What does a Builders Association president take away from a year like no other? In 2025, our co-owner, Nick Scroggs, served as president of the Builders Association of the Blue Ridge Mountains (BABRM). His term coincided with one of the most challenging years the Western North Carolina building community has faced, marked by the far-reaching impacts that followed Hurricane Helene.
As president, Nick worked alongside fellow builders, association staff, and regional partners to help guide the industry’s response while simultaneously navigating those same challenges at Scroggs Construction Services. Now, with his term concluded, Nick reflects on what the experience taught him about leadership, collaboration, and the importance of big-picture thinking.
Q: Why did you take on the role of BABRM president?
Nick: The association has done a lot for me over the years. I’ve built relationships, found trusted partners and trades, and grown my organization. Serving as president felt like a good way to give back to the people and the association that supported me.
Q: Looking back, what stands out as the most meaningful part of your presidency?
Nick: Watching the community rally after Hurricane Helene was inspiring to watch. People lost homes. Businesses were wiped off the map. But the association stepped up in a big way, and responding during that time was incredibly meaningful.
Q: How did your leadership experience with the association shape your work at Scroggs?
Nick: It broadened my perspective. Leading an association forces you to think more regionally—not just about your own business, but about how builders, vendors, and trades fit into a larger industry ecosystem.
It also helped me realize that decision-making can slow down when it’s too centralized. I’ve taken those lessons back to Scroggs by focusing on building a stronger leadership team and being more intentional about communication.
Q: Did this experience change how you view collaboration among builders in the region?
Nick: The hurricane really put a spotlight on collaboration. After it happened, vendors and other trades reached out to share information and coordinate ways to help people get back into their homes. That was incredibly empowering to see. It reinforced something a past association president once told me: A rising tide raises all ships. We’re stronger as a region and as an association when we act together.
Q: Now that your term has ended, what are you most looking forward to?
Nick: Serving as president required time away from my business, which is something you expect when you take on the role. What I didn’t anticipate was doing it after a natural disaster, and that changed things significantly. Now I’m excited to refocus on scaling our company. We had a long year full of lessons from the hurricane, and I’m looking forward to applying those lessons by strengthening our processes and building operational procedures that support growth.