Indiana Builders Association

Please feel free to contact our staff for questions or concerns.
The toll-free main line is (800) 377-6334.

Senior Officers:
President: Andy Place, Sr., CGB, CGP, Place Builders, Inc.
Vice President: Doug Miller, CGB, CAPS, CGP, DL Miller Construction Co.
Treasurer: Will Wright, Will Wright Building Corp.
Secretary: Greg Furnish, CGP, Furnish Contracting

Rick Wajda, Chief Executive Officer
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Rick Wajda is the CEO for the Indiana Builders Association, a trade association representing over 7,000 member companies across the state. The IBA is the state affiliate of the National Association of Home Builders, based in Washington, D.C. Rick joined the IBA for the second time in January 2005, after a two-year stint as the Associate Director of the Indiana Petroleum Council and Ohio Petroleum Council, trade organizations that represent the major oil companies with assets in Indiana & Ohio. As the IBA’s chief lobbyist, Rick works with members of the Indiana General Assembly and Indiana’s regulatory agencies to insure housing affordability is taken into consideration when policy makers craft laws and regulations for Indiana’s citizens. Rick is also the Chairman of the Association to Build a Better Indiana, IBA’s political action committee and serves as a spokesman for the industry on housing related issues. Rick previously worked for the Indiana Builders Association for six years as the Association Services Director and Governmental Affairs Director. He is a Board member of the Governmental Affairs Society of Indiana, a Godfather at St. Mary’s Child Center, and a former Marion County Sheriff’s Advisory Board Member. Rick is a graduate of Butler University in Indianapolis, where he received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Marketing.

Cindy Bussell, Chief Operating Officer
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Cindy Bussell has been with the Indiana Builders Association for over 16 years. As the Chief Operating Officer (COO), she is responsible for the administrative and management of the association. Her duties include implementing Board policy, Board and Executive Committee oversight, maintaining the financial operations and budgets of the association, and staff management. Cindy is also responsible for the production of IBA's Annual Housing Conference, developing IBA’s statewide educational programs and monitoring IBA’s professional designation program. She is Publisher of the Indiana Builder News, IBA’s official publication. As COO, Cindy implements IBA’s Special Events, and manages IBA’s Charitable Foundation and the IBA Educational Scholarship Foundation, Inc. Cindy is a member of the Indiana Society of Association Executives where she received the “Association Executive of the Year” and the “Staff Professional” awards. She is also an honorary Godmother for St. Mary’s Child Center. Cindy earned her Masters degree from Ball State University in Counseling Psychology and her undergraduate degree from Indianapolis University-Purdue University.

Carlie Hopper, Regulatory Affairs Director
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Carlie Hopper started with the association in 1999 after graduating from Indiana State University where she received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Political Science. She serves as the code specialist and as a lobbyist with the Indiana General Assembly. In addition, her responsibilities include field services to local associations, where she works closely with local association presidents, executive officers, local leadership, and state area vice presidents. Her responsibilities also include organizing the annual state leadership conference, overseeing all membership activities including recruitment, retention, tracking, reporting, and local development, as well as serving as the liaison to the state Membership Committee. Carlie is also the coordinator of the Indiana Quality Assurance Builder Standards program.

Gretchen White, Government Affairs Director
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Gretchen White is the Director of Government Affairs for the Indiana Builders Association. Gretchen focuses on state government issues including legislative monitoring and representation, grassroots programming, and outreach to various groups across the state. Before joining the Indiana Builders Association, Gretchen served as Policy Analyst and Legislative Liaison for the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC). Prior to her experience at IEDC, she worked in the legislative process as an intern for both Ice Miller’s Public Affairs Group and the Indiana House of Representatives. Gretchen’s political experience includes work done on the campaign staff of Governor Daniels 2004 election campaign. She is a graduate of Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, where she received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science.

Heather Sturgeon, Information Coordinator
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Heather Sturgeon serves IBA as the Operations Coordinator. Her duties include coordinating all state leadership and staff travel, as well as processing all accounts receivable and payables for IBA, ABBI and the Scholarship Foundation. Heather is the liaison to the Education Committee and is responsible for coordinating all state educational programs. She also coordinates all seminar programs for IBA's Annual Housing Conference. She is responsible for IBA’s continuing education credit programs for Indiana’s Real Estate License, Indiana’s Home Inspector License and the International Code Council. She is the staff liaison to the IBA Remodelers and in charge of the state Remodeler of the Year award program. She is the staff liaison for the IBA golf outing. Heather also handles all exhibit details for Indiana's Midwest Builders Convention, from sales to on-site management. Heather has an Associates Degree in Accounting from Indiana Business College.

Bill Carson, Chairman Emeritus of the Board

Bill Carson was Chief Executive Officer for the Indiana Builders Association (IBA) for 42 years. He retired Jan. 1, 2006, and thereafter was named Chairman Emeritus of the IBA Board of Directors. During his tenure, he helped enact over a dozen unique state laws to foster affordable housing in Indiana. He authored Diary of a Mad Home Builder, Diary of a Mad Remodeler, and High Pitches and Other Tall Tales. Carson is the recipient of the Nation’s Highest Lifetime Achievement Honor, awarded by the National Association of Home Builders, the Seldon Hale Award, for excellence in association management. He is also the recipient of Indiana’s highest housing award, the John C. Hart Presidential Award, and a recipient of the “Sagamore of the Wabash,” the highest citizen award for the State of Indiana from four Governors. Bill is a Godfather of St. Mary’s Child Center.