Legends of the Industry

David L. DeGiorgis – Founder, David L. DeGiorgis Wood Craftsman – Pittsfield, MA.

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

A lifelong resident of Pittsfield, MA David was educated in the Pittsfield public school system and after graduation he attended the Berkshire Community College and was awarded an Associates Degree in Liberal Arts in 1973. While in college David worked for several companies honing his skills as a carpenter. Four years out of college and four years in the building business David founded David L. DeGiorgis Wood Craftsman in 1976. David retired in 2022 but his company continues under the name D.L.D. Wood Craftsman Inc. with his daughter Felicia and husband Jake taking over the operation.

David joined the Berkshire County Builders Association Chapter in 1983, the chapter was later merged with the Home Builders and Remodelers Association of Western, MA (HBRAWM). He was elected president of the Berkshire group in 1997 and remained its president until 2004. Following the merger, David served as president of the HBRAWM in 2017 and 2018.

David has been a dedicated member of the home builders association, developing and nurturing new members. He has accumulated over 165 spikes for member recruitment and as a result is an NAHB Life Spike. He was also awarded the HBRAWM Edward Peterson Award for his industry and association achievements.

In the early stages, David’s company was primarily engaged in remodeling, both residential and commercial. In fact, David met Melanie, his wife of 43 years, while remodeling a mall store in Saratoga, NY. His business expanded from remodeling when David built his first passive solar post and beam home in 1981. With his commitment to being environmentally conscious, David and his crew went on to build the first Energy Star Program home in Berkshire County in 1995 located in Lee Mass, he would go on to build three more within that program.

As David’s career was growing so was his family. He and Melanie welcomed two daughters in 1982 and 1987.

During his tenure with the Berkshire County Builders David began his involvement with Habitat for Humanity. One of his early projects with Habitat was the construction of a post and beam home which was featured in the Berkshire Eagle.

While most of David’s career has been local to Berkshire County and the surrounding area, he was engaged by a client to repair a second home on St. Croix that had suffered extensive hurricane damage. Over the years David has fostered many great relationships with clients like this. They trust him and his crew to work on multiple projects and even multiple properties they own. His clients can always count on excellent craftsmanship and attention to detail. Everything from ground up home builds to custom cabinetry and furniture, always living up to the Wood Craftsman name.

Lawrence “Larry” Kady – Managing Director– Jay Development Corp.- Methuen, MA.

Nominated as a “Legend of the Industry” by the Northeast Builders and Remodelers Association.

A Massachusetts native, Larry began his building career in 1986 shortly after graduating from the University of Lowell with a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering, in fact Larry worked his way through college as a framer. Remodeling at that time became his second job as he worked for his father in his electronics manufacturing business. Part-time, Larry bought and then remodeled multi-family homes in Lawrence, MA starting with a three decker which he bought through a mortgage at the “low rate” of 18.9%. Larry went on to remodel many older multi-family homes while living in each of them making them “owner occupied.” Larry moved his family seven time in seven years to keep his owner-occupied mortgage in force. While continuing to remodel, Larry earned his Master’s Degree in International Business from Southern NH University writing his Master’s thesis on family businesses.

In 1999 Kady began working for R&D Development and lead the construction of 14 homes at Emerald Pines in Methuen. In 2005 Larry ventured back on his own establishing Jay Development Corp. with partner Giovanni Sorbello. Jay Development has rehabilitated abandoned homes all over the State of MA.

A member of the home builders since 2006, he served as the Northeast Builders (NEBA) president in 2009-2010 and was awarded the honor of Builder of the Year by NEBA in 2014. Larry also served as president of the MA state association (HBRAMA) in 2013-2014. Larry has represented Massachusetts at the national level as well. He has just concluded his 15^th year as NAHB State Representative and is a Life Delegate and former Board of Director member at the national association. Larry has recruited and mentored over 155 members during his career giving him Life Spike status at NAHB. Larry believes that his time spent with the home builders has had a great impact personally and on his business, “The friends throughout the country that I have developed over the years have been both rewarding and educational” he said.

Larry’s service goes beyond the home builders he has been involved with Habitat for Humanity in Lawrence and Lowell and sits on the board of Whittier Regional Vocational School promoting workforce development.

Larry’s latest venture, along with his wife Deborah, was the purchase of Tee Emm Kennels in 2019. Using his building skills Larry has expanded the kennel, now known as Hidden Gem Pet Resort, to be one of the largest and longest running (started in 1952) pet care facilities in New England.

Larry resides in Salisbury with his wife Deborah and has three children: Neko, Christopher and Jennifer.

Jane Marie O’Connor – Owner, 55 Plus LLC – Hawley, MA – Nominated as a “Legend of the Industry” by the Builders and Remodelers Association of Greater Boston.

For over 28 years, having founded her company in 1996, Jane has studied the consumers 55 years of age and older. She has learned and understands what drives the decision making of this group. Jane has earned seven certifications including: Masters in Residential Marketing (MIRM), Certified Professional Behavioral Analyst (CPBA) and Certified Aging in Place Specialist (CAPS) among others. She has been educating and assisting builders, developers and 55+ industry professionals, challenging them to Rethink, Retool and Refine their strategies and product offerings. Jane has provided guidance to public and private builders and developers both nationally and internationally who specialize in the powerful and profitable niche 55+ market segment.

