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NAHB Designations Give Members a Competitive Edge
 Last year, more than 1,700 members completed a professional designation course during NAHB’s National Designation Month in February. The designations they earned enabled them to stay well ahead of the curve and have given them an edge over their competition.
Throughout February, The NAHB University of Housing is again sponsoring National Designation Month so 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.
"The chief thing that a designation does is give you a huge boost in self-confidence," said Mike Weiss, CGR, CGB, GMB, CAPS, of Weiss RCMI, who with his four designations, speaks from experience. "It's an emblem that signifies that you have completed an element of study and puts you a cut above — not just because of what you have learned, but because you have taken the initiative to improve yourself."
Scott Stephani, CGB, CAPS,CMP, MIRM, of William Thomas Homes in Crystal Lake, Ill., agrees. "NAHB professional designations are important because they give you the opportunity to show your customers that you've done something that other builders in the marketplace have not — continued your education and learned how to be a better builder," he said.
Dallas and Houston Champion National Designation Month
The Dallas and Houston home builders associations are planning events in February to celebrate National Designation Month.
The Home Builders Association of Greater Dallas will have a reception honoring local designees on Wednesday, Feb. 1, at its offices in Plano. Jack Haynes, executive vice president of the National Builder Division for Countrywide Home Loans, will be the event's keynote speaker.
The Greater Houston Builders Association will feature a cover story about NAHB designations in the latest issue of its monthly publication, Houston Builder. The association is also offering its members discounts on 11 designation courses throughout February.
In addition, local associations around the country are also planning courses, events and guidance to help members obtain their designations and advance their professionalism and business knowledge.
Lean More About NAHB Designation Courses
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.
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Sample Designations from NAHB |
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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.
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