NADRA’s 2018 Annual Awards Celebration – Destination: Baltimore, MD
The North American Deck and Railing Association (NADRA) recognizes and promotes excellence in the outdoor living & decking industry. The National+ Deck Competition represents many aspects of the outdoor living industry, with a main focus on decks. Each year we celebrate and honor outstanding successes in the industry at a prestigious Industry Awards presentation & celebration. This year, the 9th annual awards dinner was held on October 10th, 2018 at The National Aquarium hosted in Baltimore, MD. Here is a recap of all NADRA events that occurred while in Baltimore.
NADRA Code Meeting: 10/11/18
Thank you to all the respondents to our recent deck code survey. What we learned was that although the majority of you are building to the newest and strictest deck codes (2015 or newer), most of you felt that these codes are being enforced unequally. The need for a more consistent approach to building and inspecting decks is going to be a renewed focus at NADRA. Through our Decks Done Right program and a better representation within the code arena, we believe that we can make a positive impact. Congratulations to Patrick O’Keefe with O’Keefe Built, Inc – Longmont, CO who won a Milwaukee M18 Impact Driver Kit for participating in our survey.
NADRA Canada Meeting: 10/11/18
NADRA Member, Jon Witt helped the Association organize a “meeting of the minds” while in Baltimore at DeckExpo. “I always look forward to the Deck Expo; meeting up with old friends, making new ones. This year was different though, in a good way. For a number of years now my wife and I have been tasked to see NADRA grow in Canada. This year the first step was made. We had an informal gathering of fellow Canadian members, and those who are interested in joining, meet to discuss the beginnings of that growth. There were some great ideas kicked around despite the previous late night at the NADRA after party. We are excited to get cracking at the tasks ahead this coming winter. Stay tuned for more info on upcoming meetings. If you’d like to follow along and help build NADRA in Canada, please email Info@NADRA.org to be included in future communications.” Jon Witt, WWG Designs and Build.
NADRA Member Benefit Provider, Enter.net join NADRA in the booth:
“We would like to thank everyone that came to visit our Enter.net team at the NADRA booth at DeckExpo, we had an incredible experience! Thank you to the fantastic NADRA family for welcoming us and including us in the association’s activities. We look forward to building and maintaining many business relationships going forward. The New NADRA website is coming soon! Contact us at: Sales@Enter.net or Enter.net
The American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI), joins NADRA in the booth at DeckExpo:
Michael Beaudry, Executive VP from NADRA states, “It was a pleasure having our Association Partners from ASHI, Mike Rostescu, Assistant Executive Director & Director of IT, as well as Bruce Barker, long-time ASHI Educator & Author of the new Black and Decker book on Decks and Rails. Working together with the leadership of the Professional home inspectors of ASHI is helping to make a difference in raising awareness in NADRA’s Deck Safety initiative. Thank you Mike and Bruce for working the booth with us at the show.”
Thank you, Sponsors!
2018 National Awards Dinner & Celebration
On the evening of Wednesday, October 10th, 2018, over 200 NADRA members and industry professionals gathered at The National Aquarium in Baltimore, MD. The event honored those whose ambitions have elevated the industry and redefined the definition of success.
During the presentation, eighty three awards were given to NADRA members with the highest scores based on category in the National+ Deck Competition.
“As we have learned from our other brands in the Oldcastle APG family, the health and vitality of an industry stems from those individuals and organizations wholly dedicated to its’ success. With NADRA- an association comprised of tireless advocates for the decking space- we see a partner that shares the same belief. We look forward to a fruitful relationship- focused on growing the category- and ensuring the path to success for our contractors, dealers and distributors.”
Rich Lancaster – President, AERT
“Thank you NADRA staff for all the hard work put in to making it such a great event. On behalf of myself and my DOCK & DECK crew we say thanks and looking forward to next year.”
Jason Varney, DOCK & DECK, TN
The winning photos can be viewed in the official video below. See HERE for a PDF of all 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners by category.
You can also view the official PowerPoint presentation below:
“This has been the only contest I have ever been in that I have cheered on and promoted my competitors more than my own entries. I am truly humbled to be counted amongst such talented deck artists. Every deck building company, manufacturer rep, supplier, and of course association directors and staff we have met, have quickly become our close family. We are passionate for what we do and love the opportunities to grow with the industry. NADRA Rocks!”
Jon Witt, WWG Designs & Build, Ontario
Annual Meeting:
NADRA 2018 / 2019 Board of Directors:
- President: Matt Breyer, Breyer Construction & Landscape
- Vice President: Heath Bowman, Southeastern Underdeck Systems, LLC / Haven
- Treasurer/Secretary: Bruce Verblaauw, C. Verblaauw & Sons, LLC
- Immediate Past President, Kirk Hammond
- Director: John Keller, Sequoia Supply
- Director: Vincent Carrubba, Admiral-SpaceMaker
- Director: Gary Converse, Koppers Performance Chemicals
National Awards
2018 Terry Award: Presented to Jim Mailey
The Terry award is the highest award honored to one member of NADRA. Terry Dempsey was the original founder and owner of DeckExpo. Terry was instrumental in guiding NADRA during the formation process. Beginning in 2008, NADRA HQ chose one member to honor for their superior contributions to the Association and industry at large. This year, Jim Mailey was the recipient of the Terry Award.
2018 Terry Award: Jim Mailey
“In honor of your extraordinary dedication & unwavering commitment to creating and driving deck safety awareness across North America and beyond. Thank you, Jim.”
