Honor To Be Presented April 15th during Atlantic Builders Convention in Atlantic City
Hamilton, NJ– The New Jersey Builders Association (NJBA) announces that Tom Paparone has been selected as the 2010 Legend of Housing – the Association’s highest honor and most prestigious designation. Established to recognize exceptional accomplishments and contributions to the home building industry, the Legends of Housing designation is unique in that its recipients must demonstrate a significant and enduring impact on housing in New Jersey. Paparone will be recognized at a banquet on Thursday, April15, 2010 at Caesars, Atlantic City during the 61st Annual Atlantic Builders Convention (ABC).
According to NJBA Past-President and Legends of Housing Committee Chair, Stephen Patron, “The principles of designation as a Legend of Housing set forth stringent criteria for such an esteemed recognition, and include such standards as ‘The honor should not be routinely bestowed, and should be conferred only if a candidate has fundamentally altered how housing is made available and affordable to those who need a place to live in New Jersey.’”
Honorees may be individuals or groups – including individuals, organizations, companies or even families – and need not be NJBA members. A Legend of Housing designation is granted based on merit and demonstration of a significant and enduring impact on housing in New Jersey. Past recipients include homebuilders, business professionals and citizens, including housing advocate Ethel Lawrence – the individual behind the famous Mount Laurel Decision (a State Constitutional mandate requiring municipalities to provide realistic opportunities for the production of housing that is affordable to New Jersey’s low- and moderate-income households).
The Legends of Housing award is the greatest honor the New Jersey Builders Association can bestow – recognizing those whose commitment to serve our industry has been demonstrated at the highest levels over an enduring period of time. It enables our organization to pay tribute to those whose life-long dedication to our industry has resulted in a substantial, measurable, and lasting impact on housing New Jersey families.
Patron continued, “Only those whose contributions are so significant and whose credentials warrant recognition in such a compelling manner receive the Legends designation. For his considerable and measurable contributions to the home building industry in New Jersey for more than 40 years, for his active commitment to developing ‘growth share’ principles, and for his outstanding community service, Tom Paparone embodies the attributes which make him a true Legend of Housing.”
Paparone received his BS and MS degrees in Civil Engineering from Drexel University, and has been a licensed professional engineer in New Jersey and Pennsylvania since 1971. He has been honored by Drexel University College of Engineers and the American Society of Civil Engineers, receiving their Circle of Distinction Award in 2003 and Distinguished Engineer Award in 1992, respectively.
He is the President of Paparone Housing Company, Inc., having served previously as VP of Operations and Engineering for Paparone Construction Company – a division of U.S. Home Corporation – for eight years, and as the company’s division President for two. During his career, Paparone has built communities large and small throughout New Jersey – primarily in South Jersey.
Paparone served as President of the Builders League of South Jersey (BLSJ) in 1974, and as President of the NJBA in 1978, and has held various leadership positions within both organizations. Both organizations have honored Paparone for his service to the industry. He was the first recipient of the Distinguished Service Award from the BLSJ – presented in 2005, was honored with the Commitment to Excellence Award in 1998 and again in 1999, and was inducted in to that organization’s Hall of Fame in 2006. The NJBA honored Paparone previously with awards including Builder of Year, Hall of Fame, Continuing Service, and Preservation of the American Dream.
Beyond the many professional service and achievement awards Paparone has received throughout his career, he has also been recognized several times for his community service and humanitarian efforts. Namely, Paparone received the Canuso Family Foundation Humanitarian Award in 1988, was named “Man of the Year’ in 2007 by the Order Sons of Italy in America (Alighieri-Garibaldi Lodge 494), and was honored as “South Jerseyan of the Year” in 2008 by Rutgers University-Camden’s Senator Walter Rand Institute for Public Affairs.
Tom Paparone and his wife Louise reside in Mount Laurel, Burlington County, NJ. They have three children – Michael, Laura and Tina; and one grandchild – AJ. Proudly, both Michael and Laura are continuing the tradition and working in the family business.
Paparone will be honored as a Legend of Housing at the NJBA Installation Dinner Reception on Thursday, April 15th at One Atlantic on The Pier at Caesar’s Atlantic City beginning at 6:30 p.m. Tickets for the black-tie optional affair are $125 each. Additional information about the event can be found online at http://www.abconvention.com/Installation.html.
About the Atlantic Builders Convention (ABC)
Now in its 61st year, the ABC is the largest building industry trade show in the Northeast, drawing approximately 9,000 participants from a six-state region, including residential and commercial builders, developers, remodelers and subcontractors, plus a variety of consulting professionals. The three-day convention features 600 exhibits showcasing the latest products and services to a large and diverse audience of decision makers. Attendees gain up-to-date information about the latest market trends, government policies and technical developments at educational seminars. Additional information is available online, at www.abconvention.com. Follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn & Twitter.
