MAW Chicago does it again. Scott Sevon, Partner at MAW Chicago, last week received a great honor. Scott was awarded the Home Builders Association of Illinois (HBAI) Remodeler of the Year award. This award is given out to only one remodeler per year across the entire state of Illinois and represents not only a high level of business acumen, but looks at the individual’s total involvement in the industry over time. For Scott, it’s not only about his passion and knowledge for the industry, but also his passion for giving back to the industry. Over the last thirty years, Scott has been involved in the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) at all levels helping to advance the professionalism of the industry he loves. Between running a business and his countless hours of volunteer time, Scott still keeps his priorities straight. His wife Jan and five children are number one in his life and a close second is his beloved Blackhawks.
Be sure to compliment Scott the next time you see him.
Great Job Scott!!!
Chicago Remodeler Named NAHB Remodeler of the Year
 October 19, 2011 – NAHB Remodelers named Mike Nagel, CGR, CAPS, of Men at Work Chicago, the 2011 Remodeler of the Year in recognition of his professional remodeling achievements and support of industry professionalism. The award was given at the NAHB Remodelers awards gala held last week during the Remodeling Show in Chicago.
In his acceptance speech, Mike praised the attendees of the gala for their unwavering support over the years. “I consider you all to be my personal board of directors. You affect my life constantly, many times without knowing it” he said. Mike also told them “I believe one person can make a difference” and encouraged all to reach out to those that can effect change and make them understand our industry. He also cited a few of the many experiences in his career with NAHB that have left an indelible mark on him and went on to say that he would never forget this night. Mike praised those that have stood up and fought for the industry and thanked them. He ended by saying how much he was humbled and honored by the award.
 “Mike Nagel is a strong advocate for professionalism in the remodeling industry and has led successful businesses for 25 years,” said NAHB Remodelers Chairman Bob Peterson, CGR, CAPS, CGP, a remodeler from Fort Collins, Colo. “I’m excited to present this award to a remodeler who has achieved success in business, contributed to community service causes and represents remodeling industry concerns to all levels of government.”
Nagel joined NAHB Remodelers in 1992 and has served multiple times in local leadership positions for the association. He is currently the state association president and was Chairman of NAHB Remodelers nationally in 2007. In addition to industry accomplishments, he manages a prosperous remodeling firm, conducts speaking engagements on remodeling topics and advocates on behalf of remodeler concerns to government agencies and elected representatives.
The Remodeler of the Year award was presented with support from Qualified Remodeler magazine and the Pella Corporation.
NAHB BESTOWS FIRST GRADUATE MASTER REMODELER OF THE YEAR AWARD
 WASHINGTON, Jan. 28- The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) conferred Scott Sevon, CAPS, CGP, CGR, GMB, GMR,, with the first Graduate Master Remodeler of the Year award in 2010. The award was presented during the International Builders’ Show in Orlando.
Graduate Master Remodeler (GMR) is an exclusive professional designation created to grant Certified Graduate Remodelers (CGR) further recognition for educational excellence and longevity in the remodeling market. The GMR requires that graduates meet prescribed standard of business practice, have a proven track record of successful project management, possess at least 15 years of remodeling experience, complete a comprehensive education curriculum, hold the CGR designation for nine years, and pledge to uphold the program’s code of ethics. Each year, NAHB recognizes a top performer in this area.
Scott Sevon, with MAW Chicago in Palatine, Ill., promotes the GMR designation to consumers in his marketing materials, website, and social media outlets. He shares his passion for education with other remodelers and believes that possessing advanced designations can make the difference in earning a remodeling job, especially in a competitive market. Sevon says that earning a GMR demonstrates to customers that a remodeler cares about continuing education and providing excellent remodeling service.
“Scott Sevon is an accomplished professional remodeler with an appreciation for advanced education,” said NAHB Remodelers Chairman Bob Peterson, CGR, CAPS, CGP, a remodeler from Ft. Collins, Colo. “Remodeling customers benefit from his credentials and passion for excellence.”
For more information about remodeling, visit www.nahb.org/remodel.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 27 – The latest National Association of Home Builders’ (NAHB) Remodeling Market Index (RMI) edged up to 41.5 in the fourth quarter of 2010, compared to 40.8 in the third quarter. An RMI below 50 indicates that more remodelers say market activity is lower compared to the prior quarter than report it is higher. The RMI has been running below 50 since the final quarter of 2005.
