Dozens of Laurel Awards are given annually by the Northeast Florida Builders Association and its Sales and Marketing Council for the best in marketing and sales. This year’s ceremony included a Great Gatsby theme, where some came dressed in costumes from the 1920s.
Dick Baker Memorial Award: Selby Kaiser
Selby Kaiser in 1994 served on the executive committee that first created the Dick Baker Memorial Award, which honors long-standing support of the home building industry. On March 15, she became its 2014 recipient.
"I was just blown away," said Kaiser, co-broker of The Legends of Real Estate. "To do something for years that you love and finally to get recognized for it is wonderful."
The Dick Baker Memorial Award is given to the NEFBA Sales and Marketing Council member whose achievements, civic and volunteer engagement, commitment to excellence, dedication and optimism have long served the home building industry.
"Selby is a legend in the business," said SMC Chair Ron Harris. "She's also been very active over the years as a volunteer with Builders Care and other organizations.
Also, she performs the invocation at our SMC breakfast, which has been a great inspiration for us."
Golden Service Award: Landon homes
Landon Homes, a company whose motto is "Do the right thing even when no one else is watching," won the Golden Service Award.
The award is for excellence in customer service and for a having a top quality warranty program.
The sales approach used by Landon agents and designers is one of listening to customers and recommending the best, most cost-effective solution, even when that means recommending a competitor, sales manager Jacki Matthews said. The company, which is just three years old, closed 200 homes in 2013, building its reputation one satisfied home buyer at a time, she said.
"How cool it was for us to win the Golden Service Award when this is everything that we are about?" Matthews said.
Grand Award: D.R. Horton
Home builder D.R. Horton won the Grand Award for all-around excellence in marketing. In selecting a winner, judges assess the firm's marketing plan and marketing approach, its product design and interior design.
"It's always great to be recognized, especially by your peers," said Andy Fremento, Jacksonville division president for D.R. Horton. "It's especially exciting for my marketing team — seeing them get the recognition they deserve."
Within the last year, D.R. Horton's Jacksonville office introduced new elevations and floor plans for its homes and hired interior decorators to help with the decor. Also, its marketing team sharpened its game, Fremento said, introducing new signage and stepping up the number of photos it places on MLS listings. It also used more social media for buyer outreach.
"Social media and the Internet have become huge in the industry," Fremento said. "A lot of home buyers now shop from their couch."
Member of the Year: Deborah Metzig
Even as she heard her name being called, Deborah Metzig had trouble believing she had won the Member of the Year Award.
The honor goes to the person who has contributed most significantly to SMC over the past year.
Metzig is an SMC board member who also manages its PR efforts.
"I would never have thought I would get this award. I don't even chair a larger committee," she said.
But Harris said Metzig distinguished herself with extraordinary behind-the-scenes work.
"She's very dedicated and someone you can always count on," he said. "She's always on hand, making everyone else look good. It's important to honor a person who almost never gets recognition for what they do."
Grand awards
Dick Baker Memorial Award: Selby Kaiser
Golden Service Award: Landon Homes
Grand Award: D.R. Horton
Member of the year: Deborah Metzig
Architectural design
Best architectural design under $100,000: The Sommer, Habitat for Humanity of Jacksonville (HabiJax)
Best architectural design $200,001: $300,000: Charle, Lennar Jacksonville
Best architectural design $300,001: $400,000: Serenoa + Loft, Mattamy Homes
Marketing
Best ad campaign (developer): Life on the St. Johns Begins Here, Old San Jose on the River
Best billboard: Uptown Billboard, Beson4 Media Group
Best Facebook page (national builder): Lennar Homes
Best Facebook page (builder): Dreambuilder Custom Homes LLC
Best Facebook page (associate): Bank of England
Best Facebook page (developer): Nocatee
Best brochure (developer): Coach Homes, Old San Jose on the River
Best brochure (associate): "Solutions," Bonded Builders Warranty Group
Best logo (builder): Dreambuilder Custom Homes LLC
Best logo (associate): Beson4 Media Group
Best interior merchandising: Under $100,000: HabiJax New Town Model Home, Sisler Johnston Interior Design
Best interior merchandising: $200,001-$300,000: Whitmore 2552 Chandler Designs, LLC
Best interior merchandising: $300,001- $400,000: Lakeside Caspian with Bonus, Chandler Designs, LLC
Best interior merchandising: $400,001-$500,000: Allegheny, Sisler Johnston Interior Design
Best interior merchandising: $500,001-$600,000: Bellevue, Sisler Johnston Interior Design
Site agent of the year: Andrew Colavito, Toll Brothers, Inc.
