Whether you are just starting out in the remodeling industry or a seasoned veteran, there are names that are heard time and time again as the sources of inspiration and leadership through the history of our industry. With each induction into the Hall of Fame, the bar is raised for future inductions. The following are the NAHB Remodelers esteemed Remodeling Hall of Fame inductees from 2001 to the Present.
Please click on the cooresponding year to view the inductees:
Alan received his first tool belt at the tender age of five and so began a more than 30-year career in remodeling. A few years after forming a family remodeling business, he found himself actively involved with his local HBA. In 1989 he helped them establish their local remodelers council and quickly rose to national leadership with NAHB Remodelers.
First serving on NAHB Remodelers committees, he led as national Chairman in 2001. NAHB also benefited from his leadership as chairman of the 2003 NAHB Education Committee. Alan continues to dedicate his time, experience, and energy toward strengthening NAHBR and all of the remodelers members. He has been recognized by others for his professionalism, quality of work, and dedication to the industry.
Perhaps his greatest contribution has been the more than 3,000 remodelers he has touched with his business acumen. He has written business management columns for Remodeling Magazine for many years. But above all, he has traveled nationwide to speak at conventions, seminars, local HBAs, and even as part of the Remodelers Road Show to teach the fine points of financial management so that remodelers can maximize profits and sustain a successful, professional business. Because of his educational passion “overhead” and “markup” have become common words for all remodelers. We can’t thank him enough for bringing fiscal management to the forefront of the remodeling industry.
Mark Richardson
Case Design / Remodeling, Inc.
Mark began his career in architecture and construction. At the young age of 21 he designed and built his first home.
Just a couple years later he joined Case Design / Remodeling, Inc. as a project designer, becoming the top salesman in a year and bringing in double the sales of his peers. Such excellence was appreciated, and Mark has risen through the ranks to lead the largest full-service remodeling company in the nation. His contributions include adding a franchise to this business and diversifying into new and lucrative areas.
However, he hasn’t stopped there. He also writes a column for Remodeling Magazine and speaks frequently on remodeling issues and business practices. He also has flourished as a national spokesperson for the remodeling industry in such outlets as the Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, Better Homes & Gardens, and HGTV. Look for his book on business practices and excellence, entitled “How Fit Is Your Business?”, which will be released very soon.
Mark has cultivated a thriving business through professionalism and by promoting excellence and education to all his staff. His company employees hold many designations and he continues to push for excellence in customer service and satisfaction. He hasn’t stopped with his regional employees, but has expanded this emphasis on education to franchise employees and everyone who touches the business.
Class of 2007
William Asdal CGR Asdal Builders, LLC
A local and national member for 27 years, this Remodeler is not only a pillar of his community but of the entire remodeling industry. He has served in various leadership positions, in addition to the responsibilities of his own business. And he is a dedicated promoter of professional Remodelers, such that he conceived and helped create an important publication to this end, called Professional Remodeler.
He has written and published materials expertly advising Remodelers on successfully managing their businesses. And earning his CGR designation in 1992, this gentleman has supported education and training, even becoming a course teacher himself.
But perhaps most impressively, he was instrumental in creating the National Rehabilitation Code (NAARP). One of his projects served as a test site for the code and his invaluable input helped shape this code and prove its usefulness to Remodelers. Additionally, he has been on the cutting edge of energy issues, demonstrating that older homes (especially historical propertied) can be remodeled to conserve energy.
Robert Handbury CGR House of Handbury
A member since 1979, he has actively supported his local council and served in leadership roles. He is admired for his advice and years of experience. Well connected in his community and beyond, he also founded an NAHB Remodeler 20 Club.
His diplomacy and ability to understand and speak persuasively on sensitive industry issues are unique skills. He also uses these skills as a moderator and commentator for a local, consumer-focused radio show. Additionally, this inductee devotes time to nurturing the next generation of leadership by sharing this experience and wisdom to help guide younger Remodelers.
But this awardee may best be known to you as an expert and advocate on the issue of lead. He began tracking this issue in the early ‘90s, convincing NAHB leadership to pay attention to this concern. Additionally, he has served on his state’s public safety code committee and was appointed to the International Code Committee. He mediated between the remodeling industry and government agencies, such as HUD and the EPA, earning accolades from fellow Remodelers and respect from government officials.