A graduate of the University of Massachusetts, Amherst with a degree in interior and architectural design Jane uses her education, skill and contacts to bring together various notable industry experts to collaborate in joint efforts to bring the very best product to market for her clients, including research, design, marketing and sales. She loves working with existing building company teams to educate and inspire them to refine their product, amenities, messaging and sales strategies for the very best consumer absorption.

As an Associate, now Builder member of the Home Builders since 2007, Jane has amassed an amazing history of service to the association which has included serving on the BRAGB Board of Directors, and as a trustee for NAHB’s 55+ Housing Industry Council since 2009. She also served on the NAHB Board of Directors for 6 years beginning in 2009 and joined the ranks of the association’s Professional Women in Building Council, dedicated to promoting industry professionalism, build a more diverse workforce, and raise awareness of women’s important role in the building industry. Jane has recruited and mentored over 45 members to the association.

And if that was not enough, Jane is an instructor for NAHB’s University of Housing on design, trends and marketing to the active adult community. She is the lead author in the publication “Selling to the Active Adult” as well as a contributor to local, national and international publications. Jane was the founding member of the MA Housing Council and will be NAHB’s National 55+ Councils Chair in 2026.

Beyond Jane’s impressive service to the industry, she has served on her town’s Planning Board, its Job Search Committee and its Arts Council. She is past president of The Sons & Daughters of Hawley, a Historical Society.

Jane is a watercolor artist, woodworker and wood carver and has won several first-place awards for her creations. In her younger years Jane also designed and produced intricate stained-glass windows in her studio which were sold to builders throughout the country. When not creating masterpieces or helping builders navigate the 55+ housing market Jane can be found tending to her organic garden.

Originally a Midwesterner Jane’s education took her to Massachusetts in 1970 where she raised her children, now adults, Gabriel and Aaron.

Jack Stevenson – President, General Manager – Mid Cape Home Centers – South Dennis, MA – Nominated as a “Legend of the Industry” by the Home Builders and Remodelers Association of Cape Cod.

Originally from Bayfield, Wisconsin Jack began his career in the lumber industry working at a small Bayfield lumberyard owned by his father. At the age of 14 Jack would be found working as a human forklift, loading and unloading trucks.

Stevenson’s career followed in the lumber business on a trajectory which he summarizes simply as, “Worked there, managed it, bought it, then sold it.” At one point, Jack hit the road. First, he went south to Green Bay, where he worked for a family-run regional powerhouse, Stock Lumber (now Wisconsin Building Supply). Eventually he took his career 1,500 miles south to Georgia, where he was Director of Strategic Accounts and simultaneously had oversight of a truss plant and turnkey framing division for Stock Building Supply (now BMC).

In 2012 Jeff Plank, a MA business man, purchased Mid Cape Home Center from the Nickerson family who had owned and managed Nickerson Lumber Company since 1895. Plank recruited Jack Stevenson in 2014 as his General Manager and he was quickly elevated to president of the organization. “I was immediately excited about the potential held by Mid-Cape, and the chance to really move the dial in helping to reach it.” Stevenson recalls. “The Mid-Cape opportunity came and has proved to be a great fit for me and my background and my family.”

Under Jack’s leadership Mid Cape was re-energized as a customer focused business and expanded to six locations across the Cape with dozens of delivery vehicles and 250 employees. More than 80% of Mid Cape’s business customers are professional contractors however Mid Capes showrooms also cater to homeowner’s and do-it-yourselfers.

In 2021 Mid Cape was acquired by US LBM the largest privately owned distributor of specialty building materials in the U.S. Jack continues to operate the company as President and General Manager.

Stevenson has been involved in his local community and industry organizations for most of his career. He’s spent the last several years on the Board of Directors for the Home Builders and Remodelers Association of Cape Cod and has served on the Home Builder and Remodelers Association of MA, Government Affairs Committee. Jack also sits on the Board of Directors of the Massachusetts Retail Lumber Dealers Association (MRLDA) and the Cape Cod Economic Commission. In the fall of 2021, he was honored as “Lumber Person of the Year” by the MRLDA.

Generous not only with his time but financial resources as well, Jack and Mid Cape have supported hundreds of organizations throughout the Cape including a recent material donation to Habitat for Humanity and the HBRACC Blitz Build. “We remain deeply embedded in the local community and make it a point to both support and lead fundraising initiatives for countless local causes.” noted Jack.

Proud of his company to have received a total of 25 Awards over the past 7 years between the Home Builder and Remodelers Association of Cape Cod’s BRICC Awards and the Builders and Remodelers Association of Greater Boston PRISM Awards, both of which the company is also a member. It is perhaps that the most telling Prism award they received and one that truly defines Jack and Mid Cape was the awarding of the “Community Spirit” award for five consecutive years.

Jack resides in Plymouth MA with his wife Terri of 47 years. They have two children, Crystal and Nicole as well as two grandchildren.

His advice for others, especially the younger generation in the industry, is simple yet sturdy. “Two key things: Find a mentor and outwork everyone around you.” He also adds, “My favorite saying is, ‘Do the right thing.’ It has been a guiding principle for me and a core value that Mid-Cape has firmly embraced and has helped propel our growth.”