'Builder of the Year' Curtis McCarty
and 'Associate of the Year' Donna
Cullins, both of Norman, were
honored by the state builders
association Friday night at the
Skirvin.
The Oklahoma Home Builders Association awarded Curtis McCarty of Norman as the "Builder of the Year" at its annual banquet Friday night at the Skirvin Hilton Hotel in Oklahoma City.
The honoree represents the one person who most contributed to the success of the association, made up of 2,800 peers.
McCarty, of C.A. McCarty Construction, was recognized for his pivotal role on the first Oklahoma Uniform Building Code Commission, as the governor's appointee to represent residential construction interests in developing a uniform statewide building code.
"Curtis is our point man as we move forward in developing our first statewide building code," said outgoing state president Tom French of Edmond. "He has put in a ton of hours and we are all indebted to Curtis."
Some of his achievements include:
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Building a "show" home three times for the Builders Association of South Central Oklahoma
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Participation on, and chairing, several committees
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Serving at all levels of board membership, including nationally
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McCarty has been in the home building business 18 years and currently serves on the Builders Association of South Central Oklahoma's Government Affairs Committee and the City of Norman Planning Commission
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He was the 2007 president of BASCO, is a member of the Oklahoma State Homebuilders Association and the National Association of Home Builders.
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McCarty is also one of approximately 150 builders in the state to carry the designation of Certified Professional Home Builders and is nationally certified as a Green Home Builder.
Norman's Donna Cullins received the other primary award of the evening, "Associate of the Year." Cullins was honored due to her participation at the local, state and national levels. The Associates Council consists of trade organizations which support OSHBA efforts. Cullins, secretary of the council, works for Preferred Plans Inc., and she and McCarty represent the Builders Association of South Central Oklahoma.
Also, homebuilders Kimmi Houston and Jeff Click, both of Edmond, have taken new leaderships roles in the national and state spotlight, respectively, in representing the homebuilding industry on a larger scale.
Houston, of Houston Homes, will be installed Jan. 13 as the national chair of the Professional Women in Building council of the National Association of Home Builders. The installation will occur during the International Builder's Show in Orlando.
Click, of Jeff Click Homes, joins the five-person state board of the Oklahoma State Home Builders Association as secretary/vice president, entering the leadership ladder to the presidency.
Houston was named last year's statewide "Woman of the Year" for the state Professional Women in Building council. She was instrumental in organizing the state council two years ago, and served as its first president.
The state council focuses strictly on education and legislation, and recently sponsored the Certified Aging in Place Specialist courses.
She has been 2004 Rookie of the Year for the Central Oklahoma Home Builders Association, and 2005 Best of Show Kitchen in the COHBA "Parade of Homes," as well as being active on local, state and national levels.
Click is past president of Central Oklahoma Home Builders Association and was that organization's "Builder of the Year" in 2009.
One of the youngest independent builders in Oklahoma, the 35-year-old was selected 2010 "Forty Under 40" by OKCBiz and was ranked among Inc. magazine's "Inc. 5000" fastest growing companies.
Houston is a Certified Green Professional builder and both are Certified Professional Builders, among just over 150 builders statewide.
The Certified Builder program ensures the consumers' interests are protected in a state that does not require licensing of builders. That means the homebuilder carries general liability and workers compensation insurance and has taken the required continuing education classes, among other stringent requirements.
Other newly installed OSHBA directors are President Michael Herndon of Kingston in southern Oklahoma, past President French and vice president/treasurer Brandon Perkins of Tulsa. Also on the state homebuilders leadership team is Casey Felix of Enid, as chair of the Associates Council, which represents the industries which support homebuilding.
With 120 present, the banquet attendance was up over last year, indicating the homebuilding business in the state remains on course despite the national economy.
During the banquet recognitions, past president Tom French of Edmond specifically highlighted not only Click for his advice in the last year, but also noted Edmond-area builder Mark Dale and current COHBA president for his work in the legislative realm.
French's Leadership Awards were also sent to McCarty, Houston, Phil Rhees of Tulsa, Dave Sanders of Oklahoma City, Todd Booze, Gina Cox of Oklahoma City, Terry Jennings of Oklahoma City, Vanessa Shadix of Oklahoma City, and Todd Booze, Aaron Leclaire and Donna Cullins, all of Norman.
