Networking is one of the talents that comes to the fore among this year’s Forty Under 40 class. From grand efforts, such as organizing the logistics for an event to support building trades training that drew 1,600 attendees, or raising millions of dollars to build a refuge for families of cancer patients, to smaller-scale activities, such as cultivating local real estate agents to improve co-op sales, these rising stars demonstrate a knack for leveraging their connections and establishing new ones.
Digital marketing prowess is another strong suit of this group, as many of them grew revenue by mastering new lead generation strategies and devising and implementing systems and processes for targeting the right prospects and streamlining sales and marketing. Some of them took the family business to the next level, became division presidents by their mid-30s, or excelled in home building after making a career change from a completely different field—journalism, running fishing boat charters, or lobbying in the halls of the U.S. Senate, among other examples.
And the leaders and innovators of this up-and-coming generation of home builders, developers, designers, researchers, and sales professionals also are active in their communities, giving back through mentoring, charity work, coaching youth sports, and myriad other ways you’ll read about below, as Professional Builder proudly presents the Forty Under 40 Class of 2019.
Class of 2019
RYAN BAND, President, Unbridled Homes, Louisville, Ky.
ALEX BENSHOOF, COO, Berks Homes, New Cumberland, Pa.
CHARLES BOVET, VP Operations, BONE Structure, San Francisco
MICHAEL DILWORTH, President, Dilworth Development, Auburn, Ala.
KAREN EMMONS, General Sales Manager, Van Metre Cos., Ashburn, Va.
GEOFF FERRELL, Chief Technology Officer, Mandalay Homes, Prescott, Ariz.
REGGIE GARNER JR., VP / Owner, Magnolia Homes, Germantown, Tenn.
PAIGE GLASSER, Marketing Manager, FivePoint, Irvine, Calif.
JACKLYN GRANICZNY, Partner / Design Director, Sublime Homes, St. John, Ind.
SETH HART, Associate / Senior Designer, DTJ Design, Boulder, Colo.
WHITNEY HARVEY, VP Sales & Marketing, Magnolia Homes, Germantown, Tenn.
JAMIE HUDSON, Director of Sales, Schell Brothers, Rehoboth Beach, Del.
NATHAN KAHRE, High-Performance and Healthy Home Manager, Thrive Home Builders, Denver
MEGAN KIELLA, VP, Kiella Homebuilders, Temple, Texas
MITCHELL MARTIN, Owner and CEO, Stone Martin Builders, Opelika, Ala.
ERICA MARTY, Director, Design and Innovation, Neumann Cos., Milwaukee and Madison, Wis.
MARC MASOTTI, VP, Construction, Homes by Dickerson, Raleigh, N.C.
JON MORITZ, Co-President, Eddy Homes, Pittsburgh
MATTHEW MORITZ, Co-President, Eddy Homes, Pittsburgh
PAUL MUELLER JR., President, Mueller Homes, Sykesville, Md.
STEPHEN MYERS, COO, Thrive Home Builders, Denver
DANIEL NIELSEN, Division President, Hakes Brothers, Las Cruces, N.M.
DAVE PAGE, Area / Operations Manager, William Ryan Homes, Tampa, Fla.
RICK PALACIOS JR., SVP Director of Research, John Burns Real Estate Consulting, Irvine, Calif.
BRANDON PATTERSON, Board Member, Home Builders Association of Greater Des Moines and Home Builders Association of Iowa, Des Moines, Iowa
AARON POLHEMUS, President and CEO, Polhemus Savery DaSilva Architects Builders, East Harwich, Mass.
LIZ POLSON, Director of Marketing, HomeSphere, Lakewood, Colo.
DAVID POPPLETON, Associate / Senior Architect, DTJ Design, Boulder, Colo.
INGRID PRINCE, Director of Online Sales, Trendmaker Homes, Dallas
WILLIAM RAMSEY, Principal, KTGY Architecture + Planning, Denver
GEOFFREY REID, Director of Land Acquisition, Century Communities, Atlanta
MATT RILEY, VP Sales & Marketing, Builder Designs, Olathe, Kan.
ZACK SAWYER, SVP and Chief Accounting Officer, Ashton Woods Homes, Roswell, Ga.
JAKE SCHERRER, Senior Director, Builder Regional Sales, Zillow Group, Seattle
PAUL SPRINGER, National Director AeroBarrier, Aeroseal, Centerville, Ohio
PIERRETTE TIERNEY-MAGLEBY, VP Business Development, Magleby Construction, Park City, Utah
TODD TOMALAK, SVP Research, John Burns Real Estate Consulting, Green Bay, Wis.
ADAM VAN BAVEL, Business Development Manager, O’Neil Interactive, Baltimore
COREY WESCOE, VP of Acquisitions, PulteGroup, Basking Ridge, N.J.
