It’s finally here, the day we’ve all been waiting for. The ceremony is tomorrow and we’re here to make sure you have all the details you need.
Date: September 20, 2012, 5:00pm – 10:00pm
Location: Sheraton Premiere at Tysons Corner, 8661 Leesburg Pike, Vienna, VA 22182 [Map]
Activities: Cocktail hour, DJ, sit down dinner, awards ceremony, photo booth
If you have any last minute questions, please contact Sharon Smith at (571) 283-6308 or Phyllis Ryan at (301) 970-8009.
See you there!
By James McDonald, James McDonald Associates Architects, PC
With the ceremony just a week away, we are getting excited for this year’s GALA celebration. For those first timers, what can you expect after the big evening? For starters, your involvement in GALA will act as advertising to existing and future clients at the ceremony. In addition, post-event coverage will act as advertising for future clients not in attendance at the event.
After attending this year’s GALA ceremony you’ll have a better perception of how your designs/marketing/ideas are perceived by the market and your peers. Doesn’t everyone really want to know where they stand amongst the competition?
Above all, attending GALA will connect you with the local industry and community and you will make lasting connections that will prove invaluable.
Have you bought your tickets yet? Don’t miss out, purchase now! And don’t forget to follow GALA on Facebook for news and updates.
See you on the 20th!
By Leslie Strittmatter
As Publisher of New Homes Guide magazine, I’ve had the privilege of being part of the great tradition of honoring the best of the best in the homebuilding industry for close to 20 years. GALA is like our Academy Awards: We recognize the pinnacle of achievement in residential design, architecture, interior merchandising, advertising, sales and marketing, land planning and more.
As the real estate market continues its recovery in the Washington, D.C. region, we are starting to see what homebuilders and multi-family developers have been up to over the past several years. They’ve been thinking outside the box, designing new homes for a changing and shifting market, for the way consumers live today. I was lucky enough to get out from behind my desk and see for myself many of the great GALA entries this year, and to talk with the amazing sales professionals who work in our industry.
Whether you’re renting your first apartment, buying your first new home, moving up to your dream home or downsizing for your changing family, you’re in for a treat. The best of the best is here waiting for you. Go out today and see what our incredible industry has to offer. And look for the GALA winners on September 21st on the Great American Living Awards website, Facebook page or on Newhomesguide.com.
Have you bought your tickets yet? Hurry and purchase now to get the early bird discount. Prices will increase after Labor Day. And don’t forget to follow GALA on Facebook for news and updates.
By Shay Carson Onorio
It’s hard to believe, but we’re less than a month away from yet another annual GALA (Great American Living Awards) ceremony. With the September 20 event comes excitement, prestige, and an opportunity to socialize with coworkers, partners, and contacts.
But GALA is by no means just a highlight on the social calendar – it’s also an important date professionally. Opportunities to connect with industry colleagues, match names to faces, and learn more about the great work being done in our industry make this an invaluable career event.
GALA also offers tremendous value to sponsoring companies by providing them access to the best target audience in the area real estate industry. As a result, we have received overwhelming response to this year’s sponsorship offerings, nearly all of which are now full. So far, this year’s sponsoring organizations are as follows:
There are still a few opportunities for your organization to be a part of this year’s GALA. The following sponsor levels are currently available:
If your company would like to learn more about sponsoring GALA, please contact cindy@newhomesguide.com. Don’t miss out on this once-a-year opportunity to reach a valuable industry audience!
Have you bought your tickets yet? Hurry and purchase now to get the early bird discount. Prices will increase after Labor Day. And don’t forget to follow GALA on Facebook for news and updates.
Today we’re looking back to GALA 2011 and focusing on the interior designers that made last year’s ceremony something to remember. Carlyn and Company is an award-winning interior design firm based in Great Falls, Virginia that provides a full range of design and merchandising services in four practice areas: Residential, Model Homes, Multifamily Projects and Sales Offices and Visitor Centers.
Led by Carlyn Guarnieri, Holly Polgreen and Joann McInnis, Carlyn and Company is passionate about using the power of innovative design and interior architecture to help their clients reach their marketing objectives and their financial goals.
