson
Larson & Associates, Grant Middleton
Winner: Flagstar Bank Home Lending, Tram Bowen

COMMUNITY SERVICE VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR

The Community Service Volunteer of the Year Award recognizes a member that has demonstrated passion for the local community through their volunteer efforts with one or more organizations, groups, or causes not directly related to the MBA of Pierce County.
Nominees:
Olympic Landscape, John Sullivan
Team Me Up Scotty, Scotty Wilson
Copy Wrights Printing, Mailing, Signs – Mark Coleman
Winner: Copy Wrights Printing, Mailing, Signs – Mark Coleman

RECRUITER OF THE YEAR

The Recruiter of the Year Award is based on how many members were recruited in the past 12 months. Nominees also promote Master Builders Association of Pierce County to the industry and community, and encourage doing business with other MBA members.
Winner: Susie Nelson, Century Insurance Services

ROBERT CAMP LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY AWARD

Named after one of Master Builders Association of Pierce County’s significant government affairs leaders, the Robert Camp Legislative Advocacy Award recognizes the contributions of a member who is actively involved in Master Builders Association of Pierce County’s government affairs program and Legislative Strategy Committee.
Winner: Jessie Gamble, Government Affairs Director of Master Builders Association of Pierce County

PUBLIC OFFICIALS EXCELLENCE AWARD

This award recognizes a public or elected official that has a consistent track record of benefitting industry, has been accessible to Master Builders Association of Pierce County members, is a steward of Master Builders Association of Pierce County values, and works to advance the goals of housing attainability while still protecting public interests.
Winner: Dean Johnson, City of Puyallup

REMODELER OF THE YEAR

Nominees:
R4 Construction, Steven Rork
Projects Unlimited Inc, Loris Candiloro
Kingdom Builders Construction, Ryan and Ken Jewell
Mike Schwartz Construction, Mike Schwartz
Soundbuilt Homes, Kurt Wilson
Wren & Willow, Cliff Kendall and Laureen Skrivan
Winner: Wren & Willow, Cliff Kendall & Laureen Skrivan

BUILDER OF THE YEAR

Nominees:
JK Monarch, Corey Watson
Rush Residential, Scott Walker
Soundbuilt Homes, Kurt Wilson
Winner: JK Monarch, Corey Watson

CUSTOM BUILDER OF THE YEAR

Nominees:
Rush Residential, Scott Walker
Kingdom Builders, Ryan and Ken Jewell
Soundbuilt Homes, Kurt WIlson
Mike Schwartz Construction, Mike Schwartz
Garrette Custom Homes, Matt Lewis
Winner: Garrette Custom Homes, Matt Lewis

COMPANY OF THE YEAR

The Company of the Year Award recognizes a company that has multiple employees’ involvement, sponsorships, and/or other efforts to support and promote Master Builders Association of Pierce County.
Nominees:
Rush Residential
Contract Furnishings Mart
AAA KARTAK Glass & Closet Corp. 
Albert Lee Appliances
Parr Lumber
Soundbuilt Homes
Flagstar Bank Home Lending
Newland
Winner: Rush Residential

PRESIDENT’S AWARD

This award is selected by the current Master Builders Association of Pierce County President. This year 2020 Master Builders Association of Pierce County President Scott Walker selected a member that has always stepped up to provide support in every way possible to better the association.
Winner: Evan Mann, Soundbuilt Homes

HALL OF FAME

The Hall of Fame is the highest recognition that this association can give a member, and is given to those individuals who have gone above and beyond for the industry and the association during the span of their careers.

2020 Hall of Fame goes to: 
Rick Hjelm, Phase II General Contractor

Congratulations to the 2020 Member Recognition winners and nominees!

Firms included in the 2021 “Best Law Firms” list are recognized for professional excellence with persistently impressive rating from clients and peers. Achieving a tiered ranking signals a unique combination of quality law practice and breadth of legal expertise.

Ranked firms, presented in tiers, are listed on a national and/or metropolitan scale. Receiving a tier designation reflects the high level of respect a firm has earned among other leading lawyers and clients in the same communities and the same practice areas for their abilities, their professionalism and their integrity.

Phillips Burgess PLLC received the following rankings in the 2021 U.S. News – Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firm”:

National Tier 2 Land Use & Zoning Law

National Tier 3 Litigation – Environmental

Metropolitan Tier 1 Seattle
Land Use & Zoning Law

Metropolitan Tier 2 Seattle
Environmental Law
Litigation – Environmental
Litigation – Land Use & Zoning
Real Estate Law   Click here to read the full press release.

Source: Press Release from Phillips Burgess PLLC

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