Special Events

Milwaukee/NARI 2008 Local Achievement Award Winners

Gordy Ziglinski “Spirit of Education” Award
The award recognizes excellence in training and education in the industry in general, and Milwaukee/NARI in particular. This year’s recipient has more than 20 years experience in the home improvement and remodeling industry, having earned his Certified Remodeler designation in 2003 and his Certified Kitchen & Bath Remodeler classification the same year. He serves as Milwaukee/NARI’s Certified Remodeler Study Group Coordinator, supervising the course curriculum, teaching classes, securing other Certified Professionals to conduct training, conducting the study review, and proctoring the exam. He participates in panel discussions, sharing his experience and insight with students, and he mentors company employees and association members, sharing his experience and expertise.

Bob Sebastian, CR, CKBR, Brillo Home Improvements in Milwaukee.

Marvin Johnson Meritorious Service Award
The award honors a member who has shown exceptional leadership, devotion, dedication, and accomplishment on NARI’s behalf. This year’s recipient is not only known as a business partner, but as a friend. For more than 15 years, he has been an extremely active Milwaukee/NARI chapter member, elected to the association’s Board of Directors in 1998, Secretary in 2000, Vice President in 2001, and President in 2005. He also served as a Director of the Milwaukee/NARI Foundation for more than five years, and he was chairperson of the Program Committee for three years. During this time, he has been an effective spokesperson for the association, and by aggressively promoting Milwaukee/NARI, he has sponsored several companies to join and reap the rewards of association involvement. His steady hand and guidance were paramount during the association’s transition between Mary Fox Hagner to David Feldner, and his overseeing of the implementation of the association’s Strategic Plan helped Milwaukee/NARI reach new heights. He recently completed his term as Immediate Past President and ended his time on the board of directors, but his influence will be felt and visible for years to come.

Paul Kraemer of The Starr Group in Greenfield

Professionalism Award
This award recognizes a person who has shown exceptional devotion, dedication, and accomplishment to the home improvement and remodeling industry through his efforts to promote NARI as a professional organization on the local level while at the same time serving as a tremendous resource for the community. A member of the Milwaukee/NARI Home Improvement Council since 1988, he earned his Certified Remodeler designation in 2000, and became a Certified Kitchen & Bath Remodeler in 2003. A Certified Professional class instructor since 2001, he has served on the Board of Directors and as an association Vice President. A sponsor of Milwaukee/NARI student members, he is a regular participant in panel discussions for seminars at the Milwaukee/NARI office and at association Shows, and he regularly serves as an association spokesperson, participating in radio and TV program interviews, conducting interviews with print reporters, and representing Milwaukee/NARI at presentations to local service groups and organizations. A booth staffer at the “Ask the Expert” area in the Information Center at Milwaukee/NARI Shows, he also is an active recruiter of members, with 18 new members recruited in the last five years. In addition to his work on behalf of Milwaukee/NARI, this person is very involved in the greater community as an unpaid consultant for building and remodeling projects.

Tom Weiher, CR, CKBR, Carmel Builders in Menomonee Falls

Lifetime Achievement Award
The Mary Fox-Hagner Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizes the association’s executive director from 1993 – 2005. This award is bestowed on a person who has been in the remodeling industry for at least 20 years and a member of NARI for at least seven years. This year’s recipient easily meets both of these qualifications! This gentleman worked for the same company nearly 37 years as sales manager, serving as mentor to a number of staff people, helping them learn and prosper within the company and the industry. He has been affiliated with the Milwaukee/NARI Home Improvement Council since the 1970s, serving in a variety of positions within the association, including as President in 1985 – 1986. For the past 17 years, he has been Milwaukee/NARI’s Membership Services Coordinator. During his tenure, he has seen the chapter’s membership grow nearly 450%, from slightly more than 200 on July 1, 1991, to more than 900 members today. When doing follow up with a prospect, he is relentless (in a very good way), and he has created many programs that have brought in dozens of new members in a few day period of time. He has also shared his skill and enthusiasm with National NARI, being part of the effort to grow chapters in other parts of the country. Milwaukee area home improvement and remodeling contractors owe a debt of gratitude to this person for the positive light he sheds on the industry. Because of his 54-year commitment, he has raised the expectations that contractors have of themselves and has helped create the expectations that homeowners have of Milwaukee/NARI members.