ALI WOLF, Director of Economic Research, Meyers Research, Costa Mesa, Calif.
Ryan Band, 39
President, Unbridled Homes, Louisville, Ky.
EDUCATION
• BS, Finance, Indiana University
CERTIFICATIONS
• Working toward Certified Graduate Builder designation
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
• Has grown company revenue 100 percent year over year since 2014 founding • Board of directors for the Building Industry Association (BIA) of Greater Louisville and The Fuller Center for Housing
EXTRACURRICULAR
• Project manager and volunteer for the ACE Project, converting an abandoned home into a community center for local children and youth in Louisville with the support of the BIA of Greater Louisville and local news agency WHAS
SECRET LIFE
• Third-generation builder • Favorite vacation spot: Treasure Island, Fla.; has been visiting since childhood
OFF THE CLOCK
• Sailing • Whitewater kayaking • Mountain biking • Swimming
Alex Benshoof, 39
COO, Berks Homes, New Cumberland, Pa.
• BA, Business and Communications (dual degree), Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, University of Pittsburgh • MBA, Business Intelligence/Analytics, Nova Southeastern University
MEMBERSHIPS
• Harrisburg Builders Association • York Builders Association
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
• As VP of sales and marketing, grew revenue by $24.9 million (41.6 percent) on 78 additional closings from 2017 to 2018
• Named COO in November 2018 • Merged Firefly Homes into one company; sold out existing Delaware projects and is bringing new communities online in 2019
EXTRACURRICULAR
• Coaches daughters’ local youth soccer teams • Volunteered to build sets for “Into the Woods” stage production at the Carlisle Theater, where he serves as a board member
Charles Bovet, 29
VP Operations, BONE Structure, San Francisco
EDUCATION
• BS, Engineering (Civil), McGill University • MS, Civil Engineering, Construction Engineering and Management, Stanford University
CERTIFICATIONS
• LEED Green Associate
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
• Launched California operations, which has become the company’s fastest growing market • Youngest person to join company board of directors (as observer) in 2016 • Co-founded Stanford University Industrialized Construction course for leading companies and researchers to strategize leveraging technology to advance the construction industry
EXTRACURRICULAR
• Engaged in efforts to increase awareness of and support for wildfire rebuilding in Napa, Calif. • Involved in Rebuilding Together Peninsula playhouse initiative to design and build life-size playhouses with all proceeds going to creating safe, healthy living environments
Michael Dilworth, 39
President, Dilworth Development, Auburn, Ala.
• BBS, Auburn University
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
• Built first home to sell at age 19 and successfully built in nearly a dozen other local markets • Launched company as a college student and has built 1,000 homes over the past 20 years • Consistently carries the most market share locally
EXTRACURRICULAR
• Partnered with Texas-based Operation Finally Home, a 501(c)(3) organization to build a new home for retired U.S. Army Sgt. Adam Lee and family, successfully delivered in 2018
SECRET LIFE
• Married high school sweetheart
OFF THE CLOCK
• Spending time on the family farm • Wakeboarding • Hunting • Fishing • Skiing in Steamboat, Colo.
Karen Emmons, 37
General Sales Manager, Van Metre Cos., Ashburn, Va.
EDUCATION
• BBA, Marketing, College of Business, James Madison University
CERTIFICATIONS
• NAHB Certified New Home Sales Professional (CSP) • Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS)
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
• Promoted to sales manager at 22 after selling for less than a year, and to general sales manager after three years, including through the housing crash • 2018 Great American Living Awards for Outstanding General Sales Manager, Director, or VP in the Washington, D.C., market • Led sales team to break numerous company records in 2018 • Future Leaders Team and Project Startup Team for New Homes at Van Metre; successfully opened over 18 new communities with 25 new floor plans in less than two years • Active in company’s Women’s Leadership Group
EXTRACURRICULAR
• Participant at: Dulles South Food Pantry, Food for Others, Rise Against Hunger
Geoff Ferrell, 38
Chief Technology Officer, Mandalay Homes, Prescott, Ariz.
• BS, Aeronautical Science, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
• Joined board of Energy & Environmental Building Alliance (EEBA) in 2017 • Elected to serve as EEBA president in 2019 • Leadership in 3,000+ unit development featuring 100 percent solar and battery systems offered standard, at costs fully competitive with the market • Oversaw Mandalay’s franchise purchase of AeroBarrier air sealing technology to routinely deliver homes below Passive House air-tightness levels at the same cost as traditional manual air sealing; offers this service to other builders to generate additional revenue • Development and introduction of Mandalay’s new-home specification for renewable energy
SECRET LIFE
• Can shoot a quarter off a post with a pistol at 100 yards • Reading about sociology and psychology
Reggie Garner Jr., 39
VP / Owner, Magnolia Homes, Germantown, Tenn.
