Congratulations to our
2024 Achievement Award Winners!
(Click on the links below to view the presentations)
NARI President’s Awards
Bestowed upon the individuals who have done the most to assist the president in reaching their goals.
Andy Apter, CKBR, UDCP, presented awards to the following:
Robi Kirsic, MCKBR, UDCP
Past National President
TimeLine Renovations Inc.
Staten Island, NY
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Joe Bowen
(2024-2025 NARI Secretary)
and Cherrie Bowen
Bowen Remodeling & Design
Crofton, MD
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Tom Miller, MCR, CKBR, UDCP
Past National President
Tom Miller Remodeling, Inc.
Portland, OR
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Doug King, CR, UDCP, MBA, CGC
Past National President
King Contracting, Inc.
Saint Petersburg, FL
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Chapter Community Service Award
The Chapter Community Service Award is presented to a chapter for remodeling work completed for an individual, family, or community, including labor and materials, done on a charitable basis.
In November 2021, Michael Curlee, a Buda, Texas resident, fell out of a deer tower resulting in paralysis of his lower extremities and making his home inadequate. These life-altering injuries meant that the home Curlee, his wife, and son lived in would be extremely difficult, if not impossible, for him to navigate in a wheelchair. Michael couldn’t get in and out of the home. The doorway was too small, it was an older home. After being notified of Curlee’s situation through a member of the chapter, they offered the remodel at no cost to the family. The new floor plan was designed by a NARI Universal Design Certified Professional, and the project was overseen by a NARI Certified Remodeler. The chapter re-designed the front (putting in a ramp), as well as the dining area, his bedroom, bathroom, and office so that he could use those areas of his home. This remodel cost approximately $170,000 dollars, and the chapter ended up having all its suppliers, vendors, and members donate the materials and labor. This chapter and its members contributed their time and services to create a space that helped Curlee return home with ease after staying with friends while their home was under construction.
Chapter Excellence Award
The Chapter Excellence Award is presented to a chapter for work done (other than a specific community project) which impacted the chapter’s area or state in a positive manner and gave the association a higher visibility within the community. The work should have enhanced the image and awareness of NARI through local activities, membership campaigns, awards programs, community service, etc.
NARI of Greater Charlotte
This chapter began to operate in 1990 and officially became a chapter of NARI National in 1992. The chapter currently provides members with a wide variety of opportunities for networking and professional development, such as eight monthly dinner meetings, contractor roundtables, designer roundtables, women in NARI (WIN) functions, young professional functions, seminars, and trade fairs. This year, they set a record with a total of 72 CotY award entries from 26 distinct companies. The chapter also works to create events and opportunities to help engage the membership with the community they serve, such as the Annual Tees 4 Kids golf challenge, the Annual Pins 4 Kids bowling event, Toys for Tots, and a program where NARI members volunteer to cook and serve meals to others in need.
This chapter also takes great pride in its philanthropy work by providing scholarships for NARI members and their families for college, university, or trade school education. In addition, trade school scholarships are also provided for non-members to help bolster workforce development in the community.
The chapter also partners with local organizations to support their missions, such as Dream on 3, Safe Alliance, Charlotte Rescue Mission, and Put Tools in Schools. This chapter ended 2023 with 160 members representing the best of the best general contractors, designers, architects, suppliers, and specialty businesses.
Lifetime Achievement Award
The Lifetime Achievement award recognizes accomplishments, awards, local community involvement, and NARI national involvement in both appointed and elected offices.
Chris Egner, MCR, CKBR, UDCP, CRPM, CCP
NARI Past President
Design-Build-Remodel/Four Seasons Sunrooms
New Berlin, WI
For more than 30 years, Chris Egner has been a fixture in the home improvement and remodeling industry. His dedication to excellence and innovative thinking has been the driving force behind his success. His journey with NARI began in 1993 when he became the lead designer at a NARI Milwaukee member company that had been a member since 1986. In 2012, he purchased the company, and he incorporated a design-build-remodel division, which showcased his forward-thinking approach and demonstrated his commitment to customer satisfaction. As a Past President and NARI Certified Professional, he has made significant contributions to both the field and his chapter.
