Ontario Construction News staff writer
The Ontario Home Buildersโ Associationโs (OHBA) Presidentโs Gala on Monday welcomed 2019-2020 president Bob Schickedanz and awarded outstanding OHBA members and local associations for their dedicated commitment to the association.
Frank Giannone, president of FRAM Building Group, received the associationโs 2019 Lifetime Achievement Award.
In the citation, the OHBA says: โFrank and his team were among the first to recognize the potential of building complete communities along transit lines eliminating the need for cars and easing congestion. In 1989, at the young age of 29, Frank served as president of the Toronto Home Builders Association, now known as the Building Industry and Land Development Association (BILD) and in 2008 he was elected president of OHBA where he led the association as the industry endured many provincial policy changes. A fourth-generation builder, Frank has a lifetime of experience in the residential construction industry which made him a valuable addition to the Tarion Warranty Corporation Board of Directors on which he served from 2010 to 2018.โ
โFrank is a home building mentor to many and always has time to engage the next generation of builders interested in pursuing careers in our industryโ, said OHBA president Bob Schickedanz. โAs a longstanding industry advocate and #homebeliever champion Frank has given his time, talent and expertise to support our industry, our associations and his community and a very well-deserving recipient of this honour.โ
OHBA presented theย Hamilton-Halton Home Buildersโ Association (HHHBA)ย with theย 2019 Local Association of the Year Award, recognizing its advocacy work, membership engagement, and community contribution.
โAs a strategic and collaborative local HBA, HHHBA has been a leader in helping to build the next generation for skilled workers in Ontario,โ the association said. โThrough several programs, including the more recent Women in Industry (WII), HHHBA works with community colleges, universities, high schools and local job fairs to help find, train and retain the next generation.ย In addition, HHHBA has worked closely with OHBA on initiatives related to the Growth Plan, Conservation Authority andย Bill 108 The More Home, More Choice Act.โ
โHamilton-Halton HBA has a long history of volunteering at the provincial and national level, providing resources and assistance wherever and whenever needed,โ Schickedanz said in a statement. โHHHBAโs continued commitment to their members and its community demonstrates the strength a local association can have within its local municipalities.โ
Bob Ridley, past president of the Greater Ottawa Home Buildersโ Association, was honoured as the 2019 OHBA Member of the Year, an award presented to an association member who has made a significant contribution to the residential construction industry, the provincial association and to their local association.
Ridley โplayed a vital leadership role this year as the provincial association developed a visionary strategic plan for the provincial association and its members for the coming years.โ
โHis hard work and dedication to our association and the members is not only to be commended but is the embodiment of what we stand for as an association โ our grassroots philosophyโ members helping members,โ said Schickedanz. โAlways willing to lend a hand, Bobโs commitment to the association and its members has been outstanding.โ
Also from Ottawa, Roy Nandram, owner of RND Construction Inc. and GOHBAโs president, received theย 2019 Rooftopper of the Year Award, recognizing an association member who played a significant role in growing membership.
โA strong proponent of the #homebeliever campaign, Roy has integrated the message into all of his sales offices and definitely walks the walk when it comes to building and growing our membership,โ said Schickedanz.
Courtney Dumond andย Erika Pederson from the Fireside Group were given Special Recognition Awards for their commitment and assistance at various committees and events with the Simcoe County Home Buildersโ Association (SCHBA) as well as their efforts in the organizing of the 2019 OHBA Conference in Collingwood.