• Attended University of Mississippi and University of Memphis
CERTIFICATIONS
• Tennessee Contractor License
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
• Won five top awards at the Vesta Home Show, including first place in Best of Show • Best Construction Website Design Award, 2018 WebAward Competition • Won Memphis' Most Favorite Home Builder in 2015 and 2018
EXTRACURRICULAR
• Charitable commitments with Make-A-Wish Foundation, Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare, Memphis Oral School for the Deaf, My Town Miracles, Memphis Athletic Ministries
SECRET LIFE
• Mother started the company 32 years ago when Reggie was 7 years old • Undercover math whiz and company comedian • Needs little to no sleep
OFF THE CLOCK
• Coaches sons’ football and basketball teams • Duck hunting
Paige Glasser, 26
Marketing Manager, FivePoint, Irvine, Calif.
• BA, Advertising, Magna Cum Laude, University of San Francisco
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
• Great Park Neighborhoods (GPN) master planned community, including collections of detached and attached homes by multiple guest builders, and ultimate build-out encompassing approximately 9,500 residential units; initiated the community’s public art program, including custom lighting for the lifetime of a pedestrian bridge and one-of-a-kind permanent sculptures
EXTRACURRICULAR
• Accomplished abstract and landscape painter; paintings have appeared at GPN special events • Paige and her artwork at GPN featured in the Orange County Business Journal
SECRET LIFE
• Minor in Performing Arts and Social Justice, with a concentration in Dance
OFF THE CLOCK
• Glass blowing • Archery • Yoga • Food • Travel
Jacklyn Graniczny, 34
Partner / Design Director, Sublime Homes, St. John, Ind.
EDUCATION
• BFA, Interior Design, International Academy of Design & Technology, Chicago (now Sanford-Brown)
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
• Creative force behind Sublime Homes’ branding and design • Helped grow Sublime Homes to six employees and almost $6 million in revenue • Work featured in numerous industry publications • Speaker at the International Builders’ Show on design industry trends
SECRET LIFE
• Second-generation home builder • The first on her father’s side to go to college and graduate with a degree; the second on her mother’s side • Brother and business partner, Michael, was awarded Professional Builder 40 Under 40 award when he was 34 • Fascinated by creative typography
OFF THE CLOCK
• Pilates • Reading • Watching Netflix • Travel
Seth Hart, 38
Associate / Senior Designer, DTJ Design, Boulder, Colo.
• BEnvD, Environmental Design, emphasis in Architecture, University of Colorado-Boulder (CU)
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
• Design, green building awards from Best in American Living, Professional Builder, PCBC, NAHB • Work regularly featured in Pro Builder's House Review • Speaker at Pro Builder’s Under 40 Executive Summit and International Builders' Show presenter
• Member of local HBA
EXTRACURRICULAR
• Habitat for Humanity • Participates in studio critiques at University of Colorado for midterm and final exams and fills in for desk critiques as well • Regular juror and guest presenter for CU’s undergraduate program
SECRET LIFE
• Woodworking—built and finished his own dining table
OFF THE CLOCK
• Beer brewing • Mountain biking • Paddle boarding • Golfing • Skiing and vacations in Telluride, Colo.
Whitney Harvey, 32
VP Sales & Marketing, Magnolia Homes, Germantown, Tenn.
EDUCATION
• BS, Finance, Marketing, and International Business, University of Tennessee-Knoxville and University of Memphis
CERTIFICATIONS
• Licensed Realtor in Tennessee; prior Seniors Real Estate Specialist, SRS
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
• Team produced more than $100 million in sales volume in 2016; over $115 million in 2017; on target to achieve over $130 million in 2018 • Integral in bringing groundbreaking technology to her company, including AtlasRTX, NterNow, and Rendering House • 2018 promotion to VP of sales and marketing • Realtor Magazine “30 Under 30” • Sales Manager of the Year – Dallas Builders Association
EXTRACURRICULAR
• Commitment to St. Jude • Cheering on Tennessee Vols
SECRET LIFE
• Speed reader • Her nose (broken in high school) can predict snow up to 72 hours out • Won several national competitions for playing piano in childhood
Jamie Hudson, 35
Director of Sales, Schell Brothers, Rehoboth Beach, Del.
