Chicago, IL - Pro Builder has unveiled its annual 40 under 40 list of rising stars in the homebuilding industry. New Home Star employee Aaron Wagner, Director of Organizational Learning, is among the honorees profiled in this year’s March/April issue. From a competitive field across the country, 19 women and 21 men were selected as recipients of this highly competitive award.
“We are so excited and proud to have Aaron representing our organization in this year’s 40 Under 40,” says New Home Star Vice President of Organizational Development, Keith McKinney. “His journey to this prestigious honor has been incredible to witness, and his hard work and dedication to succeed are admirable.”
Pro Builder stated that one trait this year’s honorees demonstrated was the ability to pivot during the pandemic. Their accomplishments included generating record sales volume using a variety of tactics: launching an all-virtual home shopping experience, doubling leads by creating and growing online sales teams, building a digital platform that targets buyer groups, and training staff in how to engage prospects during an online buying journey.
Many “firsts” were also achieved by this group of the industry’s next generation of leaders, featuring women who became their company’s first CEO, first vice president of purchasing, or senior manager for a national builder. A number of this year’s awardees rose from modest stations, such as the greeter who learned how to sell homes by watching how the sales team operated, going on to become a top sales producer, division manager, and ultimately developing her company’s training regimen for new salespeople. This year’s class also includes a company vice president who started as a new home technician and a project director who worked his way up from entry-level draftsman.
In addition, the honorees are very active in giving back to their communities. Among their off-the-clock activities are building and remodeling homes for single mothers, needy families, and veterans, volunteering at food pantries, fundraising for charities and nonprofits, and coaching youth sports.
“Despite all of the challenges posed by 2020’s pandemic, our 2021 class rose to the occasion, developing new processes and procedures and helping to ensure their companies continued to be dynamic and successful,” says Executive Editor Denise Dersin. “Their achievements, both at work and in their communities, are remarkable and inspiring.”
To learn more about the Pro Builder’s extraordinary 40 Under 40 Class of 2021, see their profiles online at ProBuilder.com.