NBN Online for the week of January 9, 2006

Pre-National Designation Month Kick-Off at IBS

Last February, more than 1,700 NAHB members completed their professional designation course work during NAHB’s National Designation Month — which allowed them to stay well ahead of the curve and gain an edge over their competition.

This year, the NAHB University of Housing is hosting several pre-National Designation Month events at the 2006 International Builders' Show in Orlando, Fla. for members seeking to gain or hone their competitive edge. The events will not only honor designation program graduates, they also will help new and prospective designation program participants optimize their own education plans.

The kick-off events at IBS include:

• The NAHB University of Housing Joint Venture Education Workshop on Thursday, Jan. 12, to help members launch or optimize their education programs
  
  
• A reception hosted by the Certified Graduate Builder (CGB) Board honoring members with CGB, CGR, CGA, CGB, GBM, CAPS and MIRM designations on Wednesday, Jan. 11
  
  

• For those interested in learning more about designations, a designation BBQ will be held on Wednesday, Jan. 11. Stop by the University of Housing booth to pick-up your ticket.

For more information on these events, go to www.buildersshow.com.

During National Designation Month, members can hone their business skills and convey to their clients the superior training, practical experience and in-depth knowledge that come with earning an NAHB designation.

Scott Sevon, CGR, CAPS, GMB, president of Sevvonco, Inc., a custom home and remodeling firm based in Palatine, Ill., said his designations bring a sense of professionalism both to his reputation and to his firm. "By taking the courses and continuation education that NAHB's University of Housing provides, I ensure that both as a builder/remodelor as well as a firm, we are always ahead of the learning curve," Sevon said.

NAHB offers more than a dozen professional designations covering industry basics such as business management and marketing, as well as specialized classes including aging-in-place programs, property management and more. For information about designations, go to www.nahb.org/designations.

For information about participating in or promoting National Designation Month, visit www.nahb.org/NDMTools or National Designation Month on the NAHB Web site.

Sample Designations from NAHB

Certified Graduate Associate (CGA) Developed specifically for NAHB associate members (including suppliers and financial services providers), the CGA program offers participants an opportunity to enhance their knowledge of the fundamentals of the home building industry. Certified Graduate Builder (CGB) An overview of key areas in today’s home building industry, the CGB curriculum covers business management, financial strategies, marketing techniques, construction technologies and more. Certified Graduate Remodelor™ (CGR) An exclusive professional designation that emphasizes business management skills as the key to a professional remodeling operation, the CGR designation trains remodelers in project management, design estimating and job costing along with other core skills relevant to the remodeling industry. Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS) Developed by the NAHB Remodelors™ Council in collaboration with AARP, the NAHB Research Center and NAHB’s Seniors Housing Council, the CAPS program provides comprehensive, practical, market-specific information about working with older and maturing adults to remodel their homes for aging-in-place. Registered in Apartment Management (RAM) The longest running and most well-respected program of its kind, RAM is a comprehensive educational curriculum developed to augment the professional skills of managers of apartments, condominiums and cooperative housing. Member, Institute of Residential Marketing (MIRM) The most prestigious designation from the Institute of Residential Marketing, MIRM represents the highest level of achievement for professionals in new home marketing. MIRM graduates are required to complete all mandated course work and submit a case study for approval before graduating from the program. For more information about  NAHB’s designation programs, visit www.nahb.org/designations.

‘Residential Property Management’ Available at BuilderBooks.com

“Residential Property Management,” available through BuilderBooks.com, is the savvy property management guide to success. This comprehensive reference tool is the core text of the Registered Apartment Manager (RAM) program.

To view or purchase this publication online, click here, or call 800-223-2665.