• BA, Communication, Virginia Tech
CERTIFICATIONS
• HBA/DE Sales & Marketing Council
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
• After just two years with Schell Brothers, was youngest employee ever promoted to her current post • Implemented online sales and lead-management tools, advanced training, and launched innovative CRM and pricing software that fueled an 86 percent jump in sales in 2012, with continued, stable growth since • NAHB 2013 Sales Manager of the Year (Gold Winner) • After successfully managing nearly 30 salespeople across two divisions, became first female senior partner at Schell • Helped launch Schell’s Richmond division • Participated in Jeff Shore’s Sales Leadership Roundtable in 2018
OFF THE CLOCK
• Spending time with kids at the beach and watching football • Grooming horses
Nathan Kahre, 27
High-Performance and Healthy Home Manager, Thrive Home Builders, Denver
• BS, Construction Engineering Technology, East Tennessee State University; ABET accredited • MS, Technology, concentration in Sustainable Building Design and Construction and Building Science, Appalachian State University
CERTIFICATIONS / MEMBERSHIPS
• HERS rater • LEED Green Associate • North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners Entry Level Solar Certification • RESNET Emerging Leader Council • Denver HBA Sustainability Committee, Urban Land Institute Colorado • Building Healthy Places Committee, USGBC Colorado • Colorado Zero Energy Ready Coalition
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
• Helped develop rigorous construction quality assurance program with training for trades and project managers • Key member of team among Thrive, Energy Logic, and USGBC to pilot the LEED v4 for Homes rating system in a production-home setting.
Megan Kiella, 31
VP, Kiella Homebuilders, Temple, Texas
EDUCATION
• BS, Animal Science, minor in Business Administration, Texas A&M University
CERTIFICATIONS
• Licensed Real Estate Broker in Texas
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
• Started with Kiella in August 2013 as part of the sales team, and sold $16 million in new-home inventory in two years • Closed volume increased from 53 homes to 90 homes (at average sales price of $214,750) over 4 ½ years since becoming VP • Updated sales program has helped increase sales 22 percent annually • Has held many leadership positions with the Temple Area Builders Association, most notably as the only president (elected 2017) under the age of 30 to have served, and one of three women elected to the position since the association’s inception in 1974
EXTRACURRICULAR
• Raised nearly $30,000 for the Baylor Scott & White McLane Children’s Medical Center
OFF THE CLOCK
• Pilates
Mitchell Martin, 36
Owner and CEO, Stone Martin Builders, Opelika, Ala.
• BS, Horticulture, Auburn University
CERTIFICATIONS
• Greater Montgomery Home Builders Association
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
• Co-founded company in 2006 and has since become the majority owner and CEO • Ranked in Pro Builder Housing Giants since 2014, with ranking of No. 150 in 2018 • Named Montgomery Advertiser's Best of the Best in 2016, 2017, and in 2018 for Best Home Builder in Montgomery and Autauga/Elmore Counties
EXTRACURRICULAR
• Works with local nonprofit ministry Storybook Farm, including fund-raiser sponsorship and connecting the ministry with other local business owners and donors
SECRET LIFE
• Related to Declaration of Independence signer John Witherspoon
OFF THE CLOCK
• Hunting trips with staff to spend time with them outside the office and to share a common hobby and passion
Erica Marty, 36
Director, Design and Innovation, Neumann Cos., Milwaukee and Madison, Wis.
• AS, Design and Drafting; BS, Technology Management; MBA, Herzing University
CERTIFICATIONS
• Autodesk certified • CMQ|OE certification • Lean Bronze certification
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
• In Business magazine’s 40 Under 40 of Madison, Wis.
• On Tim O'Brien Homes’ Leadership Team, facilitated process reviews identifying opportunities; coupled with use of BIM technology reduced pre-construction time per home by 40 percent over 12 months • At Neumann Cos., improved relations with trade partners by inviting their regular input, resulting in a substantial increase in the even flow of home starts to trade partners, and improved Neumann’s trade partner satisfaction scores related to plan accuracy by 10 percent • As of January 2019, is transitioning into new role as Director of Design and Innovation for the entire Neumann Cos. group
EXTRACURRICULAR
• Women Building Wisconsin founder
Marc Masotti, 34
VP, Construction, Homes by Dickerson, Raleigh, N.C.
• BS, Construction Management, East Carolina University
CERTIFICATIONS/MEMBERSHIPS
• Certified Green Home Professional (CGP) • Accredited builder • Energy & Environmental Building Alliance (EEBA) High Performance Builder certification
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
• Winner of more than 20 Parade of Homes awards • Builder of the Year, Raleigh-Wake County HBA; Major Achievements in Marketing and Excellence award 2014 – 2016 • Green home builder of the year 2016 • In 2018, managed the production of more than 100 single-family custom homes valued at over $45 million • Currently leading development, production, and sales of new homes in Pinehurst, N.C.
