Awards & Recognition
The Building Industry Association of the Big Bend, formerly known as the Tallahassee Builders Association, has been shaped by the dedication and vision of exceptional industry leaders. The individuals recognized on this page have not only advanced their own businesses but have also strengthened our entire building community through their commitment to excellence, innovation, and service.
From our past presidents who guided our association through evolving challenges to our Hall of Fame inductees who set the standard for professionalism, each honoree has left an indelible mark on both BIABB and the local building industry. We extend our deepest gratitude to these remarkable members for their dedicated years of service and for paving the way for future generations of builders and industry professionals.
Past Presidents
2024 – Karen Koelemij
2023 – Jack Seitzinger
2022 – Robert Watson
2021 – Mark Kessler
2020 – Brian K Will
2019 – Brandon Jett
2018 – Doug Barton
2017 – William Kimberl IV
2016 – Larry Wayne Strickland
2015 – Alan Weekley
2014 – Masoud Karimipour
2013 – Shane Lambert
2012 – Jerry McFarland
2011 – Mark Trudeau
2010 – Jim Bennett
2009 – Mark Rodriguez
2008 – Brian K Will
2007 – Robby Hartsfield
2006 – Hugh Waller
2005 – Saxon Hannon
2004 – Stan Derzypolski
2003 – Mark Worley
2002 – Robert Parrish
2001 – Tom Veith
2000 – Karen Koelemij
1999 – Kip Carpenter
1998 – Ed Dion
1997 – Gary Gooch *
1996 – Olin Granthum
1995 – Kenny Bell
1994 – Douglas Turner
1993 – Brian K Will
1992 – David Williams
1991 – Adrian Autry
1989 – Ed Dion
1988 – Donald Wise
1987 – Bob Watts
1986 – Danny Long
1985 – Patrick Gridley
1984 – Raney Oven
1983 – Frank Gomez
1982 – Stan Brown
1981 – Dallas Lambert *
1980 – Ken Scarborough
1979 – Bill Vanlandingham *
1978 – Jim Brockett
1977 – Betty Harley *
1976 – Larry Cllett
1974 – Doug Nichols
1973 – Frank Donaldson
1972 – Bob Fewex
1969 – Harry Kirby
1967 – Fred Turner *
1966 – Al Albert *
1964 – Robert Wilson
1964 – John Koelemij
1963 – James Weatherly
1962 – Don Albritton
1961 – Lee Everhart
1960 – Billy Owens, Sr *
1959 – D.A. Lambert, Sr *
1958 – John Lambert *
1953 – George Koucly *
1949 – Horrie Culpepper *
Past 2nd Vice Presidents
2024 – Ward Schuller
2023 – Kerwyn Jones-Wilson
2022 – Mark Bernsten
2021 – Bobby Dollar
2020 – Farley Maxwell
2019 – Philip Pomeroy
2018 -Michael Roberts
2016 – Matthew Gilbert
2015 – Vicki O’Neil
2014 – David Perkins
2013 – Doug Barkley
2012 – Bobby Dollar
2011 – Laura Jo Hewitt
2010 – Kyle Phelps
2009 – Garth Easton *
2008 – Brian Mills
2007 – John A Rudolph, Jr
2006 – Debra Blalsdell
2004 – Ron Byron
2003 – Drexal Harris
2002 – Chris Littlefield
2001 – Ken Fish
2000 – Glenarva Ryan
1999 – Dan Denny
1998 – Gwen Morgan
1997 – Bob Carnes
1996 – Earl Cushing
1995 – Joe Humphrey
1994 – Dave Samsel
1993 – Dottie Speir
1992 – Cooper Frye
1991 – Ben Willis
1990 – Matt Ryan
1989 – Rob Wilson
1988 – Juleyan Cowgill
1987 – Roger Sheffield
1986 – Chris Powell
1985 – Roy Hunter
1984 – Charles Locke
1983 – Larry Harris
1982 – Jim Maples
1981 – Jimmy Jordan
1980 – Paul Casterline
Honoring Annual Excellence
Each year, BIABB presents two of our most distinguished honors: the Builder Member of the Year and the Associate Member of the Year. These awards recognize individuals who have stood out among their peers through exceptional leadership, unwavering commitment to the industry, and a willingness to go above and beyond in service to our association and community. What makes these awards particularly prestigious is that they are selected exclusively by past recipients, ensuring that only the most deserving candidates are honored and raising the bar for excellence year after year.
Builder Member of the Year Award Recipients
2024 – Karen Koelemij
2023 – Greg Eberhardt
2022 – Jack Seitzinger
2021 – Stan Derzypolski
2020 – Brian K Will
2019 – Robert Watson
2018 – Mark Kessler
2016 – Brian Neely
2015 – H.R. Sonny Phillips
2014 – Masoud Karimipour
2014 – Don Barton (Co-Winner)
2013 – William Kimberl IV
2012 – Alan Weekly
2011 – Larry Wayne Strickland
2010 – Mark Trudeau
2009 – Jerry McFarland
2008 – Stan Derzypolski
2007 – Jim Bennett
2006 – Robby Hartsfield
2005 – Karen Koelemij
2004 – Rigsby Jones
2003 – Hugh Walter
Associate Member of the Year Award Recipients
2024 – Shaun Streetman
2023 – Rhonda Koenders
2022 – Ward Schuller
2021 – Amy Banning
2020 – Farley Maxwell
2019 – Matthew Gilbert
2018 – Jackie Hubbard
2017 – Bobby Dollar
2016 – Philip Pomeroy
2015 – Vicki O’Neil
2014 – Mike Roberts
2013 – David Perkins
2012 – Alan Robinson
2011 – David Brady
2010 – Ellen Forrester
2009 – Mike Rogers
2008 – Laura Jo Hewitt
2007 – Garth Easton
2006 – Brian Mills
2005 – Deborah Blalsdell
2004 – Ron Byrom
2003 – Virgil Smith
2002 – Debi Lovelady
Hall of Fame Inductees: Our Most Prestigious Honor
2025 – Farley Maxwell
2024 – Mark Kessler
2023 – Philip Pomeroy
2022 – William Kimberl IV
2021 – Bobby Dollar
2020 – Randy & Jane Conn
2019 – Vicki O’Neil
2018 – Mark Trudeau
2017 – Michael Roberts
2016 – Garth Easton
2015 – H.R. Sonny Phillips
2014 – Jerry McFarland
2013 – Larry Wayne Strickland
2012 – Mark Worley
2011 – Drexal Harris
2010 – Ronnie Spooner
2009 – Lynn Wollschlager
2008 – Pepper Ghazvini *
2007 – Dave Samsel
2006 – Bob Carnes
2005 – Kip Carpenter
2004 – Karen Koelemij
2002 – Lee Everhart
2001 – Frank Willis
2000 – Neil Butler *
1999 – Stan Derzypolski
1998 – Jim Maples
1997 – Brian K Will
1996 – Bob Watts
1995 – Ed Dion
1994 – Earl Cushing
1993 – Matt Ryan
1992 – Rob Wilson
1991 – Paul M Thompson
1990 – Larry Harris
1989 – John J Koelemij *
1988 – Pat Gridley
1987 – Johnny Jordan