Over the years, Chris has played a key role in his chapter’s success, serving as a marketing committee chair and website redesign task force member. He is currently serving on the finance committee and nomination team at the chapter level. His passion for teaching and outreach is evident through his active participation in his chapter’s consumer education seminars. He is a regular guest on radio programs, magazines, and live interviews, and has served as a speaker at the local home shows. He has demonstrated unwavering dedication to the association, serving on every chapter committee, as well as every single committee at NARI National. His journey from Immediate Past President for NARI Milwaukee to various national positions within NARI is a testament to his indomitable spirit. In 2019 he took on the role of NARI Secretary on the national level and he was later elected to critical national offices, including Treasurer and, unexpectedly, Interim President in September 2021.
In a landscape where challenges are often measured by the strength of leadership, he has stood tall, leading with passion, integrity, and a deep understanding of the industry. His story is one of relentless commitment and service, making him an exemplary recipient of this award.
Mary Busey Harris, CAE Professionalism Award
The Mary Busey Harris, CAE, Professionalism Award is presented to a NARI member or chapter staff person who has shown exceptional leadership, devotion, dedication, and accomplishment through his or her efforts to promote NARI as a professional organization at the local level.
Bill Green
NARI of Greater Charlotte Member
Barefoot & Company
Charlotte, NC
This 2024 honoree reflects NARI’s core values. Bill Green is professional, welcoming, resourceful, member-focused and volunteer driven. His commitment to NARI is unwavering. An example of his commitment to NARI was when he stepped in as President ‘on a dime’ (2021-23) and hit the ground running.
He is devoted to developing his chapter and the people that make up the membership and serve on the leadership teams. He has grown the chapter by not only leading but also being a mentor. He participates in every event for the organization and ensures people understand the value they are bringing and how important their time and contributions make to the construction industry and the community. He is always the first to recommend NARI to anyone he meets, showcasing his unwavering belief in the value the chapter brings. His generosity and caring nature drive him to give back through the NARI – Jim Harkey Memorial Fund.
He recently took on the tradition of affording scholarships to NARI members’ children and young people interested in trade careers. His dedication to youth is unparalleled as he actively volunteers for the PINS 4 KIDS event each year to support Dream on 3 and their mission to afford kids with life-altering conditions their Sports Dreams!
His passion for the industry drives his commitment to NARI and workforce development. Prior to his presidency with NARI, he was already a leader in the chapter through programs with The Boys Scouts and high school career day, speaking about workforce development.
Harold Hammerman “Spirit of Education” Award
Established in 1978 by the late Harold Hammerman, this prestigious award recognizes excellence in training and education in the construction industry.
Tim Faller
Remodelers Advantage Inc.
Linthicum, MD
This 2024 honoree's journey in the remodeling industry has been a dynamic and transformative one. After graduating from Ohio State University with a degree in Agriculture in 1979, Tim Faller's career took an unexpected turn when he ventured into youth ministry before finding his true calling in remodeling.
Over the last 40 years, as the remodeling industry has grown from mom-and-pop operations to fully defined businesses, Tim has been influential in creating professionalism in the production ranks of the business. His influence is felt across most of the 50 states as well as Canada and Australia. This has been accomplished by his personal consulting, trade show presentations, books, articles in trade magazines and his popular Podcast.
A notable accomplishment for this individual is when he took the Lead Carpenter concepts started by Walt Stoppelworth and others prominent in the remodeling world and developed them further into a system that could be applied throughout the remodeling industry.
His dedication, hard work, and commitment to the industry have been recognized by many, and his induction into the Remodeling Hall of Fame is a testament to his legacy as one of the top influencers in the industry.