Contact:
Stephanie Giralmo, Public Relations & Media Manager
Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties
p 425.457.7067

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MBAKS Announces 2021 Award Winners

BELLEVUE, Wash., Dec. 9, 2021—The Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties (MBAKS) announced the 2021 award winners at its annual year-end gala on Thursday, December 9.

Each year, MBAKS recognizes members in eight different categories: Spirit of Service, Emerging Leader, Moving the Market, Associate of the Year, Remodeler of the Year, Builder of the Year, Exceptional Service, and the MBAKS Hall of Fame Award. Winners are decided through an open member nomination and awards committee process.

Here are 2021’s winners:

Todd Levitt, Murray Franklyn Family of Companies, Bellevue, WA

Spirit of Service Award

The Spirit of Service Award recognizes an individual or company in the homebuilding industry that has demonstrated compassion and dedication through service. Volunteering time, talent, or ideas that empower or improve the quality of life of individuals, families, or groups in our community.

In 2021, Todd Levitt served as MBAKS President, where he made service his annual theme. In addition to his service to our industry, Todd also volunteers in the community, working with the Boy Scouts of America, Doxa Housing, and MBAKS’ Rampathon and Painting a Better Tomorrow community events.

Cameron Kartak, AAA Kartak Co., Everett, WA

Emerging Leader Award

The Emerging Leader Award recognizes up-and-coming members who have made significant contributions to MBAKS and the homebuilding industry. In addition, they demonstrate tremendous potential for future leadership and service.

Cameron Kartak has mentored members of both MBAKS and staff at his family-owned business. He has served as Membership Council Chair, Associate Director at Large on the MBAKS Board of Directors, and Finance Committee member.

Joe Schwab, Uniplex Construction, Redmond, WA

Joseph Irons, Irons Brothers Construction, Shoreline, WA

Exceptional Service Award

The Exceptional Service award is the highest recognition award for members and staff for their many years of professional leadership and/or exemplary service to MBAKS.

Joe Schwab, who served as MBAKS President in 2008, has always been incredibly committed to the success of MBAKS and all our members. He has shown the same dedication while advancing our industry’s priorities on state and national levels, providing a stable, consistent voice for homebuilding during good times and bad.

Joseph Irons, who served as MBAKS President in 2016, has always had a passion for giving back to the community. As a past chair of the Rampathon Committee, he developed and designed many of the standards and processes members use to build ramps today. Irons Brothers Construction has been building Rampathon ramps for neighbors in need since 2005.

Melissa Irons, Irons Brothers Construction, Shoreline, WA

Sandy McAdams | PWB Woman of the Year

Named after past MBAKS president, Sandy McAdams, who was the first woman president of our association, the recipient of this award is selected by their peers. It honors an individual who exemplifies excellence and commitment to making a difference.

Melissa Irons has been an active member of MBAKS and its councils for more than a decade, along with volunteering for leadership roles within those councils. She has been a proactive volunteer in MBAKS community stewardship programs for several years, participating in Rampathon and Painting a Better Tomorrow.

Evergreen Certified, Seattle, WA

Moving the Market Award, Built Green

The Moving the Market Award recognizes a person, business, or government entity that has taken actions or implemented programs that advance and expand Built Green certification, promote Built Green as a brand, and demonstrate a commitment to environmental stewardship.

For more than a decade, Evergreen Certified has worked with dozens of MBAKS builder members to help remove barriers that would prevent them from reaching for more sustainable practices. The company has verified hundreds of units and their projects have won both local and national awards.

Luellen Smith, Rhino Wine Cellars and Cooling Systems, Issaquah, WA

2021 Associate of the Year

The Associate of the Year award is dedicated to non-builder MBAKS members who have made an impact on the association and its work.

Luellen Smith has a long and accomplished tenure on the MBAKS Board of Directors, she has served as Secretary of the Finance Committee, and chaired the Membership Council, Membership Retention Committee, the REX/T-REX Awards, and Professional Women in Building Council.

Jennifer VanderBeken, VanderBeken Remodel, Marysville, WA

2021 Remodeler of the Year

The Remodeler of the Year award is presented to leaders in the remodeling industry, who display an exemplary talent in their work.

