Parting Shots

SBCA Announces Annual Award Winners

“I was just in shock,” past SBCA President Scott Ward recalls. He had no idea when he went to BCMC that he would be inducted into the SBCA Hall of Fame. “I was honored that they chose me,” Ward says. “I don’t feel deserving of it.”

Alpine’s Mike Martz was also caught off guard. Listening to SBCA President-Elect Jim Finkenhoefer describe this year’s Dick Bowman Industry Enthu-siast award winner, Martz kept “smiling, thinking ‘who’s he talking about?’” Then his own name was called to accept the award. “Was I surprised? Very much so,” he says. “It is very much appreciated.”

Like Ward and Martz, outgoing president Jess Lohse was both honored and humbled to see his name alongside those of past award winners. “I appreciate it a lot. It’s definitely going to be at the top of the list when I talk about accomplishments,” Lohse says. “It’s not lost on me, the importance of the Industry Leadership award.”

This year’s award winners were full of praise for the industry. “There’s nothing else like it out in the marketplace,” Martz says. “I’ve been in this industry a long time, and I’ve thought: would I have taken another path, given another choice? And the answer is no. With the people that I’ve met and the opportunities I’ve had, no.”

They also had some words of wisdom for those looking to follow in their footsteps: “The first and probably hardest step is showing up,” Lohse says. Be present and you’ll develop relationships and get involved in no time. And don’t get bogged down in gossip, Ward advises. “There’s a reason why we have this association. It’s to keep our industry healthy. A lot of darts get thrown at you when you lead. You just have to keep your eyes on the prize.”

All three are keeping a cautiously optimistic eye on the future. “What does our industry look like 10, 12 years from now?” Ward wonders. “I don’t think anyone has a crystal ball to see that.” Lohse says planning ahead is the key right now. “I think we’re going to have—not a large step back—but kind of a correction to what’s going on. I know the association is poised to act accordingly, but I hope people in their businesses are as well.”

“The technology is changing so fast that we’re going to see new innovations, I think,” says Martz. Total building design technology and new products are a just a few of the things he sees on the horizon—and that’s good for everyone. “People can’t live without homes, buildings,” he points out. “This is a very, very cool industry to be in.”