Every healthy industry needs to develop and promote best practices. In the offsite industry, one way to learn about these best practices is, of course, by reading this magazine. Another is by getting involved with the Building Systems Council (BSC) at the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB).
BSC’s mission is to promote offsite construction methods that include modular, panelized, concrete, log and timber frame. Belonging to the BSC is the best way to meet others in offsite construction, share stories and learn from some of the best people in our industry.
As part of its mission, BSC holds an annual Summit where industry speakers share their experiences, methods, new products and procedures with the builders and developers in attendance. Over the years, I have made a lot of friends and have learned a lot about offsite construction at the Summit. I’m not alone. More and more builders, developers, construction managers and vendors are realizing it’s one of the best opportunities to meet others and to help make our industry stronger.
The highlight of the Summit is always the Awards Ceremony where recognition is given to the best designs and the best marketing programs. All types of buildings — including single-family, multifamily and commercial buildings — are eligible to compete for awards. Building systems recognized include modular, panelized and log homes.
Two of the most prestigious awards are the Jerry Rouleau Awards for Excellence in Home Design and Excellence in Marketing. The former recognizes the year’s best new systems-built structures, while the latter recognizes outstanding promotional materials produced by manufacturers, builders and suppliers in the systems-built housing industry.
This issue includes an article with short profiles of last year’s winners. As a publication with the mission of promoting the offsite industry, we hope that many of our readers will decide to submit their best projects. Applications open on July 11, but now is a good time to start putting together the needed materials and getting those photos taken.
Jerry Rouleau passed away in 2011, but his dedication to the systems-built industry lives on in these two Awards, which are presented in his honor.
Jerry was a new home sales training and marketing consultant for the housing industry and founder of J. Rouleau and Associates. He was an active member of the NAHB Log Home Council, the Timber Frame Business Council and several other industry groups. He received countless accolades for his work, including the S.A. Walters Chairman Award, and, recently, the Friend of the Institute award from the Institute of Residential Marketing and the National Sales and Marketing Council. He authored numerous books and was a popular public speaker.
In honor of his first wife, Jerry created Jan’s House of Hope, a memorial and fundraiser that raised more than $2 million in donations for his National Cancer Awareness Foundation, which, in turn, provided 100% of funds to families working through cancer. Jerry himself faced his own cancer prognosis with calmness, humor, optimism, an unwavering spirit and a genuine smile.
The awards honor the best in offsite construction while helping us all remember one of the best advocates our industry has ever had.
Gary Fleisher is the Editor-in-Chief of Offsite Builder.
Gary – Thanks for remembering and paying tribute to Jerry. No one who knew him will ever forget him, and the awards that still carry his name as testament to his intelligence and devotion to the offsite construction industry. A few months back I had the opportunity to interview Jerry’s son, Scott, regarding Jan’s House of Hope – the modular house on a barge that sailed down the Atlantic coast to create awareness of offsite construction and raise money for cancer patients. That interview, along with pictures, can be viewed at https://www.learnmh.com/past-webinars/?wchannelid=ntefj8gcd6&wmediaid=1rpyqztbh7.