EXTRACURRICULAR
• Panel speaker for local home building and real estate sales organizations • Habitat for Humanity Home Builders Blitz • Builder on Duke Children’s Hospital Miracle home, 2011
OFF THE CLOCK
• Playing and coaching sports
Jon Moritz, 36
Co-President, Eddy Homes, Pittsburgh
EDUCATION
• BS, Economics, Pennsylvania State University • MBA, Finance, DePaul University
CERTIFICATIONS
• Marketing Management Certificate • Level II Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Candidate
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
• Increased sales from $1 million in 2010 to almost $40 million in 2018 • Doubled sales from 2016 to 2018 • Located and secured a five-to-seven-year portfolio of land that will afford the company long-term growth
EXTRACURRICULAR
• Charitable commitments to Habitat for Humanity and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
SECRET LIFE
• Third-generation home builder • Grill master • If Jon did not pursue real estate development, he would liked to have been a veterinarian
OFF THE CLOCK
• Travel • Wine tasting • Going on long walks with his dog • Exercise
Matthew Moritz, 38
Co-President, Eddy Homes, Pittsburgh
• BA, Economics, Johns Hopkins University • JD, Duquesne University School of Law
CERTIFICATIONS
• Licensed attorney
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
• Created and implemented operational processes to close more than $35 million in real estate in 2018 • Maintaining an exceptional customer satisfaction rate for the past decade • Successfully training and educating field personnel in keeping with the company’s construction quality standards
SECRET LIFE
• Third-generation home builder. The company was founded by his grandfather, Edward. Matt works alongside his father, Dave, and brother, Jon (at left), who is also a Forty Under 40 winner this year
OFF THE CLOCK
• Playing piano • Skiing • Running • Family trips to Disney World • Watching movies • Reading
Paul Mueller Jr., 34
President, Mueller Homes, Sykesville, Md.
• BS, Construction Management, Pennsylvania College of Technology
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
• Introduced leadership innovations, attracted high-end clients, and partnered with architects and designers to double the company’s volume during the past three years • Elected by peers to be president of an NAHB Builder 20 Club for 2018/19 after just two years as an active member • Selected by James Hardie as an East Coast representative and to feature Mueller Homes projects in the siding manufacturer’s promotional videos
EXTRACURRICULAR
• Maryland Building Industry Association • Autism Speaks • Launching a cabinet and mill workshop inspired by his great-great-grandfather, a woodworker and cabinetmaker in the 1800s
SECRET LIFE
• Freestyle BMX bike riding with 8-year-old son
OFF THE CLOCK
• Youth sports • Working on the family farm • Accomplished grill chef
Stephen Myers, 38
COO, Thrive Home Builders, Denver
EDUCATION
• BS, General Biology, Westmont College • MS, Finance, University of Denver
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
• From 2014 to 2016, led sales and marketing department to grow revenue by 80 percent • Returned to school mid-career to earn a master’s degree in finance • Became COO in 2018 and oversaw Thrive’s implementation of open book management, its leadership team, executive committee, and systems such as BuildPro and the one-page business plan • Streamlined the company’s brand based on three talking points—efficient, healthy, and local—and tied those attributes to the tagline “Homes That Do More” to connect buyers with the experience of living in a high-performance home
SECRET LIFE
• Deputy press secretary in the U.S. Senate • Can identify any bird in Colorado by its call
OFF THE CLOCK
• Mountain biking • Skiing • Fly fishing
Daniel Nielsen, 34
Division President, Hakes Brothers, Las Cruces, N.M.
• BS, Construction Management, Business Management minor, Brigham Young University
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
• Started as an assistant project manager in 2012 and created a process that helped Hakes Brothers grow from 100 closings to more than 300 in 2018 • Worked with team to score Avid customer satisfaction ratings exceeding 90 percent, ranking the division in the top 10 percent nationally • Built a model home in under 50 calendar days • Became division president in 2018 at age 34
EXTRACURRICULAR
• Serves about 200 members of his local church as president of the Elders Quorum
SECRET LIFE
• Learned to speak Japanese while on a two-year mission trip in Japan for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints • Brother David also is a division president for Cole West Home and was in the 2018 Pro Builder Forty Under 40 class
Dave Page, 39
Area / Operations Manager, William Ryan Homes, Tampa, Fla.
• BA, Economics and Management, Eckerd College
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
• Led teams that grew the division from 95 closings in 2015 to 180 last year; targeting 300 closings for next goal • Took over purchasing responsibilities, negotiated new contracts, and helped train superintendents and construction managers to efficiently carry heavier workloads without increasing cycle time or reducing quality • Helped obtain more than $300,000 in discounts from suppliers and trades for a Building Homes for Heroes project
EXTRACURRICULAR
• Youth soccer coach since 2002 • Future Farmers of America • Great American Teach-inTiny House Project volunteer with local high school
SECRET LIFE
• Played collegiate soccer despite severe injury in high school • Helped more than 20 youth soccer players obtain college scholarships • Home features six Christmas trees during the holidays
Rick Palacios Jr., 37
SVP Director of Research, John Burns Real Estate Consulting, Irvine, Calif.
