The Winter 2008 session of the North Carolina Builder Institute (NCBI), held at the McKimmon Center on N.C. State University’s campus in Raleigh in January, was an extraordinary success. With over 150 participants, the session broke last year’s attendance record by 15%. Enthusiastic students from across the state participated in a wide range of continuing education courses in an effort to earn their designations through the program. 

NCBI is pleased to announce that an astounding 20 participants earned their accreditation during the winter session. The Accredited Builder (AB) designation was awarded to 10, the Accredited Associate (AA) designation was awarded to one, while the Accredited Master Builder (AMB) designation was awarded to six. Three participants were able to earn dual accreditation, two earning their AB and AMB and another earning her AA and the first awarded Accredited Master Associate (AMA). Please join us in congratulating these dedicated professionals on their achievements.

Kevin Lancaster
Kevin S. Lancaster General Contractor
Greenville, NC
Accredited Builder (AB) Graduate
Kevin Lancaster’s involvement in the building industry began in 1997 when he started his own home repair and improvement business in the Rocky Mount, NC area.  In 2002, he went to work with a construction company as a field supervisor and gained valuable knowledge and experience in land development, residential and commercial construction.  He went on to receive his license from the North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors in 2005.  Lancaster made the move to Greenville, NC in 2006, where he now focuses on residential building and remodeling.  He is an active member of the Greenville-Pitt HBA and currently serves on the Board of Directors.

Patrick Mann
Action Services Construction, Inc.
Atlantic Beach, NC
Accredited Builder (AB) Graduate
Patrick Mann is a Licensed General Contractor specializing in remodeling. His firm, Action Services Construction, Inc. has served the Crystal Coast in residential and commercial construction for over 25 years. Mann has twice been named Carteret County Builder of the Year. He has served as a Director and Building Chairman for the Crystal Coast Habitat for Humanity. Mann has been an active Director for NCHBA, having served as the Chair for various committees, including Vocational Education and Building Codes. He is currently the Chairman for the Regulatory Affairs committee. 

Page Robertson
Brookside Homes, LLC
Wilmington, NC
Accredited Builder (AB) Graduate
Page Robertson was born and raised in Wilmington, NC, where he is happy to be pursuing a profession he thoroughly enjoys while living in his hometown. He graduated from NC State University in 1991 and has been involved in the building business for the past 12 years. His company, Brookside Homes, builds neighborhood homes in various price ranges. Robertson has always had an interest in learning more about the building business and worked to set himself apart from other builders in his market. He has been involved in NAHB’s Builder 20 Program for six years and he has taken numerous courses within the NCBI curriculum. This coursework assisted him in attaining the Certified Graduate Builder designation from the NAHB as well as completing the NCBI requirements for Accredited Builder. 

Buddy Hughes
Hughes Construction
Lexington, NC
Accredited Builder (AB) Graduate
Buddy Hughes, 2005 NCHBA president, is a third generation, hands-on builder from Lexington, NC. Hughes was the local Davidson County HBA President and a two time winner of Builder of the year. He has also Chaired NAHB’s Building Products Issues Committee. Hughes carries with him extensive experience in every aspect of the industry and related products.

Jesse Creech
Jesse Creech Contracting
Newport, NC
Accredited Builder (AB) Graduate
Jesse Creech is an experienced builder from coastal North Carolina. He has been involved in the home building industry for over 16 years and obtained his Contractors License from the NC Licensing Board for General Contractors in 2000. Through his company, Jesse Creech Contracting, Creech has become savvy in the ins and outs of securing the proper permits and overseeing all aspects on building installation. In addition to his contracting business, Creech is a partner in Big Rock Pools. He served as President of the Carteret County HBA for 2005-2006 and was awarded Carteret County Builder of the Year in 2006. 

Aimee Butler
Parksite Plunkett-Webster
Durham, NC
Accredited Associate (AA) Graduate
Aimee Butler’s involvement in the home building industry comes through her work as a Commercial Product Specialist for Parksite Plunkett-Webster. She offers building science expertise to Builders, Architects, Designers and Contractors. Butler conducts seminars and provides onsite field training, including product demonstrations and technical support. Her areas of expertise include water and moisture management, flashings and weatherization of wall systems, air sealing, acoustic design and green building techniques. Butler holds a Master’s Degree in Chemistry and is currently a Certified DuPont Building Innovations Specialist. She has served on the Education Committee for the HBA of Raleigh and Wake County and the Green Building Council of the HBA of Durham Orange and Chatham Counties.

