Meet the IBA Staff & Consultants

Please feel free to contact our staff for questions or concerns.
The toll-free main line is (800) 377-6334 or locally (317) 236-6334.

Rick Wajda, Chief Executive Officer Ext. x104 E-mail Rick Rick Wajda is the CEO for the Indiana Builders Association, a trade association representing over 7,000 member companies across the state. The IBA is the state affiliate of the National Association of Home Builders, based in Washington, D.C. Rick joined the IBA for the second time in January 2005, after a two-year stint as the Associate Director of the Indiana Petroleum Council and Ohio Petroleum Council, trade organizations that represent the major oil companies with assets in Indiana & Ohio. As the IBA’s chief lobbyist, Rick works with members of the Indiana General Assembly and Indiana’s regulatory agencies to insure housing affordability is taken into consideration when policy makers craft laws and regulations for Indiana’s citizens. Rick is also the Chairman of the Association to Build a Better Indiana, IBA’s political action committee and serves as a spokesman for the industry on housing related issues. Rick previously worked for the Indiana Builders Association for six years as the Association Services Director and Governmental Affairs Director. He is a Board member of the Governmental Affairs Society of Indiana, a Godfather at St. Mary’s Child Center, and a former Marion County Sheriff’s Advisory Board Member. Rick is a graduate of Butler University in Indianapolis, where he received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Marketing.

Cindy Bussell, Chief Operating Officer Ext. x103 E-mail Cindy Cindy Bussell has been with the Indiana Builders Association for over 16 years. As the Chief Operating Officer (COO), she is responsible for the administrative and management of the association. Her duties include implementing Board policy, Board and Executive Committee oversight, maintaining the financial operations and budgets of the association, and staff management. Cindy is also responsible for the production of Indiana’s Midwest Builders Convention, developing IBA’s statewide educational programs and monitoring IBA’s professional designation program. She is Publisher of the Indiana Builder News, IBA’s official publication. As COO, Cindy implements IBA’s Special Events, and manages IBA’s Charitable Foundation and the IBA Educational Scholarship Foundation, Inc. Cindy is a member of the Indiana Society of Association Executives where she received the “Association Executive of the Year” and the “Staff Professional” awards. She is also an honorary Godmother for St. Mary’s Child Center. Cindy earned her Masters degree from Ball State University in Counseling Psychology and her undergraduate degree from Indianapolis University-Purdue University.

Carlie Hopper, Member Services Director Ext. x106 E-mail Carlie Carlie Hopper started with the association in 1999 after graduating from Indiana State University. As IBA’s Member Services Director, her responsibilities include field services to local associations, where she works closely with local association presidents, executive officers, local leadership, and state area vice presidents. Her responsibilities also include organizing the annual state leadership conference. She oversees all membership activities including recruitment, retention, tracking, reporting, and local development, as well as serving as the liaison to the state Membership Committee. Carlie handles all exhibit details for Indiana’s Midwest Builders Convention, from sales to on-site management. She manages IBA’s Housing University program by administering the national designation programs offered in Indiana. Carlie is also the coordinator of the Indiana Quality Assurance Builder Standards program.

Gretchen White, Government Affairs Director Ext. x107 E-mail Gretchen Gretchen White is the Director of Government Affairs for the Indiana Builders Association. Gretchen focuses on state government issues including legislative monitoring and representation, grassroots programming, and outreach to various groups across the state. Before joining the Indiana Builders Association, Gretchen served as Policy Analyst and Legislative Liaison for the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC). Prior to her experience at IEDC, she worked in the legislative process as an intern for both Ice Miller’s Public Affairs Group and the Indiana House of Representatives. Gretchen’s political experience includes work done on the campaign staff of Governor Daniels 2004 election campaign. She is a graduate of Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, where she received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science.

