The Great Recession left some scars but must also have produced much wisdom because more than a dozen of home building’s superstars, named as 40 Under 40 winners by the editors of Professional Builder, cite surviving the economic slump as one of their greatest career accomplishments. These young leaders also played key roles in growing their companies by replacing a legacy system, expanding into new markets, and mastering many other tasks. Their back stories are interesting, too: from a bishop shepherding a congregation of 400 members, to a professional wakeboarder, to a college dropout, to the many other professionals in this altruistic bunch who have bettered their communities and the world beyond by going on mission trips, starting a foundation, fundraising for charities, or doing free remodeling for the needy. We proudly present our 40 Under 40 Class for 2016.

HONOR ROLL

Chris Anderson, CFO & Partner, Hanson Builders

Joshua Anderson, Owner, Element Design | Build

Jennifer Barkan, Online Sales Consultant, Rose & Womble Realty

Shallum Bivens, Owner, Nordic Homes & Construction

James Bruner, Land Development Manager, Pardee Homes

Jared Carlon, Principal & Partner, Norris Design

John Christopher, Regional Construction Manager, Stylecraft Builders

Christine Comstock, Sales Coach Director, CBH Homes

Todd Cottle, Principal, C&C Development

Nathan Cox, CEO, Truland homes

Mayer Dahan, CEO, Prime Five Homes & Dahan Properties

Brandon De Young, EVP, De Young Properties

Matthew Dunn, CFO, Westport Homes

Ryan Engquist, Partner & Division President, Level Homes

Ryan Farabough, President, Farabough Homes

Danny Faulkner, Director of Sales, Van Metre Homes

Scott Frankel, Co-President & Principal, Frankel Building Group

Scott Gates, President & CEO, Western Window Systems

Grant Giese, President & Owner, Green Goose Homes

Reed Graham, COO, Erickson Companies

Preston Guyton, President, CRG Companies

Jon Hastings, CEO, Tresidio Homes

Will Herring, President, Hunter Quinn Homes

Patrick Jacobson, EVP, Lake Country Builders

Grayson Jenkins, President, Brayden Homes

Jennifer Johnson, Director of Sales & Land Acquisitions, Shaddock Homes

Mike Kozlowski, President, Apex Technology 

David Lloyd, President, Lloyd Construction

Chad Magleby, President & CEO, Magleby Construction

Michael Mehringer, Project Manager, Homes by Dickerson

Daniel Naim, President, Naim Development

Rich Pankow, CFO, Goodall Homes

Kevin Rabil, Director of Operations, Van Metre Homes

Andrew Riddle, VP, Riddle Construction Co.

Andy Selner, President, Roc Building Solutions

Phil Travars, Project Manager, Stanton Homes

Chris Truelsen, President, Breckenridge Homes

Deborah Way, Design Manager and Sales & Marketing Coordinator, Structures Building Co.

Ryan Williams, VP & Co-Owner, Kevin Williams Construction

Micah Zuercher, VP of Operations, Zurich Homes

Chris Anderson, 33 

CFO & Partner

Hanson Builders, Andover, Minn.

Education

• BSB, Finance, University of Minnesota 

Accomplishments

• Instilled financial discipline and implemented better technology with new accounting system and ERP • Changes helped builder grow from $16 million in sales in 2008 to Minnesota’s No. 1 local builder by sales volume in 2012 and maintain that rank with $60 million in 2015 sales • Started Bunker Hill Capital, which provides access to capital for small companies in the construction trade 

Extracurricular

• Pursuing MBA at the University of Minnesota • Volunteers about 60 hours a year to the ALS Association 

Off the clock

• Was on the cycling team last summer that won the Midwest Flyover Series, a season-long series of three-day stage races 

Secret life

• Trades stock options during the day • Puts Nutella on everything 

Joshua Anderson, 38 

Owner

Element Design | Build, Henderson, Nev.

Education

• BA, Communications Marketing, Brigham Young University professional credentials • Licensed real estate broker/ property manager • Licensed general contractor

Accomplishments

• Started company at age 29 and “I’m still here” • Built NAHB’s The New American Home in 2014 • Invited back to build The New American Home 2016

Extracurricular

• Tyler Robinson Foundation • Boy Scouts of America 

Off the clock

• Camping, snowboarding, riding dirt bikes with his kids • Favorite food: Indian cuisine  • Favorite vacation: Costa Rica • Favorite books: Good to Great by Jim Collins, Purple Cow by Seth Godin

Secret life

• Can dance while wearing 4-inch platform disco shoes • Great grandfather helped design the Hoover Dam

Jennifer Barkan, 39 

Online Sales Consultant

Rose & Womble Realty, Suffolk, Va.