Carlyn and Company took home twelve awards in the following categories at last year’s GALA ceremony:
Winner: Interior Merchandising, Attached Home, Including Townhouses, Two-over-Two's, Back-to- Back Townhouses and Duplexes
Have you bought your tickets yet? Hurry and purchase now to get the early bird discount. Prices will increase after Labor Day. And don’t forget to follow GALA on Facebook for news and updates.
By Shay Carson Onorio, Delucchi Plus
When I think about past GALA ceremonies the first thing that comes to mind isn’t the competition or the amount of awards we win, it’s the connections we make as a business and as individuals.
My favorite GALA memory is a collection of moments. All of the new faces we have the pleasure of meeting each year and finally putting faces to names always makes us feel more connected as a company and as individuals. Not to mention we get to watch our clients accept their many awards – this is why we love what we do!
All of us at Delucchi Plus are looking forward to attending this year’s ceremony where we are sure to meet a ton of new people and make even more memories. We can’t wait to see everyone there and we’re wishing everyone who entered the best of luck!
Have you bought your tickets yet? Hurry and purchase now to get the early bird discount. Prices will increase after Labor Day. And don’t forget to follow GALA on Facebook for news and updates.
By Matt Alion, President, DBM Inc.
GALA is always a blast! Seeing our clients and colleagues in a setting outside of business is always fun. I have so many favorite moments, it’s hard to pick just one, so I’ll reminisce about a few. Jim Vance is always a hoot. Remember the year he got stuck in traffic and Ceilie and Leslie ran improv until he got there (almost at the end of the show). The photo booth last year was a fun addition. My team and I really got a kick out of trying to squeeze ourselves in for our photo op! And last but not least, I shamelessly admit that the years we won absolutely stand out the most!
Have you bought your tickets yet? Hurry and purchase now to get the early bird discount. Prices will increase after Labor Day.
And don’t forget to follow GALA on Facebook for news and updates.
Did you attend last year’s GALA Awards? Are you wondering what’s new for the 2012 ceremony? Among other new additions, this year’s ceremony will include a formal sit-down dinner with a foodie-approved menu. That’s right, Mark Sucher from Lyons and Sucher has personally approved this year’s dinner menu. The major foodie that he is, you can be sure dinner will be a hit.
And of course, one of the best parts about GALA is what goes down before the awards even come out – the cocktail hour! This year’s cocktail hour will be new and improved with the addition of a DJ to entertain while everyone catches up and exchanges stories before dinner. And don’t forget to have your photo taken in the now famous photo booth!
All of this and more will shake down at the 2012 Great American Living Awards on September 20th.
Have you bought your tickets yet? Hurry and purchase now to get the early bird discount. Prices will increase after Labor Day. And don’t forget to follow GALA on Facebook for news and updates.
By James McDonald, James McDonald Associate Architects
As we all know, the home building industry has been quietly repositioning for a recovering market. Everyone has their own response to the market, and with each new season also comes new models and products. Who has been the most successful at combining value and design with quality and price? That is what the Greatest American Living Awards are for! Everyone will find out on September 20th.
Top industry professionals will judge the 180 qualified entries in the 13 categories to determine the best of the best this year. Our industry and the public are looking for the best value and quality, so really what better way to prove you’re the best than being judged by the best? That’s what we mean when we talk about the GALA stamp of approval.
We have 180 entries this year and judging has begun. Follow us on Facebook to get the latest as we get closer to the big night on September 20th!
Questions? Visit our Frequently Asked Questions page or contact Sharon Smith at (571) 283-6308 or Phyllis Ryan at (301) 970-8009.
Presented by the Northern Virginia Building Industry Association, Washington Metropolitan Sales & Marketing Council,
and the Maryland National Capital Building Industry Association.
Website Developed By: NDG Communications, Inc.
2012 Great American Living Awards Honor Building Industry’s Top Achievers
September 24, 2012, McLean, VA – The Great American Living Awards (GALA) proudly recognized the building industry’s top achievers at its annual program last Thursday night.
