Montana Home Experts - Fall 2021

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INNOVATORS

Montana Building Industry Association

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Contact the MBIA office at 406.442.4479 or email sassion@montanabia.com

KATIE HANNING HBAGF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, 2020 NAHB Association Excellence Award Winner “What I love about this industry is that it still requires a hammer and a nail and a little bit of elbow grease. By God, we have a lot of hard-working people in our association, and they’re an inspiration.” Anyone who’s met Katie Hanning would never in a million years describe her as “suffering from delusions of grandeur.” When this Executive Officer of the Home Builders Association of Great Falls (HBAGF) won the Small Office Honor Award at the 2021 Association Management Conference in Minneapolis this past August, she was completely taken off guard. “The first words out of my mouth were, ‘Get out!’” recalled Hanning, laughing. “I didn’t even want to spend the association money to attend the conference, but everyone kept insisting I go—and that I take my husband, which I thought was weird.” Born and raised mainly in Great Falls, Hanning described herself as “a usual Montana kid. Like most Montanans, I 22

FALL 2021

worked through the ranks.” After earning a certificate in construction industry technology, she spent the majority of her career in that industry until thirteen years ago, when someone Hanning worked with suggested she apply for the position of Executive Officer with HBAGF. “I didn’t think I’d get it,” she admitted, “but I just ended up really hitting it off with the person who interviewed me. They could see I had a passion for the industry.” Thankfully for members of HBAGF, that passion has never waned. When asked what makes industry association membership so valuable, Hanning replied, “Hands-down, every member in our association wants us to fight the fight, to advocate for them at the local, state and federal levels to

protect them from overregulation. That’s something I do every day. Even just to have me available to answer calls when COVID hit and help ensure construction was considered an essential business [was critical]. That saved hundreds of Montana families from going under.” And what’s the most rewarding aspect of Hanning’s position? From day one, she’s appreciated the opportunity to promote the construction industry to future generations. “It’s been inspiring to watch our members that are seasoned veterans give of themselves and work with the next generation.” Someday, Hanning looks forward to being able to mentor and inspire her successor in much the same way. We’re quite positive she will.