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Association Standouts
INNOVATORS
Montana Building Industry Association
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Contact the MBIA office at 406.442.4479 or email sassion@montanabia.com
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 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.
LINDA REVENAUGH OUTGOING SWMBIA EXECUTIVE OFFICER, 2018 NAHB Association Excellence Award Winner
Although there were times Linda Revenaugh was the sole employee of the Southwest Montana Building Industry Association, the high regard she has for its members and staff is evident to all. For every single SWMBIA event or success story, she’ll quickly reel off (by memory) a list of individuals and organizations that worked alongside her.
Nevertheless, she will acknowledge that she’s proud of her contributions to SWMBIA. And with twenty-three years under her belt, there are many. One of her most satisfying moments happened in 2005, when the city of Bozeman agreed to return $5 million in impact fees to those that had paid fees, as well as temporarily reduce fee levels. In 1999, the building association had joined other claimants to file what became a class-action lawsuit against the city, arguing Bozeman was overcharging builders and developers for impact fees. “That decision actually inspired similar legal changes throughout the U.S.,” said Revenaugh.
Revenaugh has dedicated her entire professional career to SWMBIA. In 1998 she began as a part-time office manager but soon switched to full-time. Over the next several years, staff turnover at times left Revenaugh as the only employee. “I wore a lot of different hats,” she recalled. “At one point I was director of operations, then I was interim EO for probably three or four years” before being hired as the official executive officer. In 2018 she was awarded the National Small Office Executive Officer Award from NAHB.
Given her decision to get her BA in political science at MSU in Bozeman, it’s not surprising that advocating on behalf of building industry professionals was one of Revenaugh’s greatest passions. “That advocacy was key, especially in partnership with the national association, which represents over 600 or so local associations, as well as with MBIA. That’s where I could see how SWMBIA was acting as a catalyst for change, and really understand how all our grassroots efforts are connected to what can be accomplished at the national level.” She was also impressed with the caliber of the local and state building industry members she’s had the privilege of working with. “Those people are true leaders in their communities, and I consider many to be lifelong friends.”
As for her future plans? “I see myself getting more involved in things that I haven’t had time to get involved with. Right now I’m just enjoying the heck out of having a little time to catch up on things,” especially spending time with her family, including her two daughters that are juniors in high school, her son who’s currently attending Gallatin College, and her and her husband Paul’s extended family.