Education

• BS, Biology, Chemistry minor, Old Dominion University

Accomplishments

• Gold (2016) and Silver (2015) Award winner for Online Sales Consultant given by NAHB National Sales & Marketing Council • Launched online program while simultaneously implementing new CRM system and training 60 new home agents • Network of builder clients grew from two to 11 in two years and online sales’ share of division sales grew to 13 from 6 percent 

Extracurricular

• Helped 20 puppies find homes through starting the Ask Jen Pup of the Week program, which features a puppy, a neighborhood, and a builder who will sponsor the adoption fee 

Off the clock

• Baseball/softball mom

Secret life

• Learned how to deal with all types of people while working through college as a nail technician

Shallum Bivens, 38 

Owner

Nordic Homes & Construction, Eugene, Ore.

Education

• AS, General Science, De Anza College

Professional credentials

• CCT, WRT, and ASD certifications; Institute of Inspection, Cleaning, and Restoration Certification

Accomplishments

 • Named Builder of the Year in 2011 and 2013 by the HBA of Lane County • Increased HBA membership during his tenure as its president • Launched independent home building company at age 25 and has been successful in the business for 13 years 

Extracurricular

• Past president of the HBA of Lane County • Veterans Housing Project, PAC House • Pursuing degree at Central Oregon Community College

Off the clock 

• Mountain biking, hiking, coaching youth sports, Oregon Ducks football, camping, and boating

Secret life

• Was a sponsored mountain-bike racer and ran the Chicago Marathon in 2010

James Bruner, 36  

Land Development Manager

Pardee Homes, Las Vegas

Education

• BA, Construction Management, University of Nevada Las Vegas

 Accomplishments

• Part of team that built the Big League Dreams Sports Complex and Freedom Park, a 70-acre recreation and public space • Oversaw development of Arroyo Market Square, a 100-acre shopping center • Contributed to the development of hundreds of homes through land acquisition, community planning, and managing on-site production

Extracurricular

• Habitat for Humanity off the clock • Mission trips to build and rehab churches in Ensenada, Mexico • Golf • Renovating a recently purchased old home

Secret life

• Won a Dyna Street Bob in a Harley-Davidson giveaway, and in golf, shot a hole-in-one and an albatross (double eagle)

Jared Carlon, 36  

Principal & Partner

Norris Design, Denver

• BA, Environmental Design, University of Colorado-Boulder; MS, Landscape Architecture, U of C-Denver

Accomplishments

• Solaire, a multifamily project in Brighton, received NAHB’s Pillar of the Industry Award for Best Example of Green Building Concepts • Awarded Business Person of the Year by the Metro North Chamber of Commerce • Projects won such design honors as the Great Outdoors Colorado Sunburst Award, Mountain States Construction Gold Hard Hat, and a merit award from the American Society of Landscape Architects

Extracurricular

• Christ in the City soup kitchens, FISH food pantry

Off the clock

• Golf, skiing, basketball, and camping with the family where there is no cell service

Secret life

• Grandfather owned furniture store that supplied items for the set on the I Love Lucy TV show

John Christopher, 37 

Regional Construction Manager

Stylecraft Builders, College Station, Texas

Education

• BS, Construction Management, Agricultural Mechanization minor, Sam Houston State University 

Accomplishments

• Increased production and closings to 250 from 40 since 2012 • Implemented scopes of work for all trade partners and matrices for change orders, starts, customer orientation lists, in-line checklists, and product streamlining • Built new home for family that lost its house in the West Texas fertilizer plant explosion

Extracurricular

• Walk to End Alzheimer’s 

Off the clock

• Spending time with his wife, Leslie, and three children • Favorite movie: Fast and Furious  • Favorite vacation: “anything Disney with my family”

Secret life

• “I would do anything in the world for my family before doing for myself”

