Posted by: Justin Zeller, CR, Found and General Manager of Red House Build Design, and President and Chair of EM NARI PR Committee

It has been an absolute honor to serve EM NARI over the past two years as President. NARI has been a bedrock of inspiration and source of learning for myself and our team at Red House since our company joined in 2014. So, it was with eagerness and excitement that I took on the President’s duties at the beginning of 2019. Being a public voice of such an organization is an opportunity that may only come along a few times in one’s career. I’m greatly appreciative of the opportunity to give back to the organization that’s given our company and me so much. 

While I dearly miss seeing all of you every month. I look forward to the next time that we can all get together in person. By that time, I will be sitting in a new seat as chair of the board, switching gears from the more public-facing role of the President to a more advisory role, helping the board think through strategic opportunities and a new vision for our association’s future. 

I’m so excited about our incoming President, Cathy Follett, who will be installed as present in January. Cathy’s natural leadership, organizational prowess, and deep passion for our industry and our association will prove incredibly valuable as we move from the craziness of 2020 to what lies ahead in 2021. 

Again, I thank you all members for the opportunity to serve. I also want to send out a special note of appreciation for the support from the EM NARI staff. Dawn, Joanne, and Michelle do such an outstanding job of running this enterprise. It is truly amazing how effective and cohesive they are as a team. They have amazing leadership from Michelle, but they are all of the same ilk. Collectively as members, and individually for me as President, they have made this position both possible and enjoyable. And, for continued support and mentorship, I’d like to thank Jim Lavallee. He has given so much of his time to steward this organization over the last several years, and it’s truly been a pleasure to work with you. Finally, to all the members of the board, thank you for showing up and engaging with each other every month. I continue to be awed by the quality of people I have had the opportunity to serve with. It has been a pleasure. Thank you. 

Here is to a healthy ending to 2020 and a strong beginning to 2021.

Be well; stay healthy. Cheers,

Justin