Presented by the Northern Virginia Building Industry Association, Washington Metropolitan Sales & Marketing Council, and the Maryland National Capital Building Industry Association, GALA honors excellence in residential design, sales, and marketing in the metropolitan Washington market.
At the awards ceremony held in McLean, Virginia on Thursday, September 20, 2012, GALA gave top honors to the region’s builders, developers, architects, sales, marketing, merchandising, and advertising professionals in 43 categories. The full listing of winners is as follows:
Category 1 Home of the Year
Winner – Detached: OPaL, LLC – The MacArthur
Winner – Attached: Stanley Martin Companies Inc. – Augusta Model at Foxhall Ridge
Category 2 Community of the Year
Winner: Fraser Wallace Advertising – Willowsford, LLC
Award of Merit: Lessard Design, Inc. – Symphony Park at Strathmore
Category 11 Sales Office/Rental Office/Information Center-Individual Community
Winner – Under 1,000 sf: Lyons & Sucher Advertising – Uptown a Murray Hill
Award of Merit – Under 1,000 sf: Pulte Homes Inc – Centex Home Storage at Stafford Lakes Village
Winner – 1,000 sf and over: Fraser Wallace Advertising – Willowsford LLC
Award of Merit – 1,000 sf and over: Miller & Smith Homes – One Loudoun
Category 12 Website
Winner – Individual Community (Rental or For Sale): DBM, Inc. – Lake Linganore at Eaglehead
Award of Merit – Individual Community (Rental or For Sale): Delucchi Plus LLC – Brambleton
Winner – Master Planned Residential Community: Fraser Wallace Advertising – Willowsford, LLC
Winner – Mixed Use: DBM, Inc. – Market Square at Frederick
Winner – Local Builder: Fraser Wallace Advertising Van Metre Homes
Winner – National Builder: NDG Communications, Inc. – Brooksfield Homes
Winner – Associate: Lyons & Sucher Advertising – Lyons & Sucher
Category 13 Online Advertising
Winner – Individual Ad: GKA Advertising – K Hovnanian Homes Virginia Leeland Station Online Banner
Award of Merit – Individual Ad: NDG Communications, Inc.- Brookfield Homes NHG.com Online banner
Award of Merit – Ad Campaign: Delucchi Plus LLC Brambleton Online
Winner – Ad Campaign: Fraser Wallace Advertising – Willowsford, LLC
Category 14 Online, Social Media Campaign
Award of Merit: Delucchi Plus LLC – Foundry Lofts
Winner: Delucchi Plus LLC – Brambleton Online
Category 15 Online, Overall Marketing Campaign
Winner: Delucchi Plus LLC Brambleton Online
Category 16 Printed Brochure
Winner – Individual Community: Delucchi Plus LLC – Foundry Lofts Brochure
Award of Merit – Individual Community: Pulte Homes Inc – Potomac Yard
Award of Merit – Master Planned/Mixed Use Community: Delucchi Plus LLC – The Yards Brochure
Winner – Master Planned/Mixed Use Community: Fraser Wallace Advertising Willowsford, LLC – Inspired Magazine
Winner – Condominiums/Apartment Community: Fraser Wallace Advertising – Meridian at Mount Vernon Triangle
Winner – Builder or Developer: NDG Communications, Inc. – Brookfield Homes Brookfield Blue Brochure
Award of Merit – Builder or Developer: NDG Communications, Inc. – Brookfield Homes Corporate Brochure
Category 17 Print Advertising
Winner – Individual Ad: Miller & Smith Homes – One Loudoun
Award of Merit – Individual Ad: NDG Communications, Inc. – Beechtree New Homes Guide Ad
Winner – Ad Campaign: Delucchi Plus LLC – Foundry Lofts Print Ad Campaign
Award of Merit – Ad Campaign: Fraser Wallace Advertising – Willowsford, LLC
Category 18 Direct Mail-Individual Direct Mail Piece