Christine Comstock, 37  

Sales Coach Director

CBH Homes, Meridian, Idaho

Education

• Albertson College 

Accomplishments

• 2015 Women’s Council of Realtors Entrepreneur of the Year • Helped lead sales team of the No. 1 builder in Idaho while exceeding its goal of selling 1,000 homes last year • Circle of Excellence Platinum Award from the Ada County of Realtors 2008 to 2016 • Enduring medical hardships with son while continuing to excel in career 

Extracurricular

• President of Women’s Council of Realtors, Capital City chapter 

Off the clock

• Obsessed with Idaho ghost towns and historical signs • Skiing, golf, traveling with family • Favorite book: Leaders Eat Last by Simon Sinek • Can’t live without: my larger-than-life Filipino-Irish family

Secret life

• Nickname: the Queen of WOO (Winning Others Over) 

Todd Cottle, 36  

Principal

C&C Development, Santa Ana, Calif.

Education

• BS, Finance and Accounting, California Polytechnic State University; MS, Real Estate Development, University of Southern California

Accomplishments

• Guided the growth of C&C to become one of So Cal’s most active affordable-home builders with six projects started or soon to start and five in pre-development • Instrumental in C&C attaining $3.9 million in state funding for affordable housing development in Santa Ana • Helped acquire 9 percent low-income housing tax credits for two Orange County projects

Extracurricular

• Urban Land Institute • Southern California Association of Non-Profit Housing off the clock  • Reading about historical and business figures • Spending time with family

Secret life

• Preparing food and beverages, such as wine, from scratch

Nathan Cox, 34  

CEO

Truland Homes, Spanish Fort, Ala.

Education

• BA, Investment Finance, Economics; MBA, University of Alabama 

Accomplishments

• Awarded Navy Commend­ation Medal with combat “V” for valor while serving as a Marine Corps infantry officer in Iraq • Started private equity firm with partners in 2012 and has since bought $55 million in distressed real estate along the Gulf Coast • Started Truland as a one-man operation and today is the second largest home builder in southern Alabama with $55 million in 2015 revenue

Extracurricular

• Led effort to build the fallen heroes memorial at USS Alabama Battleship Park • Building foundation to aid Gulf Coast veterans with employment, housing, and financial relief 

Secret life

• Paul “Bear” Bryant Award winner for most outstanding athlete and Academic All SEC while playing football for the Crimson Tide 

Mayer Dahan, 31  

CEO

Prime Five Homes & Dahan Properties, Los Angeles

Education

• Left California State University after two years to begin real estate career

Accomplishments

• Among the first developers in the state to make solar and eco-friendly construction standard; the decision was an economic hardship at the time but moved in the right direction with the future of housing • Launched The Dream Builders Project in 2013 that has since given 5,000 care packages to the homeless, 500 children’s backpacks with school supplies, holiday toys to 150 children, and $1 million to nonprofits • Ranked as the 13th fastest growing company in LA by the Los Angeles Business Journal 

Off the clock

• Favorite book: Predictably Irrational by Dan Ariely • Favorite vacation: Tel Aviv, loves the beaches, and his family is from Israel

Secret life

• Designed men’s fashion line, which debuts this year

Brandon De Young, 30  

EVP

De Young Properties, Fresno, Calif.

Education

• BBA; MS Real Estate, University of San Diego

Accomplishments

• Led team that designed and built the first Zero Net Energy home in Clovis, Calif. and will break ground on a second ZNE home • ZNE homes won Gold Nugget Awards at the Pacific Coast Building Conference in 2011, 2012, and 2013 • Completed home in 106 hours for the Extreme Makeover: Home Edition TV show. Also built and donated nine Dream Homes that raised $8.6 million for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

Extracurricular

• Guitarist and singer in the band Carpe Noctem, which had its music air on LA radio station KROQ off the clock • Favorite vacation spot: Dubrovnik, Croatia • Playing volleyball • Trusting the autosteer on his Tesla Model S 

Secret life

• Can whistle through his throat

Matthew Dunn, 29 

CFO

Westport Homes, Indianapolis

Education

• BS, Accounting; MBA, Indiana University

Accomplishments

• Navigated the recession with disciplined cost controls while positioning for future growth with lot and land purchases • Replaced quarter-century-old legacy software with new management system, went live in five months • Helped negotiate the successful acquisition of an active-adult home builder

Extracurricular

• The Villages, Indiana’s largest not-for-profit child and family services agency; Fuller Center for Housing

Off the clock

• Golf, skiing, running, grilling, boating, Indiana Hoosier basketball • Favorite movie: The Big Lebowski because “the dude abides” • Favorite vacation spot: Apple Valley Lake, in Howard, Ohio, with a houseful of family and friends

Secret life

• Juggling

Ryan Engquist, 39  

Partner & Division President

Level Homes, Baton rouge, La.

