Legends of the Industry

2023 Honorees

Andrew Chaban

Princeton Properties

Andrew Chaban, Princeton Properties

Andrew Chaban – Chief Executive Officer, Princeton Properties – Lowell, MA
Nominated as a “Legend of the Industry” by the Northeast Builders and Remodelers Association (NEBA)
Andrew joined Princeton Properties in 1994 and is today considered to be one of the foremost industry experts in the field of rehabilitation and management of multifamily rental housing.
He is responsible for the financial health of the company which currently manages more than 7,000 apartment units spread across Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Maine. He oversees acquisition, development and construction or rehabilitation of apartment properties as well as managing the accounting and finance functions of Princeton Properties.
Andrew first joined the Northeast Builders Association in 1993 and quickly began making an impact on the association taking over the presidency of NEBA in 2007. He has served as the President (1999) of the Rental Housing Association of the Greater Boston Real Estate Board.
Additional industry service on a national level has included: MA State Representative to NAHB- 2004 and 2008 and National Area Chairman for NAHB Area 1 – 2009 to 2010. Andrew has chaired the following NAHB Committees: Housing and Finance, Federal Government Affairs, Association Planning, Multi-family Council Board of Trustees, Resolutions Committee, Public Affairs, State and Local Government Affairs and has served as Vice Chair of NAHB’s Budget and Finance Committee for five out of the last twelve years.
Certainly, an exhausting resume of service to the industry but he has also an impressive community service resume. He is a member of the Tufts University Tisch College Board of Advisors, a past member of the Tufts University Trustee Building and Grounds Committee and Past Chair of the Board at the Pike School in Andover, MA.
Generous not only with his time but his financial resources as well, Andrew has been a supporter of the Be Like Brit Foundation which included travelling to Haiti to work at the Foundation’s orphanage. He has financed the renovation of a portion of the Lawrence Boys and Girls Club and has chaired the fundraising effort for the Greater Lawrence Family Health Center.
And as if that was not enough, Andrew is a Vice President of Board 130 of the International Association of Accredited Basketball Officials and is a certified basketball referee. If you can’t find Andrew in his office, he is most likely refereeing a high school basketball game.
Andrew was chosen by Bankers and Tradesman of Boston as one of the “125 Leaders Making a Difference” and was the recipient of the 2002 B’Nai Birth Man of the Year award.
A resident of Andover MA with his wife Chrissy of 29 years, they have two sons, Alex and Max.

Brian Harding

Andersen Windows and Doors

Brian Harding, Andersen Windows and Doors

Brian Harding – Account Manager – Andersen Windows and Doors– Bayport, MN
Nominated as a “Legend of the Industry” by the Home Builders and Remodelers Association of Cape Cod. (HBRACC)
Brian is entering his 24th year as a Coastal Window and Door Consultant for Cape Cod & The Islands for the Andersen Corporation. Prior to joining Andersen, Brian was a Senior Sales Consultant at Velux America beginning in 1989. Prior to 1989 Brian was a framing contractor on Cape Cod which was his initial introduction to the Home Builders and Remodelers Association of Cape Cod taking classes to earn his Construction Supervises License.
A tireless and eager supporter of the Home Builders and Remodelers Association of Cape Cod and the entire southeastern MA residential and commercial building community. Brian has been a member of the home builder’s association for over 20 years and has served on the Cape Cod Associations Board of Directors longer than even he can remember.
Brian works far beyond a volunteer’s expectations and serves the membership on important code and legislative issues. Being from the fenestration industry he is infinitely aware of building codes and code changes in the Commonwealth and uses that knowledge to educate members throughout Cape Cod and beyond.
Apart from mustering Andersen financial support in the form of sponsorships for association activities he is personally involved in many aspects of the association especially Cape Cod’s Blitz Build, a five-day whole house construction project which benefits Habitat for Humanity. Blitz Build occurs every two years and Brian has not only arranged material donations for the project but coordinates labor contributions and generates participation and volunteerism with his enthusiastic spirit. Additionally, Brian was a past member of the West Barnstable Civic Association for 6 years.
In 2017 Mr. Harding received the “Associate Member of the Year” award from HBRACC and the “Presidents Choice Award” in 2019.
Brian is an experienced, trusted voice with the association and has used his experience and association longevity to mentor and develop new and younger members of the HBRACC Board of Directors.
A graduate of Westfield State University Brian resides in West Barnstable MA with his wife Sue. They have two daughters, Kaitlyn a CPA and Kasey who is a nurse.

