John Gunkelman, Dakota Construction of Fargo, Inc., is the recipient of its 2009 Builder of the Year award presented by the Home Builders Association of Fargo-Moorhead (HBA).
This award is presented each fall to recognize one builder member for their effort and work expended in the interest of his or her fellow members, association and community.
According to the HBA, Gunkelman has demonstrated the highest standards of an HBA member by building both the image and strength of the association through service and dedication. He has been a member of the HBA since 1992.
Gunkelman is current president of the North Dakota Association of Builders. He was awarded the local and state Builder of the Year award in 2001, the same year he was HBA of F-M president. He has also led the HBA of F-M’s charity, Home Builders Care of Fargo-Moorhead Foundation, as president and served as chairman on the F-M Home Builders Health Plan & Trust. This year and last year, Gunkelman gave countless hours of his own time and his crew’s time, to the RENEW House, a renovation project funded by Home Builders Care and organized by the HBA’s Remodelers Council.
In his presidency with NDAB this year, Gunkelman worked on behalf of the building industry to further legislation and mentor growth across the state through the six local associations. Under his guidance, NDAB was successful in introducing and passing major legislation that increased property tax incentives for new home construction and prohibits cities from mandating fire sprinklers in one- and two-family dwellings.
HBA Executive Vice President Bryce Johnson says, “These laws that John and NDAB helped pass are huge for homeowners, builders and our entire industry. Our members and home buyers will save thousands of dollars that will help keep housing affordable, which is exactly what we, as home builders associations, are here for.”
Gunkelman’s community involvement includes involvement with YMCA Camp Cormorant; Freedom By Design, an architectural student group at NDSU; Habitat for Humanity; Special Olympics; Saints Anne and Joachim Church; Red River Soccer; Construction Specifications Institute; F-M Chamber of Commerce; North Dakota Chamber of Commerce; National Federation of Independent Businesses; and the Better Business Bureau.
Gunkelman and his wife, Judy, live in Fargo and have four children: Sarah (married to B.J. Knutson); Andrew, Molly and Jeff.
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Great post. I’m hoping to incorporate more of these stories into my own real estate blog. Thanks.
Anna