Two Longtime Members Inducted into National Remodeling Hall of Fame

NAHB Remodelers recently inducted Dan Bawden, CAPS, GMB, CGR, CGP, a remodeler from Houston, and Robert Criner, CAPS, CGP, GMR, a remodeler from Yorktown, Virginia, into the National Remodeling Hall of Fame for their contributions to the remodeling industry.

“As a member of NAHB and NAHB Remodelers for nearly three decades, Dan has had a profound impact on the remodeling industry at the local, state and national levels thanks to his efforts in helping to create the CAPS program and for being one of the best instructors in the country,” said NAHB Remodelers Chair Tim Ellis, CAPS, CGP, CGR, GMR, Master CGP, of Bel Air, Maryland.

Bawden's extensive remodeling experience and his work as a licensed attorney helped him play an instrumental in developing NAHB's Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS) designation program. The CAPS program is a partnership with Home Innovation Research Labs (formerly the NAHB Research Center) and AARP. He is a past president of the Greater Houston Builders Association and was the first remodeler named to the position.

During his tenure as HBA president, Bawden also worked with NAHB to start the Certified Graduate Remodeling (CGR) College in Houston. He was named Texas Remodeler of the Year four times, Houston Remodeler of the Year twice, the 2005 Certified Graduate Remodeler (CGR) of the Year and the 2011 CAPS Educator of the Year. He continues to teach classes to builders and remodelers across the country.

Throughout his career spanning nearly 50 years, Criner has been the recipient of numerous accolades as well. He was the nation’s first recipient of the NAHB Certified Graduate Remodeler (CGR) designation in 1989 and NAHB Graduate Master Remodeler (GMR) designation in 2008. He served on the CGR Board of Governors, and earned the CGB, GMB, CGP and CAPS designations from NAHB. And in 2013, he was named the NAHB Remodeler of the Year.

Criner has served the Peninsula Housing and Builders Association and Remodelers Council as a member of the board of directors. An active member of the Peninsula community, Criner has volunteered and held leadership positions with American Red Cross Hampton Roads, York County Board of Zoning Appeals, Peninsula Habitat for Humanity Advisory Board and New Horizons Educational Foundation.

“Robert has been instrumental in government regulations that affect remodelers and has represented the industry numerous times in front of the EPA, DOJ, SBA and OMB,” Ellis said. “It is an honor to induct both him and Dan into the National Remodeling Hall of Fame for their irreplaceable contributions to our industry.”

Bawden and Criner were recognized at the NAHB Remodelers All-Stars Celebration during the 2020 International Builders’ Show in Las Vegas.