Michael Beaudry, NADRA Executive Vice President
2018 Recognition Award
The 2018 Recognition award was awarded to Rebekah Schuld & Stephanie Kurtz, AZEK Building Products.
2018 Recognition Award: Rebekah Schuld & Stephanie Kurtz
“There is no secret formula.
No magic pill.
There are no shortcuts.
Just dedication.
Thank you, Rebekah & Stephanie for your dedication to NADRA and the industry we serve. Your efforts do not go unnoticed.”
Michael Beaudry, NADRA Executive Vide President
View NADRA’s 2018 Annual Meeting Presentation below to learn more about Association happenings, such as financials and Deck For a Soldier® update:
NADRA’s Code Fundraising Initiative: Mark Guthrie & Glenn Mathewson
NADRA Members, consider this your call to code action! As your new Code Committee Chair, I am asking for your help on behalf of the entire organization so that we can become a stronger voice in shaping the deck codes we all must build to.
Over the last few code cycles, we have increased our influence in the code development arena by supporting other professionals to speak on our behalf. For the most part, our members have benefited from these outside efforts, winning on many of the positions NADRA has advocated for. However, to fairly execute on our vision of becoming the most respected and relied upon voice for decking and railing code, we believe that the time has come to add a hired professional to our ranks.
After much consideration, we have selected Glenn Mathewson to be this key part of our team. As many of you are aware, Glenn has been with us from the beginning and worn too many hats to name, the highlight being the development of an ICC-approved deck code training program for our members. We believe that he brings what we need: the wisdom and historical perspective to see it from all sides, a passion for the industry and a work ethic that makes it worth the spend.
Glenn has outlined a plan for our success that includes attending the
upcoming code hearings, submitting proposals on our behalf and being part
of the technical dialogue between competing interests that always surround
code development. What we need to do now is generate the income needed
to support this plan. Please follow this link to contribute to our $50,000 goal today.
Click HERE to view the Code Initiative 4 page document. Contributions may be made here via online registration.
” Mike, Thank you for another great event, awesome to see you and the rest of the NADRA gang again. I took to heart what Glenn said at the meeting and Deck and Basement wants to do our part to support putting him at the code hearings. Please use this $500 as a modest start to making sure our industry does not get even more over-regulated than it has already become. I know only a drop in the bucket but together with all of my Nadra Brothers out there, doing things for the right reason, we can make a difference. Keep up the good work Beaudry’s, your industry thanks you.”
Pat Noonan, Deck and Basement Co., MN
NADRA’s Education Initiative: Jim Mailey
There are than 50 million decks in the U.S. Over 25 million of those decks are already past their useful like – needing to be replaced.
The industry is still lacking comprehensive deck inspection training. NADRA is focused on helping drive that change through the ONLY Certification Program to provide the knowledge and tools to PROPERLY and COMPLETELY inspect an existing deck!
- NADRA partnered with the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) since 2015
- Annual training at ASHI’s national conference (Inspection World) & regional chapter training events
- Trained nearly 500 ASHI inspectors in 3 years
- All during this pilot program!
The goal of NADRA’s education initiative is to educate and certify 500 ASHI inspectors in 2019.
Scroll through the presentation below to see just what numbers we are talking about. We are looking at DOUBLING the industry by successfully launching NADRA’s education initiative. Please click this link to support your future. Monetary contributions are needed to start driving change in our industry today.
“This industry has been my mode of survival since I was a young man. I would like to see others step up and be more supportive of these events. This year several people I spoke with mentioned how busy they were and about the hundreds of decks they are building. When I asked why they attended this event, and if they would ever consider being a sponsor. The response was constantly Oh! we are only here to get stuff not to give. I would like to share the message. “You reap what you sow” “If you are only in this industry only for personal gain you will, be invisible, never grow and not be truly whole”
Bob Heidenreich: The Deck Store, MN
“As always, the Annual NADRA Awards were a blast. We loved catching up with old friends and share with everyone’s excitement for the growth of the industry. We love celebrating the victories of friends who work hard year-round; as we say, the better any of us do, the better we all do. We are looking forward to another great year, and can’t wait to see where things take us and our friends by the time we catch up again in 2019.
Joel Mooneyhan, Haven & Southeastern Underdeck Systems, GA
Deck Expo was also an overwhelming success on Haven Underdeck’s first year as an exhibitor. Thanks to word of mouth from our NADRA friends, and the hard work of our amazing staff, we found ourselves hardly able to keep up with the traffic at our booth. From launching our material sales division last year, to exhibiting our product at the show this year, it has been a steady rise. We anticipate that we will only stay busier thanks to the turnout at Deck Expo. We are thrilled to have had such an awesome turnout.”
“It was certainly great to network with all of the wonderful people that we have become good friends with because of our involvement with NADRA. Thank you to all of those involved with NADRA and especially the Beaudry family who put in all of the hard work and dedication to put on such an awesome event each and every year at the National Deck Awards Competition.”
Bruce Verblaauw, C. Verblaauw & Sons, LLC, NJ
Thank you all for your endless support!
In conclusion, it was an incredible event! New friends were made & victories were celebrated. Please know that we are so grateful for our NADRA community. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts to everyone who made the trek to Baltimore. We think you’re pretty awesome.
Until next time…
Your home team at NADRA HQ ~ Mike & Margie Beaudry, Heather Marchand and Jenn Zedaker
Your Board of Directors ~ Matt Breyer, Heath Bowman, Bruce Verblaauw, Kirk Hammond, John Keller, Vincent Carrubba, Gary Converse
