The North Carolina Home Builders Association recently announced the winners of the annual STARS Awards, an awards program that honors the achievements of home building industry professionals. More than 250 industry professionals gathered in Charlotte September 16 for the awards gala.

Winners received recognition in categories such as marketing and advertising, Web design, landscape design, interior merchandising, architecture/floor plans and special projects. Awards were also given to local home builders associations. 

The coveted Master Planned Community of the Year Award went to Impact Properties Group for its South Lakes community in Fuquay-Varina. Impact Properties Group is a member of the HBA of Raleigh-Wake County.

Tammie Smoot, of Move Inc., was named the Distinguished Associate of the Year.  Smoot is a member of the Charlotte and Raleigh-Wake HBAs.

Click here for a complete list of award winners.

Locals HBAs in North Carolina took home seven Association Excellence Awards at the 2009 Executive Officers Council Seminar in Louisville.

Caroline Sutton, executive director of the Asheville Home Builders Association, received the 2008 David G. Lloyd Memorial “New Executive Officer of the Year” Award, which honors the most outstanding executive officer in the country with three years or less experience.  During her tenure, Sutton and her staff have doubled the AHBA membership, added unique networking events and added an extensive education program for those in the home building industry.  This year marks the second consecutive year a North Carolina executive officer took home the prestigious award, with Raleigh-Wake HBA’s Tim Minton receiving the award last year.

The North Carolina Home Builders Association recently provided $1,500 for the state Skills USA carpentry winner, John Williams, and his advisor, Frank Cuda, to travel to the national competition in Kansas City, Missouri.

“John beat over half the students in the country,” said his instructor, Frank Cuda. “I am really proud of how he competed and his plan is to return next year on the post secondary level. He is like a sponge in that he absorbs any information you give him - a real special student. He follows steps and procedures really well.”

Name: Tasha Maria Soto

Company: Compare Insurance Agency LLC

Position: Agent/Owner

How Long in Business: One year; nine years in industry

Spike Credits: 187

HBA: Raleigh-Wake County

HBA Involvement: None at present; working with Jerry Cowan from Builders Mutual to possibly offer certain classes in Spanish.