BeLit, Inc. is proud to announce that its CEO, Barry Dixon, has received the Dwight Hikel Humanitarian Award from the Structural Building Components Association (SBCA). The award was presented on September 16 during the kickoff of SBCA’s Building Component Manufacturers Conference (BCMC) in Columbus, Ohio.
The Dwight Hikel Humanitarian Award was established to honor individuals for their mentoring spirit and generosity through philanthropic activities in the structural building components industry, as well as their willingness to share their ideas, time, and talents to mentor and support others.
For Barry, who also serves as President/CEO of TrueHouse, the recognition is especially meaningful because of his close relationship with Dwight Hikel, who passed away in February 2017, and the influence Dwight had on his life and career.
“Dwight was a father figure to me and one of my favorite people I’ve ever met in this industry,” said Barry. “He was a big personality, but what always stayed with me was how much he did when nobody was looking. He gave his time, connected people, and looked for ways to make the industry better, and I’ve tried to carry that spirit forward in my own life.”
Barry has spent decades building businesses and serving the structural building components industry, consistently looking for opportunities to strengthen the organizations, companies, and people around him. His service to SBCA has included serving as the association’s president, supporting membership growth and industry initiatives at both the local and national levels, and serving as a trustee of the SBCA Foundation.
That longstanding commitment was reflected in the nominations submitted by SBCA members as reiterated by SBCA’s Managing Director, Molly Butz, during the award presentation at BCMC. “From leadership to mentorship, Barry has consistently worked to help SBCA grow and thrive,” she stated. “Throughout his years of involvement, he has helped advance the association’s vision for component manufacturing and housing design, while supporting efforts that strengthened membership at both the local and national levels. His service has also extended to the SBCA Foundation, where, as a Trustee, he has helped ensure its resources are used thoughtfully and effectively to support the industry and its communities.”
The nomination went on to recognize Barry’s generosity with his time, experience, and resources, noting that “his leadership and long-standing commitment have made a lasting impact on both the association and the industry.”
While Barry’s leadership and commitment to the industry have been significant, Molly also shared that those who know him well say his sense of humor and willingness to speak his mind have also become part of his legacy within SBCA.
“One of the things I appreciate most about Barry is that while he takes his business and this industry very seriously, he has never made the mistake of taking himself too seriously,” she said. “He is always ready with a story, a laugh, or a well-timed comment, sometimes whether you asked for one or not. And after this many years around SBCA, I think it is safe to say he has earned both the right to offer his opinion and the expectation that we are probably going to hear it.”
Barry’s selection also carries special meaning for the Hikel family of Shelter Systems Limited in Westminster, Maryland. President/CEO Joe Hikel, who was the first recipient of the award named after his father in 2017, noted the longstanding relationship between the Hikel and Dixon families.
“I was so proud to see that Barry won the award that honors my Dad,” Joe said. “The Hikels and Dixons have a relationship spanning many years, which continues today between Jason, Ryan, and Parker. Barry has been an innovative thinker and has always been willing to share his ideas with others, ultimately benefitting the industry. Congratulations to Barry!”
That willingness to share ideas, open doors for others, and invest his time in the industry makes the award particularly fitting for Barry. It also reflects a lesson he says he learned from Dwight Hikel himself: that some of the most meaningful contributions are those made quietly, without an expectation of recognition.
For BeLit, Barry’s recognition reflects the same emphasis on relationships, collaboration, and industry advancement that he has brought to his leadership throughout his career. Receiving an award bearing the name of one of his own mentors makes the honor particularly personal and serves as a reminder of the lasting impact that mentorship can have from one generation of industry leaders to the next.
“To now have my name associated with Dwight’s and all the good he did for this industry is incredibly special to me,” said Barry. “I never expected to receive this award, and I feel very humbled, honored and blessed. It is a testament to everyone in the BeLit family of companies and the incredible leaders I’ve been so fortunate to work with over the years.”