What Building Industry Association Of Whatcom County does

The Building Industry Association of Whatcom County (BIAWC) is a private, non-profit trade association founded in Bellingham, Washington in 1978, serving approximately 400 member companies across the home building and construction industry in Whatcom County. Its core function is advocacy and association services for builders, remodelers, architects, engineers, developers, suppliers, financial planners, sales, and marketing firms, organized along two primary verticals: (1) regulatory and government affairs representation at the local, state (BIAW), and national (NAHB) level through a bundled 3-in-1 membership, and (2) member benefits including ROII workers' compensation dividend savings, BIAW Health Insurance, Built Green certification access, the Hire a Pro public member directory, and the Baker Creek Place event venue offering a 3,000 sq ft banquet hall plus conference rooms.

The association's revenue model derives from recurring membership dues, transactional event and venue rental fees (e.g., Golf Classic at $180/player, banquet rentals from $300-$2,500 with 50% member discounts), and event-sourced contributions to its trade-student scholarship and White Hat Committee community service programs. Distribution is primarily regional/direct: businesses self-enroll via members.biawc.com portal, while homeowners are reached through the publicly searchable Hire a Pro directory. Marketing channels include the website, The Insider email newsletter, social media (primarily Facebook), and large in-person events — most notably the 45-year-running Whatcom County Home & Lifestyle Show (200+ exhibitors) and the 32nd Annual BIAWC Golf Classic (200+ attendees).

The organization is governed by an annually-elected Board of Directors with a Builder Board and Associate Board, supported by a lean professional staff of 4 including an Executive Officer (Robert "Rob" Lee), a Government Affairs Director (R. Perry Eskridge, JD, serving since 2007 with concurrent REALTORS association duties), a Membership Director (Angie Brionez), and an Accounting/Education/Rentals Manager (Gretta Millard). Baker Creek Place operates as a wholly-owned operating subsidiary, and the Professional Women in Building (PWB) council functions as a programmatic sub-brand targeted at women in building trades.

Name

Building Industry Association Of Whatcom County

Legal name

Building Industry Association of Whatcom County

Website

https://biawc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1978

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Building Industry Association of Whatcom County (BIAWC) is a private, non-profit trade association founded in 1978 serving approximately 400 builders, remodelers, suppliers, and related businesses in Whatcom County, Washington via government affairs advocacy, professional development, networking events, and member benefits such as the Baker Creek Place event venue.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Bellingham

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees providing access to benefits including insurance programs (ROII, BIAW Health Insurance), educational classes, networking events, legal help, rebate/discount programs, and Baker Creek Place rental discounts.
2. Venue Rentals (Baker Creek Place): Rental revenue from the event venue offering banquet hall, conference rooms, and meeting spaces for weddings, corporate events, and community gatherings. BIAWC members receive 50% discount.
3. Event Fees: Revenue from events including the annual Golf Classic, Home & Lifestyle Show, educational classes (First Aid/CPR), and networking events.
4. Scholarship Program Administration: Manages scholarship program for trade students with funding from association activities and member contributions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Building Industry Association of Whatcom County (BIAWC) is a private non-profit trade association founded in 1978 that provides advocacy, professional development, networking, and community services to home builders, remodelers, developers, and related construction businesses in Whatcom County, Washington. It also operates Baker Creek Place, a community event venue available for rental, and maintains programs such as the Built Green certification, the ROII insurance program, and the BIAWC Health Trust for its roughly 400 members.

Product overview

The Building Industry Association of Whatcom County (BIAWC) operates as a private, non-profit trade organization offering a portfolio of member services and community programs. The core offerings include Baker Creek Place event venue rental, a Hire a Pro member directory connecting homeowners with contractors, the annual Whatcom County Home & Lifestyle Show, and the BIAWC Golf Classic fundraiser. Supporting services include Government Affairs advocacy, the Professional Women in Building (PWB) council, a Scholarship Program for trades students, Built Green certification, Health Trust insurance options, ROII workers' compensation savings, The Insider Newsletter communications, and the White Hat Committee community service initiative. Membership also includes access to educational classes and networking events.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Baker Creek Place: Event venue operated by BIAWC offering rental space for weddings, receptions, conferences, and meetings. Features a 3000 square foot banquet hall, conference rooms, and catering kitchen at 1650 Baker Creek Place, Bellingham, WA.