The overall RMI combines ratings of current remodeling activity with indicators of future activity like calls for bids. In the fourth quarter, the RMI component measuring current market conditions stayed flat at 43.3 from 43.4 in the previous quarter. The RMI component measuring future indicators of remodeling business increased, to 39.7 from 38.1 in the previous quarter.
“Remodelers are starting to see an uptick in interest from consumers who are considering future remodeling projects,” said NAHB Remodelers Chairman Bob Peterson, CGR, CAPS, CGP, a remodeler from Ft. Collins, Colo. “Home owners are also showing more willingness to undertake larger remodeling projects.”
All but one index for future market conditions improved during the fourth quarter. Calls for bids jumped to 47.2 (from 42.9), along with backlog of remodeling jobs at 42.6 (from 37.2), and appointments for proposals at 43.1 (from 41.9). The amount of work committed for the next three months shrank to 25.9 (from 30.3).
“Remodeling activity has been rising slowly since the first quarter of 2010. Expected improvements in the job market and the overall economy are beginning to increase homeowners’ confidence and remodelers are seeing indications that business will pick up,” said NAHB Chief Economist David Crowe. “More remodeling jobs will unfold as consumers in more secure financial positions enter the remodeling market. A more robust recovery in residential remodeling will depend upon future improvements in labor and credit markets.”
Current conditions indices for remodeling improved in two regions: Midwest 54.3 (from 44.9 in the third quarter) and South 45.8 (from 42.3). However, the current indices declined in the Northeast 38.8 (from 41.6) and West 39.7 (from 49.3). Future market indicators grew significantly in nearly all regions: Northeast 49.5 (from 34.0); Midwest 56.1 (from 39.4); and South 47.0 (from 37.9). Only the West region reported some decline at 39.7 (from 41.0). Major additions also expanded to 48.6 (from 45.8), but minor additions dipped slightly to 43.9 (from 46.4), while maintenance and repair stayed flat at 37.0 (from 37.1).
For more information about remodeling, visit www.nahb.org/remodel.
 Today, MAW partners Mike Nagel and Scott Sevon visited the World Of Whirlpool located on the 7th and 8th floors of the Reid Murdoch Building in Chicago. The Whirlpool Corporation renovated these two floors and the original clock tower in 2010 and had their grand opening in Novemder of 2010. They have installed a state of the art showroom for all of their product lines; Amana, Whirlpool, Maytag, Kitchen Aide and Jenn Air appliances and Gladiator garage storage products. We were invited on this guided tour by account manager Melissa Wolf. After the showroom tour we were invited to experience the renovated clock tower and the great view it provided. All in all it was a great tour and the product overview showed us how the Whirlpool Corporation has taken huge strides to address the new market and provide a long list of products pertinent to todays buyer. Thank you Melissa, Scott and I had a great and informative visit.
Scott Sevon, partner at MAW Chicago LLC recently had a Certified Aging in Place Specialist (CAPS) article published in the the NAHBR Re-News and in the NAHB Nations Building News. This article has become a must read and within hours of it’s posting Scott received dozens of comments via both e-mail and by phone. The article talks about the practical side of CAPS renovation work in the projects we have completed. Please take a few minutes to read this informative article and pass it on to someone else. While you are on our blog, please take a minute to sign up for our e-mail list to ensure that you receive our newsletter and blog posts in the future.
Mike Nagel and Scott Sevon, both partners in MAW Chicago LLC, have accepted positions on the Advisory Board for Qualified Remodeler Magazine. Christina Koch, Editor of Qualified Remodeler, discusses the Advisory board members in her recent editorial in the January issue, check it out.
Both Scott and Mike have been on other advisory boards but were not pushed to do the level of work that Christina is demanding. We both consider this a great honor and look forward to sharing our knowledge through both the articles we produce and direct interaction with the QR readers. At a recent luncheon with Christina Scott told her “Use us, we are here to help promote the remodeling industry”. Please click on the highlighted words above to read her editorial.
