For The Good of ASHI

Mark Goodman has been doing this work a long time. He has the awards to show for it—ASHI’s Cox Award, the Ironman Award (a two-time recipient), and now the Monahon—but he doesn’t volunteer the extra time across ASHI committees for the recognition. He does it because he wants to be part of bettering the profession. 

“We need more people to step up. The people who have stepped up and made a difference over the years is why ASHI is what it is,” Goodman said. 

The 2024 ASHI President was recently recognized with the 2025 Philip C. Monahon Award, which recognizes an ASHI member who has made exceptional and innovative contributions to the ASHI membership.

Lisa Alajajian Giroux, current ASHI President, said Goodman exemplifies the lifelong service, leadership, and devotion to ASHI that the Philip C. Monahon Award was established to honor. “Over more than a decade, Mark has demonstrated sustained commitment at both the chapter and national levels, consistently placing the needs of the Society and its members above personal recognition,” she said. 

He’s been a dedicated member of the St. Louis ASHI Chapter since 2015, serving in multiple leadership roles, including Chapter President (2018, 2019, 2023, 2025, and 2026), Vice President (2017), and Education Chair (2016). He has also remained actively engaged as an Education Committee member, Website & App Chair, and Legislative Committee member since 2017. 

“I got involved early on because I wanted to make a difference at the chapter level and then that led me to getting involved at the national level,” he said. “I’m not doing it for a title or to build my business,” though he said being actively involved also can’t hurt, especially in these changing times and considering 80% of most business comes from real estate agents. In fact, he often gets people to hire him because of his credentials and volunteer positions at the chapter and national level.

But, he said, when you take a role within ASHI, whether it’s an official position, on a committee, or simply taking the time to suggest an idea, it should be to make a difference and improve the profession at large. He hopes more people will start to think that way and get involved. “You’re doing it for the greater good. You’re not just a steward of ASHI past and present and, most importantly, the future, but you’re also doing it as a steward of the profession.” 

Goodman has served ASHI extensively as part of countless committees, task forces, and governance work, Alajajian Giroux said. He currently serves as Secretary on the ASHI Board and continues to work as part of the ASHI’s Standards of Practice committee, is St. Louis Chapter president, and contributes to many other volunteer groups as needed. “I have a problem with saying no,” he laughed.

Goodman has consistently supported emerging leaders and modeled ethical leadership in service to the profession, Alajajian Giroux said. He’s clearly committed to collaborating and sharing knowledge, and he maintains an enthusiasm for the profession and volunteering. He’d also much rather talk about the value of volunteering than talk about his own contributions, he said. 

Seeking Volunteers 

ASHI is a membership organization led by volunteer members who step up in big ways and small. “They’re not being compensated. 

They’re doing this out of the goodness of their hearts or for the benefit of the profession,” Goodman said. “The president and the president-elect get a stipend, but it doesn’t cover the amount of loss to income [due to time working as President], which is how it was designed.”

For many, home inspection is a second or third career. Many inspectors come with expertise from previous careers and would be great assets to ASHI, Goodman said, but it’s a matter of finding those folks. He hopes more Members will share their expertise. “There are those who would be great educators or presenters at a conference or on a committee or the Board. We need more of those people to let us know what they’ve done in the past and to step up and volunteer.” Inspectors interested in learning more are encouraged to visit homeinspector.org/community/volunteer-with-ashi/ to explore opportunities.

Volunteering doesn’t have to take up all of your time either, Goodman said. There are lots of different types of roles. Some committees act more as watchdog groups. Take, for example, the St. Louis Chapter’s Legislative Committee. “They watch what’s going on in the state. If someone introduces a bill we need to know about and it goes to a public hearing, they make sure we have inspectors there. It is typically the last time we have a chance to stop a bad bill. If we want to push something proactively, that would also be the group to deal with that.”

The Education Committee is the most popular committee for volunteers, Goodman said. The St. Louis Chapter of ASHI has about a dozen volunteers on that committee. The more people, the more the work is divided up, too. “One person doesn’t have to do a whole lot; it might be as simple as finding a speaker for a monthly meeting.” 

Members can contribute to ASHI in so many ways, Goodman said. The ASHI Minority Business Committee, Bylaws Committee, and Chapter Relations Committee are all looking for volunteers. There’s also the Women of the Home Inspection Industry, the Young Professional Network, the Complaints Committee, and more. If you don’t want to join a committee, you can always share ideas. “Get involved, have a voice. That’s the way you make a difference,” Goodman said. “If you don’t like something, the way you change it is not by complaining online. It’s by getting involved.” 

Volunteering could be as simple as submitting an idea that might get written into a long-term plan or it might be something ASHI could enact right away, especially if it’s “low-hanging fruit,” Goodman said. “Volunteers can help us get much more done much more quickly.” 

As ASHI’s long-standing volunteers—including dedicated educators—approach retirement, it is crucial that new volunteers step up to fill their pivotal roles, Goodman said. “The evolving housing industry, particularly the home inspection profession, demands that ASHI adapt and innovate. Embracing fresh perspectives and change is essential for continued growth.”

Built on the foundation laid by countless volunteer leaders, ASHI offers meaningful opportunities for those willing to serve—opportunities to influence both the organization and the profession. “I was inspired and mentored by leaders like John Wessling and Harry Morrell, who motivated me to volunteer initially at the chapter level and later at the national level. Now, I am committed to helping others follow the same path of leadership and service that I was fortunate to experience. I want to help others step up in the same way Mike Wagner guided me,” Goodman said. 

He said it’s imperative that the next generation of volunteers begin preparing now for roles in mentorship, education, and service, especially as many seasoned ASHI members are concluding their careers and retiring. “This is the critical moment to get involved, ensuring current leaders can guide us in assuming our vital roles and securing the future of our profession and organization.” 

Encouraging each other to get involved could make a huge impact in the long run, as it has a ripple effect throughout the profession. 

“Our members are our lifeblood. If you can make a difference, or if you can change something or fix something, be proactive and fix it.”