Class of 2006
Gopal Ahluwalia
One cannot stress enough the importance of Mr. Ahluwalia’s contribution to the remodeling industry. Until 1995, He was the only economist creating research beyond the number-counting by the federal government. His research paved the way for other researchers to contribute knowledge and understand about remodeling. Where is the remodeling market headed? What are consumer preferences in remodeling? At one time, Mr. Ahluwalia was the only source of this information. Mr. Ahluwalia’s work allows future researchers to continue his groundbreaking studies and analysis. Mr. Ahluwalia created research from scratch, and his trials and errors built the foundation for others. His influence may touch every major remodeling economic study for generations.
Besides giving the public a better understanding of remodelers, companies that sell products to builders now comprehend the impact of remodeling in their businesses. Before Mr. Ahluwalia’s work, these companies could not understand how remodelers affect their bottom line due to the fragmentation of the industry. Now, businesses know how to access and cater to remodelers.
Most importantly, he created tools for remodelers to effectively run their businesses. His studies, such as the Remodelers Cost of Doing Business have become guidelines for remodelers around the country on how to manage a successful business. The RMI provides regional and national gages on the state of the industry so companies can plan accordingly. In addition, his advocacy of the remodeling industry has strengthened the remodelers’ position within NAHB and the entire building industry.
Kermit Baker
Until the foundation of the program in 1995, only NAHB provided any major research on remodeling. By leading the Remodeling Futures Program at Harvard, Dr. Baker brings the weight of a major research institution to bear upon a topic pioneered only by research from Gopal Ahluwalia of NAHB.
Dr. Baker developed the Remodeling Activity Index (RAI), the first activity report on a timely basis that accurately estimates spending levels and turning points within the industry. Some of his groundbreaking research includes finding out why homeowners remodel, which homeowners remodel and who does the work; how remodeling contributed to the rise in the quality of the U.S. housing stock; demographic and regional drivers of remodeling; and much more.
Dr. Baker brings a new, scholarly approach to understanding the remodeling industry. By pioneering research at a major university, he sets the stage for other academic and research institutions to conduct research on the remodeling industry, priming a growth in knowledge and understanding never seen nor anticipated.
Dr. Baker and Mr. Ahluwalia frequently collaborate, sharing their forecasts and analysis to provide even more accurate and detailed information to others, which helps NAHB provide to its members accurate forecasts on remodeling. It is no coincidence that Dr. Baker is considered one of the top economic experts in remodeling.
Class of 2005
MM (Mike) Weiss, CGR, CGB, GMB, CAPS
2005's sole Hall of Fame inductee, took what was a haphazard approach to education and developed it into a process that will leave a lasting impression on all the housing industry. A former chairman of NAHB’s Remodelors Council, Mr. Weiss changed the Council’s Certified Graduate Remodelor (CGR) designation program into one of the leading education programs in the industry. He came up with the idea of a process for evaluating remodelers’ skills to tailor the courses to their strengths and weaknesses, creating the Professional Remodeler Experience Profile, or PREP. He then created the Academic Review Board to review and update all CGR courses offered. Following the lead of the remodelers’ CGR program, other NAHB education programs developed a similar evaluation that is still in use today. Locally he has served as director of the Builders Association of Greater Indianapolis, there named Builder of the Year and president of their Remodelors Council. He served as a director of the Indiana Builders Association as was named Remodeler of the Year. Nationally he is a life director of the NAHB and served on NAHB’s Public Affairs and Education Committee, Executive Board, is a trustee of the Home Builders Institute and was trustee and past Chairman of the Remodelors Council.
Class of 2004
David Engle
2004's sole Hall of Fame inductee, has spent his life working tirelessly in the federal government to move the industry forward; through his leadership and commitment he has broken down barriers that once stood before the industry; and through his dedication he has reached out to remodelers and community officials and helped both sides to understand each other so they can work together to better their surrounding environments. In his work at as the director of Affordable Housing Research and Technology, Engle is responsible for all departmental research on building technology, regulatory barriers to affordable housing including building code and zoning issues, as well as research on environmental issues impacting housing and community development. Over the past 20 years, he has sponsored more than $10 million in research addressing issues of the remodeling industry. This has been particularly valuable as this research was planned and developed collaboratively with a variety of key players in the remodeling industry. This research spans such areas as codes, technologies and quality issues.
