Sixth NARI Chapter Breaks Ties with National

The Central Virginia chapter of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) is no more. On July 27, the members voted to terminate the chapter's agreement with NARI national. The vote was 93-1.

Central VA is the latest in a growing number of chapters to cut ties in favor of a different business model. The group is now part of the newly formed Professional Remodeling Organization (PRO), and will be called PRO Central Virginia.  

"The catalyst for this decision was that the core values of the existing [NARI national] board are not aligned with our core values," says Sherry Minson, PRO Central Virginia's executive director. "We saw this as a great opportunity to grow our local organization. We will spend resources that had previously been sent to National on continuing education and other benefits for our local members."

Central Virginia is the sixth NARI chapter to split from National since April, 2021. All six have become PRO Affiliates and together represent over 800 members, according to Tom O'Grady, PRO spokesperson and advisor to the board for the PRO-Delaware Valley affiliate, (formerly the DelChester NARI chapter).

Officials with the national organization say that the departure has not affected NARI's ability to bring in new members. "Our partnership with the Central Virginia chapter was no longer mutually beneficial and we respect their decision," says Rob King, NARI's Director of Marketing. "Interest in joining NARI remains at an all-time high. We have had record numbers of membership inquiries in recent weeks, and many have come from communities where there is no longer a local chapter."

Minson, for her part, is looking forward to a promising future. 

"I'm excited," she says. "We're at about 100 members and the industry is busy right now, so busy. I'm looking forward to being able to provide our members some opportunities for them at the local level."

Central VA had been a NARI chapter for more than 20 years.