Education

• BA, Agriculture Business, Louisiana State University

Accomplishments

• Improved product, processes, and personnel to finish 2015 with a 91 percent customer satisfaction score after using GuildQuality to handle customer feedback surveys • Steady growth since 2012 in closings and gross margins and poised for 76 percent jump in closings and a percentage increase in margin this year with expansion to Lafayette • The division posted its most profitable year in 15 years of building in Baton Rouge

Extracurricular

• Board member of the Dream Day Foundation for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and for the YMCA in Zachary, La.

Off the clock

• Elk hunting and marlin fishing

Secret life

• Can remember and recite just about any line from any movie

Ryan Farabough, 37  

President

Farabough Homes, Tulsa, Okla.

Education

• BS, MAcc, University of Missouri-Columbia; JD, Cornell University School of Law

Professional credentials

• Certified Passive House Builder

Accomplishments

• Founded Farabough Homes in 2010 and currently builds six custom homes, two spec homes a year, and exceeds $3 million in annual sales 

Extracurricular

• VP/Secretary, Tulsa HBA  • Raised $193,000 by building playhouses that were auctioned for the Little Light House, a school for developmentally challenged children • Tulsa HBA’s Ryal School Christmas Project for Native American Children

Off the clock

• Restoring old muscle cars, traveling with his wife, and spending time with his son and daughter

Secret life

• Passed Missouri’s CPA exam with the eighth highest test score at the time • Licensed to practice law in Texas

Danny Faulkner, 38  

Director of Sales

Van Metre Homes, Stone Ridge, Va.

Education

• BA, Communications, University of Maryland

Accomplishments

• 2013 GALA award for Outstanding General Sales Manager • Three-time Nationals Silver winner for Manager of the Year from the NAHB National Sales & Marketing Council • Co-chairperson of the Northern Virginia Building Industry Association’s GALA Sales Achievement Committee 

Extracurricular

• Diagnosed with diabetes at age 9 and has been involved ever since with volunteer work and fundraising for the Juvenile Diabetes Association • Other fundraising efforts have benefited the Children’s National Health System, Adler Center for Caring Facility, HomeAid Northern Virginia, and Wounded Warrior Project

Off the clock

• Big heavy-metal music fan and concertgoer with his wife, Brooke

Secret life

• Collects ‘80s and ‘90s pop culture art, consisting mainly of “old school” skateboards and snowboards

Scott Frankel, 35
 

Co-President & Principal

Frankel Building Group, Houston

Education

• BA, Political Science, Business minor, University of Texas

Accomplishments

• Opened first model home at ParGate Reserve, which was Frankel’s first community in The Woodlands • Grand Award for Custom Building by the Greater Houston Builders Association in 2010. Has won two more Grands since then • Received 100th LEED for Homes certification

Extracurricular

• Regularly support The Houston Zoo and alma mater, the Kinkaid School

Off the clock

• Hunting and being outdoors, barbecuing by the pool • Favorite read: Conspiracy of Fools: A True Story by Kurt Eichenwald

Secret life

• Possesses decent MacGyver skills, very much in demand during the holidays for assembling complicated kids’ toys for friends • Great grandfather and his brother founded a Texas oil town called Frankel City

Scott Gates, 34 
 

President & CEO

Western Window Systems, Phoenix

Education

• BS, Marketing; MBA, Arizona State University

Accomplishments

• Started as marketing director and helped company enter new markets • Assumed control of operations and drove efficiencies that led to 812 percent revenue growth over five years • Named one of 30 exceptional 2015 executive MBA grads by Poet & Quants, a B-school news website

Extracurricular

• Board director, Sun Valley Community Church, and Orchard: Africa, a nonprofit that empowers churches in rural Africa to farm, provide schools, and train caregivers

Off the clock

• Playing basketball and softball, T-ball coach, Disneyland fanatic • Favorite book: Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln by Doris Kearns Goodwin

Secret life

• Known to karaoke Neil Diamond and Michael Jackson until the crowd carries him out on their shoulders

Grant Giese, 38 
 

President & Owner

Green Goose Homes, West Lafayette, Ind.