Sales manager of the year: Andy Kern, Richmond American Homes
Robin Challberg
Rookie salesperson of the ear: Cole Slate, Keller Williams Jacksonville Realty
Realtor of the year (individual): Judy Hicks, REMAX Coastal Real Estate
Realtor of the year (team): Welch Team, Keller Williams Jacksonville Realty
Marketing director of the year: Amber Williams, Lennar Jacksonville
Lender of the year (partnership): Bank of England
Lender of the year (individual): Diana Tarzia, PrimeLending
Developer of the year: The PARC Group
Best website (developer): Old San Jose on the River
Best website (associate): Bank of England
Best signage: D.R. Horton
Best sales office (builder): Mattamy Homes
Best sales office (associate): Anastasia Club, Sisler Johnston Interior Design
Best radio commercial (builder): "Everything's Included," Lennar Jacksonville
Best radio commercial (developer): "Palencia," Palencia Realty, LLC
Best publication: Realty Builder Connection, Bailey Publishing & Communications, Inc.
Best promotion (builder): King & Bear Model Realtor Grand Opening, Emerald Homes
Best promotion (associate): Judy Hicks, REMAX Coastal Real Estate
Best print ad under one-half page (builder): D.R. Horton
Best print ad over one-half page (builder): Richmond American Homes
Best print ad over one-half page (developer): Old San Jose on the River
Best direct mail piece: Richmond American Homes
Best marketing video (builder): Lennar Jacksonville
Best marketing video (developer): Palencia Realty, LLC
Top producers
Top producer for a general real estate agent representing a buyer (individual): Mirtha Barzaga, Davidson Realty, Inc.
Top producer for an on-site agent representing a builder (individual): Andrew Colavito, Toll Brothers
Top producer for an on-site agent representing a builder (partnership): Carol Bramer and Suzanne Massey, D.R. Horton
Mortgage broker/loan officer/outside lender new home loans: Paul Miller, Fidelity Bank
General real estate agent representing a builder (partnership): Lynette Dinneen and Brenda Harris, Victoria Robbins Realty
Internet sales consultant representing a builder (partnership): Dee Dee Gibson and Samantha Sirles, Lennar Jacksonville
On-site agent representing a builder (multifamily/individual): Carissa Hammel, Pulte Homes
Million Dollar Circle (employed by a builder) $1 million-$2.5 Million
Cole Slate, Keller Williams Jacksonville Realty
Katrina Watkins, Emerald Homes
Mary Spears, Landon Homes
Kim Nickerson, Del Webb
Shelly Williford, Pulte
Million Dollar Circle (employed by a builder) $2.5 million-$5 Million
Tracy Ponto, Richmond American Homes
Ted Tyndall, Davidson Realty, Inc.
Gloria Wilson, Lennar Jacksonville
Sand Davidson, Lennar Jacksonville
Shawn Fussell, Pulte
Jeff Nickerson, Pulte
Million Dollar Circle (Employed by a builder) $5 million-$7.5 Million
Steve Schmidt, Richmond American Homes
Amy Lowery, Richmond American Homes
David Virtuoso, Richmond American Homes
Paul Masiciarelli, Richmond American Homes
Nancy Beaudry, D.R. Horton
Sydney Blount, D.R. Horton
Mark Bohlmann, D.R. Horton
Glenn Brotsker, D.R. Horton
Daniel Callahan, D.R. Horton
Lorraine Cox, D.R. Horton
Marcus Israel, D.R. Horton
Kristopher Pace, D.R. Horton
Robert Rogers, D.R. Horton
Stella Taylor-Webb, D.R. Horton
Felix Castillo, Lennar Jacksonville
Shelly Williford, Del Webb
Million Dollar Circle (employed by a builder) $7.5 million-$10 Million
Mirtha Barzaga, Davidson Realty Inc.
Kathleen Butcher, D.R. Horton
Edward Crosby, D.R. Horton
Brenda Rabbitt, D.R. Horton
Dina Lovatt, Lennar Jacksonville
Lynda Winters, Lennar Jacksonville
Chris Pena, Pulte
Bill Watson, Del Webb
Kelly Wilson, Del Webb
Million Dollar Circle (employed by a builder) Over $10 Million
Mike Daniel, David Weekley Homes
Lynette Dinneen and Brenda Harris, Victoria Robbins Realty
Susan Frederickson and Sarah O'Rourke, Mattamy Homes
Ross Fanti, LMH Realty
Marilyn Bennett and Bridget Tanchak, D.R. Horton
Carol Bramer and Suzanne Massey, D.R. Horton
William Rowe, D.R. Horton
Daryl Gilbert and Brian K. Hildebrand, D.R. Horton
Andrew Colavito, Toll Brothers Inc.
Dee Dee Gibson and Samantha Sirles, Lennar Jacksonville
Greg Souris and Tim Shillings, Lennar Jacksonville
Denise Patricolo, David Weekley Homes
Carissa Hammel, Pulte Homes
Ian Kanady, Del Webb
Million Dollar Circle (employed by a lender) $10 million-$20 Million
Jason Kindler, Bank of England
Million Dollar Circle (employed by a lender) $20 million-$30 Million
David Wakefield, PrimeLending
Million Dollar Circle (employed by a lender) Over $30 Million
Paul Miller, Fidelity Bank