By Carole Hawkins, [email protected]
The Dick Baker Memorial Award is not typically given to someone who is young.
But audience members to a person stood and cheered when it was awarded to Amber Williams, Lennar Homes’ marketing director, who at 34 was the youngest person ever to receive it.
The prestigious award honors remarkable achievement in the building industry and the community, commitment to excellence and a positive attitude.
The Northeast Florida Builders Association Sales and Marketing Council held its 20th annual Laurel Awards in March at the Anastasia Club in Nocatee. The ceremony honors the top sales and marketing professionals in Northeast Florida’s building industry.
This year’s event was themed to take a look back at Laurel Awards history. But, it was also a night of passing the torch to a newer generation.
Event founder Vikki Robbins of Victoria Robbins Realty drew laughter when she explained she started the Laurel Awards because every Southern born-and-bred woman loves to plan her daughter’s wedding.
And, she was blessed with three sons.
A speaker lineup of past Laurel Awards chairs recalled the early days of big hair and a dance routine that ended with one member falling off the stage.
While the anecdotes looked back, the awards did not.
Top awards were split between long-time players and some of the organization’s youngest members.
ICI Homes, led by industry veteran Don Wilford, took SMC’s highest builder award, the Grand Award, given to the company that cumulatively tops the competition across other categories.
The builder scored wins in nine areas, but especially dominated the Best Architectural Design categories, with multiple entries of homes from its master-planned community of Tamaya.
Landon Homes, led by long-time local builder Dennis Ginder, reprised last year’s win to take the Golden Service Award, which honors the builder-member with the best customer service record.
Cole Slate is among the young professionals who scored top honors. Slate, who just a year ago was named NEFBA Sales and Marketing Council’s Rookie of the Year, this time took the Realtor of the Year and the SMC Member of the Year awards.
Kelly Ray of the PARC Group was named Marketing Director of the Year.
Also, Jason Kindler of Bank of England was named Lender of the Year. The company focuses on hiring young finance professionals such as Kindler.
But it was Williams’ capture of the Dick Baker Memorial Award that was the biggest affirmation of her generation’s growing role in the local building industry.
Palencia Director of Sales Naomi Lumley, who presented the award to Williams, said it was deserved. “This is a person who, when asked to serve, does not say no,” she said.
Williams, though, was stunned by the honor.
“I don’t think I’ve ever been more surprised,” she said. “It’s an award that’s always been given to people who I look up to.”
Williams has worked for some of the area’s largest builders, including D.R. Horton, Standard Pacific Homes, David Weekley and her current employer, Lennar Homes.
She has three times achieved the rank of SMC Marketing Director of the Year and received the same honor twice at the state level.
Williams is equally known for her service to the community. She is a four-time Laurel Awards chair, a past SMC chair and contributes to local charities Daniel Foundation, Builder’s Care, the Boselli Foundation and J.P Hall Children’s Charities.