Education

• BS, Management, Purdue University

Accomplishments

• Greater Lafayette Commerce Small Business of the Month in 2013 • Getting the first sale after starting company in 2010 confirmed that he’d made the right decision. Currently building 15 to 20 homes a year • Collaborated with Purdue and Whirlpool on ReNEWW House, which turned a 1928 house into a net-zero home using superior insulation, geothermal heating and cooling, solar power, and other improvements 

Extracurricular

• Started Samantha’s Grace with wife, Cara, after losing their daughter to complications with pre-maturity • Recently endowed a nursing scholarship at Purdue • Served as March of Dimes Ambassador Family

Off the clock

• Coaches and sponsors youth T-ball, baseball, soccer, and flag football

Reed Graham, 38 
 

COO

Erickson Companies, Chandler, Ariz.

Education

• BS, Construction Management, Pittsburg State University

Accomplishments

• Increased revenue 33 percent and quadrupled profits from 2014 to 2015 • Worked with Pulte Homes’ Kansas City division when the unit led the national builder in customer satisfaction • Worked with Pulte’s Phoenix division when it was ranked No. 1 by J.D. Power & Associates • Lowered direct costs by $10,000 per house plan while working with Woodside Homes

Off the clock

• Coordinated eight volunteer groups for Feed My Starving Children nonprofit • Youth basketball and football coach • Hiked the Grand Canyon rim to rim in one day

Secret life

• Pronounces words backward in his head as he says them aloud correctly • Found intact 1,300-year-old Indian pot during a remote hike, which today is exhibited at a Flagstaff museum

Preston Guyton, 39 
  

President

CRG Companies, Myrtle Beach, S.C.

Education

• AA, Horry Georgetown Technical College; Computer Science courses at College of Charleston

Accomplishments

• Built a 100 percent donated CRG custom home for Habitat for Humanity • The first CRG-built home receiving its certificate of occupancy, validating the need for green construction in the Myrtle Beach market • Hiring 30th employee after starting with just three staff members in 2010; being backed by so many professionals and helping to support their families has been really exciting

Extracurricular

• Sponsored Dancing With the Horry County Stars, MDA Lock Up

Off the clock

• Surfing, enjoying living in a coastal resort community

Secret life

• Closet computer geek with an unnatural talent for online marketing

Jon Hastings, 31
 

CEO

Tresidio Homes, Boise, Idaho

Education

• BS, Construction Management, Brigham Young University

Accomplishments

• Grew company to $18 million in annual revenue after co-founding the operation in 2009 • Designed the Chesapeake at Foxtail Square, which won Bronze in Professional Builder’s Design Awards • 2015 president, Building Contractors Association of Southwest Idaho

Extracurricular

• Invited to judge the 2016 NAHB student competition at the International Builders’ Show; placed first in national student contest for LEED in 2007 and in the 2009 residential competition

Off the clock

• Fly-fishing, golf, BYU sports, trying new restaurants • Favorite read: anything by John Grisham • Idaho Food Bank

Secret life

• Learned Mandarin Chinese during two years serving as a missionary in Taiwan

Will Herring, 35 
 

President

Hunter Quinn Homes, Mt. Pleasant, S.C.

Education

• BS, Business Administration, College of Charleston; MBA, The Citadel; Construction Management, Trident Technical College

Professional credentials

• LEED Green Associate; Certified Green Professional

Accomplishments

• Three years after startup, company built 60 homes and posted more than $10 million in sales during 2015 • Completed two Habitat for Humanity homes during a five-day builder blitz • Launched six communities, two of which were self-developed, and a third is in progress 

Extracurricular

• Habitat for Humanity • Boy Scouts of America

Off the clock

• Sport fishing, hunting, scuba diving, spending time on the water with family and friends • Favorite vacation spot: Topsail Beach, N.C. 

Patrick Jacobson, 34
 

EVP

Lake Country Builders, Excelsior, Minn.