Heather Sturgeon, Information Coordinator Ext. x108 E-mail Heather Heather Love serves IBA as the Information Coordinator. Her duties include coordinating all state leadership and staff travel, as well as processing all accounts receivable and payables for IBA, ABBI and the Scholarship Foundation. Heather is the liaison to the Education Committee and is responsible for coordinating all state educational programs. She also coordinates all seminar programs for Indiana’s Midwest Builders Convention. She is responsible for IBA’s continuing education credit programs for Indiana’s Real Estate License, Indiana’s Home Inspector License and the International Code Council. She is the staff liaison to the IBA Remodelers and in charge of the state Remodeler of the Year award program. She is the staff liaison for the IBA golf outing. Heather also assists with the layout of Indiana Builder News. Heather has an Associates Degree in Accounting from Indiana Business College.

Jennifer Wilczynski, Communications Coordinator / Executive Assistant Ext. x101 E-mail Jen Jen Wilczynski joined the IBA staff in October, 2007. As the Communications Coordinator, she maintains the IBA Web site. She also provides support staff to the CEO and COO, provides customer service for all member and non-member questions, and processes Builder Standards orders. Jen oversees registration at all board meetings and at Indiana’s Midwest Builders Convention. She also maintains the voterVoice grassroots software and creates IBA’s marketing pieces. Jen graduated from Ball State University in May, 2007 with a B.F.A. from the College of Fine Arts.

Colleen Merkel, Public Relations Coordinator Ext. x102 E-mail Colleen Colleen Merkel joined the IBA staff as the Public Relations Coordinator in 2007. Her responsibilities include Indiana Builder News editing, writing, layout and design; public relations efforts; scholarship foundation administration; liaison to the Associates Committee, and publishing the Leadership Directory. She is a graduate of Franklin College with a B.A. in Journalism.

Marlys Pedtke, Code & Technical Specialist (Consultant) Ext. x105 E-mail Marlys Marlys Pedtke has served as IBA’s Code Specialist since 2002. She is responsible for developing and maintaining an effective channel of communication between the IBA, its members, state agencies and the legislative body that develops policy affecting the housing industry. She is the liaison to the Codes Committee. She attends the Indiana Department of Fire & Building Services (DFBS) Commission meetings and other agency meetings and works with the DFBS Commission members and various agency members. She authors articles on the latest Code issues that are published monthly in the Indiana Builder News newspaper; and responds to regulatory and industry calls from members, consumers and media.

Roger Stephens, Local Govt. Affairs Specialist (Consultant) E-mail Roger Roger Stephens is IBA’s Local Governmental Affairs Specialist. Roger works part-time for IBA as a Lobbyist with the Indiana General Assembly and as a consultant on political affairs to local associations. Roger also serves as the Governmental Affairs Director for the Builders Association of Greater Indianapolis (BAGI). During his tenure with BAGI, Roger has directed the political operations and the policy and regulatory issues of local governments and officials in the seven-county Central Indiana area. He has worked with Area Plan Commissions, Zoning Boards, City and County Elected Officers on about every imaginable local issue affecting housing. Roger is a Political Science graduate of IUPUI who worked as a Legislative Assistant in the Indiana Senate.

Bill Carson, Chairman Emeritus of the Board Bill Carson was Chief Executive Officer for the Indiana Builders Association (IBA) for 42 years. He retired Jan. 1, 2006, and thereafter was named Chairman Emeritus of the IBA Board of Directors. During his tenure, he helped enact over a dozen unique state laws to foster affordable housing in Indiana. He authored Diary of a Mad Home Builder, Diary of a Mad Remodeler, and High Pitches and Other Tall Tales. Carson is the recipient of the Nation’s Highest Lifetime Achievement Honor, awarded by the National Association of Home Builders, the Seldon Hale Award, for excellence in association management. He is also the recipient of Indiana’s highest housing award, the John C. Hart Presidential Award, and a recipient of the “Sagamore of the Wabash,” the highest citizen award for the State of Indiana from four Governors. Bill is a Godfather of St. Mary’s Child Center.

Senior Officers: President: David Compton, R.N. Thompson & Associates Vice President: Dennis Spidel, GMB, CGB, CGR, Dennis Spidel Custom Homes Treasurer: Andy Place, Sr., Place Builders, Inc. Secretary: Doug Miller, D.L. Miller Construction Co.