The Associate of the Year award is presented annually to a member of the Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association, (HBA) in recognition of their accomplishments in the areas of service to the industry and association, professional excellence and community involvement, furthering the mission and goals of the association. The 2013 Associate of the Year is Betsy Sheppard of Gilbert & Sheppard Group.

Best described as authentic and unassuming, this year’s winner has earned a reputation as a true professional with a heart of gold – she is fully invested in the housing industry, her community and in the success of her co-workers, clients and peers.

Armed with a degree in Communication Arts from Georgia Southern University, tremendous ambition and a truck load of enthusiasm, Betsy Sheppard moved to South Carolina to embark on a career in the real estate industry. Betsy’s first job as the Real Estate Marketing Manager for The Hilton Head Company was the foundation that ignited an impressive career spanning three decades.

In 1984, Betsy moved back to the Atlanta area to be an ad agency Senior Account Manager handling the Northside Realty account. Two short years later in yet another bold move, Betsy founded Mabry & Sheppard and their creativity quickly gained notoriety in the housing industry.  In 1991, she joined the Northside Realty team as Vice President & Director of Marketing where she established the company’s in-house marketing department. During her tenure with Northside, Betsy was honored with the HBA’s prestigious Marketing Director of the Year Award.

In 1999, Betsy struck back out on her own and formed B. Sheppard Consulting, where she guided her team and her housing industry clients to achieve local, state, and national accolades.

In 2010 Betsy and Creative Director Kerrie Gilbert retooled the company and Gilbert & Sheppard Group was born. Their award-winning, results-oriented marketing and business consulting services continue to be in high demand.

With great humility, Betsy has often commented, “I am truly blessed to be a part of the housing industry and try to give back more than I take”….and she does just that! With the same tenacity and drive she puts into her business, she serves her industry. While it is widely known that Betsy has served on our Sales & Marketing Council, it is safe to say that at some point in time, Betsy has been active in every HBA Council and is credited with rebranding the Green Building Council, the Remodelers Council and the 50+ Housing Council. And most recently, her team created the brand for the HBA’s newest Council – Professional Women in Building (PWB).

Betsy served on the HBA Board of Directors and was Chairman of the Atlanta 50+ Housing Council for which she was awarded Council Chairperson of the Year in 2010. A charter member of Professional Women in Building, Betsy currently serves as the Council’s Vice President. She is also active in the National PWB Council and was honored as the 2013 Spike Rookie of the Year. Beginning in 2014, Betsy will serve as an Area Trustee for PWB.

At the State level, Betsy is active in the HBA of Georgia where she is a founding and charter member of the “A Livable Lifestyle” (ALL) program and has worked tirelessly to brand and launch this exciting new program. At the national level, Betsy is a member of the NAHB’s 50+ Housing Council’s Board of Trustees and serves on the Council’s Editorial Advisory Committee and the Awards Committee.

Passionate about community service and helping others, Betsy gives 110 percent 100 percent of the time. She serves on the Board of Thanks Mom & Dad Fund, is a member of her local Optimist Club, a volunteer for Kids Ferst and is active in the Gilmer County Chamber of Commerce. She holds two committee seats on the Ellijay Downtown Development Authority and supports the HBA’s designated charity, HomeAid Atlanta. She even chaired HomeAid’s Marketing Committee at one time.

At the end of the day, you’ll find Betsy along with her three rescue dogs peacefully content at her home in Ellijay. According to Betsy, “if you’re lucky enough to live in the mountains, you’re lucky enough.”

The HBA is proud to recognize Betsy Sheppard as the 2013 Associate of the Year.