Virginia Builders Summit and operational readiness initiative recognized by the National Association of Home Builders.
The Home Builders Association of Virginia (HBAV) has earned two national Association Excellence Awards from the Executive Officers Council of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) – honoring outstanding accomplishments of state and local home builders associations (HBAs) and executive officers in the field of association management.
HBAV was recognized for its Virginia Builders Summit, which earned national honors for increasing member engagement, and its Improving Operational Readiness initiative, which was honored in the HBA Operations category.
“These awards reflect what we work toward every day at HBAV: finding ways to serve our members and strengthen Virginia’s home building industry,” said Craig Toalson, CEO of HBAV. “The operational work we’ve done behind the scenes has made us a stronger organization, while the Builders Summit shows what that work can mean for our members. To have both recognized nationally is something our entire team can be proud of.”
Strengthening HBAV from the inside out
HBAV’s operational readiness initiative focused on strengthening the association from within to better serve members and execute its 2025-29 strategic plan. The effort included a comprehensive staffing realignment, the creation of staff-driven core values, clearer roles and accountability measures, updates to governance policies and procedures, and an evaluation of organizational resources and outside services.
The work led to measurable changes across the association. HBAV expanded its advocacy capacity, strengthened member services, increased meeting and event engagement, invested in staff professional development and fully staffed the HBAV Education Foundation. Strategic outsourcing of accounting, IT, human resources and communications also created efficiencies while allowing staff to focus more closely on mission-critical work.
Building engagement through the Virginia Builders Summit
The Virginia Builders Summit recognition follows a record-setting 2025 event that drew more than 770 attendees. Designed by members for members, the Summit brought together builders, remodelers, developers, suppliers, and other industry professionals for more than 10 educational sessions, networking opportunities and an exhibit floor featuring more than 75 exhibitors and product demonstrations.
NAHB recognized the Summit for accomplishing two central goals: providing relevant, high-quality education on the technologies, regulations, materials and best practices affecting residential construction, and strengthening relationships between builders and associate members.
The Summit’s continued growth is driven by HBAV staff, members and industry partners who work together each year to shape the event. Emily Evola, vice president of partnerships and programs, and Channing Pitts, member relations and development specialist, play leading roles in planning and executing the Summit alongside HBAV’s partners.
“The Summit has always been built around our members,” Evola said. “We listen to what they’re seeing in the industry, the challenges they’re facing and what would make the day valuable to them. This award is exciting because it recognizes not just how much the Summit has grown, but the engagement and connections that growth represents.”
HBAV was among this year’s winners who were acknowledged during NAHB’s Association Management Conference, held Aug. 25-27 in St. Louis.
The Association Excellence Awards are an annual program designed to recognize the outstanding accomplishments of state and local home builders’ associations and executive officers in the field of association management. EOC membership is comprised of the staff executives who direct more than 650 NAHB-affiliated state and local home builders’ associations representing more than 140,000 home builders in communities across the United States.
“The AEA Awards highlight the very best work being done by state and local home builders’ associations to serve their members, improve the housing industry and strengthen their communities,” said Greg Lane, EOC president and executive vice president of the Building Industry Association of Washington. “This year’s winners were each very well deserved and represent our entire association through their creativity, innovation and integrity. Congratulations to each of these award-winning associations!”
Award-winning Builders Summit returns September 29
The national accolades come as HBAV prepares for the 6th Annual Virginia Builders Summit. It returns to the Richmond Marriott Downtown on Sept. 29.
This year, the award-winning Summit is expected to bring together nearly 1,000 residential builders, remodelers, developers, suppliers and partners, feature nearly 80 exhibitors and offer more than 10 educational sessions.
The program will tackle some of the most pressing issues facing the industry, including Virginia’s housing market and economic outlook, updates to the Virginia Statewide Uniform Building Code, housing affordability, succession planning, leadership, marketing and technology, and strategies for preventing burnout.
The event will begin with a Pre-Summit Show Floor Reception on Sept. 28, which offers attendees an early opportunity to connect with fellow industry professionals and preview the exhibit floor.