Five Inducted into Northern Nevada Housing Hall of Fame
The Builders Association of Northern Nevada (BANN) inducted five members into its inaugural housing hall of fame earlier this year. The inductees — Dennis Johnson, Johnco Enterprises; Robert Nielsen, Shelter Properties, Inc.; Raymond Pezonella, Pezonella Associates; John Keever, Keever Construction; and Clarence “C.J.” Jones, Bighorn Development — were recognized for their charitable and civic contributions to the northern Nevada building industry and community as well as for their past and current leadership qualities. - Dennis Johnson, Johnco Enterprises. Johnson, a builder for more than 40 years, is one of the original founders of BANN and served as its president in 1986 and continues to serve on the board of directors. Because of his strong interest in politics and its effects on housing and construction, Johnson also served several terms as the association’s legislative chairman and was appointed to Nevada’s state contractors board by then-Nevada Gov. Richard H. Bryan.
Johnson is a senior life director at NAHB, national vice president for Area 13 and a state representative.
- Robert Nielsen, Shelter Properties, Inc. Throughout his career, Nielsen has been an advocate for affordable housing for seniors and for families who are unable to afford “market rate” housing. Since becoming a builder and developer in 1976, Nielson and his partnerships have created more than 30 multifamily communities servicing seniors and low-income families.
He was instrumental in developing Nevada’s Low Income Housing Trust Fund and the Affordable Housing Resource Council. Nielsen also has testified before numerous congressional committees about various housing issues. Nielsen was the president of BANN in 1987 and served on numerous local and national committees and councils.
- Raymond Pezonella, Pezonella Associates, Inc. Pezonella has served the industry and the community for more than 20 years. He was the president of BANN in 1991 and has been a member of its board of directors for several years. He also spearheaded the association’s partnership with the local Pine Middle School and is an active member of the Reno Arch Lions Club.
Nationally, he was an NAHB national representative to 13 western states and was an NAHB national vice president. Pezonella also designed an engineering system that enabled more than 700 homes to be built in locations that otherwise would have been prohibited because of soil conditions.
- John Keever, Keever Construction (Posthumous honor). Keever served as the BANN president in 1975 and 1978. He built alliances, supported the association’s Student Home Design Contest and acted as a mentor for hundreds of builders and architects who are currently active in the association. Keever also served as a local, state and national director for more than 20 years.
- Clarence “C.J.” Jones, Bighorn Development (Posthumous honor). An award-winning developer and active in the community, Jones was a charter member of the Special Advocates for Elders (SAFE) program and was involved in the “Read to Success” program benefiting schoolchildren. He also helped bring a AAA baseball team and stadium to the Reno-Sparks area.
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