Terrance R. Duvernay Award

A centerpiece of the Building Michigan Communities Conference (BMCC) is the presentation of the Terry Duvernay Award. The award honors the singular leadership and legacy of the late Terry Duvernay who served as the Executive Director of the Michigan State Housing Development Authority from 1983 to 1990. Presented annually since 2002, the award recognizes individuals who have distinguished themselves in service to the people of the State of Michigan through the design and delivery of transformational housing and community development initiatives. The award is generally recognized as the pinnacle achievement in the affordable housing industry of the state. In obtaining this honor, the recipient receives a cash award that they direct to the nonprofit organization of their choice, as well as recognition for their hard work.

With the support of MSHDA leadership, past Duvernay award winners have guided the award process in the first 22 years of activity. To assure that the Duvernay Award continues to recognize visionary leadership long into the future, the promotion of the award and the selection of the awardee has been refined. The Duvernay Award committee is looking to recognize the emergence of promising younger leaders that are stepping into the evolving housing and community development challenges in Michigan. Through award refinement, the committee is confident that the Duvernay Award will continue to be effective and relevant in stimulating creative responses to our burgeoning housing challenges.

Anyone interested in applying or nominating a person should complete the application and email it to Gary Heidel at gary.heidel@gmail.com by February 14. If there are questions regarding the application, feel free to contact Gary. 

Terrence Duvernay Awardees over the years

2024—Christi Coady Narayanan, Opportunity Resource Fund

2023—George Larimore, Turnstone, LLC

2022—Jason Paulateer, Fifth Third Bank

2021—Carlos Sanchez, Grand Rapids Housing Commission

2020—Gary Heidel, MSHDA

2019—Scott Larry

2018—Richard Cannon, Hearts for Homes, Inc.

2017—Jim Logue, Develop Michigan

2016—Sandra Pearson, Habitat for Humanity of Michigan

2015—Marvin D. Veltkamp, Medallion Management

2014—Thomas Goddeeris, Grandmont Rosedale Development Corp.

2013—Mark McDaniel, Cinnaire

2012—Evelyn Brown, Local Initiatives Support Corporation

2011—Karl L. Gotting, Loomis Law Firm

2010—Dennis Sturtevant, Dwelling Place

2009—Mary L. Trucks, FiveCAP, Inc.

2008—Melvin Washington, Phoenix Communities and Castle Construction

2007—Ron Calery, Chippewa-Luce-Mackinac Community Action Agency

2006—Gene Kuthy, Michigan Interfaith Loan Fund

2005—Noreen Keating, Lighthouse of Oakland County

2004—Linda Smith, U-SNAP-BAC, Inc

2003—Jonathan Bradford Inner City Christian Federation

2002—Dr. Kenneth W. Bensen, Habitat for Humanity of Michigan