Bill Bobrowitz, Milwaukee/NARI Membership Services Coordinator

Certified Professional “Superstar” Awards
Recognize individuals who recently showed their commitment to the home improvement and remodeling industry by taking part in the Certified Professionals training program. The Award is presenter to the person scoring highest locally on the written certification exam.

Certified Remodeler “Superstar” Award: Todd Wagner, TW Carpentry, Inc. in Elkhart Lake.
Certified Lead Carpenter “Superstar” Award: Mark Falk, Quality Remodeling Specialists, Inc. in Pewaukee.
Certified Kitchen & Bath Remodeler “Superstar” Award: Jim Kryzanek, AB&K Bath & Kitchen, Inc. in Greenfield.

Certified Professional of the Year
This award recognizes a person who’s been a Certified Professional for at least three years and has continued to excel in the field, while sharing professional experience and expertise with other association members. This year’s recipient is dedicated to teaching contractors not only within Milwaukee/NARI but throughout the state the importance of having the most current information as it relates to lead and mold. Through the classes that she teaches, thousands of area contractors know the proper procedures to follow when encountering lead or mold in a residential setting. She has also participated in panel discussion at area technical schools, taught Certified Professional classes, and worked shifts in the NARI Information Center at consumer shows.

Ada Duffey, CR, CLC, Milwaukee Lead/Asbestos Information Center, Inc. in Milwaukee

Bill Bobrowitz Image Award
This award recognizes an individual or organization that has contributed to the enhancement of the industry’s image. This year’s winner has been in the building trade for more than 25 years, working in residential and commercial remodeling. A Milwaukee/NARI member since 1996, he is recognized as one of the association’s biggest proponents when it comes to being involved in association activities and serving as a mentor to other contractors. He has been a member of the Board of Directors since 1998, as well as the long-time chair of the association’s Marketing and Show Committees. In these roles, he has often served as an excellent spokesperson for Milwaukee/NARI, as he is able to eloquently and concisely provide information to reporters, serving as an in-studio guest for radio and TV programs and speaking on a variety of topics with print reporters. Under his direction, the Marketing Committee communicates the association’s message through print, radio, and TV ads, billboard, Web site ads, bus tails, and direct mail. In addition, Milwaukee/NARI is recognized by print and electronic media reporters as the group to contact when looking for information relating to home improvement and remodeling. The effort he puts forth on behalf of the association has helped establish Milwaukee/NARI as the leading home improvement resource for consumers and the media.

David Pekel, CR, Pekel Construction & Remodeling, Inc. in Wauwatosa

Distributor of the Year Award
The award recognizes a member company that has demonstrated a strong commitment to NARI, to the remodeling industry, and to our community. This company has been an association member since June 2006 and it quickly immersed itself in Milwaukee/NARI, as the company’s representative to the association joined the Marketing and Membership Committees, participating in many activities coordinated by those groups. A contributor of product and time to many of the association’s community and Foundation projects, this member continually provides educational information to contractors and consumers regarding their segment of the remodeling industry.

FloorCo in West Allis

Media Outlet Award
This award recognizes a media organization that assists Milwaukee/NARI in its effort to provide home improvement and remodeling resources to consumers throughout the area while enhancing the association’s image and community presence. This media outlet is recognized for providing quality exposure to the home improvement and remodeling industry in general and Milwaukee/NARI in particular by highlighting industry activity and the quality work completed by association members. In addition to producing an attractive and informative monthly publication, this media outlet’s company representative plays an important role in the association’s Marketing Committee, offering her media expertise to assist in decision making on advertising and promotional programs, while also volunteering her time to participate in various association activities.

Milwaukee Home & Fine Living Magazine and its representative Shay Sherfinski