Exceptional EOs Recognized by NAHB

Awards
Published
Contact: Anna Gimeno
[email protected]
Director, Executive Officers Council
(202) 266-8595

This video series highlights the accomplishments of the AEA Individual Winners.

The 2023 Association Excellence Awards (AEA) Individual Winners were announced during the Association Management Conference, Aug. 20-22, in Salt Lake City. The Individual AEA is an annual program designed to recognize Executive Officers outstanding accomplishments in association management.

This year, Michele Leppard, Jessie Spradley, Kathy Raab and Russell Davis were honored in four distinct award categories for their career achievements and dedication to the home building industry.

Small Office Honor

Michele Leppard of the Metropolitan Builders & Contractors Association of New Jersey is the Small Office Honor recipient. The award is traditionally presented to an EO from a small association who is judged to have made exceptional accomplishments despite limited resources.

HBA members say Leppard takes pride in her work, gets along with members and goes above and beyond to help them. As EO, she’s the HBA’s biggest supporter and wants everyone to be successful.

New Executive Officer Award

Jessie Spradley of the Northeast Florida Builders Association (Jacksonville, Fla.) received the New Executive Officer Award. The award is presented to an EO who has served no more than three years in an association management position but who is judged to have made major contributions to the profession during that time.

Spradley has fostered an environment of open communication, according to the HBA members. He brings the team together to push for a common goal and membership has also increased under his leadership.

Executive Officer of the Year Award

This year’s Executive Officer of the Year Award winner is Kathy Raab, CAE, CNAP, of the Metropolitan Builders Association of Greater Milwaukee (Wisc.). This award honors a dedicated EO whose actions, commitments and accomplishments in a single year have been truly exceptional.

Among her many accomplishments as EO, the association has achieved membership growth under Raab’s leadership, increased member retention and spearheaded an initiative to recruit young professionals.

Career Achievement Award

This year’s Career Achievement award honors Russell Davis of the Home Builders Association of Alabama. The award pays tribute to EOs who exemplify the highest level of dedication, loyalty and commitment, and is the highest recognition that can be awarded in the Executive Officers Council.

Davis was hired as an EO in 1984 and in his first year he established the Alabama Home Builders Self Insurers Fund. The fund now provides workers’ compensation coverage to more than 5,000 members statewide. He also led the charge to create a small group health insurance program for members, one of the HBA’s most sought out member benefits.

View the AEA individual winner views in the video playlist above to learn more about each honoree’s contributions and accomplishments. Nominations for the 2024 AEA Individual Awards will be accepted at the end of the year. Visit the AEA webpage to learn more.

Subscribe to NAHBNow

Log in or create account to subscribe to notifications of new posts.

Log in to subscribe

Latest from NAHBNow

Economics | Multifamily

May 08, 2025

Multifamily Developer Confidence Falls in First Quarter

Confidence in the market for new multifamily housing declined year-over-year in the first quarter, according to the Multifamily Market Survey (MMS) released today by NAHB. The MMS produces two separate indices. The Multifamily Production Index (MPI) had a reading of 44, down three points year-over-year, while the Multifamily Occupancy Index (MOI) had a reading of 82, down one point year-over-year.

Sustainability and Green Building | Advocacy

May 07, 2025

Energy Star Transition and Its Effect on NAHB Members

Several recent media reports suggest that the Energy Star program, a proven private-public partnership administered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), is going through a possible transition period that could lead to its elimination.

View all

Latest Economic News

Economics

May 06, 2025

Mortgage Activity Levels Off in April as Rates Increase

Mortgage loan applications saw little change in April, as refinancing activity decreased. The Market Composite Index, which measures mortgage loan application volume based on the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) weekly survey, experienced a 0.4% month-over month increase on a seasonally adjusted (SA) basis. However, year-over-year, the index is up 29.3% compared to April 2024.

Economics

May 06, 2025

Prices for New Homes Continue to Drop as Existing Rises

The median price for a new single-family home sold in the first quarter of 2025 was $416,900, a mere $14,600 above the existing home sale price of $402,300, according to U.S. Census Bureau and National Association of Realtors data (not seasonally adjusted – NSA).

Economics

May 05, 2025

Student Housing Construction Investment Rises in the First Quarter of 2025

Private fixed investment in student dormitories increased by 2.3% in the first quarter of 2025, reaching a seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) of $4.04 billion. This gain followed a 1.0% increase in the previous quarter. However, private fixed investment in dorms was 2% lower than a year ago, as elevated interest rates place a damper on student housing construction.