Q-and-A with Grace Weger

How did it feel to find out you’d won the Sustainability and Green Building Scholarship?

I was honored and deeply grateful to receive the Sustainability and Green Building Scholarship. My work focuses on building affordable homes that are durable, energy efficient, and healthy for the families who live in them. Attending IBS through this scholarship felt like an investment not just in my professional growth, but in the communities we serve. It gave me the opportunity to learn from leaders across the industry and bring those ideas back to the mission-driven work we do every day.

What was your favorite part of attending IBS?

My favorite part of IBS was the opportunity to hear directly from builders, designers, and building science experts who are actively pushing the industry forward. The sessions combined technical knowledge with leadership and customer experience insights, which made the learning immediately applicable. I also appreciated the chance to see new products, construction methods, and design ideas on the show floor that could influence how we approach future projects.

What were your biggest takeaways from IBS?

One of my biggest takeaways was how important clarity and communication are in both construction management and homeowner experience. Many sessions reinforced that great outcomes come from setting clear expectations, creating consistent processes, and proactively communicating with homeowners throughout the building process.

Another key takeaway was the growing emphasis on data-driven design and high-performance building practices. Builders are increasingly using building science, energy modeling, and market data to inform decisions that improve durability, energy efficiency, and long-term value for homeowners.

Finally, I was reminded that strong teams and strong culture drive strong projects. Leadership, accountability, and kindness in management practices play a critical role in building high-performing teams.

How do you plan to incorporate what you learned at IBS and as a Green Pro into your career in building?

As Vice President of Construction at Bend-Redmond Habitat for Humanity, my focus is on delivering affordable homes that are high quality, durable, and energy efficient. The knowledge I gained at IBS will help strengthen that work in several ways.

First, I plan to continue integrating high-performance building principles into our projects to ensure homes are comfortable, resilient, and reduce long-term energy costs for homeowners. Programs like ENERGY STAR, DOE Zero Energy Ready Home, and NBGS offer valuable frameworks that align well with Habitat’s mission of long-term affordability.

Second, I plan to apply the insights from IBS around process clarity and homeowner experience. Buying a home is a major life event, and improving communication, expectation setting, and consistency across departments can make the experience more supportive for the families we serve.

Finally, I plan to use what I learned to help guide future housing design decisions, ensuring our homes balance sustainability, livability, and cost effectiveness.

Was there anything you wish you had been able to do but didn’t get a chance to?

IBS offers so many sessions and networking opportunities that it’s impossible to experience everything in a single visit. I would have loved to attend even more of the technical building science sessions and spend additional time speaking with manufacturers and builders about high-performance assemblies and emerging materials. Those conversations are incredibly valuable for translating new ideas into real-world construction practices.

What advice would you give to anyone else attending IBS for the first time?

My biggest advice would be to plan ahead but stay flexible. Review the session schedule in advance and identify the topics most relevant to your work, but also leave time to explore the show floor and have conversations with other professionals.

It’s also helpful to approach IBS with a mindset of learning across disciplines. Some of the most valuable insights I gained came from sessions on leadership, customer experience, and design strategy—not just construction techniques.

Finally, take time to reflect on how what you learn can be applied back at home. IBS can be overwhelming, but focusing on a few key ideas that you can implement in your organization makes the experience incredibly impactful.