meet the award winners
The Leadership in Housing Advocacy Awards brought together leaders from across the state to celebrate the collaboration and innovation strengthening Michigan’s housing landscape.
Each of the award winners have contributed unique solutions to address the housing crisis in their communities. The 9 award categories highlight some of the primary areas of advocacy in which our members and partners are engaged, from workforce development to coalition building.
Community Impact Award
Cindy Eggleton, Brilliant Detroit
Cindy Eggleton and her team at Brilliant Detroit, are redefining what community impact looks like by transforming houses into homes for opportunity. Founded on the belief that strong neighborhoods begin with strong families, Brilliant Detroit takes vacant or underused houses in the city and converts them into vibrant community hubs. In these welcoming spaces, families can access literacy programs, health resources, housing support, and social services — all within walking distance of where they live.
What began as a local idea has grown into a powerful movement of neighbors helping neighbors. With locations throughout Detroit, each Brilliant Detroit home is a collaboration between residents, volunteers, and partners who are invested in rebuilding their community from within.
Their work reflects the true spirit of this award — building more than physical structures. They’re building connection, empowerment, and hope. Every home they restore becomes a place where families grow stronger and neighborhoods come alive.
Through creativity, compassion, and collaboration, Brilliant Detroit is showing the nation what’s possible when housing becomes the heart of community transformation.
YIMBY “Yes In My Backyard” Award
Mayor Joe LaRussa, City of Farmington
Joe LaRussa is a dynamic, results-driven leader with a proven track record in developing strategies and executing them. With extensive experience in the industrial, public policy, and non-profit sectors, Joe has consistently demonstrated his ability to drive positive outcomes and foster collaboration among stakeholders. Joe is the owner of Supremo Consulting & Advisory Services, where he leverages his diverse background to offer consulting, advisory, and strategic planning services. Joe also serves as the Mayor of Farmington, Michigan. His tenure in local government highlights his commitment to public service and effective governance by implementing solutions for housing, property redevelopment, and innovative infrastructure projects. His major accomplishments include adding 65% of forecasted new housing 80% faster then economists predicted, and the completion of a city-wide fiber-optic network intended to introduce broadband competition to the local market.
Previously, Joe held key leadership positions in several top-tier companies in the automotive industry where he led both manufacturing strategy and operations in the North American region. He is a registered professional engineer in the State of Michigan, and holds multiple degrees from the University of Michigan-Dearborn, including an MSE in Automotive Systems Engineering, an MS in Engineering Management, and a BSE in Electrical Engineering. He serves as an officer (Vice-Chair) for the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG), and on the Board of Trustees for the Michigan Municipal League (MML).
In his spare time Joe is an amateur musician, playing saxophone with the Henry Ford Big Band. He also enjoys golf, basketball, and is an avid leadership enthusiast.
Workforce Development Advocate Award
David Mollitor, Consolidated Electrical Contractors
David Mollitor Jr. is the President and CEO of Consolidated Electrical Contractors (CEC), a role he has held since 1995. Since then, CEC has grown from 15 employees to nearly 200 and in 2024 he led a milestone transition, making CEC a 100% employee-owned company. Throughout his career, David has championed workforce development, working with schools and training centers statewide to create hands-on learning and apprenticeship programs in electrical and mechanical trades. His partnerships with the Greater Michigan Construction Academy, Oakland Schools Technical Campus, and Northwestern Michigan College have helped prepare hundreds of young professionals for careers in construction.
David also serves on several statewide boards, including the Associated Builders and Contractors of Michigan, where he has chaired and represented more than 1,000 member companies, and as Trustee for the ABC/HBA Health Insurance and Workers’ Compensation Funds that serve builders and contractors across the state.
His leadership, mentorship, and vision continue to strengthen Michigan’s talent pipeline—showing that the most powerful way to build our future is to invest in the people who build it.
Coalition of the Year Award
Christopher Germain, Housing Now
Established in 2024, the Housing Now Coalition (represented by Christopher Germain) is a public–private coalition based in Marquette County, created to align partners, resources, and strategies that increase housing opportunities across Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. What began as a local housing workgroup has evolved into a coordinated network of 27 leaders representing builders, developers, labor, finance, local government, nonprofits, and major employers — all united around one shared goal: expanding access to quality housing.
Hosted by the Lake Superior Community Partnership Foundation, Housing Now operates under a strategy focused on eight key areas — from data and education to regulatory reform, capital access, workforce development, and innovation. In just its first year, the coalition hosted regional housing summits, secured funding for locally developed housing pattern books, and provided direct support to multiple new housing developments across the region.
Through collaboration, creativity, and determination, Housing Now is proving that even in challenging markets, partnerships can drive real change. By bridging local expertise with statewide support, they’re helping build a stronger, more connected housing ecosystem — not just for today, but for generations to come.
Emerging Advocate Award
Antonio Adan, Marquette County
Antonio Adan is the Executive Director of the Marquette County Land Bank and the county’s first Housing Specialist. Since joining, he has helped guide over 130 new housing units now in planning, coordinated $1.5 million in blight elimination grants, and expanded a network of local developers from just five to nearly fifty through regular housing collaboration meetings. His work bridges builders, local governments, and residents—turning ideas into attainable, sustainable homes for Marquette County’s growing communities. Antonio’s leadership and community commitment have earned him statewide and national recognition, including being named the Center for Community Progress and National Land Bank Network’s Emerging Leader of the Year (2024). His work reminds us that advocacy begins with initiative—and that Michigan’s housing future is in good hands.
Beyond his professional achievements, Antonio serves on several local boards including the Marquette Food Co-op, Ishpeming DDA, Connect Marquette Executive Board, and the University of Michigan Alumni Club. He and his wife, Kristina, have made the Upper Peninsula their home and recently welcomed their first child—the newest “Yooper” in the family.