Winner – Individual Piece: Fraser Wallace Advertising – Willowsford, LLC – Direct Mail Piece
Award of Merit – Individual Piece: NDG Communications, Inc. Brookfield Homes – Saranac at Lake Manassas
Award of Merit – Campaign: Lyons & Sucher Advertising – Miller & Smith – Big Reveal
Winner – Campaign: Lyons & Sucher Advertising – Lyons & Sucher
Category 19 Broadcast Advertising-Individual Radio Ad
Winner: Delucchi Plus LLC – Brambleton Radio Ad
Award of Merit: Fraser Wallace Advertising – Willowsford, LLC – Radio Ad
Category 20 Overall Marketing Campaign
Winner-Individual Community: NDG Communications, Inc. – Foxhall Ridge Community
Winner-Mixed Use: Delucchi Plus LLC – The Yards Overall Marketing Campaign
Winner-Residential: Fraser Wallace Advertising – Willowsford, L.L.C – Overall Marketing Campaign
Award of Merit-Mixed Use: Miller & Smith Homes – One Loudoun
Winner: Clark Builders Group – Flats at Atlas
Winner: Lyons & Sucher Advertising – Miller & Smith – Epic Find
Category 22 Overall Marketing Campaign to Support Event
Winner: Fraser Wallace Advertising – Willowsford, L.L.C. – Event Marketing – Taste of Willowsford
Category 23 Interior Merchandising, Detached Home
Winner: Carlyn and Company Interiors + Design – The Cortland
Award of Merit: Interior Concepts, Inc. – Lee’s Park Lexington
Winner: Model Home Interiors – Brookwood Run
Winner: Interior Concepts, Inc. – Estates at Forest len
Winner: Carlyn and Company Interiors + Design – Fells Point
Award of Merit: Carlyn and Company Interiors + Design – Grammercy Park
Winner: Interior Concepts, Inc. – Woodmar Farm Alaska
Award of Merit: Design Works Interiors Inc – Willowsford Cumberland Model
Winner: Interior Concepts, Inc. – River Pointe Estates Rhode Island
Award of Merit: Model Home Interiors – The Colorado Model at Belle Haven
Winner: Van Metre Companies – The Augusta
Award of Merit: OPaL, LLC – The MacArthur
Winner: P Four LLC – The Colton at Scotts Run
Winner: Luxury Living LLC – Tuscany II
Category 24 Interior Merchandising, Back-to-Back Townhouses and Duplexes
Winner: Carlyn and Company Interiors + Design – O’Keefe
Award of Merit: P Four LLC – The Brighton II at Summerwalk at Stone Ridge
Winner: Interior Concepts, Inc. – Villages at Steeple chase
Winner: Van Metre Companies – Holland Park
Winner: Carlyn and Company Interiors + Design – The Allegheny
Award of Merit: Van Metre Companies The Sheffield
Winner: Pulte Homes Inc – The Upper Level Condominium at Potomac yard
Winner: Pulte Homes Inc – The Upper Level Condominium at Potomac yard
Winner: Carlyn and Company Interiors + Design – The Bryant
Winner: Pulte Homes Inc – The 24’ Estate Townhome at Potomac Yard
Winner: P Four LLC – The Augusta at Foxhall Ridge
Category 25 Interior Merchandising, Multi-Family New Construction, 5 Stories and Under
Winner: Carlyn and Company Interiors + Design – Archstone Gaithersburg Station Model
Category 28 Interior Merchandising, Multi-Family Common Areas
Winner: Carlyn and Company Interiors + Design – Archstone First and M
Winner: Carlyn and Company Interiors + Design – The Paramount
Category 29 Interior Merchandising, Club House
Winner: Fraser Wallace Advertising – Willowsford Interior – Boat House
Winner: Carlyn and Company Interiors + Design – Archstone Gaithersburg Station Model
Winner: Carlyn and Company Interiors + Design – Archstone First and M
Category 30 Design and Architecture, Detached Home (on lots under 7,000 s.f.)