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Sue Hawkes

The Collaborative Companies

Sue Hawkes, The Collaborative Companies

Sue Hawkes – CEO / Principal – The Collaborative Companies – Boston, MA
Nominated as a “Legend of the Industry” by the Builders and Remodelers Association of Greater Boston (BRAGB)
Sue has been a member of the Home Builders Association since 1981, beginning her career with The Codman Company, a real estate marketing firm in 1980 where she served as Vice President. Ms. Hawkes joined The Collaborative Companies (TCC) as a partner in 1997 and acquired the company in 2008. Upon acquiring the company Sue elevated the TCC brand, establishing a reputation as Boston’s preeminent real estate consulting firm. In 2016 The Collaborative Companies was acquired by NRT / Reology, now known as Anywhere Real Estate, Inc. As Managing Director of TCC, the firm has exceeded over fifteen billion dollars in real estate transactions.
Sue is a recognized leader in the residential development industry, specializing in the design development, product positioning, marketing and disposition strategy of multi-family real estate projects. She earned her NAHB Member of the Institute of Residential Marketing (MIRM) in 1985 and served as a member of the National Sales and Marketing Council Board of Trustees from 1989-1993 and chaired the National Sales and Marketing “MIRM” Awards Program. Additionally, Sue served on the NAHB Executive Committee from 1992-1994 first as Chair of the National Sales and Marketing Council followed by Chair of the NAHB Membership Committee.
Beyond her service at the national level Sue served as President of the Builders Association of Greater Boston in 1996 and was a member of the Commercial Real Estate Woman’s Association as well as the Urban Land Institute. Sue was inducted into the BRAGB Hall of Fame in 2019. In 2019 she was also named Boston’s Top Woman in Real Estate. She holds real estate licenses in three states.
Sue’s company has received more than a dozen gold and silver awards at the NAHB Nationals and has garnered more than 70 regional gold and silver awards at the BRAGB PRISM Awards.
TCC’s client list is extensive and includes most of the top multi-family developers throughout the region.
Sue’s service to the community includes serving on the Board of Directors of the Waterville, ME Alfond Youth Center, representing the merger of the YMCA and the Boy’s and Girl’s Club. Additionally, she served on the Board of Directors of Cushing Academy for seven years and the Alumni Council for St. Lawrence University.
Sue and her husband, Harry Wight, live in Carlisle, MA. with their blended family of five children: Kylie and husband Matt, living in Manhattan and LA, – Ryan, wife Cat and son Carter who live in Boston – Chris, married to Sydney with two girls, living in London – Jaime with husband Josh and Kathryn with husband Frank and their children all live in Carlisle as well.

Bruce Libby

Contemporary Structures Inc.

Bruce Libby, Contemporary Structures Inc.

Bruce Libby – Owner, Contemporary Structures Inc. – Ludlow, MA

Nominated as a “Legend of the Industry” by the Home Builders and Remodelers Association of Western, MA. (HBRAWM)

Bruce has been a member of the Western MA association for 30 years having joined the organization in 1993.

Contemporary Structures Inc. began in 1975 when Bruce, along with his father, Carl, began the company building post and beam passive solar homes. In 1989 when Bruce’s dad retired the company began to focus on building interior stair assemblies for new construction throughout Western, Ma.

Contemporary Structures Inc. currently has 9 employees including Bruce’s son, Steve and provides both design and in-shop fabrication of stair systems as well as on-site installation. Through the years many of the company’s employees have come through various high school vocational training programs. Bruce has been very active in several high school carpentry programs and sits on the trade advisory board for those high schools. He lectures trade students on carpentry and the construction trades in general and employs co-op students from the carpentry programs when available.

Bruce, throughout his career has been a staunch advocate in the promotion of students entering the building trades. He serves on the Western MA Education Committee where he has assessed scholarship applications and presented both academic scholarships as well as tool stipends for graduating seniors.

Service to his local association has additionally included serving as President of the HBRAWM in 2013 and as a long-time member of Western’s Board of Directors. Bruce also serves as the Western, MA representative to the state association’s Board of Directors, holding that position for five years.

Beyond Bruce’s service to the industry, he has served on the Stormwater Management Committee for the town of Hampden, participated in Habitat for Humanity projects in Springfield and a new house build in Granby, Ma for “Homes for Our Troops”. He has offered both time and financial support to “Rick’s Place” which provides grief support for children, teens and their families as well as “Christina’s House” a shelter for women and families suffering from domestic abuse.

Bruce lives in Hampden, MA along with his wife of 47 years, Janet. His son Steve is now a partner in Contemporary Structures while his daughter Jenna, a civil engineer, resides in Florida with her husband Kyle and their 2 children Madison and Jackson.

Honoring Past “Legends of the Industry” Inductees

2022 — Mark Herlihy, Robert E. Langell Sr., Bill LaPlante, Rob and Bob McPhee, Paul Sullivan

2021 Benjamin Fierro III, Penny Hammel, Betty Moore, Anthony (Tony) Murad, Guy Webb

2019 — Scott Colwell, Mike Duffany, Michael E. McDowell, John T. Smolak

2018 — Ron Bonvie, Gail Lucier, Ted Mahoney, Lillian Montalto

2017 — Alan J. Green, Mark Leff, Harry Saucier

2016 — Henry J. Comosse, Douglas King, Michael “Mike” Limperis

2015 — Stephen Dixon, Thomas J. Piekarski, Kevin Giblin

2014 — William “Bill” Almeida, Dale Halchak, Gilbert G. Campbell, Martin Israel

2013 — Russ Leonard, John S. Marini, Paul T. Cummings, John Bologna, Leonard F. Gengel

2012 — Joseph R. Kakley, Theodore Steinhilber, Maureen DiPalma, Melvin Fink, Hamilton (Tony) Shepley

2011 — John Slavin, Dr. James Walsh, Julie Sprindzunas, Paul J. Moriarty, Robin Ward

2010 — Elizabeth Kovach, Andrew Crane, Carl Foley, Donald Johnston, Finley Perry

2009 — Harry F. Smith, Charles P. Magri, Raymond E. Laplante, James Derderian Jr.

2008 — Donald A. Baker, Charles L. Calabrese, Michael Cole, Yvon Cormier, Richard Lussier, Kevin B. Sweeney

2006 — C. Joseph Grignaffini, Albert Laplante, Gerald J. Lussier