Kaye Leonard
Parksite Plunkett-Webster
Welcome, NC
Accredited Associate (AA) & Accredited Master Associate (AMA) Graduate
Kaye Leonard has over 17 years experience in the building material industry. She currently works as a Regional Team Leader of Building Product Specialists for Parksite Plunkett-Webster. Within the 10 branches of Parksite, education is considered the core product and the Building Product Specialists are the vehicle by which that product is delivered to the construction industry. Leonard is responsible for 23 Building Products Specialists in seven states. She is a Sr. Certified DuPont Tyvek Specialist; a member of NAHB’s Building Materials Subcommittee and has received her Certified Graduate Associate and Certified Aging in Place Specialist designations from NAHB. She is a member of the Burlington-Alamance HBA.

Larry McKenzie
Glencroft Builders, Inc.
Summerfield, NC
Accredited Master Builder (AMB) Graduate
Larry McKenzie, President of Glencroft Builders, Inc., holds an unlimited general contracting license and has been building high quality homes in Guilford County for 10 years. He is a graduate of Appalachian State University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration while playing football. After graduation, he worked in the management sector of the construction bonding industry for over 20 years. He is a member of the Greensboro Builders Association and was awarded the Gold Award in the Parade of Homes in 2006.

Robert “Rudy” Rudisill
Bob Rudisill Homes
Mooresville, NC
Accredited Master Builder (AMB) Graduate
Robert “Rudy” Rudisill joined Bob Rudisill Homes, a family owned construction company after working in the furniture industry for over 10 years. He learned the construction business from the ground up by performing various construction duties. He is currently responsible for the field operations within the company. Rudisill believes in fine craftsmanship and attention to detail. He is a member of the Lake Norman HBA and has previously earned his Accredited Builder (AB) designation through NCBI. Rudisill is also actively involved in the restoration and revitalization of Mooresville’s Historic Mill Village and is very interested in learning more about green building practices.

Troy Warner
Built Right Custom Homes
Mocksville, NC
Accredited Master Builder (AMB) Graduate
Troy Warner is the owner of Built Right Custom Homes Inc., based in Mocksville, NC. Warner’s goal through Built Right Custom Homes is to provide quality construction with great value and service. He believes success is achieved through personally supervising each phase of every project, being accessible to his customers, quality workmanship and strong business ethics, combined with the desire to give back to his community. Warner has been building homes in the Piedmont Triad area for five years and is an active member of the Winston-Salem HBA, where he sits on the Board of Directors and the Vocational Education committee. 

John Makovy
Southern Elegant Homes
Raleigh, NC
Accredited Master Builder (AMB) Graduate
John Makovy is the president of Southern Elegant Homes, Inc., in Raleigh. With more than a decade of experience, Makovy specializes in building luxury custom homes. He believes in using a hands-on approach to building and oversees each aspect of construction within his company. 

Chris Cox
CH Cox Building Group, LLC
Raleigh, NC
Accredited Master Builder (AMB) Graduate
Chris Cox is the owner of CH Cox Building Group, LLC, which specializes in residential and light commercial construction. Cox has been involved in many aspects of the construction and real estate operations industry for over nine years throughout the US. His company is a member of the Raleigh-Wake and Greenville-Pitt HBAs and the Better Business Bureau.

Reid Whitley
Original Space, Inc.
Raleigh, NC
Accredited Builder (AB) Graduate

Zack Rothrock
Zack Rothrock Builders, Inc.
Winston Salem, NC
Accredited Builder (AB) Graduate

David Kehler
David Kehler General Contractor
Marion, NC
Accredited Builder (AB) Graduate

Waverly Sawyer
Sawyer & Associates
Camden, NC
Accredited Builder (AB) Graduate

Steve Smirch
Top Notch Homes Inc.
Sherrills Ford, NC
Accredited Builder (AB) Graduate

Stephen Mabe
Stephen L. Mabe Building
Winston Salem, NC
Accredited Master Builder (AMB) Graduate

Thomas Smith
MacPherson Construction
Brevard, NC
Accredited Builder (AB) & Accredited Master Builder (AMB) Graduate

Tom Lasley
Lasley Construction Company
Asheville, NC
Accredited Builder (AB) & Accredited Master Builder (AMB) Graduate

Thanks to all who participated in this session! If you are interested in enhancing your professionalism by earning an accreditation in the home building industry, plan to attend the Fall 2008 NCBI session, held in conjunction with the 21st Century Building Expo & Conference in Charlotte this September.