The Northwest Indiana Home Builders Association’s (HBANWI) annual Best in Show gala brought together the home building community in a night of appreciation, partnership, and celebration on November 8, 2024 at Avalon Manor in Merrillville, IN. With awards, a silent auction, and moments of heartfelt tribute, the gala showcased the commitment of Northwest Indiana builders, real estate professionals, and community supporters to advance the Region’s growth. Partnering once again with Habitat for Humanity of Northwest Indiana, this year’s event stressed the importance of collaboration.
Habitat for Humanity of Northwest Indiana is an organization dedicated to providing affordable housing to families in need. "We've partnered with the Home Builders Association of Northwest Indiana for many years, and we're truly grateful for the opportunity to be part of this event and nurture such valuable relationships,” said Dawn Michaels, Habitat for Humanity Executive Director. “Habitat for Humanity builds homes for hardworking families, who purchase their homes and pay taxes and insurance just like everyone else –countering the common misconception that we give houses away."
“Our partnership with the Home Builders Association focuses on education. We want real estate professionals to be familiar with new construction communities so in turn they can provide guidance to their clients,” said McColly Real Estate Director of New Homes Division and Career Development Heather McColly.
McColly highlighted the vital role of new home construction in the continued growth of Northwest Indiana.
"It's essential,” McColly said. “We’re really fortunate to have so many wonderful builders in our communities, new home construction creates a ripple effect. An effect that includes commercial infrastructure like medical buildings, shopping centers and restaurants.”
The gala also recognized outstanding contributions with awards for Builder of the Year and Associate of the Year. Josh Blackburn of Blackburn Builders received Builder of the Year for his role in leading the Parade of Homes, and Codi Morrow from Von Tobel was named Associate of the Year for his commitment to HBANWI’s mission.
As the evening unfolded, Christine Neal, Executive Director of HBANWI, also took a moment to express gratitude for the team that brought the event to life.
“I’d like to recognize the incredible work of our gala committee,” Neal said. “There are seven women, including myself, who have worked hard to bring this event together – from planning the decorations to reaching out to local businesses for auction donations. I also want to thank all the businesses who supported the silent auction; their generosity has not gone unnoticed.”
Members of the Committee consisted of Krista Martins of American Portfolio Mortgage, Brooke Hopkins of Providence Homes, Sylvia Magallanez of Centier Bank, Julie Deal and Brenna Klosowski of Fidelity National Title, Kristin Hadley of Weichert Realtors, Shoreline Heather McColly of McColly Real Estate and Christine Neal of the Homebuilder’s Association.
The evening was a powerful reminder of the impact that partnership, generosity, and shared vision can have on the community, as HBANWI and Habitat for Humanity continue their commitment to building a stronger Northwest Indiana. With the ongoing support of sponsors, volunteers, and dedicated individuals like those in attendance, the future of Northwest Indiana's housing market and the work of Habitat for Humanity remains bright, ensuring that more families can achieve the dream of homeownership.
To learn more these organizations above visit: McColly Real Estate, mccolly.com, Home Builders Association of NW Indiana, www.Hbanwi.com, Habitat for Humanity, https://nwihabitat.org.
