Dallas BA Members Among Honorees at TAB Excellence in Leadership Dinner
Dallas Builders Association members were among honorees at the Nov. 6 Texas Association of Builders Excellence in Leadership Dinner. TAB celebrated the installation of its 2026 president, inducted three leaders into the Texas Housing Hall of Honor and presented nine “Of the Year” awards at the at the annual event held at the Hyatt Regency Austin.
Chris Lyons, president of HOME by Lyons in Amarillo and member of the Texas Panhandle Builders Association, was sworn in as TAB’s 79th president. The 2026 Board of Directors and senior officers were installed the following day. Together, they are responsible for guiding TAB’s mission, upholding its bylaws, and advancing the association’s advocacy for the homebuilding industry. Lyons succeeds Brett Martin, TAB’s 2025 president.
TAB’s 2026 Senior Officers include:
- First Vice President: Dallas BA Past President Justin Webb, Altura Homes – Rockwall
- Vice President/Secretary: Sam Mezayek, Mezayek Building & Development — Tyler
- Treasurer:Justin MacDonald, MacDonald Companies Inc. – Kerrville
- Immediate Past President: Brett Martin, Tilson Custom Home Builders — Houston
More about TAB’s 2026 Senior Officers here.
The Texas Housing Hall of Honor, the state’s premier recognition for individuals whose vision and service have shaped the Texas housing industry, inducted three distinguished leaders into its 2025 class:
- Tommy Ford – Tommy Ford Construction | Dallas Builders Association (in memoriam)
- Delbert McDougal – McDougal Companies | West Texas Builders Association (in memoriam)
- Robert Wood – West Texas Land Guys | West Texas Builders Association
More about the 2025 Texas Housing Hall of Honor inductees here.
TAB also presented nine “Of the Year” Awards recognizing outstanding service and leadership in Texas homebuilding:
- Philanthropist of the Year: Metro East Division of the Dallas Builders Association
- Excellence Under 45: Zach Gavos, Keepsake Custom Homes – Houston
- Excellence Under 45: Austin McKnight, Southern Creek Homes – Bryan/College Station
- Association Accomplishment of the Year: Temple Area Builders Association
- Associate of the Year: Atmos Energy
- Developer of the Year: Becky Ullman, Lennar Homes/Friendswood Development Company – Houston
- J.B. Sandlin Builder of the Year: Chad Decker, Decker Custom Homes – San Angelo
- Ted Schlossman Lifetime Achievement Award: Beverly Koehn, Beverly Koehn & Assoc. Inc. – San Antonio
- Ted Schlossman Lifetime Achievement Award: Michael Moore, Ironstone Development – San Antonio
More about the 2025 “Of the Year” award winners here.
At TAB’s final 2025 Board of Directors meeting, the association also recognized members and local association staff with Presidential Distinguished Service Awards for exceptional leadership and commitment to strengthening the association and the homebuilding industry.
The 2025 honorees Dallas BA staff Director of Government Affairs David Lehde and members Ryan and Meredith Joyce, Michael Joyce Properties; Frank Murphy, Wynne/Jackson Inc.; James Rodriguez, Fox Energy Specialists; Johnathan Killebrew, Metro Code, LLC; and Tyler Hood, James Rudnicki and Don Don Shelton, all with Bush, Rudnicki, Shelton, PC.
Others are: Ray Adauto, Kristal Casey, Mike Dishberger, Colby Duke, Bill Ellison, Zach Gavos, Mindy Hamilton, Sam Mezayek, Hank Smith, Cara Tackett and Elizabeth York.
More details about the 2025 Presidential Distinguished Service Awards here.
The dedication demonstrated by TAB’s officers, Hall of Honor inductees, and award recipients continues to set the benchmark for excellence in Texas homebuilding and serves as an enduring example of industry leadership and service.