Step behind the scenes of NADRA’s 2025 Awards Summit, where innovation, craftsmanship, and community came together to honor the best in the outdoor living industry.
For 21 years, the North American Deck and Railing Association (NADRA) has been the trusted voice of the decking and outdoor living industry. NADRA supports its members through advocacy, education, and programs that ensure safety, quality, and innovation. From initiatives like Deck Safety Month®, to advocacy efforts shaping building codes, professional certifications, and community projects like Deck for a Soldier®, NADRA provides its members with the tools and resources to succeed.
The National+ Deck Competition is one of many ways NADRA highlights the talent and innovation of its members, celebrating exceptional projects and fostering a spirit of excellence. This year’s 15th Annual National+ Deck Competition was a centerpiece of the 2025 Awards Summit, held January 2–5, 2025 at the Wyndham Grand in Clearwater Beach, FL.
Welcome Party
The Summit kicked off on Thursday, January 2nd, with an indoor welcome party featuring sushi, hors d’oeuvres, and cocktails. Attendees had the chance to reconnect and catch up while enjoying access to the balcony, offering stunning views of the sunset over Clearwater Beach. It was a relaxed and enjoyable start to the weekend’s events.
View the full event photo gallery HERE.
NADRA MasterMind: Real Conversations, Real Solutions
At this year’s NADRA Summit in Clearwater Beach, FL, attendees gathered for the highly anticipated MasterMind Session—a dynamic, interactive event designed to foster collaboration and problem-solving. This session moved beyond traditional lectures, diving into real, raw, and unfiltered conversations driven by the experiences and insights of NADRA members working in the trenches of the decking and outdoor living industry.
Session Highlights
The MasterMind was divided into three tracks tailored to specific roles in the industry:
- Owners/Managers
- Discussions included scaling profitably, building high-performing teams, and setting measurable goals for success.
- Sales Professionals
- Topics focused on selling with emotion, overcoming objections, and closing deals without feeling pushy.
- Project Management and Vendors/Suppliers
- Key themes included technology for smarter management, preventing costly mistakes, and building lasting partnerships.
Collaborative Atmosphere
Participants chose from sessions that mattered most to their business, diving deep into challenges and sharing actionable insights. Guided by experienced session leaders, attendees engaged in open discussions, shared lessons learned, and developed strategies to take back to their teams.
A special thank you was extended to Chris with Legacy Decks Academy for his dedication in elevating the roundtable discussions to the next level, ensuring meaningful breakthroughs for all involved.
Why It Mattered
The MasterMind session highlighted NADRA’s unique ability to bring together diverse perspectives for shared growth. Attendees left with new ideas and connections to help them navigate challenges and elevate their work.
View the full event photo gallery HERE.
Awards Night: Honoring Excellence
The highlight of the Summit was the Awards Night on Friday, January 3rd. The evening began with a cocktail reception, where attendees mingled and celebrated in a festive atmosphere.
During the four-hour awards ceremony, hosted by Michael Beaudry, NADRA Executive VP, along with Bobby Parks and Bob Lett, members were treated to an unforgettable evening of recognition and celebration. Special thanks to Andrew Pantelides and Wes Kain, who introduced and thanked our sponsors, including our Platinum Sponsors:
- Owens Corning
- Decks & Docks Company
- Westbury Aluminum Railing by Digger Specialties
The ceremony celebrated the winners of the 2024 National+ Deck Competition, showcasing their remarkable projects and the dedication of the teams, families, and partners who brought them to life. A live stream on YouTube allowed those unable to attend to join in the excitement.
Scroll through to see the winning entries of NADRA’s 2024 NADRA National+ Deck Competition HERE. Be sure to click on images to see a gallery for each project.
Watch the compilation video of all the entries into the 2024 NADRA National+ Deck Competition HERE.
A Special Shoutout
We want to give a heartfelt shoutout to Jason Alloway, New Castle Steel. Jason, you’ve been an incredible part of the NADRA family, and your presence was truly missed during the event.
We had a fun idea to include a life-size cutout of you on stage to honor you in your absence, but unfortunately your package was lost in hotel limbo. and it didn’t come together as planned. We can’t wait to make it up to you at a future event—whether it’s you in person or your famous cutout, we’ll make sure you’re in the spotlight where you belong!
Pushing Boundaries: The 2025 Awards Summit
Each year, the National+ Deck Competition brings forth designs and innovations that are nothing short of extraordinary. Somehow, in a seemingly miraculous way, the projects continue to get bigger, better, and more innovative. These earth-shattering designs are a testament to the creativity, skill, and dedication of NADRA’s members.
The 2025 Awards Summit celebrated everything that makes NADRA exceptional: unwavering dedication to its members, a relentless commitment to excellence, and an enduring passion for advancing the outdoor living industry.
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined us in Clearwater Beach and those who participated virtually. Your talent and support make events like this possible.
Here’s to another year of building, innovating, and inspiring.
