Awards

I have been honored enough for several lifetimes.
None of these Awards are solely mine.
It takes teamwork, mentorship, collaboration, and massive amounts of inspiration & dedication
to even be nominated for these Awards, let alone to be heralded as "the best" by the Awards Judges.
Thank you, thank you, thank you... to the many Boards of Directors, professors, fellow staff, contemporaries, and friends
for your nominations along the way.
 

My Awards are found below, grouped into the following categories.
Feel free to click on the red links to directly jump to your favorite functional area:

Leadership Awards
Fundraising Awards  |  Marketing Awards  |  Public Relations Awards  |
Academic Awards  |  Construction Awards

These Awards were posted to encourage, motivate, and accelerate you to reach new heights. Reach for your dreams.

Leadership Awards

2012 Best-in-Nation New Executive Officer Award

Christian D. Malesic was awarded the top Executive award for setting the standard for association CEOs. He turned a $113,587 deficit budget into a $76,000 surplus in less than 18 months, built the strongest social media platform in the national federation, created the nationally recognized "At Home in Berks" magazine, led his association to being recognized as having the Best-in-Nation Community Service Project, and was highly involved in the Executive Officers Council, to which he attended every meeting.

The "Best New Executive Officer" award recognizes the top Association Management Chief Executive Officer for the previous year, who has served no more than three years at one of the 747 local or state Home Builders Associations in the NAHB federation, and who is judged to be the best in their field, having made major contributions to the profession during that time. Known as the David G. Lloyd Memorial New Executive Officer of the Year Award. 

2025 Certified Association Executive (CAE) of the Year Award

The CAE of the Year Award was presented to Christian D. Malesic in April 2025 for his continuous outstanding recruitment, encouragement, instruction, and cheerleading of the CAE certification and those current members working towards attaining this great career milestone.

The Dallas Fort Worth Association Executives (DFWAE) "CAE of the Year Award" is an annual honor presented to an association professional serving the association community in the Dallas-Fort Worth area by promoting professionalism and leadership development. It recognizes a DFWAE member who has demonstrated exceptional support, recruitment, and encouragement for association executives pursuing and achieving the Certified Association Executive (CAE) certification through the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE). 

2024 Executive of the Year Award

The DFWAE "Executive of the Year Award" was presented at the annual Association Day in April 2024 to Christian D. Malesic for modeling exemplary leadership within both DFWAE and the association industry. His approach to clear communication, servant leadership, efficiency, mentorship, and metric-driven management are commendable and recognized as industry-leading best practices.

The Dallas Fort Worth Association Executives (DFWAE) "Executive of the Year Award" is an annual honor presented to a CEO member serving the association community in the Dallas-Fort Worth. It recognizes the association CEO member of DFWAE who exemplifies outstanding leadership, excellence, and contributions to the association community.

Fundraising Awards

2012 Top PAC Fundraiser in State Award

The PA Committee for Affordable Housing (PACAH), PBA's Political Action Committee, recognized the HBA of Berks County "for its effort in protecting the housing industry by surpassing 100 percent of its direct contribution for 2011-2012" when the HBA surpassed its goal by an overwhelming 187%. 

Marketing Awards

2013 Best-in-Nation Web 2.0 Award

This is not your daddy’s HBA - why should our website look like it? Frustrated with the inability to make changes, outdated look, and stagnant nature, we embraced a full-blown overhaul tying in with our marketing campaign using six social media accounts supported with business cards, logos, brochures, and signage.

The web offers tools most local associations aren’t using. Social platforms are breaking web records by leaps and bounds. Ours was the first all-inclusive, multi-platform marketing effort involving a website using scalability for multiple devices and social media widgets in the entire NAHB federation of 747 associations. The results speak for themselves. Communication is up. Costs are down.
"Night Vision" captured the 2003 Marketing Pyramid Award as a microcosm of the CM Squared approach. It represents originality, flair for creativity, and consistency in one concise package. The purpose of the advertisement, which appeared in Susquehanna Style magazine, was to convey an emotional appeal for the fastest growing outdoor project in the Central PA marketplace, namely architectural and landscape lighting.

2012 Best-in-Nation Award for Comprehensive
Social Media Package

HBA Berks comprehensive Social Media program was recognized among the 738 local associations within the NAHB federation for the most innovative use of social media to communicate with both members and non-members, winning the Best-in-Nation Comprehensive Social Media Package Award in 2012.

