Contact: Sarah Bruckner 949 553 9500 x120
November 27, 2006

IRVINE, CA – After much hard work from the entire BIA/OC team, the Orange County Chapter has been awarded the prestigious “Chapter of the Year” recognition from the regional office, the Building Industry Association, Southern California (BIA/SC). The award was presented to Chapter President, Tom Grable, of William Lyon Homes, at the annual Installation Ball held on November 16th at the Anaheim Marriott.  “This is truly a team effort from both the dedicated and involved volunteers and staff,” Tom Grable said.
Criteria for this award included outstanding work in all areas of the Chapter’s daily operations. Each networking event, workshop, publication, legislative victory, monthly membership number and educational opportunity was evaluated and analyzed by a committee at BIA/SC.

The entire membership and staff are equally excited to have been presented with this honor, especially as 2007 kicks-off with the celebration of the Orange County Chapter’s 40th Anniversary.  In his inaugural speech in November of 2005, Tom Grable said the theme for the following year would be “Engage, Involve, Participate”.  With the focus on three main topics, Chapter Events and Organization, Membership and Government Affairs, the Orange County Chapter has embraced these using the recipe Tom Grable had laid out.
“I am thrilled on behalf of the entire Chapter for all the accomplishments this year. We have had such dynamic involvement in the Chapter and community. The events committee has brought in thousands of dollars over project budgets and had an overwhelming success at our newly revamp Urban Infill Conference.  Our membership is only 15 shy of reaching 1,000, and our All Member Planning Session paved the way for the next three years of goals.  Political involvement has been a huge emphasis this year such as, no growth initiatives like, Measure B in Yorba Linda, Measure X in Newport Beach, inclusionary zoning initiative in Dana Point,  and the regional transportation initiative, Measure M,” said Tom Grable.
The Orange County Chapter plans to continue the hard work and success and claim the Chapter of the Year prize again next year.

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The Orange County Chapter of the Building Industry Association of Southern California (BIA/OC) is a non-profit trade association representing more than 970 companies employing over 114,000 people affiliated with the home building industry.  The BIA/OC mission is to promote proactive participation in the development of economic and community issues in Orange County.  The BIA/OC is affiliated with the California BIA and the National Association of Home Builders.
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