Education

• BA, Urban Sociology, DePaul University

Accomplishments

• Managed construction of a home through the Builders Association Foundation for a needy family • Remodeling the Pedal Pushers flower shop, a nonprofit after-school program that teaches at-risk girls about the floral business • Sold more than $2 million in real estate in one year

Extracurricular

• Project committee member of the Builders Association of Twin Cities-Builders Outreach Foundation 

Off the clock

• Biking, tennis, golf, skiing, concerts, being with family • Favorite reads: golf magazines, The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, and books like Freakonomics 

Secret life

• Troubleshoots quirky electronics problems and mixes records

Grayson Jenkins, 36
 

President

Brayden Homes, Dallas

Education

• BBA, Finance, History and Economics minors, Southern Methodist University

Accomplishments

• Started custom home building business in 2008; slated to exceed $3 million in sales in 2016 • Built and donated a playhouse to the Dallas CASA’s Parade of Playhouses program • Named to D Home’s list of Best Builders in Dallas for three straight years

Extracurricular

• SMU Alumni Board

Off the clock

• Can’t live without: SMU basketball • Can live without: the NCAA Committee of Infractions • Favorite books: The Rookie by Jerry Jenkins, Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less by Jeffrey Archer, The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway • Skiing, traveling, reading • Favorite vacation spot: Cayo Espanto, Belize

Secret life

• Pretty good snow skier for a lifelong Texan

Jennifer Johnson, 39
 

Director of Sales & Land Acquisitions

Shaddock Homes, Plano, Texas

Education

• BA, Business Management, Pensacola Christian College

Accomplishments

• Closed 59 deals selling resale houses during the worst of the recession in 2009 and won Rookie of the Year honors from real estate brokerage firm • Earned credibility managing land acquisitions, sales, and land development in the male-dominated Dallas market for a $120 million builder with a capable and talented team • 2015 McSam winner for Sales/Project Manager of the Year

Extracurricular

• Volunteer with youth ministry at The Heights Church and at children’s middle school 

Off the clock

• Karaoke; running half-marathons; home improvement with husband, Paul

Secret life

• College and all-state high school basketball player 

Mike Kozlowski, 39 
 

President

Apex Technology, Jacksonville, Fla.

Education

• BS, Civil Engineering, University of Florida

Accomplishments

• First in his family to graduate from college; went on to attain PE certification • Grew company to 62 employees from six after joining in 2000 • Moved Apex to the next level by organizing the company into five divisions, each with its own goal-setting, meeting strategies, and financial and metric reporting packages

Extracurricular

• Leadership board of Beach Church • Past president, Residential Engineers Association • Judges high school design contests and speaks to drafting and engineering classes

Off the clock

• Free-diving and spearfishing, boating, baseball coaching, road cycling across Florida, and cooking great dinners with friends

Secret life

• Great grandparents emigrated from Poland and settled in Chicago

David Lloyd, 38
 

President

Lloyd Construction, Ketchum, Idaho

Education

• BA, Geography/Land Use Planning Policy, University of Nevada 

Professional credentials

• Certified Green Professional

Accomplishments

• 2011 Builder of the Year, Building Contractors Association of Wood River Valley • Used building experience as a planning and zoning commissioner to make his community a better place to live • Making a life for himself in the small town he grew up in

Extracurricular

• Blaine County School District Residential Construction Academy 

Off the clock

• Ski wax technician and certified bike mechanic • Completed 101-mile running race and 206-mile bike race • Favorite reads: rock climbing guide books, and any book read to his sons before bed 

Secret life

• Wife’s grandfather helped design Seattle’s Space Needle

Chad Magleby, 39 
 

President & CEO

Magleby Construction, Lindon, Utah

Education

• BS, Construction Management; MBA, Brigham Young University

Accomplishments 

• Named 2016 Custom Builder of the Year by NAHB (his father, Paul, received the same national award in 2006) • Utah Custom Home of the Year and Utah Green Built Home of the Year (2013-15), Gold Nugget award (2015), BALA Gold (2015), and BALA Silver (2013) • Grew family business to $58 million from $32 million since 2011 by expanding into new markets and implementing an integrated team approach to fine-tune the pre-construction process

Extracurricular

• Beginning his fifth year as bishop, leading his local church congregation of 400 members • Advisory board, BYU Construction Management Program

Off the clock

• Skiing, traveling 

Secret life

• Go-Kart champion driver

Michael Mehringer, 37
 

Project Manager

Homes by Dickerson, Raleigh, N.C.