The association embraced a full-blown marketing campaign using six social media accounts (Facebook - 2 pages, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, and Pinterest) supported with traditional marketing. After lamenting over the lack of positive coverage HBA members and the association were receiving for all they were doing in the community on a regular basis, the association set out to build one of the strongest multi-platform social media presences in the NAHB federation and to promote it with a comprehensive marketing campaign. In fact, the internal goal was to rival in content quality even the national organization itself, which has a dedicated social media staff. 

2004 Marketing Pyramid Award
for Best Radio Ad for a Remodeling Project
"The Knack" 

"The Knack" radio advertisement captures the talk radio listener's imagination to win the 2004 Marketing Pyramid Award. The concept of this ad is to invoke images of the damsel in distress (patient - “Edith Bunker” character) saved by the studly hero (doctor – “Dudley Do-Right” character) with electrical issues by using a comedic approach and ‘over-the-top’ sound effects. The ad informs the listener of CM Squared, Inc.'s unique and particularly strong talents in troubleshooting and problem-solving; while jolting the listener into recognizing the need for a good quality electrician when an electrical problem has unfortunately interrupted their standard routine.

Each Pyramid Award conveys the high honor of being the very best in the Central PA region in outstanding marketing, creative home design, or expert craftmanship. The Home Builders Association (HBA) of Metropolitan Harrisburg has been recognizing top-notch home builders, remodelers, and trade contractors with their Pyramid Awards every year since the 1970s. 
Representing:
CM Squared, Inc.
as President / CEO / Chairman of the Board

2003 Marketing Pyramid Award
for Best Print Advertising
"Night Vision"

"Night Vision" captured the 2003 Marketing Pyramid Award as a microcosm of the CM Squared approach. It represents originality, flair for creativity, and consistency in one concise package. The purpose of the advertisement, which appeared in Susquehanna Style magazine, was to convey an emotional appeal for the fastest growing outdoor project in the Central PA marketplace, namely architectural and landscape lighting.

"Night Vision" targets the hurried, on-the-go, and stressed segment of the population who are looking for serenity as they return to their home sanctuary. It is designed to capture the attention of the page-flipping reader and jolt them to a place far away from their present surroundings.

Each Pyramid Award conveys the high honor of being the very best in the Central PA region in outstanding marketing, creative home design, or expert craftmanship. The Home Builders Association (HBA) of Metropolitan Harrisburg has been recognizing top-notch home builders, remodelers, and trade contractors with their Pyramid Awards every year since the 1970s. 
Representing:
CM Squared, Inc.
as President / CEO / Chairman of the Board

2003 Marketing Pyramid Award
for Best Signage Program

Taking the traditional "realtor yard sign" to well beyond the next level, CM Squared, Inc. reinvents what's possible to take home the 2003 Marketing Pyramid Award. Their sign, used to further market in a neighborhood that work was being done at a home or job site, went on to be featured on the front cover of Dee Signs international magazine and product guide.

Each Pyramid Award conveys the high honor of being the very best in the Central PA region in outstanding marketing, creative home design, or expert craftmanship. The Home Builders Association (HBA) of Metropolitan Harrisburg has been recognizing top-notch home builders, remodelers, and trade contractors with their Pyramid Awards every year since the 1970s. 
Representing:
CM Squared, Inc.
as President / CEO / Chairman of the Board

2002 Marketing Pyramid Award
for Best Website

Introducing flash movie movement with corresponding sound effects to welcome visitors to a well-designed and easy to navigate website, CM Squared, Inc. was heralded as a ground-breaker and first-mover to win the 2002 Marketing Pyramid Award. The design of the web site was focused on the marketing strategy that this would not be a first contact, and that visitors to the site had already heard about the firm in some other way and were now seeking more information. Thus, based on metric research and SEO statistics, most visitors were not coming to the site via a search engine. In that respect, the web site was specifically designed as an information resource. Through it, the visitor can find out who the company is, their company policies, qualifications, certifications, and affiliations.

Each Pyramid Award conveys the high honor of being the very best in the Central PA region in outstanding marketing, creative home design, or expert craftmanship. The Home Builders Association (HBA) of Metropolitan Harrisburg has been recognizing top-notch home builders, remodelers, and trade contractors with their Pyramid Awards every year since the 1970s. 
Representing:
CM Squared, Inc.
as President / CEO / Chairman of the Board

2001 Marketing Pyramid Award
for Best Brochure 

CM Squared, Inc. does it again to capture the 2001 Marketing Pyramid Award for their high-end "Luminous Solutions" brochure promoting their lighting design and installation division. It represents originality, flair for creativity, and consistency in one concise package. The purpose of the brochure is not meant to convey a great deal of information, but rather, it is used to demonstrate the need for the dramatic in lighting any space. This 4-color, 16-page piece is brought to life with dynamic images, captivating colors, catchy copy and topped off with selected varnish and raised lettering to really make the call to action reach off the page.

