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

Environmental Issues

May 30, 2025

NAHB Members Provide Final Recommendations for New WOTUS Rule

NAHB members concluded their participation in multiple “waters of the United States” (WOTUS) listening sessions with strong showings in Washington, D.C., and Salt Lake City. In total, 12 NAHB members and four staff members from NAHB and state home builder associations (HBAs), representing 11 states, provided oral statements at listening sessions.

Workforce Development

May 30, 2025

Statement from NAHB Chairman Buddy Hughes on DOL Decision to Pause Job Corps Center Operations

NAHB Chairman Buddy Hughes issued the following statement after the Department of Labor announced it was pausing Job Corps center operations nationwide.

View all

Latest Economic News

Economics

May 30, 2025

Multifamily Absorption Moves Lower for New Apartments

The percentage of new apartment units that were absorbed within three months after completion continued to trend lower, according to the Census Bureau’s latest release of the Survey of Market Absorption of New Multifamily Units (SOMA).

Economics

May 29, 2025

Treasury Yield Increase Drives Mortgage Rates Higher in May

Mortgage rates continued their upward trend in May due to market volatility triggered by fiscal concerns and weaker U.S. Treasury demand. According to Freddie Mac, the average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage rose to 6.82% — a 9-basis-point (bps) increase from April. The 15-year fixed-rate mortgage increased by 5 bps to 5.95%.

Economics

May 28, 2025

Aging-in-Place Remodeling Work Fell While Familiarity and Receptiveness Remain High

Only 56% of professional remodelers undertake projects designed to allow homeowners to Age-in-Place (AIP), according to results from NAHB’s Q1 2025 Remodeling Market Index (RMI) survey.