• BA, Political Science and International Studies, University of California, Irvine • MS, Real Estate Economics and Finance, London School of Economics
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
• Led research on emerging single-family rentals and became an expert on that market • Took on a more client-facing role to grow the research business • Rose from an entry-level analyst out of college to director of research for a firm that has a respected role in the housing industry • Uprooted his family so he could study in London and then moved to New York; neither move was easy, but resulted in personal and professional growth
SECRET LIFE
• Spent teen summers as laborer for masonry construction business owned by his father and uncle, which subcontracts with builders that are current John Burns’ clients
OFF THE CLOCK
• Marathon Monopoly games
Brandon Patterson, 37
Board Member, Home Builders Association of Greater Des Moines and Home Builders Association of Iowa Des Moines, Iowa
• Marshalltown (Iowa) Community College
PROFESSIONAL CREDENTIALS
• Realtor • CSP • CGP • CAPS I/II • Audio Engineering, Music Technology
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
• Organized “An Evening to Bring the Significance Back to the Trades,” which attracted 1,600 attendees and had former Dirty Jobs TV host Mike Rowe as keynote • One of the founders of Iowa Skilled Trades movement, which raised $338,000 to fund the Skilled Trades event and donated over $88,000 for training initiatives and scholarships • Raised more than $2 million as Alliance for Skilled Trades member to fund the Skilled Trades Academy in Des Moines
SECRET LIFE
• He and his twin brother attended school with seven sets of twins. By senior year of high school, they were tired of the attention and wanted to stop being asked to say, “It must be something in the water.”
Aaron Polhemus, 36
President and CEO, Polhemus Savery DaSilva Architects Builders, East Harwich, Mass.
• BA, Sociology and Business Entrepreneurship, University of Vermont
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
• Firm won a Gold 2018 PRISM Award for Best Single-Family Home, one of six PRISM honors since 2016 from the Builders and Remodelers Association of Greater Boston • Won three BRICC Awards from the Home Builders & Remodelers Association of Cape Cod, for a total of 12 since 2012 • Implemented project management system that’s used with clients and trades • Consistently ranked among top in the industry for client satisfaction by Avid Ratings
EXTRACURRICULAR
• Women’s Empowerment through Cape Cod Area Networking (WE CAN) • Cooperative Bank of Cape Cod corporator • Founded the firm’s Fund for Working Families • Shark conservation
Secret Life
• Ran fishing charters as a licensed marine captain after college
Liz Polson, 35
Director of Marketing, HomeSphere, Lakewood, Colo.
• BA, Visual Arts / Graphic Design, University of Northern Colorado • Pursuing MBA, University of Kansas (graduating May 2019)
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
• Double-digit revenue growth since assuming current post in 2016 • Led development of My HomeSphere, a portal that enables builders to easily manage rebate programs and connect with product manufacturers. The application was adopted by 950 builders during its first six months, is used by about 2,500 builders, and was named Top Product for 2018 by Constructech • Helped launch Homes For Our Troops, a company charity that has delivered specially adapted homes mortgage-free to three veterans in two years
SECRET LIFE
• Started freelance graphic design business during college • Has been developing websites since 2005 and loves to code • Fantasy baseball league commissioner
David Poppleton, 36
Associate / Senior Architect, DTJ Design, Boulder, Colo.
• BA, Environmental Design, University of Colorado-Boulder
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
• Started part time at DTJ and became a lead designer and project manager. • Hired full time in 2013; was part of leadership team that grew studio from six to 25 employees by 2018 • Has an active role in preparing the firm’s strategic plan • Designed and managed The Lake Club at The Lakes at Centerra project, winner of the Platinum award for Community Facility and Best Project in the Region–Mountain in the NAHB’s 2016 Best in American Living Awards
EXTRACURRICULAR
• Design and documentation volunteer for new home and learning center for Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Hawaii • Works with his wife, Colby, on her wedding photography business
OFF THE CLOCK
• Building with blocks, Lego, and Magna-Tiles with his three children
Ingrid Prince, 36
Director of Online Sales, Trendmaker Homes, Dallas
• High school diploma
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
• Accounted for 42 percent of the overall sales by building real estate agent relationships and growing co-op sales from 26 percent in 2014 to 78 percent in 2018 • Silver Award for Online Sales 2017 Manager of the Year from NAHB • 2016 and 2017 winner of Online Sales Manager of the Year, Dallas Builders Association
SECRET LIFE
• Born in Manila, Philippines, and lived in a one-bedroom apartment with 16 relatives. “All I remember is we were happy with what we had and blessed to have a roof over our heads. It’s all about perspective.”
