NAHB's membership of over 140,000 Builders and Associates supports the home building industry through advocacy on Capitol Hill, education for the next generation, and collaboration to address community issues.
Many members within the Federation choose to do business with each other due to shared values and goals.
"Giving back to the industry is of paramount importance to me, as I view it as an act of philanthropy," said Mark Fournier, owner of the Sonrise Companies in Oklahoma. "Working with member Associates builds trust, camaraderie, and assures mutual respect for each other's business. This bond with Associates has strengthened the referral network between us, too, as we all benefit from a constant stream of referrals."
Fournier understands the advantages of member-to-member networking and collaboration. He received the 2023 NAHB Builders Engaging Associate Members (BEAM) Award. This award recognizes a builder who embodies the motto "It's good business to do business with a member" and encourages Builder members to use goods and services offered by member companies.
"In 25 years of building my business, one of the keys to our tremendous success is our Associates," said Fournier. "Our company has worked with many dozens of them for more than 15 years. If a Builder member is not working with Associate members, they are not displaying much wisdom or intelligence."
Nominations for builders who deserve recognition for their efforts in working with other NAHB members are open until Oct. 7.