Inside the Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP) on Dec. 5, the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties’ (MBAKS) installed Erich Armbruster of Ashworth Homes as the 2018 MBAKS president and board of directors chair. Armbruster’s term begins Jan. 1, 2018.

Armbruster, president of Ashworth Homes in Shoreline, understands the importance of building a variety of housing structures using sustainable components to help meet the needs of a growing population and address environmental issues affecting the Puget Sound Region. Armbruster is a licensed civil engineer with a passion for building and has more than 15 years of experience with 200 residential and commercial projects in Washington, Oregon, Idaho and California.

“Building a sound future for families in the Puget Sound area is important, and I look forward to working alongside the Master Builders Association’s team to execute the 10-point legislative plan and continue to grow the Built Green program in 2018,” Armbruster said in a press release from the association. In October, MBAKS unveiled a comprehensive 10-point plan to address attainable housing solutions in the region. Since 1999, the Built Green program, a nonprofit residential building program of MBAKS, promotes eco-friendly home building methods for area housing. Last year, 58 percent of new single-family homes built in the city of Seattle were certified Built Green.

“Building homes is crucial to meet the growing need and alleviate the housing crisis we are experiencing currently,” Armbruster said. “However, it is as important to build environmentally friendly and resource-efficient housing that provides homeowners healthy, quality living while also protecting the environment.”

Also at the gala was the induction of two past board presidents of MBAKS, Peter Orser and Todd Bennett, into the association’s Hall of Fame.

Orser is known for his 25 years as President and CEO Quadrant Homes (2003-2010), during which he built the company to become one of Washington’s leading homebuilders. In 2010, Orser then became president and CEO of Weyerhaeuser. He also served as MBAKS board president in 2004. Currently, Orser is serving as chair of the Housing Affordability Response Team, chairman of the Runstad Real Estate Center Advisory Board and member of the Washington State Affordable Housing Advisory Board.

Bennett is the founder and president of BDR Companies, and had previously served a principal at Bennett Homes for 30 years. Bennett also served as MBAKS board president in 2003, and has been part of the association’s board for the past 20 years. Bennett is a founding member of the Built Green Steering Committee that developed the MBAKS Built Green program. He has also volunteered with the Bellevue Downtown Association, the Salvation Army, Bellevue Schools Foundation and A Regional Coalition for Housing (ARCH).

During the ceremony, annual awards were also given to outstanding MBAKS’s members. They are:

• Spirit of Service Award: Building Beyond the Walls, Sue Z. Hart

• Built Green Moving the Market Award: Green Canopy Homes, Aaron Fairchild

• Associate Member of the Year: Dunn Lumber, Jim Coshow

• Remodeler of the Year: Gaspar’s Construction, Sarah Henry

• Builder of the Year: Terrene Homes, Mike Walsh

Joining Armbruster on the 2018 board are:

Todd Levitt, Murray Franklyn

Returning board directors include:

Mike Walsh, Terrene Homes, serving as immediate past president

Sunshine Kapus, Gamut360 Holdings, serving as first vice president

Bonnie Geers, Quadrant Homes, serving as second vice president

Jayson Buechler, Housing Capital Company, serving as secretary

Mark Villwock, LDC Inc.

Keith Hammer, Northwest Investment Group

Aaron Fairchild, Green Canopy Homes

August Bergdahl, Crescent Builds

Paul Bogel, HomeStreet Bank

Steve Cory, Fidelity National Title

Luellen Smith, Rhino Wine Cellars & Cooling Systems

Kevin Ballard, Village Life

Kelley Moldstad, Toll Brothers Seattle

For a list of current board members, visit mbaks.com/about/board-of-directors.