Champion of Housing Award
Councilman Robert Donovic, City of Livonia
Robert Gjonaj Donovic sits on the Livonia City Council and is the chairman of the Capital Outlay and Infrastructure committee. He was elected to the City Council in 2019 as the youngest member elected to local government in the city's history. Robert has reviewed and voted on over a hundred rezonings and site plan petitions during his time on the Council. He is a veteran of the United States Army National Guard serving one tour in the middle east as a CH-47 Chinook helicopter door gunner and the son of Albanian immigrants from former Yugoslavia. Robert is the owner of Fortesa Homes and a member of the Home Builders Association of Michigan building single family new construction homes in southeastern Michigan.
Outstanding Local HBA Award
Brittany Ryzenga, Lakeshore Home Builders Association
The Lakeshore Home Builders Association (HBA), led by Chief Executive Officer Brittany Ryzenga, goes beyond serving its members—it strengthens and drives positive impact across the home building industry. Brittany Ryzenga and her dedicated team lead with intention and purpose, maintaining a steadfast focus on advocacy, community engagement, and member development. Through impactful Legislative Round Table meetings, Lakeshore HBA has strengthened relationships with local and state leaders, making advocacy a cornerstone of its mission. Deeply rooted in its community, Lakeshore HBA partners with countless organizations, demonstrating a strong commitment to giving back. The association also champions workforce development, offering trades scholarships and collaborating with local tech centers and trades schools to inspire the next generation of skilled professionals. In the past year alone, Lakeshore HBA has awarded seven students with scholarships to pursue careers in the skilled trades. Under Brittany’s leadership, Lakeshore HBA has launched innovative talent, education, and leadership programs, proving an unwavering dedication to member development. Their success has fostered a vibrant network of builders and associate members. As a result, their association recently received national recognition, earning the NAHB Grand Award for Highest Retention Rate Increase, one of only seven associations nationwide to achieve this honor. Driven by passion, intention, and purpose, the Lakeshore Home Builders Association continues to elevate the home building industry—making a lasting impact on their members, their community, and the future of housing.
Housing Advocate of the Year Award
Maxwell Cameron, Grand Traverse County
Maxwell Cameron has served as the Community Development Coordinator for Grand Traverse County since 2024; he leads initiatives that enhance transparency, accessibility, and innovation in local development processes. In this role, he helps guide the County’s EPIC-GT electronic permitting project, improving public access to permitting and inspection services.
Mr. Cameron also acts as staff liaison to the Grand Traverse County Land Bank Authority (GTCLBA), where he has successfully secured over $1 million in grant funding to support housing initiatives—from rehabilitation projects to the creation of workforce and affordable housing. Additionally, he serves as the staff lead for the Grand Traverse County Zoning Atlas, which is an effort to make zoning and land use data more accessible and user-friendly for the community. Beginning in 2024 Mr. Cameron has been a member of the Homebuilders Association of Northwest Michigan’s Local Grassroots Pilot Program.
Lifetime Achievement Award
Carole Jones, Robert R. Jones Homes
Carol became involved in the residential home building industry when her husband, 2010 National Chairman of NAHB and an honored Past President of both the HBA of Southeastern Michigan (HBA) and the HBA of Michigan (HBAM), formed his own company in 1979. Robert R. Jones Homes built semi-custom homes with Bob as the builder and Carole as the controller, drawing on her accounting classes as a business major at the University of Michigan. She also handled all the closings and oversaw the office operations.
At Bob’s urging, Carole became a licensed builder, sales professional and associate broker. Since 2008, she added NAHB’s Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist, Certified Graduate Builder and Certified Green Professional designations.
Carole joined the HBA’s Professional Women in Building Council in 1988. In 2000 she offered to be the membership chair and still holds that position on the PWB executive board. At the national PWB level she became involved in 2006 and served as chair in 2015. She has been honored repeatedly for her success in membership recruitment and her dedication. She received the national council’s highest honor, Woman of the Year in 2007.
Carole wanted to help Bob with his leadership aspirations in NAHB and was appointed as a national director to NAHB by both her HBA and HBAM. She is a senior life director of both NAHB and HBAM.
Bob was elected a senior officer of NAHB in 2007, a position that eventually let to his chairmanship in 2010. As he climbed the NAHB ladder Bob and Carole travelled together for five straight years. In addition to supporting Bob, Carole used the travel to recruit many PWB members and to promote NAHB.
Carole served on the NAHB budget committee two six-year terms, the NAHB Nominations Committee five years, and currently serves on the Conventions & Meetings committee. She is the chair of the NAHB National Housing Endowment’s Lee Evans Scholarship Committee, a position she has held for over ten years.
Bob’s term as NAHB chairman was during the worst of the housing downturn. After completing his term, the local market was still soft and Bob was “worn out” so they decided not to build and sell any more homes. Carole is currently the President/CEO of the company and recently sold the last of 15 lots.
None of that has diminished Carole’s dedication to the industry or to the Association. She continues to advocate for women in the industry, for students who are the future of the industry, for local, state and national PACs and in support of all the work done by her HBA and HBAM.
Her favorite quote is by Calvin Coolidge. “Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence.”
Carole and Bob were married in 1963. Bob passed away in 2018 from Alzheimer’s, a cause very close to her heart, which Carole has supported by participating in the Livingston County Walk to End Alzheimer’s since 2017. This year, thanks to 130 wonderful family and friends she raised in excess of $16,000. Her team is PWB Builders Care.
Carole has four children, eight grandchildren aged 20-35, two who are married, and twin great-granddaughters who were born in April. All live in the area except for her oldest son Bobby and his wife and two children who live in Maryland.