Orlando, Florida
January 11, 2011
 Scott R. Sevon, partner at MAW Chicago, received the coveted NAHBR Graduate Master Remodeler (GMR) of the Year award at the International Builders Show. This is the first time this National award is being bestowed and Scott is extremely honored to be its first recipient. This is a great honor, congratulations Scott.
The NAHBR (National Association of Home Builders Remodelers) is a 15,000 member organization whose focus is to cater to the needs of its member remodelers in areas of business, education and advocacy. NAHBR has members in all 50 states and continually monitors the needs of its members and provides many opportunities for networking.
The GMR is an advanced certification that begins by first receiving your CGR (Certified Graduate Remodeler) certification. The CGR is designed to emphasize business and project management skills as the key to a successful remodeling operation. It helps you run your business more efficiently by teaching job cost procedures, accounting principles and basic contract law. Design, estimating and scheduling are also covered. The curriculum also offers strategies and techniques for developing winning bids, sales and marketing strategies for closing sales, effective communication skills for negotiation and superior customer service and quality practice methods. After you have maintained your CGR in good standing for nine years and have been in business for 15 years, you are eligible to complete the requirements to become a GMR.
The GMR designation allows recognized CGR’s to attain further recognition for their commitment to educational excellence and longevity in the remodeling industry. This is a new program designed to be the master level of the current CGR designation. It allows you to take your CGR designation to the next level. It provides you with the opportunity to take lessons in financial management techniques that help you run your business more efficiently. It also teaches you comprehensive risk management strategies, needed skills to identify diversification opportunities and essential green building strategies.
CGR and GMR are two of many NAHB certifications, please click on any CGR or GMR highlighted text to learn more about NAHBR’s certification programs and how you can join NAHBR and get started with these great certifications.
 Welcome to our first blog post. You may not recognize the name, but you will recognize the players (that’s us with Lord Stanley’s Cup at Carmichael’s Restaurant). Whether you call it M-A-W Chicago or Maw Chicago matters not, we love it either way. To solve your curiousity, read on.
MAWchicago.com is a construction company specializing in residential and commercial interior and exterior design and renovation. At MAWchicago.com, our goal is to always exceed our customer’s expectations and to provide you with the ultimate renovation experience.
MAWchicago.com brings over 80 years of combined construction experience in the residential and commercial renovation and new construction arenas. Its two partners, Mike Nagel and Scott Sevon, both second-generation builders, bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to this new venture. Both have owned their own companies in excess of 25 years, prior to joining forces in 2008, and are highly respected in the industry, both locally and nationally. Mike owned Remodel One, Inc., Scott owned Sevvonco, Inc. and both were partners in Belgravia Plus LLC, a renovation firm that specialized in the City of Chicago Market. When our partners at Belgravia Properties opted out of Belgravia Plus, Mike and Scott became the sole owners. All three companies have now merged under MAWchicago.com and serve both the City of Chicago and the metro Chicago markets.
Both Mike and Scott are firm believers in continuing education and supporting the industry through their involvement with the National Association of Home Builders. Both have achieved multiple certifications and keep abreast of the constantly changing legislation that continues to affect our industry. Both Mike and Scott are Certified Lead Renovators and MAWchicago.com is registered with the EPA to comply with the new EPA lead ruling. Both have served in many capacities on all levels including President of our Local and State Home Builders Association and National Chairman of the NAHB Remodelers Council.
Mike and Scott also do public speaking, to both industry leaders and consumers, on a range of topics including: green building, the renovation process, the new lead regulations and the state of the industry.
Combined, Mike and Scott have received many company awards and personal recognitions for their projects and involvement in the industry, including more than 40 design awards, Remodeler of the Year, Builder of the Year, and Graduate Master Builder of the Year, to name a few.
We are also very connected, follow us on our social media links.
“Building, whether new construction or renovation, is our passion.
We pride ourselves in our ability to design, budget,
and provide you with a quality project on your time table.
We look forward to the opportunity to work with you.”
Michael Nagel & Scott Sevon
Posted in MAW Chicago, Mike Nagel, Scott Sevon
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Tagged Chicago Remodeling, HBAGC, HBAI, Home Addition, Kitchen Remodel, MAW Chicago, Mike Nagel, NAHB, New Construction, Remodeling, Scott Sevon
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