2023 Builder, Associate and Remodeler of the Year Award Winners
December 3, 2023
During the annual Installation and Awards Gala held Nov. 7 at Suncadia Resort, BIAW honored the 2023 Builder, Associate and Remodeler of the Year—the highest honors given by the association. Past winners voted in their respective categories for the nominees based on their contributions to the homebuilding industry, BIAW and their local association.
Kent Arola | Builder of the Year
Wind River Homes, Tacoma
2024 BIAW First Vice President/Treasurer Kent Arola has owned his company, Wind River Homes, for 20 years. Arola has served as a BIAW director for 13 years and sat on several committees at BIAW and his local home builders association of Master Builders Association of Pierce County.
Arola has been honored with several awards, including MBAPC Recruiter of the Year four times, MBAPC Member of the Year in 2015, multiple MBAPC Remodeling Excellence Awards and BIAW Excellence in Remodeling Awards.
Luellen Smith | Associate of the Year
Rhino Wine Cellars & Cooling Systems, Issaquah
2023 BIAW Second Vice President Luellen Smith is an owner/partner in Rhino Wine Cellars & Cooling Systems with her husband, Doug. A dedicated and prolific membership recruiter, she enjoys serving in leadership at BIAW, her local home builders association, the Master Builders Association of King & Snohomish Counties (MBAKS), and the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB).
Smith has been involved in numerous BIAW committees and has served in several leadership roles. She has also received multiple awards for her selfless service to further MBAKS, BIAW and NAHB. In 2024, Smith will take on the role of Chair of the NAHB Professional Women in Building (PWB) Council.
Traci Tenhulzen | Remodeler of the Year
Tenhulzen Residential LLC, Woodinville
Traci Tenhulzen began her career in the building industry in 2001. In 2007, Tenhulzen started working with her husband, Michael Tenhulzen, in the remodeling business. In 2012, they strengthened their industry partnership and became co-owners of Tenhulzen Residential Design Build Remodeling.
Tenhulzen has been a highly active member of MBAKS for 25 years and a board member for the last three years. She served as the 2023 Master Builders Association of King & Snohomish Counties (MBAKS) President. She is the seventh female president of MBAKS in its 114-year history. Tenhulzen has won numerous awards, including the MBAKS Remodeler of the Year award in 2018.
Learn more about the Builder, Associate and Remodeler of the Year Awards.
For questions, contact Association Services Director Brenda Kwieciak at (360) 352-7800 ext. 113 or brendak@biaw.com.
* This article was originally published in the November/December 2023 issue of Building Insight magazine.