Education

• BS, Marketing, Biology minor, York College

Professional credentials

• Certified Green Professional

Accomplishments

• Changed career from builder software sales to home building • Superintendent of the Year recognition from MAME • Oversaw production and closings for 51 custom and semi-custom homes, which was half of the company’s total 2015 closing volume

Extracurricular

• Habitat for Humanity

Off the clock

• Huge music fan, has more than 5,500 songs on his player • Invisible Girl Project, youth soccer coach, disc golf, Alzheimer’s awareness outreach • Hiked the Appalachian Trail’s Three Ridges

Secret life

• Privy to after-parties and behind-the-scenes looks into Saturday Night Live while dating Jane—now his wife—who worked for the show

Daniel Naim, 38
 

President 

Naim Development, Bay Harbor Islands, Fla.

Education

• Systems Engineer, Universidad Metropolitana; MIBA, NOVA Southeastern University

Accomplishments

• Emigrated from Venezuela and started his own company building high-end homes, synagogues, and doing commercial remodeling • Given the Congressional Medal of Merit Award by the U.S. Congress for distinguished contributions • Co-founded Ecode to educate consumers about green construction and find certified green contractors

Extracurricular

• Founded Venezuelan Business Club in 2003 to help immigrants establish roots and start businesses, network, and raise funds for nonprofits • Miami-Dade Toy Drive 

Secret life

• Descendant of Don Isaac Abravanel, a famous Jewish scholar and treasurer to Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain who financed Christopher Columbus’ voyage

Rich Pankow, 39
 

CFO

Goodall Homes, Gallatin, Tenn.

Education

• BBA, Mercer University; MBA, University of Georgia; MAcc, College of William and Mary

Accomplishments

• Empowered Goodall’s open-book management culture by making the reporting of financials and benchmarks more transparent to employees, implementing zero-based budgeting and cross-functional teams • Being part of senior management for a company that’s been a Top Workplace per The Tennessean since 2013, received Professional Builder’s 2014 Builder of the Year award, and won a Silver National Housing Quality Award in 2015 

Extracurricular

• Habitat for Humanity

Off the clock

• Renovating old homes • Favorite vacation: the mountains of North Carolina • Favorite movie: Groundhog Day • Favorite food: stone crabs • Favorite read: any American history book

Kevin Rabil, 30 

Director of Operations

Van Metre Homes, Stone Ridge, Va.

Education

• BA, Business; MS Accountancy, University of Notre Dame

Professional credentials

• CPA • Pursuing Executive Certificate in Negotiation

Accomplishments

• Co-founded VM Home Solutions, a remodeling company with more than $1.1 million in job value during 2015 • Established service-on-demand concept for warranty requests that resulted in the customer service group posting record high customer satisfaction scores • Hosted annual Cornhole Challenge that raised more than $85,000 for charity

Off the clock

• Favorite movie: Frozen, “because that’s all I’m allowed to watch” • Ridiculously good at rock, paper, scissors

Secret life

• Started website after college that automatically sent email reminders for daylight savings time

Andrew Riddle, 39
 

VP

Riddle Construction Co., Hendersonville, N.C.

Education

• BS, Construction Management, East Carolina University

Professional credentials

• Aging-in-Place Specialist

Accomplishments

• Worked as a field engineer on the Carolina Hurricanes Hockey Arena, which taught him about construction in the “big leagues” • Survived the recession; family business lost 17 employees and “most of our savings but we’re a stronger company as a result” • Built a raft with four college buddies and floated down the Mississippi to raise scholarship money for the Boys & Girls Club of Henderson County; scholarships have continued for the past 12 years

Extracurricular

• Co-founder of the Float for Freedom Scholarship Fund • Governor-appointed trustee, Blue Ridge Community College

Off the clock

• Golf, travel, reading

Secret life

• Wants to run for Congress

Andy Selner, 35
 

President

Roc Building Solutions, De Pere, Wis.

Education

• Business Certificate, Northeast Wisconsin Technical College

Professional credentials 

• Certified Graduate Builder

Accomplishments

• Started the company with wife, Nicole; “clients now initiate contact because they love our style and people” • Grew revenue by 50 percent every year since Roc’s founding in 2012 • Pergola and swing bed project was featured in Belgard Hardscapes 2015 catalog and in social media 

Extracurricular

• Board of directors Brown County HBA and participating member in the Showcase of New Homes • Volunteer, Green Bay Community Church • Member of the planning and variance committees for Lawrence, Wis. 