Jennifer VanderBeken’s artistry and skill as a remodeler have earned her numerous accolades, including two REX/T-REX Remodeling Excellence Awards in 2016 and 2020. She has also taken home the BIAW Excellence in Remodeling Award in 2019, 2020, and 2021, the National Chrysalis Award in 2018, and Best of Houzz Service Award.

Brian Holtzclaw, Village Life Homes LLC, Lynnwood, WA

2021 Builder of the Year

The Builder of the Year award doesn’t just go to members with exceptional building capabilities, but to those members who go beyond and are leaders within the industry.

Brian Holtzclaw, served as MBAKS President in 2020, works as legal counsel for Village Life, and represents the great citizens of Mill Creek as Mayor. When the State shut down in March 2020, he lobbied relentlessly alongside MBAKS and BIAW to convince Governor Inslee to reopen the construction industry. As a result, construction was the first major industry to get back to work in May 2020. Brian has had a distinguished career touching on every aspect of homebuilding.

Brian Ross, Oakpointe, Bellevue, WA

MBAKS Hall of Fame

The purpose of the MBAKS Hall of Fame award is to honor people who have made significant and lasting contributions to our association.

Throughout Brian Ross’ time at MBAKS, he has been a tireless supporter of sound housing policy and Government Affairs’ efforts to advance it. He remains active on the Affordable Housing Council board and his dedication and service to MBAKS is matched by his highly attuned business sense when it comes to housing and development.

For more information on this release, contact Stephanie Giralmo at sgiralmo@mbaks.com

About MBAKS

Founded in 1909 and headquartered in Bellevue, Washington, the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties (MBAKS) is the nation’s oldest and largest local homebuilders’ association. Like our founders, our members continue to take a leading role in all facets of homebuilding and support the planning for a growing region. From new technology to advances in sustainability, from collaborative public policy efforts to investing in our communities, our commitment to a thriving, inclusive and well-planned region never wavers. We are the professional homebuilders, architects, remodelers, tradespeople (carpenters, framers, roofers, plumbers, electricians), planners and engineers, suppliers, manufacturers, and sales and marketing professionals in your community who believe everyone deserves access to a healthy and productive place to call home.

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Homing in on Our Region's Housing Statistics

Despite headlines about a housing market cooldown and home prices dipping slightly compared to last month, median housing prices continue to rise year over year, with an 8.03% rise and a 22.29% rise in King and Snohomish counties, respectively, for combined single family and condo sales. Likewise, for-sale housing supply continues to drop, with both King and Snohomish counties—and much of the state—more accurately described as having weeks of supply, not months. Year over year, months of supply dropped 59% in King County and 37% in Snohomish County. There is at least some relief on the horizon, however, as year to date residential building permit activity is up 30% in our two-county region.

Please contact data@mbaks.com with questions or feedback. We want to know what data would be useful to you!

Months' Supply of Housing Inventory

As of November 2021

	King County had 0.38 months' supply of inventory (down from 0.93 months' of inventory a year ago).
	Snohomish County had 0.24 months' supply of inventory (down from 0.38 a year ago).

Many industry analysts consider a four-to-six-month level as an indicator of a healthy market.

Source: Northwest Multiple Listing Service

Median Home Price

November 2021

	The median price of single-family homes and condos was $740,000 in King County and $658,505 in Snohomish County.
	For single-family homes only, the median price in King County rose 12.25%, from $730,500 a year ago to $820,000. The median price in Snohomish County rose 22.79%, from $566,000 to $695,000.
	In Seattle, the median price of single-family homes and condos was $765,000. The median price for single-family homes only was $850,000, a 3.66% increase from $820,000 in November 2020.

Source: Northwest Multiple Listing Service

Building Permit Activity

Jobs

	The seasonally adjusted Washington unemployment rate for November 2021 is 4.7%; for Seattle/Bellevue/Everett, it is 4.4%.
	Construction employment in Washington increased by 1,800 between October 2021 and November 2021. Total construction employment is 229,400 statewide and 110,200 for Seattle/Bellevue/Everett specifically.

Source: Employment Security Department: WA Employment Estimates (Seasonally Adjusted), November 2021 and Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Population

The Puget Sound region's population as of April 1, 2021 was 4,330,400. Over the past year, the region added 66,200 people, as follows:

Source: Office of Financial Management

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Larry Thibeault of Lake Stevens Design Build shares how MBAKS helped him go from a cabinet salesman to a big builder in Snohomish County.

Learn more about membership

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