Quantifiable outcome

• 400 members across dozens of trades served through advocacy, professional development, and networking
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and major.

• Building Industry Association of Washington (BIAW)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBIAWC is affiliated with BIAW through a 3-in-1 Membership, providing state-level advocacy and resources. BIAW is headquartered at 300 Deschutes Way SW, Suite 300, Tumwater, WA 98501, Phone (360) 352-7800.
• National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBIAWC provides 3-in-1 Membership including NAHB affiliation at the national level. NAHB is headquartered at 1201 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005-2800, Phone (800) 368-5242.
• Judd & Black ApplianceflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor sponsor of the Whatcom County Home & Lifestyle Show 2026, described as 'Massive Home & Lifestyle Expo brought to you by Judd & Black Appliance'. Judd & Black is a regional appliance retailer.
• Sudden Valley Golf CoursecoreOthersVenue for the 32nd Annual BIAWC Golf Classic on July 31, 2026, located at 4 Clubhouse Circle, Bellingham, WA 98229. Event expects 200+ building industry attendees.
• Northwest Washington Fair & Event Center (Lynden fairgrounds)coreOthersHost venue for the Whatcom County Home & Lifestyle Show 2026 (April 24-26, 2026), the largest home-and-garden show north of Seattle.
• Peoples BankflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerTitle Co-Sponsor of the 2026 BIAWC Golf Classic. Peoples Bank offers home loans and banking services in the Pacific Northwest.
• Nolans RoofingflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerTitle Co-Sponsor of the 2026 BIAWC Golf Classic. Local roofing contractor serving Whatcom County.
• DeWaard & BodemajorGTM or Marketing PartnerHole-In-One Sponsor and sponsor of the Ribs & Roofs BBQ Competition at the Home & Lifestyle Show. Lumber and building materials supplier.
• Banner BankmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerPutting Contest Sponsor for the 2026 BIAWC Golf Classic. Regional bank serving the Pacific Northwest.
• ROII (Return on Industrial Insurance)coreOthersTool Kit Sponsor and key member benefit program helping employers save money on workers' compensation costs through dividend returns.
• Built GreenmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGreen building certification program featured as a member benefit. Built Green is a Washington state green building program helping builders create environmentally sustainable homes.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC): National trade association for commercial and residential contractors offering advocacy, training, and member benefits. Operates a parallel model to BIAWC but with broader national scope and a different political orientation.
• National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI): National trade association for remodelers and remodeling-industry firms. Competes partially with BIAWC for remodeler members and offers similar advocacy, education, and networking in a closely adjacent trade.
• National Association of Home Builders (NAHB): National federation that BIAWC is affiliated with via 3-in-1 membership. Provides federal-level advocacy, education, and member benefits that BIAWC channels to local members.

Direct peers

• Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties: The largest local HBA in Washington, providing the same trade-association model — advocacy, education, networking, insurance programs, and events — for builders in the Puget Sound region.
• Building Industry Association of Washington (BIAW): BIAWC's direct state-level affiliate under the same 3-in-1 membership structure. Operates the same trade-association model for builders across Washington with advocacy, insurance, and member services.
• Spokane Home Builders Association: Another Washington-state local HBA operating the same model as BIAWC — local advocacy, member events, scholarship programs, and insurance benefits — for builders in the Spokane market.
• Whatcom County Association of REALTORS: Local trade association serving real estate professionals in the same Whatcom County geography as BIAWC. Shares an Executive Officer/Government Affairs Director (R. Perry Eskridge) and similar advocacy focus on local housing policy.

Regional players

• Home Builders Association of Greater Portland: Regional HBA serving builders in the Portland metro area with advocacy, education, events, and member benefits. Operates the same model as BIAWC but in a different (adjacent) state and metro market.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/building-industry-association-of-whatcom-county

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Building Industry Association Of Whatcom County