5 Future Home Building Leaders Honored at IBS 2020

NAHB recently honored five extraordinary home builders as the 2019 Young Professionals of the Year at the 2020 International Builders’ Show in Las Vegas.

The award highlights the five regional winners' hard work, performance, dedication and outstanding potential as they begin to serve as leaders in the home building industry. It is awarded to professionals under the age of 45.

The 2019 winners are all active in NAHB and their state and local HBAs, with some already serving as local presidents.

"These five builders are the future of our industry," said Dean Mon, NAHB Chairman. "I am thrilled to see such a high level of achievement at these early stages of their careers. I look forward to watching them grow in their roles within the Federation."

Kristin Marzarella is the human resources/company operations manager at All County Exteriors, a roofing and siding contractor in Lakewood, N.J., and a third-generation family business. While working in HR at the company, Marzarella realized she may one day take over. She joined the young professionals group at the Shore Builders Association of Central New Jersey. After meeting other future leaders and learning from established pros in other committees and subcommittees, Marzarella took over company operations and now oversees 90 employees and 30 subcontractor crews.

Jessica Percel is a construction coordinator in Taylor Morrison's Sarasota, Fla., office specializing in systems processes and permitting. She is also the chair of the Young Professional Builders council in her HBA, the Manatee-Sarasota Building Industry Association. Percel realized that YP groups are integral to career development, so she joined the YP council at the Florida HBA and has been working to help other Florida locals create or promote their own YP groups. In addition, Percel is involved in the Professional Women in Building group in Florida.

Adam Grubb is the president of Jerry's Homes, a home builder in West Des Moines, Iowa. He also serves as the 2019 President of the HBA of Greater Des Moines. Grubb is a third-generation home builder who began his career in real estate sales, while maintaining a presence in his family's company. He is very active in advancing the environment for home builders in his area, whether it's leading the largest BUILD-PAC fundraiser ever for the HBA or taking on zoning ordinances for the benefit of all area builders.

Erin Wright, CEO of Wright-Built, LLC, in Hawkins, Texas, built her first home at 21 and when it was completed, she had three more to start. Faced with the prospect of taking more college courses to become a general contractor, she decided to join the Tyler Area Builders Association and take classes through NAHB. It paid off as 15 years later, she has finished more than 100 homes. Wright is still very active in both TABA and the Texas Association of Builders, where she served as YP chair.

Nick Scheel is the owner of Untamed Construction, a home builder and remodeler in Spokane, Wash. Born into industry, he started out at his family's remodeling company before striking out on his own and eventually absorbing the family business. Scheel is very involved in NAHB, the BIA of Washington, and the Spokane HBA, where he served as president in 2016. He has served as the chair of the Remodelers' Council at the state and local levels and is a national delegate to NAHB from Washington.