Each Pyramid Award conveys the high honor of being the very best in the Central PA region in outstanding marketing, creative home design, or expert craftmanship. The Home Builders Association (HBA) of Metropolitan Harrisburg has been recognizing top-notch home builders, remodelers, and trade contractors with their Pyramid Awards every year since the 1970s. 
Representing:
CM Squared, Inc.
as President / CEO / Chairman of the Board

2001 Marketing Pyramid Award
for Best Radio Advertising Campaign

Opening with the sole sound of high heels walking down the sidewalk this 2001 Marketing Pyramid Award captured the listeners' attention immediately with a sudden jolt of music and sound effects to promote outdoor and entryway lighting design as a safety measure against lurkers and would-be prowlers. The “Emotional” radio ad targets the hurried, on-the-go, and stressed segment of the population. It is designed to jolt the listener into recognizing the need for safe surroundings to prevent their routine from unfortunate interruption.

Each Pyramid Award conveys the high honor of being the very best in the Central PA region in outstanding marketing, creative home design, or expert craftmanship. The Home Builders Association (HBA) of Metropolitan Harrisburg has been recognizing top-notch home builders, remodelers, and trade contractors with their Pyramid Awards every year since the 1970s. 
Representing:
CM Squared, Inc.
as President / CEO / Chairman of the Board

2000 Marketing Pyramid Award
for Best Special Promotion

CM Squared, Inc. partnered with Graphik Masters Design Studio to produce a mobile reminder of the CM2 Standard quality of work. MiniSam, a Chrysler Town & Country minivan, was completely hand-painted as a mobile billboard to win this year's Marketing Special Promotion Pyramid Award. The design was a modified version of the corporation’s hand-painted work truck, a large 16’ box truck.

(This was awarded before the common "car-wrap" stickers were plausible, making this design and promotion ground-setting and ahead-of-its time.)

Each Pyramid Award conveys the high honor of being the very best in the Central PA region in outstanding marketing, creative home design, or expert craftmanship. The Home Builders Association (HBA) of Metropolitan Harrisburg has been recognizing top-notch home builders, remodelers, and trade contractors with their Pyramid Awards every year since the 1970s. 
Representing:
CM Squared, Inc.
as President / CEO / Chairman of the Board

2000 Marketing Pyramid Award
for One Page Mailer / Flyer 

Your home is your haven, but is it safe? This 4-color, folded, on-page mailer and flyer stole the show to win the 2000 Marketing Pyramid Award. It had brilliant design, captivating color usage, with a exceedingly strong call to action to replace your outdated electrical panel with the newest in home-safety technology to protect your family.

Each Pyramid Award conveys the high honor of being the very best in the Central PA region in outstanding marketing, creative home design, or expert craftmanship. The Home Builders Association (HBA) of Metropolitan Harrisburg has been recognizing top-notch home builders, remodelers, and trade contractors with their Pyramid Awards every year since the 1970s. 
Representing:
CM Squared, Inc.
as President / CEO / Chairman of the Board

1999 Marketing Pyramid Award
for Best Black & White Print Ad
"Is Your Life Hectic?"

The award-winning "Is Your Life Hectic?" newspaper advertisement by CM Squared, Inc. was run in the Harrisburg Patriot News, York Dispatch, Lancaster Daily News, Carlisle Sentinel, and several smaller newspapers. It featured the company's outdoor lighting design and installation as a way to escape the crazy to relax in your home oasis.

Each Pyramid Award conveys the high honor of being the very best in the Central PA region in outstanding marketing, creative home design, or expert craftmanship. The Home Builders Association (HBA) of Metropolitan Harrisburg has been recognizing top-notch home builders, remodelers, and trade contractors with their Pyramid Awards every year since the 1970s. 
Representing:
CM Squared, Inc.
as President / CEO / Chairman of the Board

1999 Marketing Pyramid Award
for Best Special Promotion 

CM Squared, Inc. was awarded the 1999 Best Special Promotion Marketing Pyramid Award for their 20' X 20' Home Show booth featuring a "Teddy Bear Picnic" which included over 40 bears ranging in size from hand-sized to life-sized each in various poses and scenarios. They also sent out custom invitations to clients and potential clients inviting them to the Home Show just to visit the Teddy Bear Picnic, increasing attendance single-handedly by a confirmed 84 attendees.