Award of Merit: GKA Advertising – New Windsor Model at Clarksburg Village
Winner: Miller and Smith – Fells Point
Winner: Miller and Smith – Grammercy Park
Winner: KTGY Group, Inc. – Westbridge at Crown Pointe
Category 31 Design and Architecture, Detached Home (on lots 7,000 s.f. and over)
Winner: Drees Homes – Abriel at Colonial Forge
Award of Merit: Miller and Smith – Cortland
Winner: KTGY Group, Inc. – Van Buren
Winner: Drees Homes – Buchanan at Glenkirk
Award of Merit: KTGY Group, Inc. – Innsbruck
Winner: The Evergreene Companies – The Sandpiper at Watermark at North Bethany
Winner: Van Metre Companies – The Stratford Hall
Winner: K. Hovnanian Homes – Willowsford – Chadwick Model
Award of Merit: GKA Advertising – Craftmark Homes – Kenwood Model
Winner: CarrHomes Inc – The Lancaster
Award of Merit: K. Hovnanian Homes – Willowsford – Huntington Model
Award of Merit: Lessard Design, Inc. – Chestnut Lodge
Winner: OPaL, LLC – The MacArthur
Category 32 Design and Architecture, Attached Home, Including Townhouses, Two-over-Two’s, Back-to-Back Townhouses and Duplexes
Winner: Brookfield Homes – The Highland Model at Snowden Bridge
Winner: Miller and Smith – Wyeth
Winner: KTGY Group, Inc. – The Lakeshore
Winner: Bozzuto Group – Towson Green – Allegheny Model
Winner: Miller and Smith – The Montague
Award of Merit: Bozzuto Group – Shipley’s Grant – The Cooper Model
Winner: Miller and Smith – Pierrepont
Winner: EYA, LLC – The Aster at Mosaic District
Winner: EYA, LLC – The Bryant at Mosaic District
Award of Merit: Pulte Homes Inc – The Tyler at MetroWest
Winner: Pulte Homes, Inc. – The 24’ Estate Townhome at Potomac Yard
Award of Merit: Lessard Design, Inc. – Symphony Park at Strathmore
Winner: Stanley Martin Companies Inc. – Augusta Model at Foxhall Ridge
Category 33 Design and Architecture, Multi-Family New Construction – 5 Stories and Under
Winner: For sale: Brookfield Homes – The Dawson Model at Woodstream
Winner: For rent: KTGY Group, Inc. – The Arbors at Baltimore Crossroads
Category 36 Custom Home, One-of-a-Kind
Winner: Under $5M: James McDonald Associate Architects – Clinton Model
Winner: Over $5M: The Building Group, Inc. – Tuscany II
Category 37 Customized Home, over 1.2M
Winner: Creighton Enterprises Inc – Creighton Farms Villa Model
Category 38 Design and Architecture, Residential
Winner: Remodeling/Restoration with Addition: BOWA – DC Renovation
Winner: Remodeling/Restoration of Existing Space: BOWA – McLean Renovation
Category 38 Design and Architecture, Residential Remodeling/Restoration
Winner: James McDonald Associate Architects – Randall Court
Category 39 Design and Architecture, Universal Design in Housing
Winner: Clark Builders Group – The Patriot Home
Category 40 Innovative Infill Land Planning
Winner: EYA, LLC
Category 41 Community Land Planning
Winner: Fraser Wallace Advertising – Willowsford, LLC Land Planning
Category 42 Mixed-Use Design (Active Land Development)
Winner: Miller & Smith Homes – One Loudoun
Category 43 Design and Architecture, Club House
Winner: Brookfield Homes Snowden Bridge Recreation Center
Sales Achievement
Category 6 Exceptional Sales Effort
Sandy Nguyen – Buckingham Station, Pulte Homes
Jeff April – Towns at Oak Hill, Ryland Homes
Category 7 Rookie of the Year
Lisa Kassel – Centex Homes, Pulte Group
Category 8A Sales Person of the Year (Detached Home under $500,000)
Sara Chiappini and Devon Talbott – Del Webb, Pulte Group
Category 8B Sales Person of the Year (Detached Home over $500,000)
