Home Builders Association of the Greater Rockford Area

04/18/2026

03/24/2026

This past weekend, we held our annual Home Show at the Loves Park City Hall, and we want to thank everyone who participated, attended, and helped make the event a success. 🏠

Although we were competing with some beautiful weather, our members and vendors were still able to gain valuable business leads, build relationships, and make meaningful personal connections throughout the weekend. Events like this are a great reminder of how strong and supportive our local building community is.

Thank you again to everyone who was involved in putting the show together and to those who came out to support local builders and businesses. We’re already looking forward to next year’s show! 🔨

02/25/2026

Special thanks to Jackson Blauch of Benson Stone Company! Last week, Rick Shimp of New Leaf Homes gave him the Rising Star Award in recognition of his marketing support for our Home Builbers Association over the past several years. 🏆

From capturing photos at our events to keeping our website updated, his work is such a help. Member volunteers like him make all the difference in the growth and vibrancy of our association.

Please join us in thanking Jackson for his commitment to the HBAR!

02/24/2026

Your dream home starts with the right team.

Instead of searching online for hours, come to the 2026 Home Show at Loves Park City Hall to meet the top local home experts in person. With over 40 booths featuring local builders, remodelers, and designers, you can find the professional help you need for everything from custom builds to minor renovations.

Admission is completely FREE, so this is the easiest way to connect with trusted home experts!

Join us Saturday, March 21st from 10AM to 4PM or Sunday, March 22nd from 11AM to 3PM at 100 Heart Blvd.

01/10/2026

Last night the Home Builders Association of Rockford hosted its 2026 Installation Banquet at Prairie Street Brewing Company with over 60 in attendance. The evening included live music, several award presentations, and the official installation of the 2026 Officers and Board of Directors, a tradition that dates back to 1953.

Congratulations to the 2026 Officers and Directors, and thank you to our members for your continued support as we enter 2026!

2026 Officers:
President — Andrew Rogers, Contry Homes
Associates’ VP — Nikki Gier, Title Underwriters
Secretary — Pam DeSanti, GreenState Credit Union
Treasurer — Natty De La Torre, DLT Stone
Immediate Past President — Rick Shimp, New Leaf

2026 Directors:
Chris Johnson — John Evans Construction
Todd Shoemaker — Assured Business Partners
Mike Oehlberg — Oehlberg Construction
Jacob Addis — Addis Architecture
Todd Whaley — Whaley Builders
George Whitacre — Whitacre Custom Building
Danny Mann — Mann Homes
Jeremiah Whitmire — ANDCO Kitchens & Baths
Josh Green — Metro Insulation
Francesco Collura — Fresh Start Environmental

09/12/2025

We couldn't have asked for a better day for this year's Builders Scramble Golf Outing at PrairieView Golf Club. ☀️

Sunshine, big drives, close putts, and plenty of laughs made for a fantastic outing with fellow builders, associates, and friends. From the shotgun start to the ribeye steak dinner and awards, everything came together for a memorable event.

A huge thank you to our generous sponsors for making it all possible:

Addis Architecture

Andco Kitchens & Baths, Inc.

Advanced Chimney Systems

AssuredPartners

Benson Stone Company

Complete Mechanical Solutions

Consumers Credit Union

Contry Homes Group,LLC

Cream City Construction

GreenState Credit Union

John Evans Construction Co., Inc.

Main Street Cabinet Company

Metro Insulation

New Leaf Homes

New Leaf Remodeling LLC

New Perspective Design, Inc.

Pella Windows and Doors

Point Ready Mix

Ron Beard Custom Building

Title Underwriters Agency

And of course, thank you to everyone who joined us and helped make the event such a success. 🙌 Great weather, great company, and a lot of fun out on the greens — we’re already looking forward to next year!

08/20/2025

Congratulations to Kaleb Westberg, former Rodakowski #2 Scholarship winner, on receiving the NIBCA Intern Award. 🎉

We love seeing past scholarship recipients making an impact in the industry. Keep up the great work, Kaleb!

🎉 Congratulations to our intern, Kaleb Westberg! 🎉

We’re proud to share that Kaleb was recently honored with the NIBCA Intern Award—a well-deserved recognition of his hard work, dedication, and passion for construction.

Kaleb has been an incredible asset to the Ringland-Johnson team, and it’s been inspiring to watch him grow as a future leader in our industry. 👷‍♂️💪

Help us celebrate Kaleb’s achievement—this is just the beginning!

05/16/2025

Last night, over 50 members and guests gathered at Lino's at the Mercato—our first time meeting at this beautiful new location—for our May General Membership Meeting!

Congratulations to Kaleb Westberg, the second recipient of the Rodakowski Scholarship Fund Award this year! 🎓👏

We also enjoyed a special presentation from former HBAR President Tamara Gaumond, who shared a sneak peek of her upcoming book, All About Door County.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for a great evening of connection and community.

P.S. Mark your calendar—our annual summer picnic is coming up on Thursday, July 10th at the Pitney Farm in Winnebago. You won’t want to miss it! 🌽🍔☀️

04/21/2025

Last Thursday, we shook things up and hosted our April General Membership Meeting at Prairie Street Brewing Co. 🍻—a refreshing change from our longtime tradition at Lino’s. The new venue didn’t disappoint, and the turnout was incredible!

Over 60 members, prospective members, and guests joined us, making it the largest dinner meeting attendance in years! 🙌 Thank you to everyone who came out and made the evening such a success.

Special thanks to Byron Bank and Townsquare Media for their engaging tabletop presentations. And congrats to the lucky winner of our 50/50 card raffle! 🎟️

A big congratulations to Isaac Parson, who received a Rodakowski Scholarship Fund Award at the meeting. 🎓 His application was proudly sponsored by past President Jay Pitney.

We’re grateful for the continued support of our members and can't wait to see you all at the next event! 🤝

03/28/2025

After a few years without a Home Show and a move to a new venue at Loves Park City Hall, this year’s event was a great success! 🎉🏡

With every booth sold out and an incredible lineup of exhibitors, the weekend was filled with great connections and home improvement inspiration.

A huge thank you to all the exhibitors and volunteers who helped bring this event to life. Your dedication and hard work made all the difference!

02/21/2025

Last night’s General Membership Meeting at Lino’s was filled with meaningful discussions and industry insights. 🏗️✨

It was great to hear from our guest speakers from Region 1 Planning, who provided an informative look at land banks and their impact, sparking great conversations among members. We also enjoyed the insightful tabletop presentations from Marling Lumber / Homeworks and Main Street Cabinet Company. 🏡🔨

👏 A big round of applause for Rick Shimp, who continues to lead the association with dedication. After a successful term as president, he was elected for another year, and Executive Vice President Dennis presented him with a plaque and a gift card in recognition of his service in 2025.

We also want to recognize Brian Stevens of Brian Stevens Builders for an incredible milestone—30 years of membership with the HBA! His longstanding commitment to our industry and association is truly commendable.

Thank you to everyone who attended—we look forward to another great year of ahead! 🚀