In 1993, the Wayne Pike Building Industry Association was formed to serve those in the home building industry. Today the BIA is 125 members strong and producing results.

The BIA’s mission is to provide advocacy, support, and growth opportunities for professionals in the building industry; and to serve as the preferred trusted resource for consumers in the community. It’s a mission that has been fulfilled and has benefited not only members and the local community but also the entire state of Pennsylvania.

The Wayne Pike BIA is home to a host of past (and future) presidents of the Pennsylvania Builders Association – members who have committed themselves to fighting for fair housing guidelines and establishing programs to benefit those who make up the heart and soul of the industry.

But that devotion starts at the local level. The BIA’s members work together to serve each other and the community. Through a variety of programs including education and networking opportunities, plus well-organized events that raise much needed funds to help secure the future of the workforce, members are doing their very best to make a difference.

These initiatives are led by 2020 President Ryan Smyth and a loyal group of senior officers and board members. Executive Officer Nicky Paterson runs the daily operations out of the Hawley, Pennsylvania headquarters.

In a normal year, members gather in June for the annual scholarship golf outing. Proceeds benefit local high school graduates who will be continuing their education with a major focused on the construction industry, including trade programs, engineering, architecture, and others. Due to current events, this year’s event will be held on July 15 at the Paupack Hills Country Club.

Raising money isn’t the only way BIA members are looking to help out the next generation. Members routinely volunteer their time to participate in mock interviews with local high school students to help prepare them for real life experiences.

Another summer event is the very successful Backyard Raffle, featuring creative custom items from the talented members that are donated to be raffled off. The evening includes food, drinks, live music, and included in the admission cost are raffle tickets that can be used to win these incredible prizes. In 2019, some of the prizes were crafted benches and firepits, along with a slew of others including a custom Jenga game donated by Executive Officer Nicky Paterson. This year’s event is set for August 19 and is open to the public. Be sure to follow the Wayne Pike BIA on social media for location details.

The A.C.E. Awards in Construction Excellence are awarded each year in October. There are over 30 main categories members can enter – from building and plumbing to marketing and everything in between. The awards dinner to gathers all the members and applicants for the announcement and presentations to the winners of each category with a trophy. Again, this event is open to the public.

In December, members come together to honor and install the officers for the upcoming year at the Installation Dinner. It’s also a good time for members to relax and reflect on the past year and start making resolutions for the future. In the spirit of the season, in 2019 members combined the event with a toy drive to benefit the community.

Besides these events, the Wayne Pike BIA is always coming up with ideas to keep members engaged so that they can fully realize the benefits of networking. An example of this is the Morning Mugs program. After recognizing the challenges of bringing people together after a long day of work – or interrupting their day – the idea came up of inviting members to start their day together. Morning Mugs is a monthly opportunity to exchange ideas over coffee. Even during the shutdown, the BIA instituted a virtual Morning Mug meet-up!

Happy Hours are also a great way to let members sit back and enjoy spending time together while possibly even establishing connections and doing a bit of business.

In addition to all the great state and national benefits enjoyed by members, the Wayne Pike BIA has formed partnerships with other local businesses in the area to offer promotional discounts on a local radio station and on a local gym membership.

The Wayne Pike BIA continues to work hard for its members all while serving the industry and community with professionalism. With grit like that, we can all be sure of a prosperous future!