Rhonda Atkins – Van Metre
Category 8C Sales Person of the Year (Attached Home under $500,000)
Bruce Fogel – Bozzuto Homes
Category 8D Sales Person of the Year (Attached Home $500,000 and Over)
Lien Nguyen and Rob Fredericks – Pulte Homes
Category 8E Sales Person of the Year (Condominium under $500,000)
Maria Gonzales – Beazer Homes
Category 8F Sales Person of the Year (Condominium over $500,000)
Luke Rowand, Lori Windsor, Doug Richards – Potomac Yard, Pulte Homes
Category 8G Sales Person of the Year (Multi-Priced/Multi-Product)
Emma Pluto, Mary Cochran – Goose Creek, Pulte Homes
Category 9 General Sales Manager, Director of Sales of the Year
Bruce Rosenblatt – Bozzuto Homes
Category 9 Marketing Manager, Director of Marketing of the Year
Barbara Hoskins Pulte Group
Category 10 Construction Superintendent & Sales Team of the Year
Doug Richards, Lori Windsor, Luke Rowand, Tom Puderbaugh, Marco Scarzella, Natasha Nixon – Potomac Yard, Pulte Homes
Million Dollar Club
Adam Cetron – EYA
David Ortiz – EYA
Philip A. Salin – EYA
Sylvia Mader – EYA
Michael Sibilia – EYA
Nick Yannitello – EYA
Angela Fowler – Angela Fowler – K. Hovnanian Homes
Howard Johnson – K. Hovnanian Homes
Jacqueline McAteer – K. Hovnanian Homes
Mike Smith – Lee Square
AnnTrisha Ramrattan – K. Hovnanian Homes
Jovana Colic – K. Hovnanian Homes
Matt Turner – K. Hovnanian Homes
Claire Chinn – K. Hovnanian Homes
Jenny Jenkins – K. Hovnanian Homes
Robert Fine – K. Hovnanian
Jamie Dent – K. Hovnanian Homes
Beth Mowery-Dunn – K. Hovnanian Homes
Cheryl Jackson – K. Hovnanian Homes
Courtney Kuykendall – K. Hovnanian Homes
Elliot Welan – K. Hovnanian Homes
Ann Featherstone – K. Hovnanian Homes
Tracy Lamb – Miller and Smith
Laurie Gwaltney – Miller and Smith
Patti Cantor – Miller and Smith
Kathy Taylor – Miller and Smith
Randall Anthony – Miller and Smith
Laura Schulien – Miller and Smith
Carol D’Arezzo – Miller and Smith
Debbie Paschal – Miller and Smith
Stephanie Egan – Miller and Smith
Eric Hansen – Miller and Smith
Alex Champin – Miller and Smith
Nancy Jansen – Miller and Smith
Kelly Lee – Pulte Homes
Lori Windsor – Pulte Homes
Luke Rowand – Pulte Homes
Grace Strother –Pulte Homes
Linda Hoyt – Pulte Homes
Kelly Chaney – Pulte Homes
Pat Jenkins – Pulte Homes
Eric Yakuchev – Pulte Homes
Michael Hales – Pulte Homes
Jim Graves – Pulte Homes
Monique Lynch – Ryland Homes
Jeff April – Ryland Homes
Amber L. Steigelman – Ryland Homes
Carl J. Gould – Ryland Homes
Kathryn Piper – Ryland Homes
Pamela Dixon – Ryland Homes
Ernie Kyger – Van Metre Homes
Janiece Poole Janson – Van Metre Homes
Jerry Catron – Van Metre Homes
Rhonda Atkins – Van Metre Homes
Bonita Hartbarger – Van Metre Homes
Elaine Dai – Van Metre Homes
Danny Faulkner – Van Metre Homes
Robin Ingenito – Van Metre Homes
“This year’s GALA program was one to remember,” said Shay Onorio, Vice President of Delucchi Plus and 2012 PR/Communications Committee Co-Chairman. “It was a thrill to have everyone together representing the building industry and celebrating the achievements of our colleagues.”
Presented by the Washington Metropolitan Sales & Marketing Council, the Northern Virginia Building Industry Association, and the Maryland National Capital Building Industry Association, the Great American Living Awards (GALA) celebrate excellence in new home architecture, interior design and sales and marketing.
Contact:
Shay Onorio | Vice President | Delucchi Plus
2101 L Street NW, Suite 650 Washington, DC 20037
O 202.248.5853 | C 571.331.9734 | F 202.333.4515