Market Memo

ATLANTA — So much of what happens on a daily and weekly basis in the remodeling industry never makes it to the pages of Qualified Remodeler or any of the other fine publications which serve our industry. A perfect case-in-point is the Annual Chrysalis Awards Banquet, honoring the top remodeling companies from around the United States. It was held last night at the Cobb Galleria Centre here and there is a lot to report.

If you have ever entered a project into the Chyrsalis Awards, you are undoubtedly acquainted with two of the most enthusiastic and energetic proponents of professionalism in remodeling — Ken Kanline and his wife PJ. Over the course of a dozen years their Southern Building Show and awards competition has grown to be a favorite with remodelers and small volume builders, yet it remains a “family affair,” Ken told the audience last night. He cited the contributions not only of his wife but also their college age children who are fixtures at the show and awards each year. “You,” he said at one point to the audience, “are our board of directors.”

And Ken is not far off the mark when he makes this claim. Many of the remodelers like Gary Marrakol of San Diego and Geno Bienvenuiti are regulars at this event. Others in attendance included NARI’s Don Vossburg, Carl Seville, Jermone Quinn of Sawhorse, Joe Cracco, of Modern Yankee Builders.

Click here for the complete list of winners

One of the touches that make the awards program so much fun to attend each year is Ken Kanline’s humorous musical interludes. On occaision he even brings along his band Biscuit Joint from his home town of Talahassee, Fla. Ken had the crowd rolling with a rendition of “I’m Missing My Remodeler Tonight”. “… the only time my bathroom looks finished is when I turn out the lights… I’m missing my remodeler tonight… Have you forgotten the draws that I paid…. we were the closest of friends…”, Ken sang.

To download a clip or two of Ken’s song’s you can go to www.buildingsongs.com. If you would like to hear him perform in person, mark the evening of Oct. 18, 2006 in your calendar. That is when Ken travels to Chicago to serenade attendees to our Top 500/Master Design Awards event at the very swank Peninsula Hotel in Chicago. (Because this a blog… presumably a place of greater editorial flexibility…. I want to also mention that the Peninsula Hotel is where Jennifer Aniston was holed up for weeks while filming a movie last summer… )

Lastly, I want to mention that the Chrysalis Awards and Qualified Remodeler have had a long partnership. Remodelers who send their binders into the Chrysalis competition can send them directly to us with out any reformatting. The process of creating one binder is tough enough, no sense remaking it for each panel.