OFF THE CLOCK
• Runs half marathons • Orangetheory Fitness • Glamping in an RV with a fully stocked kitchen, functioning bathroom, shower, and a memory-foam bed
William Ramsey, 37
Principal, KTGY Architecture + Planning, Denver
• BA, Architecture, Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo
PROFESSIONAL CREDENTIALS
• AIA • NCARB • LEED AP
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
• Offered a KTGY partnership, one of 16 in the firm • Part of the team that created the brand vision for Toll Brothers’ Regency at Summerlin active adult product in the western U.S. The team handled land planning and designing the amenity building and houses for Regency • Came out of the Great Recession by learning all facets of the market and adapting
EXTRACURRICULAR
• Partnered with the Oakland (Calif.) Public Education Fund to raise money and match professionals with middle schools to introduce students to career opportunities in architecture
SECRET LIFE
• Truly ambidextrous: throws and swings a golf club as a righty; writes, cuts food, and swings a tennis racket as a lefty
Geoffrey Reid, 39
Director of Land Acquisition, Century Communities, Atlanta
• BA, Political Science, University of Georgia • MS, Project Management, The Citadel
PROFESSIONAL CREDENTIALS
• Project Management Professional (PMP) • Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission Level 1A
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
• Recognized in 2005 as a top performer nationally in customer relations while with PulteGroup • Managed team that assembled, acquired, planned, designed, and rezoned 34 individual parcels for a $35 million community redevelopment that has 200 townhomes and 50 single-family detached homes • Responsible for start-up and management of CityCraft Ventures, a national real estate development and consulting firm specializing in long-term and complicated city projects
SECRET LIFE
• Still has the 20-foot-long roll of drafting paper with the dream house he designed as a child
Matt Riley, 38
VP Sales & Marketing, Builder Designs, Olathe, Kan.
• BS, Business Management, Indiana Wesleyan University
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
• Molded team at Royal Oak Homes in the competitive Raleigh, N.C., market that executed and doubled sales and profits in five years • Published The New Home Builder’s Guide to Online Sales & Marketing, and started the Drive Time Marketing podcast with episodes targeting new-home professionals; program has more than 1,500 downloads since July 2018 • Honing mindset during boom-bust cycle to adapt and find ways technology and digital marketing can help builder clients serve homebuyers
EXTRACURRICULAR
• Operation Coming Home • Leads marriage mentorship classes for engaged couples • Bella’s Angels outreach to abused single mothers and needy families
SECRET LIFE
• Worked as an amusement park barker during high school trying to guess patrons’ ages, birth months, and weights
OFF THE CLOCK
• Training with two sons who are American Ninja Warrior competitors
Zack Sawyer, 37
SVP and Chief Accounting Officer, Ashton Woods Homes, Roswell, Ga.
• BS and Master of Accountancy, University of Georgia
PROFESSIONAL CREDENTIALS
• CPA • Georgia Society of CPAs
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
• Integral part of team that led Ashton Woods to $1.5 billion in revenue during fiscal year 2018 from $300 million in fiscal 2009 • Helped create Starlight, Ashton Woods’ entry-level brand, which closed its first house 10 months after launch and 600 homes during second year • Started as an internal auditor and was appointed six years later as chief accounting officer at age 32
EXTRACURRICULAR
• Youth soccer coach • Boys & Girls Clubs • Epilepsy Foundation of Georgia • International Foundation for CDKL5 Research
OFF THE CLOCK
• Woodworking • Grill master • Bourbon aficionado • Boating
Jake Scherrer, 39
Senior Director, Builder Regional Sales, Zillow Group, Seattle
• BA, Communications, Advertising, Washington State University
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
• Helped create and develop Promoted Communities, which enables buyers to more easily find new-construction homes on Zillow and Trulia and helps builders realize greater ROI from marketing their products. The platform works with more than 1,000 builders, representing over 10,000 communities • Led Premier Agent growth efforts in the Northwest region using innovation to focus on developing the group’s most influential clients • Sales and Operations MVP Award in 2015
EXTRACURRICULAR
• Washington State University Alumni Association • Addresses housing insecurity through Zillow’s The Home Project
SECRET LIFE
• Magic Kingdom has been an annual family trip for the past seven years
OFF THE CLOCK
• Little League baseball coach • Golf • Skiing • Boating
Paul Springer, 35
National Director AeroBarrier, Aeroseal, Centerville, Ohio
• BA, Business Management, Wilmington College • MBA, University of Dayton
PROFESSIONAL CREDITS
• Certified Project Manager
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
• Aeroseal’s Employee of the Quarter and three-time winner of the company’s Pursuit of Excellence award • Took charge of a national introduction campaign for pioneering aerosol spray method for sealing building envelopes by educating and working with engineers, builders, and contractors in the field and at industry conferences. The technology went to market in January 2017 and its adoption has exceeded expectations • Building science evangelist; frequently speaks about high-performance building practices at conferences
EXTRACURRICULAR
• Shoes 4 the Shoeless • Energy & Environmental Building Alliance (EEBA)
OFF THE CLOCK
• Beekeeping • Golf • Relaxing at Sunset Beach, N.C.
