Member News

The New River Valley Home Builder Members Association, Inc.

Simon & Associates, Inc. is pleased to announce that we have recently received certification as a “qualified HUBZone small business concern” by the U.S. Small Business Administration (Certification number 39846).
August 25, 2010 – This is in addition to having received Small Business certification through the Virginia Department of Minority Business Enterprise (DMBE) (SWaM Certification number 010796). Simon & Associates, Inc. is an employee-owned, full-service environmental consulting and contracting firm located in Blacksburg, Virginia. Simon & Associates, Inc. has been providing innovative and cost effective services to clients throughout the Mid-Atlantic region since 1986.


Local builder encourages other businesses to join in helping BHS and BMS in re-establishing their learning environments by contributing to the PTAs.
August 23, 2010 – Shelter Alternatives, Inc. and their subsidiary company, Energy Check, have made donations to the Parent Teacher Associations assist the schoolteachers in moving BMS to the old CMS, and converting the BMS campus to BHS.
> Read the full press realease (PDF)


Local Builder Selected to Participate in a Study of Safety & Sustainability
July 28, 2010 – Highlander Construction & Development, Inc. (HCD) participated in a joint study conducted by the Center for Applied Behavior Systems at Virginia Tech and the National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health. HCD was one of 10 builders throughout Virginia asked to participate in a joint study conducted by the Center for Applied Behavior Systems at Virginia Tech and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. The purpose of the project is to conduct research on the environmental sustainability and occupational health and safety activities of small construction businesses.
> Read the full press realease (PDF)


USGBC Awards Local Blacksburg LEED® Silver Certification
July 16, 2010 – Blacksburg - Today, Green Valley Builders was awarded LEED Silver certification by USGBC for achievement in green homebuilding and design. LEED for Homes is a green home certification program that rewards homes that are designed and built to be energyand resource-efficient and more healthy and durable for the occupants. LEED-certified homes complete a technically rigorous process that often includes a home energy (HERS) rating and onsite inspections to verify that the home is built to be energy and water efficient, environmentally sound, and a healthier place to live.

> Read the full press release (PDF)


Shelter Alternatives, Inc. Named Best Green Business by Virginia Sustainable Building Network
July 12, 2010 – Blacksburg - Local design and build team Shelter Alternatives, Inc. recently travelled to the 2010 Virginia Green Innovation Awards presented by the Virginia Sustainable Building Network, where they received recognition as the Best Green Business. Ed Tuchler, president and owner of Shelter Alternatives, Inc. and past NRVHBA president, accepted the “Best Green Business” award as Virginia Sustainable Building Network celebrated their 15th Anniversary of promoting environmentally sound building practices at the University of Richmond Jepson Alumni center on June 29, 2010. The award acknowledges Shelter Alternatives’ long term commitment to sustainability as custom home builders, and applauds recent efforts to adapt to changing markets with the creation of a new business, Energy Check, which provides home performance testing and energy retrofit contracting services.

> View photos
> Download the full press release (doc)


Cocktail Party & Exclusive Tour of the Homes on Piedmont Street
Thursday, June 10, 2010 – BLACKSBURG, Va. - Highlander Construction is hosting an exclusive reception and special tour of the Piedmont Street houses for the Up on the Roof social network. LIVE MUSIC, FOOD & BEVERAGES PROVIDED!

5:30pm - 7:30pm
404-3 Piedmont Street, Blacksburg
REGISTER ONLINE AT: http://events.constantcontact.com/register/event?oeidk=a07e2s7v05i8dcd2cf2


Saturday, June 5, 2010 – BLACKSBURG, Va. – Issues Related to New Construction FREE Educational Seminar Presented by Jamie Oliver, President, Highlander Construction & Development & Kerry Gillispie, Associate Broker, Long & Foster Realtors. From mortgage interest rates to new tax credits, there has never been a better to build the home of your dreams. Whether you've picked out a plan or just investigating the long-term benefits of taking advantage of current resources, you have questions about how to get started.

Our FREE seminar will walk you through the answers and help you understand the issues related to new construction including:

• Buying versus Renting; Building versus Buying
• Initial steps and lot selection
• How to select a builder/contractor
• Factors affecting cost

Additional Featured Speakers Include:
Cathy Cook - Building Official, Town of Blacksburg.
Will speak on the criteria for selecting a builder.

