the NAHB's best-selling book Te Residential
Construction Performance Guidelines, now in
its 10th edition. To Bell, there was no greater
satisfaction than knowing that a job was get-
ting correctly done, for the beneft of everyone,
but mainly the client.
Te 2014 NAHB Remodeler of the Year, pro-
fled in the pages of this edition of Qualifed
Remodeler, Tim Ellis of T.W. Ellis LLC in Bel
Air, Md., is a lot like Bob. He pursues profes-
sional knowledge relentlessly, thus the six-plus
designations that adorn his email signature line.
Here's the quote of the story, the one that says it
all about the value of
earning professional
designations.
"It is paying of for
me because I know
when I sit down with
clients I am giving
them the best that
I can possibly give
them," says Ellis,
a CGR, MCGP,
CAPS, among oth-
er designations.
"Regardless of wheth-
er the client sees value
in it or not, I know
that I am doing the
right thing for my
business and for that client. So when I leave
there, I can sleep at night knowing that I gave
them everything that I could professionally give
them. Tey have great drawings. Tey have a
great estimate. And it is what it should be."
Real professional confdence comes from
knowing that you know. Bell subscribed to that
school of thought. Ten years later so does Ellis.
Education is the link between great NAHB
Remodeler of the Year recipients.
|
ualifed Remodeler magazine has
profled NAHB Remodelers of the
Year since 2004. Tat year the re-
cipient of the award and the sub-
ject of our December cover story was Bob Bell,
CGR, of Bell's Remodeling in Duluth, Minn.
I recall traveling to Duluth in October to
interview Bell and being struck by two things.
First, that I should have packed warmer cloth-
ing. Beautiful as it is, nestled on the shores of
Lake Superior, Duluth can be cold most months
of the year, except perhaps in August. Secondly,
I was struck by a view of what Bell described as
his entire service area
from one precipice
overlooking the city.
Bell famously only
serviced homes in an
8-square-mile area.
He ran a very solid
business sustained
by legions of satis-
fed customers who
continually hired
him again or who
referred his company
to others.
Bell, who is hap-
pily retired now, is
a real educator. He
taught high school
in the Twin Cities before heading back to
Duluth with his young family and launching
his remodeling business. Learning and teach-
ing and earning designations never stopped for
Bell. He was active in industry education at the
state and national level throughout his career.
He was also a stickler for the dissemination
of proper construction guidelines. In fact, he
was on the team of devoted volunteers, includ-
ing the late Bob Merz who vetted and wrote
A source
of real
confdence
Q
"
It is paying of for
me because I know
when I sit down with
clients I am giving
them the best
that I can possibly
give them.
"
2014 NAHB Remodeler of the Year,
Tim Ellis of T.W. Ellis LLC
EDITORIAL DIRECTOR'S NOTE
6 December 2014 QR ForResidentialPros.com
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