For the second year in a row, GAF-Elk Corporation has received the prestigious “Partners of Choice” award from David Weekley Homes, the nation's largest private-held homebuilder. Prior to the merger with GAF, Elk Corporation had also received the award in 2005 and 2006.

WAYNE, N.J. - For the second year in a row, GAF-Elk Corporation has received the prestigious “Partners of Choice” award from David Weekley Homes, the nation's largest private-held homebuilder. Prior to the merger with GAF, Elk Corporation had also received the award in 2005 and 2006. Only 16 companies out of approximately 150 vendors received the Partners of Choice award. GAF-Elk received an “A” rating in the category of quality, putting GAF-Elk in the top 10 percent of all companies David Weekley does business with, competing against companies in every area of the building materials industry.

“GAF-Elk’s mission is to become a world-class organization, and the David Weekley survey is an excellent way to measure world class performance,” said Dave Harrison Chief Marketing Office at GAF-Elk. “We’re honored to be named a Partner of Choice again, recognizing that our products are truly world class to the David Weekley organization.”

The awards are based on the David Weekley Homes’ National Trading Partner Survey, a running quarterly review of about 150 suppliers. Nearly 1,000 team members from all levels within the company provide the ratings. Suppliers are rated on quality and service on a 1 to 10 scale.  The scores for each company are averaged then ranked with all others that participate.  Alpha rankings are assigned in 20 percent increments from A to F.  This year, only 16 providers received either the prestigious “AA” or “A” award for achieving the highest ranking in quality or service, or both.

“Despite dramatic changes in the market, including the recent downturn in the housing market, and faced with challenges unique to a major integration, GAF-Elk continued to provide quality materials,” said Bill Justus, vice president of supply chain services and founder of David Weekley’s National Trading Partner Survey.

“Our survey challenges manufacturers to look beyond their four walls in providing superior products and services, which GAF-Elk has demonstrated for four years now,” he said. “To be world-class, trading partners must actively manage all aspects of the supply chain to insure high quality products are delivered and installed correctly in our homes.  Our survey takes the promises and rhetoric out of the mix. Through their actions GAF-Elk has proven they provide world-class building materials.”

Jim Schnepper, vice president of sales at GAF-Elk, said in the evaluation process, David Weekley Homes demonstrates its high standards for quality that are translated directly from its supplier partners to their customers, the homeowners.

“David Weekley Homes knows they can have confidence in GAF-Elk to manufacture the highest quality products sold by the best team in the business.  This award is shared with the GAF-Elk sales force, manufacturing plants, supply chain partners, and everyone in the GAF-Elk organization."

For more information, visitwww.davidweekleyhomes.comorwww.gaf.com.