NIBCA celebrates leadership, growth
HAILEY HILL | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 3 weeks, 4 days AGO
Cel Demers, pictured with Precision Gutters and Roofing's Tony Ball, was named the North Idaho Building Contractors Association's Associate of the Year for 2025 on Wednesday night.
HAILEY HILL/Press
Jessica Cargile with North Ridge Contracting was sworn in as president of the North Idaho Building Contractors Association on Wednesday night by Barry Stearns, who served as the NIBCA president in 2013.
Rod Underhill and Cel Demers share a laugh after Underhill was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the North Idaho Building Contractors Association on Wednesday night.
Nicole Huff was awarded the Professional Women in Building Award for 2025 on Wednesday night. Pictured with North Idaho Building Contractors Association past president Cel Demers, left, and president Jessica Cargile.
Kelsey Johansen, middle, was presented with the North Idaho Building Contractors Association Young Professional of the Year Award on Wednesday night. Pictured with past president Cel Demers, left, and Merritt Timm with Restorage Closet Works.
Nicole Huff was awarded the Professional Women in Building Award for 2025 on Wednesday night. Pictured with North Idaho Building Contractors Association past president Cel Demers, left, and president Jessica Cargile.
Precision Gutters and Roofing was named Company of the Year for 2025 by the North Idaho Building Contractors Association. Jon Hoffman was all smiles as he accepted the award from past NIBCA president Cel Demers.
Mike Bell, owner of 4 Nails Construction, was named Builder of the Year for 2025 by the North Idaho Building Contractors Association on Wednesday night. Pictured with Cel Demers.
Nicole Huff was awarded the Professional Women in Building Award for 2025 on Wednesday night. Pictured with North Idaho Building Contractors Association past president Cel Demers, left, and president Jessica Cargile.
POST FALLS — The first time Jessica Cargile attended a North Idaho Building Contractors Association meeting, she couldn’t help but feel nervous.
That feeling returned before she was sworn in as NIBCA’s president for 2026 — but only for a moment.
“Then I walked in the door and remembered that these are my people,” Cargile said.
Cargile became the association’s president in front of over 100 members Wednesday night, along with officers for the board of directors.
“This moment isn’t mine, it’s all of ours,” Cargile said at the Club at Prairie Falls.
NIBCA saw a 13% increase in membership in 2025 and now represents 446 homebuilding companies across North Idaho.
Over 70% of jobs in Kootenai County are tied to the home building industry, according to NIBCA's website.
There’s power to be found in these numbers, Cargile said.
And through dialogue with legislators, Cargile hopes to address housing affordability.
“We can get active about it,” she said. “We have to address these issues and have every voice at the table when doing so.”
The night was also a celebration of the organization’s past.
NIBCA Life Director Rod Underhill was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award, a “recognition of an individual whose career has left a lasting impact on North Idaho’s building industry and on NIBCA itself.”
Underhill is one of NIBCA’s Life Directors and was recognized for “decades of leadership, integrity, and mentorship.”
But it was his personality that earned him a standing ovation as he accepted the award.
“If you ever get a chance to hang out with him, do it,” past president Cel Demers said.
In addition to presenting other awards throughout the night, Demers reflected on her term as president before passing the gavel to Cargile.
“I could not be prouder of where we landed,” Demers said.
She admitted that when she was sworn in as NIBCA president in January 2025, she was unsure of what to expect.
“I just hoped we would grow,” Demers said.
Growth, as it turned out, went well beyond membership numbers.
“I grew — not just as a leader, but as a person as well,” she said.
Demers added that her time as president was “an honor and a privilege,” and something that wouldn’t have been possible without NIBCA’s executive board.
“You are the heartbeat of this association,” she said. “The future is bright because of people like you.”
And the award winners are:
Young Professional of the Year: Kelsey Johansen
Professional Women in Building Award for 2025: Nicole Huff
Associate of the Year: Cel Demers
Company of the Year: Precision Gutters and Roofing
Builder of the Year: 4 Nails Construction
Jessica Cargile with North Ridge Contracting was sworn in as president of the North Idaho Building Contractors Association on Wednesday night by Barry Stearns, who served as the NIBCA president in 2013.
Rod Underhill and Cel Demers share a laugh after Underhill was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the North Idaho Building Contractors Association on Wednesday night.
Kelsey Johansen, middle, was presented with the North Idaho Building Contractors Association Young Professional of the Year Award on Wednesday night. Pictured with past president Cel Demers, left, and Merritt Timm with Restorage Closet Works.
Nicole Huff was awarded the Professional Women in Building Award for 2025 on Wednesday night. Pictured with North Idaho Building Contractors Association past president Cel Demers, left, and president Jessica Cargile.
Precision Gutters and Roofing was named Company of the Year for 2025 by the North Idaho Building Contractors Association. Jon Hoffman was all smiles as he accepted the award from past NIBCA president Cel Demers.
Mike Bell, owner of 4 Nails Construction, was named Builder of the Year for 2025 by the North Idaho Building Contractors Association on Wednesday night. Pictured with Cel Demers.ARTICLES BY HAILEY HILL
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