Des Plaines, Ill. — The 2012 Evening of Excellence capped a nearly week-long event for the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) that also included its Spring Business Meeting, held at the Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center in Grapevine, Texas.

The Evening of Excellence is the premier remodeling industry event that celebrates NARI’s Contractor of the Year (CotY) Awards winners. Held Sat., April 21, 2012, the event was attended by more than 200 of the industry’s elite and was sponsored by the following NARI national member companies: Platinum Sponsors – Lowe’s Commercial Services and Pella Corp.; Silver Sponsor — Ferguson; Pewter Sponsor – Moen; Bronze Sponsor – Hanley-Wood Remodeling Magazine.

Contractors from seven regions nationwide vie for the awards on an annual basis. All projects submitted for judging were an improvement or an addition to an existing structure, with the exception of one category, “Residential Exterior Specialty.” Otherwise, new construction projects were not eligible.

In addition, the projects entered were completed between July 1, 2010, and November 30, 2011, and were not submitted in prior NARI National contests. An impartial panel of judges, who are experts within the industry and associated fields, selected winners based on each entrant’s binders, which include “before and after” photography and project descriptions. Judging focused on problem solving, functionality, aesthetics, craftsmanship, innovation, degree of difficulty and entry presentation.

Twenty-five national CotY winners were named at this year’s ceremony. Preliminary judging took place in Des Plaines, Ill., in early January, where regional winners were announced in each of the categories. These regional winners advanced as a finalist at the national level. Four projects were honored under the Universal Design Project Recognition program and six projects were honored under the Green Project Recognition program.

To be considered for a CotY Award, a company must be a NARI member in good standing. The entries in this year’s competition totaled $90 million worth of remodeling projects. NARI members represent an elite group of the approximately 800,000 companies and individuals in the U.S. identifying themselves as remodelers.

The complete list of national CotY award winners for 2012 is as follows (click here to see the online version of the list):

Residential Kitchen Under $40,000

DeRhodes Construction, Charlotte, NC

Residential Kitchen $40,000 to $80,000

Neil Kelly Design/Build Remodeling, Portland, OR

Residential Kitchen $80,001 to $120,000

TriplePoint Design Build, Saint Petersburg, FL

Residential Kitchen Over $120,000

Airoom Architects & Builders, Lincolnwood, IL

Residential Bath under $30,000

DeRhodes Construction, Charlotte, NC

Residential Bath $30,000 to $60,000

Revolution Design and Build, Wayzata, MN

Residential Bath Over $60,000

Lifestyles Design with team member Innovative Kitchens & Baths, LLC, Pottstown, PA

Residential Interior Under $100,000

WrightWorks, LLC, Indianapolis, IN

Residential Interior $100,000 and Over

Craft & Design Collaborative, Portland, OR

Residential Interior Specialty

Nar Fine Carpentry, Carmichael, CA

Residential Addition Under $100,000

S. D. Lohr, Inc., Waldorf, MD

Residential Addition $100,000 to $250,000

Sun Design Remodeling Specialists, Inc., Burke, VA

Residential Addition Over $250,000

Metropolitan Builders & Supply Co., Charlotte, NC

Residential Exterior Under $100,000

Sicora, Inc., St Louis Park, MN

Residential Exterior $100,000 and Over

Allen Associates, Santa Barbara, CA

Residential Exterior Specialty

Paulson's Construction, Inc., Howell, MI

Entire House Under $250,000

Texas Construction Company, Austin, TX

Entire House $250,000 to $500,000

Albrecht Wood Interiors, Inc., Centerville, OH

Entire House $500,001 to $1,000,000

BETZ Homes, Jenkintown, PA

Entire House Over $1,000,000

McCutcheon Construction, Inc., Berkeley, CA

Residential Historical Renovation/Restoration

Provenance Builders, Dallas, TX

Commercial Interior

Irwin Contracting Inc., Hauppauge, NY

Commercial Exterior

Irwin Contracting Inc., Hauppauge, NY

Commercial Specialty

Stevermer Company, Shawnee, KS

Home Theater & Media Rooms Under $150,000

Watermark & Company, Austin, TX

NARI will be providing special Contractor of the Year Award digital showcase in late April, which will highlight not only the national winners but feature photos of regional winners as well. The digital edition can be found on the www.NARI.org Web site, under Awards.

