Builders Association of the Blue Ridge Mountains (BABRM) Executive Officer Megan Carroll has been named a recipient of the PROpel AVL Trailblazer Award. She was honored during the 3rd Annual PROpel AVL Awards Celebration on Tuesday, March 24, at Sierra Nevada Brewing Company.
Hosted by the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce, the PROpel AVL Awards celebrate young professionals under 40 who are making an impact through leadership, innovation, and service to the Buncombe County community. The Trailblazer Award, presented by A-B Tech, recognizes a rising leader who is helping shape the future of the business community.
For those who work alongside Carroll, the recognition reflects years of steady, intentional leadership.
“Megan leads with a clear sense of purpose, but she never loses sight of the people behind the work,” says Mark Gould, this year’s BABRM president. “She’s built a culture where members feel supported, heard, and challenged to do better. That kind of leadership has made a real difference for our organization and our region.”
Since stepping into her role in 2019, Carroll has guided BABRM through a period of significant growth. Membership has expanded from roughly 800 to more than 1,300, positioning the association as one of the largest in the country. Along the way, BABRM has earned national recognition for its programs and leadership, including multiple Association Excellence Awards from the National Association of Home Builders.
Carroll is quick to point to the collective effort behind that progress.
“We’ve built something strong because people are willing to show up and do the work together,” she says. “Our members care deeply about this community, and you can see that in how they build, how they collaborate, and how they support one another.”
Her leadership has been especially visible in moments of challenge. Following Hurricane Helene, Carroll helped lead a coordinated response that brought together builders, public agencies, nonprofits, and community leaders to address recovery needs across Western North Carolina. Through outreach, advocacy, and education, BABRM supported both industry professionals and homeowners navigating the rebuilding process.
“When things were uncertain, Megan didn’t hesitate,” Gould says. “She brought people together, created structure where there was none, and kept the focus on helping others move forward. That’s what strong leadership looks like in practice.”
That ability to connect people and ideas has helped position BABRM as a trusted resource across the region. Under Carroll’s leadership, the organization has expanded its role beyond member services to include broader community engagement, from regional housing conversations to public education efforts.
For Carroll, that broader impact is what matters most.
“At the end of the day, this work is about more than projects or numbers,” she says. “It’s about creating places where people can live, work, and build their lives. If we can support that in a meaningful way, then we’re doing something right.”
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