Class of 2003
Ed McGowan, CGR
2003's sole Hall of Fame inductee, has a long history of service to the home building industry at the local, state and national levels. As an NAHB Senior Life Director and Former Area II Vice President, McGowan played an important role in the development of the Remodelors Council’s Certified Graduate Remodelor™ (CGR) professional designation program, and in the publication of “Quality Standards for the Professional Remodeler.” He is also a past chair of the Board of Trustees of NAHB’s Remodelors Council. McGowan was inducted into the New York State Builders Association (NYSBA) Hall of Fame in 2000. Additional honors include the 1993 Remodelor of the Year award, the 1993 Broome County Small Business Person of the Year award and the 1986 Distinguished Service Award from the New York State Director of Housing. In 1989, McGowan was named to the prestigious remodeling “Big 50.” His company’s work has been featured in The New York Times and numerous industry publications.
Class of 2002
Frederic F. Case, CR
Fredis a visionary in the remodeling and building industry. Many industry leaders have credited him as the pioneer of the design/build process — combining the design/planning stage, handled by an architect/designer, and the construction phase, handled by a general contractor. He started his own remodeling business in the basement of his home way back in 1961, and has developed Case Design Remodeling into the most established, experience and largest design/build, kitchen and bath, and handyman firms in the Washington, DC area and one of the largest remodeling firms in the country. He has served on the board of directors of the National Remodeling Association, the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI), and chairman of NARI’s education and certification programs. Case was instrumental in creating NARI’s Certified Remodeler (CR) accreditation.
For 30 years, Ken Klein, CGR, has fulfilled the role of dean of the remodeling industry. He has spearheaded remodeler education and designation programs, and through his active involvement at the local and national level he has ensured that reputable contractors support each other through effective organization. Among his many awards, Klein has been recognized as 1992’s National Remodeler of the Year and the 2002 Foundation Award winner. He has served many leadership roles at the National Association of Home Builders, from Chairman of the Remodelors Council to NAHB Life National Director. Klein has also chaired the NAHB Education Committee, the Public Affairs Committee, the Smart Growth Working Group, and the Board of Trustees of the Home Builders Institute. He also served a term as NAHB’s National Vice President from 1999 to 2000. Throughout all his years of national service, Klein has never stopped enriching his community through his ongoing active involvement.
Throughout his career, Tom Swartz, CGR, has gone to great lengths to further the cause of remodelers in ways that didn’t lump them with home builders. As a nationally recognized speaker for the remodeling industry, Swartz has preached awareness of remodeling professionalism. In his position as the 1993 Remodelors Council Chairman and co-chair of the National Council of the Housing Industry (NCHI) in 1996, he was instrumental in developing closer supplier-remodeler relationships. Swartz has been actively involved in the industry for over twenty-five years, from being the youngest president of the Metro-Decatur HBA to recently serving on the NAHB executive committee. As the third generation owner of J.J. Swartz Co., a company that was founded in 1921, Swartz won the National Remodeling Quality Award (NRQA) in 1996 and the Foundation Award in 2000. He was the Remodelor of the Year in 1996 and was named as one of Remodeling Magazine’s “Top 50 Remodelers.”
Class of 2001
An active association member for 33 years, Jud Motsenbocker has been described by colleagues as "an extraordinary gift, on all levels, to the fraternity of home builders and remodelers." He joined NAHB in 1968, and became active in the association's remodeling constituency the following year. His authorship of numerous articles and frequent appearances as a speaker and instructor for CGR and CGB, including the one-day basic business seminar that has meant so much to remodelers getting started and joining the remodeler family. Motsenbocker's contributions and leadership have been honored on numerous occasions: local HBA Builder of the Year 1980 and 1995; State Remodeler of the Year 1986 and 1997; NAHB Remodelor of the Year 1986; the state of Indiana's highest honor — the John C. Hart Presidential Award. He has also been regularly featured in and a contributor to, a variety of trade and industry publications.
