Mark Spriggs is in select company. He’s one of only 61 Graduate Master Remodelers in the nation.

Over the past nine years, Spriggs has quietly gone about achieving five professional designations from the National Association of Home Builders. This year, he advanced to the Master level in the remodeling field.

The base requirement for Graduate Master Remodelers is at least 15 years of remodeling experience. On top of that, there is an additional remodeling certification, a testing requirement, course requirements and continuing education to maintain.

Spriggs also is a Certified Graduate Remodeler (CGR), Certified Aging-In-Place Specialist (CAPS), Certified Graduate Builder (CGB) and Certified Green Professional (CGP).

Bryce Johnson, HBA of F-M CEO, says, “Those letters indicate that builders or remodelers have taken the time to seek out additional education related to their industry that isn’t mandatory. They are doing it to increase their professionalism, and it is a marketing tool to attract customers. It’s more than alphabet soup!”

Spriggs keeps it simple and says, “I just think it’s good to learn as much as you can!”

He also credits his business partner and wife, Lisa Spriggs, with encouraging him to stay on the education path. They found themselves traveling each year to the NAHB International Builders’ Show where these tests and classes are routinely offered.

Lisa quickly identified the potential to maximize their time while at thebig show, and Mark has been pleasantly surprised at what he learns outside of the curriculum.

“Networking with others in our industry from around the nation has been extremely helpful,” he says. “We aren’t competing with each other, and they are willing to share niche items and things that are working in their operation that I can bring back and apply to ours.”

Through the required classes, Mark has also picked up business and management skills in scheduling, profit margins, project management and financial tips. On the customer side of things, he finds the credentials helpful in proving that he is committed to his professionalism and having its sights focused on excellence.

All local designation holders are promoted to the public at hbafm.com, at nahb.org, in the HBA of F-M’s printed membership directory and in magazines for Parade of Homes and the Home & Garden Show.

Those interested in learning more should contact Summer Hammond at (701) 232-5846 or summer@hbafm.com. You can also access information under the Education tab at nahb.org.

NAHB Designations Did You Know?

• 13 types of designations are offered
• 22 local professionals hold designations
• 9 local professionals hold multiple designations

In the nation, there are currently:

• 2,949 Certified-Aging-In-Place Specialists
• 2,339 Housing Credit Certified Professionals
• 1,795 Certified Green Professionals
• 580 Certified Graduate Builders
• 516 Certified Graduate Remodelers
• 61 Graduate Master Remodelers