In addition to the CotY Awards, there were 11 categories of Achievement Awards handed out in Dallas. The Achievement Awards are bestowed on an annual basis, and in most cases, the recipient must be nominated. The categories are designed to recognize outstanding achievement by an individual, company or chapter that serves to promote and enhance the professional remodeling industry.

The complete list of national Achievement Award winners for 2012 is as follows:

Chapter President Award

Presented to a local chapter president who has demonstrated outstanding leadership capability in the broad range of service to his or her chapter during his or her term of service.

Diane Krueger, CR, Milwaukee/NARI Home Improvement Council

Chapter Community Project Award

Presented to a chapter for a community project to enhance the community and increase the awareness of NARI in the community, both locally and nationally.

Kansas City NARI

Chapter Excellence Award

Presented to a chapter for work (other than a specific community project) which impacted the chapter’s local area or state in a positive manner, gave the association higher visibility within the community and enhanced the image and awareness of NARI through local activities, membership campaigns, awards programs, community service, etc.

NARI of Central Ohio

2012 Distributor of the Year

Recognizes distributors who have demonstrated a strong commitment to NARI, the professional remodeling industry and the community or communities in which they do business.

Siewers Lumber and Millwork, Richmond, Va.

Peter H. Johnson Image Award

Named for Peter H. Johnson, founder of the CotY Awards Program, this award is open to all who contribute to the enhancement of the remodeling industry’s image.

Superior Home Services, Washington, D.C.

Professionalism Award

Presented to a non-paid NARI member who has show exceptional leadership, devotion, dedication and accomplishment through his or her efforts to promote NARI as a professional organization at the local level.

Jim Pitzen, CR, Brookfield, Wis.

Harold Hammerman Spirit of Education Award

Established in 1978 by the late Harold Hammerman, this prestigious award recognizes excellence in training and education in the construction industry.

Kevin Anundson, CR, CKBR, Elm Grove, Wis.

Lifetime Achievement Award

Recognizes accomplishments, awards, local community involvement and NARI National involvement in both appointed and elected offices.

Paul Zuch, CR, McKinney, Texas

Henry Fenderbosch Leadership Award

Created in 1986 in honor of the late Henry "Hank" Fenderbosch who served as NARI President from 1984-1985 and Chairman of the Board from 1985-1986, the Henry Fenderbosch Award honors an individual who has shown exceptional leadership, devotion, dedication and accomplishments on behalf of NARI at the national level.

Dale Benjamin, Madison, Wis.

Government Affairs Award

The NARI Government Affairs Award is presented to a NARI member or members who have demonstrated active involvement in pursuing the legislative interests of the professional remodeling industry.

David C. Merrick, MCR, UDCP, Kensington, Md.

The President’s Awards

Bestowed upon individuals who, in the opinion of the president, have done the most to assist in reaching goals.

David Feldner, CAE, Milwaukee, Wis.

George W. Edwards, CRA, CKBR, GCP, Chester, Pa.

Mary Busey Harris, CAE, Des Plaines, Ill.

Homeowners are estimated to spend a total of $113.6 billion on home improvements in the U.S. through the third quarter of 2012.

NARI is a professional association whose members voluntarily subscribe to a strict code of ethics. Consumers may wish to search www.NARIremodelers.com to find a qualified professional who is a member of NARI.

Consumers can also call NARI National at (847) 298-9200 and request a free copy of NARI’s brochure, “How to Select a Remodeling Professional,” or visit www.nari.org and click on the homeowner’s guide for more information. For information on green remodeling, visit www.greenremodeling.org.

Source: The National Association of the Remodeling Industry