Bryan Patchan's long association with the Remodelors Council includes service for 18 years as Executive Director. He has been involved with several initiatives, projects and programs that have helped define the association and the industry. Throughout the NAHB federation, he has created programs, leadership, and knowledge for remodelers. The Home Owners Warranty/Remodelors Warranty Program; the Quality Standards for Remodelers, now the Performance Guidelines for Residential Construction; the creation in 1996 of Professional Remodeler magazine; the Remodelers' Show; The FHA Title 1 Program — the list of areas where he has invested his time, effort, and commitment mirrors all the landmarks of the remodeling industry's development in the past three decades. Patchan's induction in the the Hall of Fame is a direct result of his caring, passionate nature to work for remodelers and for the industry.
For more than thirty years, Walt Stoeppelwerth has worked to raise the level of professionalism throughout the remodeling industry by advocating sound business practice. Stoeppelwerth, who is Director of Bethesda, MD-based HomeTech Information Systems, served in a variety of leadership roles in the Remodelors Council during its early history. He was also one of the country's earliest speakers on remodeling industry topics. With the publication in 1985 of Professional Remodeling Management, one of the first books on remodeling business management, Stoeppelwerth began teaching thousands of remodelers how to improve every aspect of their business. As a leading spokesperson for the remodeling industry, he has helped raise the professional standards of the sector, and in doing so has done an invaluable service to the public perception and understanding of the industry.
Known for his lifetime of commitment to the improvement of the professional image of the home building industry, Omar Brown started one of the first local Remodelors Councils in the country in 1956 and went on to assist in the formation of several more councils throughout Washington in subsequent years. A founding member of Washington state's Remodelors Council, he held every office and served on every committee at one time or another. He recruited 557 new NAHB members, which made him the first in the state of Washington to achieve that level of recruitment. Active in labor relations and community service, honors presented to Brown throughout his career include: Builder of the Year, Remodelor of the Year, Builder Hall of Fame, and Remodelor of the Century at the local association and State levels; NAHB Membership Hall of Famer, NAHB Statesman Spike, Remodelors Council Chair, and National Remodelor of the Year.
Neil Kelly's work to improve the remodeling industry began soon after he started the Neil Kelly Company — today one of the country's top remodeling enterprises — from a roofing and siding company he purchased for $100 in the late 1940s. From the earliest days of his industry involvement, he declared his commitment to ensuring that reputable contractors support each other through effective organization, and followed through on that declaration as an active member of NERSICA, an early remodeling trade association, in the 1950s and early 1960s. He was instrumental in the merger of the NHIC and the National Remodeling Association into NARI, the National Association of the Remodeling Industry. Typical of his willingness to lead the charge, he took on the challenge of being the first NARI president, serving two terms in 1982 and 1983. A long list of local, state national awards — including his induction into the Oregon Home Builders Association Hall of Fame — are a testament to the dedication and commitment of this remodeling industry pioneer.
Norvin "Charlie" Knutson was part of NAHB for as long as he was involved in the construction industry. He helped establish the Remodelors Council in Milwaukee at a time when there were less than 25 local councils nationwide. One of his most enduring contributions to the industry first took place in his hometown where he single-handedly orchestrated the first Parade of Remodeled Homes. He holds the distinction of being the first chairman of the NAHB Remodelors Council in 1982. Knutson worked to have the Remodelors Council address the issues of warranties has evolved over the years into one of NAHB's top all-time best selling publications: The Residential Construction Performance Guidelines. His daughter Cindy Knutson continues Charlie's work as an active NAHB member and leader of Wisconsin-based Knutson Brothers II, and his legacy lives on through the work of the National Housing Endowment Remodelors Fund established in his honor.
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quickly rose to national leadership with NAHB Remodelers.
his community but of the entire remodeling industry. He has served in various leadership positions, in addition to the responsibilities of his own business. And he is a dedicated promoter of professional Remodelers, such that he conceived and helped create an important publication to this end, called Professional Remodeler.
beyond the number-counting by the federal government. His research paved the way for other researchers to contribute knowledge and understand about remodeling. Where is the remodeling market headed? What are consumer preferences in remodeling? At one time, Mr. Ahluwalia was the only source of this information. Mr. Ahluwalia’s work allows future researchers to continue his groundbreaking studies and analysis. Mr. Ahluwalia created research from scratch, and his trials and errors built the foundation for others. His influence may touch every major remodeling economic study for generations.
Gopal Ahluwalia of NAHB.