Off the clock

• Can’t live without: chiropractors, “they certainly help improve my well-being” • Favorite vacation: Door County, Wis.

Phil Travars, 30
 

Project Manager

Stanton Homes, Apex, N.C.

Education

• AA, Wake Technical College

Accomplishments

• Helping families through pro bono remodeling projects • Being part of the “inner circle” when clients move into their new homes and staying in touch with them long after • Started as a carpenter’s apprentice building fences, decks, and patios before working his way up to custom home building • Learned people skills and patience, which enable managing projects and pleasing the clients who will live in them, as many have attested through social media

Off the clock

• Kayaking, fishing, golf, hiking • Creating comedy skits, going out on the lake, hanging out with family • Rarely watches TV unless HGTV or the Carolina Panthers are on • Running first half-marathon in March

Secret life

• Strives to beat his personal best on a mudrun or a 5K

Chris Truelsen, 38 
 

President

Breckenridge Homes, McHenry, Ill.

Education

• McHenry County College

Accomplishments

• Started business in 2006 and survived the Great Recession “by putting on our toolbelts” when gross annual sales dipped from $2 million to $85,000 • Best of Houzz Award for 2015 and 2016 • Sales hit $2.1 million last year and are projected to be $2.6 million this year

Extracurricular

• Foundation board member for Centegra Health Systems • Habitat for Humanity • Volunteer remodeling work for foyer, sanctuary, and storage shed at Shepherd of the Hills Church

Off the clock

• Crossfit gym coach • Skiing, golf, wakeboarding, and coaching son’s hockey team

Secret life

• Trained with professional wakeboarders in Florida; taught at Bonifay Ski School; competed in the Brendal Invitational Tournament four times, and won it once

Deborah Way, 37 
 

Design Manager and Sales & Marketing Coordinator 

Structure Building Co., Daniel Island, S.C.

Professional credentials

• Certified Interior Designer

Accomplishments

• Having the passion to serve people well and being in a company that won the Prism Award for Outstanding Customer Service for eight of the past 10 years • Worked with Coastal Living to build the 2009 Living Idea Home in I’On Village; collaborated with magazine staff, architect, and Structures Building team to deliver design details • Learned about search engine optimization during the downturn; the effort landed the company on page one of organic search results and attracted a client for a $1.7 million custom home

Off the clock

• Volunteering for Faith, Hope, and Love, a nonprofit mentoring program • Compassion International mission trips • Habitat for Humanity

Secret life

• Conquered fear of jumping out of a plane by skydiving in New Zealand; will do it again

Ryan Williams, 37
 

VP & Co-owner

Kevin Williams Construction, Marco Island, Fla.

Education

• BBA, Finance, Accounting minor, University of Notre Dame

Accomplishments

• Improved financial management system and launched digital marketing outreach • Currently on second term after being invited four years ago to be the youngest member of the  board for the Greater Naples Chamber of Commerce • Improved sales skills during the downturn by working as a Northwestern Mutual rep

Extracurricular

• Leadership Marco 2015 • Opportunity Naples implementation committee • Notre Dame Club of Naples 

Off the clock

• Self-proclaimed grill master • Favorite book: Drive by Daniel Pink • Blue belt in Goju-ryu karate • Has exceptional recall, which makes him a great Trivial Pursuit partner

Secret life

• Was working for Lehman Bros. on the 38th floor of the World Trade Center on 9/11 

Micah Zuercher, 35
 

VP of Operations

Zurich Homes, Crossville, Tenn.

Education

• BS, Finance, Tennessee Technological University

Accomplishments

• Pulled together team and was project manager for the 2008 St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Dream Home fundraiser, which raised $1.6 million • Leaving corporate job security to start the family builder’s Nashville division, which is projected to close $5 million in 2016 • Project manager for construction of the Federal Reserve Bank in Nashville while working for commercial construction firm. Coordinated functions with engineers, architects, and designers while meeting client’s strict security parameters

Extracurricular

• Habitat for Humanity • St. Jude Hospital volunteer

Off the clock

• Skiing and snowboarding at Whistler, in British Columbia 

Secret life

• Summited Mt. Hood with his brother, Isaac, in 2005