HAZLET, N.J. - The Matzel & Mumford Organization has again been selected as the recipient of the prestigious B.E.A.M. Award (Builders Employing Associate Members), presented by the New Jersey Shore Builders Association.

The 2001 award was presented during special ceremonies at the Shore Builders' February meeting before a crowd of nearly 300 attendees. The Hazlet-based homebuilder, which also received the 1994 B.E.A.M. Award, is the only two-time winner in the 13 years that the program has been offered.

The B.E.A.M. Award annually recognizes Builder members of the Association who use the goods and services offered by Associate members.

"Deserving of much more than a plaque, B.E.A.M. award-winners receive a specially-designed, one-of-a-kind bronze sculpture that commemorates strength, longevity and integrity in the industry," indicates Frank Baer, Jr., Vice-President of Associates of the Shore Builders. "The unique sculpture emphasizes that those selected exemplify the significant teamwork between our Builder and Associate members."

Each Associate member listed on an application evaluates the builder's relationship based on trust, communication, loyalty, ethics and consideration, Mr. Bauer points out. While major emphasis in judging is given to the overall percentage of Associate members used by a Builder, the final decision is also predicated on the relationship established with those associates. Thus, every Builder, large and small, has an equal opportunity to win.

"The valued relationships created with the trades, subcontractors and consultants we work with are extremely important to us," notes David B. Fisher, Matzel & Mumford's Vice- President of Governmental Affairs, who accepted the B.E.A.M. award with John Moorzitz, the homebuilder's Vice-President of Operations.

"These long-standing ties with solid trades and suppliers committed to doing good work enables us to predict with certainty that our projects will be brought in according to specifications, on time and within budget."

The Matzel & Mumford Organization, a K. Hovnanian company, has been building quality housing in New Jersey since 1986. The holder of numerous "Community of the Year" awards, the company has created a powerful niche in the new-construction, single-family market, having built more than 50 such communities throughout Central and Northern New Jersey. Currently under construction are residential communities in Monmouth, Middlesex and Somerset Counties, including Sheridan Woods in Wall Township, Spruce Hollow and The Highlands in Monroe Township, Apple Ridge and East Mill in East Brunswick, and Montgomery Hills in Montgomery Township.

Matzel & Mumford has recently expanded into new areas. Montgomery Hills is the company's first townhome community in more than ten years consisting of 262 homes. Planned are The Landings at Spinnaker Pointe, 30 townhomes in Sayreville; a 76-unit infill townhome redevelopment opportunity in Morristown; and Spinnaker Pointe, Matzel & Mumford's first active adult community, which is also slated for Sayreville.

In addition, the company has large-scale residential communities in the planning stages in Warren, Essex and Mercer Counties.