Each Pyramid Award conveys the high honor of being the very best in the Central PA region in outstanding marketing, creative home design, or expert craftmanship. The Home Builders Association (HBA) of Metropolitan Harrisburg has been recognizing top-notch home builders, remodelers, and trade contractors with their Pyramid Awards every year since the 1970s. 
Representing:
CM Squared, Inc.
as President / CEO / Chairman of the Board

Public Relations Awards

2012 Best-in-Nation Publication Award
for “At Home in Berks” Magazine 

“At Home in Berks”” was recognized among the 738 local associations within the NAHB federation as the most innovative and comprehensive printed communications to association membership and/or the non-member public. Christian created “At Home in Berks” and served as its Editor-in-Chief.

A 32+ page, four color glossy, premium magazine mailed & distributed at more than 3,000 locations bi-monthly. Though sent to all members, its target audience is the homeowner not the member. It is especially unique as it is written by member experts, not professional authors. 


2012 Best-in-State Publication Award
for "At Home in Berks" Magazine 

“At Home in Berks”, a publication of the Home Builders Association of Berks County, was awarded the Pennsylvania Builder Association’s (PBA) Best Local Newsletter/Publication award during the association’s President’s Installation and Gala Awards Banquet at the Wyndham, Gettysburg.

The magazine competed against 37 other local associations with this 36+ page four color bi-monthly magazine that targets the member’s client & prospective customer rather than the association’s members with a circulation of 3,000. Christian created “At Home in Berks” and served as its Editor-in-Chief. 
"Night Vision" captured the 2003 Marketing Pyramid Award as a microcosm of the CM Squared approach. It represents originality, flair for creativity, and consistency in one concise package. The purpose of the advertisement, which appeared in Susquehanna Style magazine, was to convey an emotional appeal for the fastest growing outdoor project in the Central PA marketplace, namely architectural and landscape lighting.

2012 Best-in-Nation Award
for Best Community Service Project
HBA Restoring Hope Foundation

The 2012 Build was championed among the 738 local associations within the NAHB federation as the Best-in-Nation Community Service Project for providing support and assistance to the community while gaining positive recognition for the association. Mary Jo Van Sant & her two children received an all-expense-paid extreme home makeover which officially began on Monday, June 11, 2012 with the Big Reveal on Saturday, June 16, 2012.

HBA Restoring Hope constructs solutions to address unique challenges of hard-working, law-abiding, tax paying members of the Berks County community that have had a run of bad luck. The HBA’s Restoring Hope Foundation was established in October 2010 after being featured on ABC's popular TV series "Extreme Home Makeover".

Academic Awards

2011 J. Bernard Schmidt Academic Scholarship Award

Issued by Issued by Dixon University Center · Jul 2011 
Competing against all students enrolled in undergraduate and graduate programs, Christian was recognized with a cash award as the top overall student, representing Shippensburg University in the MBA program.

The J. Bernard Schmidt Academic Scholarship was a financial award offered by the Dixon University Center (DUC), a now-defunct higher education consortium of 9 colleges & universities in 30 different degree programs, in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Named in honor of J. Bernard Schmidt—a prominent community leader, former president of the DUC's governing board, and past president of Capital Bank who passed away in 2004 at age 83—the scholarship was renamed for him following his death to recognize his contributions to the institution.
Representing:
Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania
as Master of Business Administration Student

1994 Best College Business Student Award

Issued by Eastern Florida State College · May 1994
Competing against the entire Palm Bay, FL campus, the Business Award is voted by the faculty of the Business College and awarded to the student each year that best exemplifies that standards of the college and is the strongest student across all business disciplines for the school year.

On July 1, 2013, Brevard Community College was officially renamed Eastern Florida State College.

While stationed in Melbourne, FL for a special duty assignment to develop & design the Joint STARS program for the US Air Force, Christian began studying at Brevard Community College for what would later become his third Bachelor degree in Business Administration with a Concentration in Marketing from Elizabethtown College in 2001. 
Representing:
Eastern Florida State College
as Bachelor of Science in Business Administration Student

Construction Awards

2000 Remodeling Pyramid Award
for Outdoor Living Project under $50,000

The 2000 Remodeling Pyramid Award for Outdoor Living is awarded to CM Squared, Inc. for a truly inspiring backyard deck, sunroom, and relaxation escape featuring a BBQ nook, mood lighting, ceiling fans, baseboard heat, and surround sound.

Each Pyramid Award conveys the high honor of being the very best in the Central PA region in outstanding marketing, creative home design, or expert craftmanship. The Home Builders Association (HBA) of Metropolitan Harrisburg has been recognizing top-notch home builders, remodelers, and trade contractors with their Pyramid Awards every year since the 1970s.
Representing:
CM Squared, Inc.
as President / CEO / Chairman of the Board