The Log Homes Council (LHC) of NAHB’s Building Systems Councils’ (BSC) recently honored log homes professionals and companies for their contribution to advancing the log home industry and the council’s mission and to the Building Systems for Soldiers home in Jacksonville, N.C.

Awarded annually, this year the LHC recognize Chris Wood, of Hearthstone Inc.; Roger Nelson, of Andersen Windows; and Operation Finally Home.

• LHC Image Award — Chris Wood, Hearthstone Inc.
  
  

  Chris Wood

  Chris Wood, vice president of sales at Hearthstone Inc., based in Dandridge, Tenn., received the LHC Image Award for helping bring significant attention to the log homes industry by spearheading the council’s efforts to advance the inherent energy-efficient properties of full log walls.
  
  “Chris’s strategic efforts and guidance within the log homes industry and NAHB have opened up opportunities to advance log homes in the energy code discussion and have educated builders and policy makers not only to the energy-efficient properties of log homes, but to the importance of retaining the tradition of this intrinsically American building form,” said Jan Koepsell, Log Homes Council chair and co-owner of Expedition Log Homes, of Oostburg, Wis.
  
  Wood, who as a voting member of the energy and building codes and standards subcommittees of NAHB’s Construction Codes & Standards Committee, worked with Department of Energy officials and with representatives from state and local home builders associations to advance the energy efficiency issue for the council.
  
  
• LHC Chairman’s Award — Roger Nelson, Andersen Windows
  
  

  Roger Nelson

  Roger Nelson, executive sales representative for Andersen Windows, was awarded the LHC Chairman’s Award for his contributions and involvement in significant LHC projects.
  
  “Roger has been a key supporter of the log homes industry for more than a decade — consistently sponsoring and exhibiting at events such as the LHC President’s Tour and the BSC’s annual SHOWCASE conference and trade show,” said Koepsell. “He is one of the LHC’s biggest champions.”
  
  In particular, Nelson was honored for his role in securing donations for the  BSC’s Building Systems for Soldiers philanthropic project, which is completing the construction of its initial undertaking, the gift of a  custom log home for a Marine who was wounded in Iraq and suffered debilitating head injuries, shrapnel wounds and post-traumatic stress disorder.
  
  Through his leadership, numerous industry connections and passion to help wounded veterans, Nelson secured tens of thousands of dollars in discounted and donated materials — including a commitment from a major flooring manufacturer to donate materials for 16 future homes for the project’s non-profit partner, Operation Finally Home.
  
  
• LHC Heritage Grant — Operation Finally Home
  
  

  A rendering of the first Building Systems for Soldiers home, which is nearing completion near Camp Lejeune in North Carolina

  Operation Finally Home was awarded the 2011 Log Homes Council Heritage Grant for its contributions to the Building Systems for Soldiers home, which is being built for the Gizzarelli family in Jacksonville, N.C., near Camp Lejeune.
  
  Established in 2000, the grant awards $1,000 to an educational or non-profit organization identified by the LHC Steering Committee for helping to promote the heritage or betterment of log home construction. This year’s endowment will help fund the Building Systems for Soldiers project, while spotlighting the historically significant log home construction industry.

For more information, email Donna Peak at NAHB, or call her at 800-368-5242 x8577.