The Best in American Living Awards™ program recently inducted its sixth class into the BALA Hall of Fame, honoring innovative, well-respected individuals and companies that have significantly affected residential design and construction.

Lita Dirks. Dirks, owner of Lita Dirks & Co. in Greenwood Village, Colo., is an award-winning, nationally recognized leader in model-home interior design and merchandising. She regularly judges national and regional interior design competitions, conducts lectures and seminars, and authors articles for national publications. She was honored with the NAHB Institute of Residential Marketing’s Presidential Award two years in a row and was the 1993 recipient of the Bill Molster Award for lifetime achievement in service to the assciation’s National Sales and Marketing Council. Dirks was selected for the Hall of Fame due to her long-time contributions to the industry. She is a leader in not only defining trends but also in innovation, particularly as it relates to 55+ housing and design.

Jerry Gloss. A senior and founding partner at KGA Studio Architects PC in Louisville, Colo., a residential architectural studio, Gloss’ leadership has created a legacy of excellence in residential design. His portfolio has garnered a long list of awards and recognitions during the firm’s 40-year history. He is recognized nationally as a housing industry speaker on market-driven design, builder/architect relationships and the design-build process. Gloss has a long history of success with BALA, and his peers cite him as having contributed greatly to the success and prestige of the program.