Hello All Members,
Hope you had a Merry Christmas and that everyone is well.
On behalf of STAHI, Larry Ames presented Keith Oberg with a lifetime achievement award at the private Christmas Eve dinner where Larry and Keith with his family were present. Unfortunately, due to Covid situation we were putting it off for a long time now. At the last meeting we [the leadership] were hoping to discuss the possibility of presenting Keith with the award in a private setting since Keith and Larry were to be at the same dinner, but since Keith was present at the open meeting it was not possible. The decision to go ahead with that option was made by the STAHI officers.
Larry also wrote up a press release about Keith’s award which was submitted to several local newspapers [ see below]. Keith was very happy with the recognition and expressed his deep appreciation for the honor.
A special night out with dinner to honor Keith will be arranged when Covid conditions allow that to be done safely.
Happy New Year 2022 to ALL
Frank Macak
Here is the press release with the pictures that was sent to several local newspapers including Binghamton Press, Susquehanna Co. Independent, Owego Pennysaver, PennysaverOnline and CNY Life and Homes magazine
Home Inspector Keith Oberg Recognized for Lifetime Achievement
Binghamton NY, 12/24/2021
NY licensed Home Inspector Keith Oberg of Brackney, PA, was honored on Christmas Eve 2021 by our NY regional professional association for “Lifetime Achievement” in the Home Inspection profession. With his family attending, Keith was presented with a plaque by STAHI President, Larry Ames. The plaque was inscribed: “for his decades of work and service to improve the standing of the Home Inspector profession in New York State by being a Founder of the STAHI regional association and by continually promoting high standards of ethics and practice, collegiality, and quality continuing education within our profession.”
Keith started his professional career, coming from his successful home building business, to found Professional Home Inspection, of Binghamton, NY in 1989. He worked with other prominent home inspectors to promote the establishment of the previously unregulated practice to be a duly licensed profession in New York State. In addition to being a founder of the Southern Tier Association of Home Inspectors (STAHI) in 2005, he was instrumental in establishing NYSAHI, the New York State Association of Home Inspectors (NYSAHI.org). Oberg was also a Past-President of the Central NY chapter of ASHI (CNYASHI). Among many awards and recognitions, he was honored by the American Society of Home Inspectors in 2006 with the prestigious national Iron Man award for one “…who has given his or her time, energy, talent and determination to ASHI over a long period of time and with little recognition“ He is widely known as a home inspection “guru” and has generously shared his vast knowledge by teaching continuing education classes over the years as a NYS certified instructor. He is also a past-President of STAHI and was a Director of the NYSAHI Board for many years. His efforts through NYSAHI as Legislative Chair helped change NYS Law to raise the bar for the profession’s required entry exam to bring it up to the more demanding national exam standards. He is an exceptional person and home inspection professional in all respects.
STAHI serves licensed Home Inspectors from as many as ten counties of New York. It meets monthly in Binghamton to conduct its business and to provide State approved continuing education courses that are required for re-licensing. Its stated purpose is to: “…promote excellence within the profession and to improve inspection services to the public; … provide members and others with a forum in which to enhance their professionalism through education, and an informed exchange of ideas…; …build public awareness and confidence in the home inspector; and “…interact with related professions, the legal community and government bodies as a representative body for the local home and building inspection profession.” Licensed Home Inspectors were designated an “essential service” by NYS at the start of the Covid outbreak due to their critical function in consumer protection of home buyers. STAHI works to support its members in providing their services with high standards of ethics and competence. The Association maintains a directory of its members by county in its website at STAHI.org.
STAHI is very proud to honor its own Keith Oberg as an exemplar of the Home Inspection professional.
Left to right: Roxie, Keith, and Matt Oberg; Larry Ames