Debbie Clay - Mortgage Broker, West Star Mortgage.
Will speak on the process of acquiring construction and permanent loans as well as current mortgage rates.

Dustin Derrick - President, Evergreen Insulation.
Will speak on energy efficiency and air quality measures in new homes.

9:30am - 11:30am
Courtyard Marriott, Blacksburg
105 Southpark Drive, Blacksburg, VA
REGISTER ONLINE AT: http://www.highlanderconstruction.com/meetings.html


April 23, 2010 – BLACKSBURG, Va. – Snyder & Associates is celebrating its 25th year in business. The Blacksburg based General contractor was started by Georgia Anne Snyder-Falkinham in 1985. The company initially focused on residential development, but now specializes in new & remodeled commercial construction. Also, there is a waterproofing and excavation division.
> Read the story.


April 9, 2010 – BLACKSBURG, Va. – Blue Ridge Home Improvement of Blacksburg has been named the April 2010 “Remodeler of the Month” by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB).
> Read the story.


March 11, 2010 – BLACKSBURG, Va. – Congratulations, Tim Lawrence! You have been selected as the 2010 April Remodeler of the Month.
The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Remodelers received a number of fine entries for consideration. We applaud your quality work, customer service, community involvement, and dedication to the industry.

As the April Remodeler of the Month you will be spotlighted in the April edition of Qualified Remodeler magazine. You will also be highlighted on NAHB’s website so that your peers will be aware of your accomplishment. We hope that the additional promotion of your excellence will be fruitful for you and your business, Blue Ridge Home Improvement (BRHI).


Dec. 7, 2009 – BLACKSBURG, Va. – It Takes a Village: Local Remodeler Recruits Help from Their Customers, Employees & Vendors for Fall Food Drive
As part of their 30th anniversary celebration, Blue Ridge Home Improvement held a food drive to benefit the Montgomery County Emergency Assistance Program (MCEAP) Food Bank
Last Friday, the Blue Ridge Home Improvement (BRHI) dump truck pulled into a parking lot in Christiansburg, but instead of unloading the custom design and remodeler’s usual construction materials – the unloaded much needed food for our neighbors in the New River Valley.
>Read the full press release


July, 2009 – BLACKSBURG, Va. – Evergreen Insulation is pleased to be a primary sponsor of "Connect the Dots: A GreenPrint for Your Home," a Town Hall Event presented by the Southwest Virginia Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). Held on August 1, 2009 at the Taubman Museum from 2-6 p.m., this is the first of several events for anyone interested in making homes more valuable, more energy efficient, healthier and less expensive to maintain. Evergreen Insulation’s presentation and the Connect the Dots event can be viewed at http://greendotsbuild.org/.


May, 2009 – BLACKSBURG, Va. – Blue Ridge Home Improvement Celebrates National Home Remodeling Month with a 30th Anniversary Reception and Open House. Custom home remodeler held tours of one of their most recent whole house remodels.
>Read the full press release


May, 2009 – BLACKSBURG, Va. – Green Valley Builders, Inc. are featured in the Earthcraft Virginia e-newsletter, "Sensibly Built for the Environment."


March 30, 2009 – BLACKSBURG, Va. – Snyder & Associates, General Contractor, announces that Michael Snyder and Doug Coffman have passed the LEED Professional Accreditation Exam.


• As an NAHB benefit, members have access to discounts and savings opportunities offered by many top companies. Click here to find out more about NAHB Member Advantage.


February 26, 2009 – BLACKSBURG, Va. – Local Custom Home Remodeler Celebrates 30th Anniversary with 30 Days of Community Service. Blue Ridge Home Improvement will hold 30 Days of Thanksgiving for 30 Years of Success. In a time when the home building industry is experiencing national challenges, Blue Ridge Home Improvement (BRHI) is celebrating their 30th anniversary in a different way.
>Read the full press release


• Gay & Neel, Inc. was awarded first and second place awards in two categories of the plat contest at the 61st annual convention of the Virginia Association of Surveyors, held at the Hotel Roanoke & Convention Center in January. The first-place award was in ALTA/ACSM Land Title Survey. The second-place award was in the Topographic Survey category.

• Stephen Linkous of Gay & Neel, Inc. recently passed the Fundamentals of Surveying exam and is now a surveyor in-training.


• Matthew Tomlinson, Michael Short, and Joshua Nicholas of Gay & Neel, Inc. recently passed the Fundamentals of Engineering exam and are now engineers in-training.