Rising Residential Construction Star Credits NAHB Student Chapter's Help

Workforce Development
Published
Contact: Sarah Weber
[email protected]
Senior Director, Workforce Development & Student Chapters
(202) 266-8654

Zainab Sanusi headshot

 

Zainab Sanusi is a self-described "numbers girl." From a young age she was fascinated by unique homes and, with a strong passion for both math and construction, wanted to one day help bring new ones to life. Today, she does just that as a project estimator for Bedrock Homes in Atlanta.

Sanusi credits her time in NAHB’s Kennesaw State University (KSU) student chapter for bridging the path to help land her dream job as well as giving her the foundational knowledge to thrive in a residential building career.

One of the brightest spots of her student chapter tenure was attending a Professional Women in Building (PWB) Council meeting after she earned a Building Hope Scholarship from the National Housing Endowment. At the meeting, Sanusi sought to meet women who’d found success navigating the predominantly male construction space, and that’s where she met her mentor, Kerry White, chief executive officer of HomeQuest Properties, INC. (Applications for the Building Hope Scholarship among other grants are open until March 7, 2025.)

"Kerry took me under her wing in 2019. I was so eager to learn so much more outside of the classroom and she said ’You’re welcome to come on site and tour homes with me.’ She really helped break down the process of home building." Sanusi still takes a piece of advice White gave her to work every day; "When you do a job, do it well," she’d tell her.

With a strong mentor, loads of institutional knowledge and a student chapter support system behind her, Sanusi was ready to put her skills to the test. With the lessons she had learned from White, she wanted to help KSU’s Student Competition team prepare for the International Builders’ Show working as a CAD designer, creating floor plans, and reviewing all materials.

"I learned so much about what it takes to build a home [and development] from start to finish," said Sanusi. "I was able to learn how to design homes structurally and take what I learned throughout the years and apply it in terms of pricing out a home, determining where a home should be built as well as the coding side."

As a member of PWB, Sanusi makes it a priority to continue to collaborate every year with her former student chapter at KSU to create student workshops titled "How to Nail a Job in Construction."

"Take advantage of the opportunities that are presented through the student chapters," Sanusi tells students. "I feel like sometimes students go to chapter events and feel like they were part of the chapter, but they aren’t taking advantage of what’s presented to them. Learn to put yourself out there because the industry is vast, and they need young people.

"Learn wherever you go, knowledge is power and it’ll take you far."

The 2025 Student Competition at IBS will be held Feb. 24-26. Attendees can watch teams compete in the South Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center. The Production and Custom/Small Home Build Competitions will also be livestreamed on the NAHB Student Chapters Facebook page and NAHBTV channel.

Subscribe to NAHBNow

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

Log in to subscribe

Latest from NAHBNow

Workforce Development | Membership

Jul 11, 2025

Maine HBA Brings Real-World Training to State’s Future Builders

Recognizing an aging workforce and a critical need for new talent, the Association has partnered with the Sanford Regional Technical Center (SRTC) to prepare the next generation of skilled tradespeople. Through HBA-led instruction, high-school students are building homes from the ground up and gaining real-world experience.

Advocacy | Tax Reform

Jul 10, 2025

What to Know About Expiring Energy Tax Credits

President Trump recently signed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) into law, which significantly accelerates the termination date for federal energy tax incentives. Builders and remodelers using the credits should be aware of the new expiration dates and where necessary, consult with their tax professional for additional guidance.

View all

Latest Economic News

Economics

Jul 11, 2025

Shrinking Lots: Spec Building New Norm

The share of smaller lots remained record high in 2024, with two out of three new single-family detached homes sold occupying lots under 9,000 square feet (1/5 of an acre or less).

Economics

Jul 10, 2025

Remodeling Market Sentiment Dips in Second Quarter

In the second quarter of 2025, the NAHB/Westlake Royal Remodeling Market Index (RMI) posted a reading of 59, down four points compared to the previous quarter.

Economics

Jul 09, 2025

Mortgage Applications Picked Up in June as Rates Eased

Mortgage application activity picked up in June, supported by a slight decline in interest rates. The Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Market Composite Index, which tracks mortgage application volume, rose 5.4% from May on a seasonally adjusted basis. Compared to June 2024, total applications were up 21.1%.