This summer, the Builders Association of the Blue Ridge Mountains (BABRM) brought home five national Association Excellence Awards (AEAs) for our leadership in disaster recovery.
Presented annually by the Executive Officers Council of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), the AEAs spotlight standout achievements from more than 650 associations across the country. The awards recognize the incredible way our local building community stepped up after Hurricane Helene.
“It is truly an honor to have our team’s resilience and dedication recognized on a national stage,” said Megan Carroll, Executive Officer of BABRM. “These awards belong to all of our members, partners, and volunteers who showed up in the toughest of times and helped rebuild this community from the ground up.”
What We Rebuilt, Together
Each award recognizes a different piece of the larger recovery puzzle:
Best Council Development Program
Disaster Recovery Task Force – Rebuilding Western NC Together
In the wake of Hurricane Helene, BABRM launched the Disaster Recovery Task Force—a cross-industry collaboration aimed at accelerating recovery across WNC. Organized into five working groups, the task force addressed key challenges like material shortages, labor gaps, zoning issues, and access to resources.
By uniting professionals from construction, healthcare, government, and other fields, the task force helped government, nonprofit and industry efforts designed to streamline rebuilding, to reduce economic disruption, and to ensure that underserved communities weren’t left behind.
Best Government Affairs Effort – Regionally
Stronger Together – Regional Housing Recovery After Helene
Following Hurricane Helene, BABRM hosted free housing forums in Henderson, Buncombe, and Transylvania counties. These events connected attendees with FEMA, local officials, and licensed builders to answer questions about permits, inspections, insurance, and recovery aid.
With strong turnout and collaborative support from government agencies, the events empowered residents with key information, serving to help accelerate safe, informed rebuilding across WNC.
Best Service to Members
A Call for Connection – Supporting Our Members After Hurricane Helene
After Hurricane Helene, BABRM took a hands-on approach to support its nearly 1,000 members. Rather than sending out a mass email, staff and board members picked up the phone and personally called each member to check in, hear their concerns, and offer help.
Those one-on-one conversations revealed what people really needed—whether it was financial relief, building materials, or emotional support. BABRM used that information to connect members with critical resources.
Best HBA Partnership/Coalition
Rebuilding Hope – A Community-First Disaster Response Partnership
In the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Helene, BABRM partnered with BeLoved Asheville to deliver urgent, life-sustaining aid to some of our region’s hardest-hit communities. Together, we crossed state lines to gather food, clean water, and Starlink satellite units, then transported those vital supplies to isolated areas.
With roads washed out and cell service down, this grassroots effort filled critical gaps in emergency response, helping residents begin the long road to recovery.
Best Public Relations Program
Hurricane Helene Recovery – Contractor Advocacy & Consumer Protection
After the storm, BABRM partnered with Asheville-based Parks PR to launch a rapid-response outreach campaign aimed at protecting residents from a second wave of harm: contractor fraud. In the chaos following a disaster, unlicensed or out-of-state individuals often move in, preying on vulnerable homeowners with scams, price gouging, and substandard work.
To combat this, we focused on public education and advocacy, urging residents to hire only licensed, local professionals. Through media interviews, public service announcements, and radio ads, BABRM shared practical tips for spotting red flags and verifying contractor credentials.
These initiatives are now featured on NAHB’s website as national best practices.
“As a member-driven association, everything we do begins and ends with our members,” said Carroll. “This recognition is a powerful reminder of what we can accomplish together.”
Be Part of the Force Moving WNC Forward
The Builders Association of the Blue Ridge Mountains is proud to serve the resilient, resourceful professionals who shape our region’s future. Whether you’re a builder, architect, supplier, or service provider, there’s a place for you in our growing community.
Join BABRM today and be part of something bigger.