Pierrette Tierney-Magleby, 39
VP Business Development, Magleby Construction, Park City, Utah
• BA, Communication and Vocal Performance, University of San Diego • MA, Journalism, University of Southern California
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
• Became Taylor Morrison division president by age 35 and grew Bay Area unit to 500 closings in 2014 from 260 in 2013 • Branded and promoted new Magleby divisions such as Studio MX, an architectural drafting service based in Tijuana, Mexico, and Masterpiece Trade Services, to recruit, train, and create legal paths for skilled labor from Mexico
EXTRACURRICULAR
• Founding member of Professional Women in Building Utah Chapter • Board member of artificial intelligence startup AtlasRTX
SECRET LIFE
• Sang the national anthem at a San Diego Chargers game • Auditioned on a dare for American Idol when 8 ½ months pregnant • Beat company superintendents in beer-chugging challenge
Todd Tomalak, 36
SVP Research, John Burns Real Estate Consulting, Green Bay, Wis.
• BA, Mathematics, St. Norbert College • MBA, George Mason University
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
• Six-time winner of the Most Accurate Category Forecaster from the Chicago Federal Reserve for correctly predicting housing starts each quarter • Research and forecasts for building products spending in new construction and remodeling featured in The Wall Street Journal, on CNBC, and by Bloomberg • In 2017, correctly predicted that existing home sales would decline due to affordability issues, and in 2016 went on record with the WSJ and CNBC forecasting that building material sales would shift away from new construction to remodeling
SECRET LIFE
• Brews hard cider made with backyard-grown hops
OFF THE CLOCK
• Beekeeping • Woodworking
Adam Van Bavel, 39
Business Development Manager, O’Neil Interactive, Baltimore
• Left University of Maryland to care for grandparents • Associate of Arts, Community College of Baltimore County
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
• Improved lead-generating digital strategies for builders and accounted for more than 30 percent of revenue during his first year with O’Neil • Helped raise $3 million for the Ulman Foundation to complete a communal residence for young adult cancer patients and their families, and $25,000 through the state Building Industry Association to pay for the residence’s cabinets and appliances • Created an indoor skate park and lacrosse field as revenue-generating attractions for Special Olympics • Managed 125 volunteers, logistics, and sound for main stage entertainment at Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure event
SECRET LIFE
• Appeared as an extra in HBO’s Ladder 49 and in a Super Bowl commercial • Related to Abe Lincoln on his grandmother’s side and to Tom Harbin (a Confederate agent who plotted to assassinate Lincoln) on his grandfather’s side
Corey Wescoe, 37
VP of Acquisitions, PulteGroup, Basking Ridge, N.J.
• BA, Economics and Political Science, Rutgers University
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
• Overhauled pre-construction phases of a former industrial site planned as a large-scale mixed use and transit-oriented community before the recession; Liberty Square at Wesmont Station opened to a strong reception, selling nearly 400 homes • Worked with landowner and the city to transform a former trailer park destroyed by Superstorm Sandy into Harborside at Hudson’s Ferry • Became the Shore Builders Association’s youngest president in 2012 and was instrumental in revitalizing the association through recruitment, value engineering, and stabilizing finances
EXTRACURRICULAR
• Emerging Leaders Council, Rutgers University Center for Real Estate • Covenant House • JAR of Hope
SECRET LIFE
• Placed on academic probation freshman year, then made dean’s list every semester since and graduated from Rutgers with honors
Ali Wolf
Director of Economic Research, Meyers Research, Costa Mesa, Calif.
• BA, Economics, Ohio State University • MS, Real Estate and Finance, London School of Economics
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
• Through white papers, blogs, and speaking appearances, has branded herself as an authority on economic recessions and Millennial behavior and preferences as they pertain to the home building industry • Frequent keynote speaker; delivered updates about the economy at 40 industry events last year • Co-chair of the BIA Women’s Conference of OC (Orange County) • Co-chair Urban Land Institute OC programs committee
EXTRACURRICULAR
•Teaches three classes a week as a certified Les Mills Body Pump instructor
SECRET LIFE
• Performed aerial arts long enough to realize Cirque du Soleil career was not a possibility • First taste of home building was constructing a chicken coop after her mom moved the family to a farm in Ohio • Solo traveler through Asia