For more than 21 years, Nancy Bakeman has been at the heart of EEBA’s mission. As Executive Vice President, she helped cultivate a community of residential building professionals united by a shared commitment to advancing building science, elevating industry knowledge, and transforming how homes are built for the betterment of people and our environment.
At the 2026 Excellence Awards, that legacy was celebrated with the EEBA Legend Award, the organization's highest lifetime achievement honor. Presented by Gene Myers of Thrive Home Builders, former Board Chair and current Board Member Emeritus, the award recognized a career that goes well beyond, in Gene’s words, “what any résumé could capture.”
A Rare Honor
The EEBA Legend Award is not automatic. It is given only when an individual's contribution warrants the organization's highest recognition. For Gene, who worked side by side with Nancy for much of her tenure, presenting it was both a privilege and a personal moment.
Gene remembered a time when EEBA was at a crossroads, with federal funding gone and questions about the organization's future. It was in those years, he said, that he saw Nancy's true strength. "I often say that when the chips are down, we find out who we really are," Gene shared. "That's when I found out who Nancy Bakeman really was. And Nancy was solid."
Over 21 years, she became EEBA's steady foundation, and the organization emerged from those challenging years stronger.
More Than a Résumé
Nancy's impact on EEBA extends far beyond her title or accomplishments. She did more than lead a nonprofit and produce the annual Summit; she built a culture and a community out of an eclectic family of professionals united by a shared commitment to high-performance building. That dedication took her on countless ‘Houses That Work’ trips, coast to coast, year after year, connecting with professionals and advancing the building science knowledge that moves the industry forward.
Ask around EEBA, and the same words come up again and again: knowledgeable, dependable, and a rock of the organization. Nancy has been the steady force holding it all together, bringing wisdom, leadership, and exceptional organizational skills to a mission that reaches far beyond EEBA itself: helping transform how homes are built to be healthier, more energy-efficient, and more resilient for the people who live in them and the planet we share.
A Mission That Continues to Grow
When asked how EEBA has changed over the past two decades, Nancy pointed to an industry whose understanding of high-performance homes has expanded while remaining grounded in its original purpose.
Founded in 1982 to advance homes that use dramatically less energy, EEBA has spent more than four decades broadening its vision of what high performance means. Today, that vision encompasses not only energy efficiency, but also healthier, safer, more durable, sustainable, resource-efficient, resilient, net-zero, and decarbonized homes. Even the organization's name has evolved alongside this broader mission, from the Energy Efficient Building Association to the Energy & Environmental Building Alliance.
"The conversation around high-performance homes has clearly shifted," Nancy said, "not by abandoning the original mission of the organization, but expanding and evolving the definition of energy efficiency and performance."
A Wednesday Habit Worth Keeping
Nancy credits many mentors, but one stands out: Gene Myers. During his years as Board President, he offered steadfast guidance and introduced two practices that shaped how the team worked: a one-page business plan and weekly huddles.
Every Wednesday, without fail, the team reviewed that week's metrics and goals. Every meeting ended the same way, with each person sharing a win and something they were grateful for. "It wasn't always easy," Nancy said, "but that really instilled in me to focus on the positive and appreciate that there is always something for which to be grateful."
That outlook became the heart of her leadership. She learned to be adaptable, to follow through on commitments, and to focus on what can be controlled, while surrounding herself with great leaders and leaning on others when the next step wasn't clear. Over the past six-plus years, she has also learned a great deal from Aaron Smith, EEBA’s CEO. She feels they have built a strong, cohesive team.
What She's Proudest Of
Ask Nancy what she's proudest of, and she points to people.
"I'm proud of the relationships I've built over these last 21 years," she said, adding that she has made lifelong friends she expects to keep in touch with. She is also proud of the times she stepped outside her comfort zone and learned from new challenges. For Nancy, an accomplishment isn't only the end result. It's "creating a positive impact, helping others succeed, and becoming a stronger leader in the process."
Looking back, she puts it simply: "What a wonderful career it's been! Helping to connect people and to have a hand in helping to advance the industry through our education and training feels like a pretty good accomplishment."
What's Next
Thankfully, Nancy’s story with EEBA isn’t over just yet. She’ll continue working one day a week through 2027 and feels confident about the organization’s future.
"EEBA will always have a special place in my heart," she said. "I know the excellent EEBA team that remains will continue to do phenomenal things, and I will love watching it all, in between spending time with my grandkids and traveling!"
Nancy, thank you for 21 years of leadership, wisdom, and dedication to a mission that has brought so many people together. Your impact on EEBA and the community you helped build will last for years to come. Here’s to your next chapter!