Pro Remodeler Wins Neal Award for Best Industry Coverage

Pro Remodeler has won a Neal Award for Best Industry Coverage in the 67th annual Jesse H. Neal Awards, which recognizes excellence in business reporting. The award is not only a testament to the editorial team, but also a nod to the vibrancy of remodeling and the professionals that push the boundaries of design, building science and business operations.

The winning entry highlighted three features: “The Money Effect”, “Culture Shift" and “3 Materials That May Forever Change the Home’s Makeup." Each covers a niche topic of remodeling with broad implications for remodelers now and the industry's future.

A Trio of 3 Features

For "The Money Effect," Managing Editor James F. McClister detailed private equity firms' growing involvement in home improvement. He interviewed remodelers whose expansions are being funded by PE and created a timeline of the largest acquisitions, one of the only of its kind.

In “Culture Shift,” Annie Cebulski, associate editor, pulled census data and interviewed three female company founders in remodeling. Recruiting more women is an industry priority as finding skilled labor becomes increasingly difficult, and this piece showcases the impacts of female leadership.

The final feature, McClister's “3 Materials That May Forever Change the Home’s Makeup," focuses on cutting-edge building materials including self-healing concrete, heat-reflecting paint, and mycelium wall panels. During an era of material shortages and rising costs, this piece dared remodelers to think big.

The Jesse H. Neal Awards

Each year, the Neal Awards, hosted by Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA), recognizes the top features, series, and publications in specialized industry reporting. Categories include Best Single Article, Best New Product, and Best Industry Coverage, among others.

For “Best Industry Coverage,” submissions must demonstrate “original reporting on one or more trends impacting an entire industry... Content will be judged on the strength of its reporting, writing skill, and relevance to the target audience.” Pro Remodeler won in its revenue category.

Judges evaluated each entry by three criteria: