Don Ruthroff, AIA
Pleasanton, Calif.
2018 BALA Subcommittee and Judging Chair
As principal and leader of DAHLIN’s neighborhood residential sector, Don has more than 25 years of experience in architecture. With training in both structural engineering and architecture, Don’s work benefits from his well-rounded breadth of expertise, and his clients include public and private home builders as well as landowners and developers. A distinguished industry leader, he is frequently invited to speak at industry conferences on the latest design trends and to judge industry awards programs.
Susan Bady
Chicago, Ill.
Susan is an award-winning journalist who has been writing about the housing industry for more than 30 years. She is currently senior editor of Professional Builder and Custom Builder magazines, where she has written about everything from affordable housing to high-end, one-of-a-kind custom homes and all types of development, including mixed-use, multifamily and infill. Susan enjoys sharing her unique perspective on residential design with readers and getting to know the most talented, forward-thinking individuals in the business today.
Ken Brinkman
Chicago, Ill.
Determined to invent a design-build system that was better than others, Ken founded Environs in 1991. Since its founding, Environs has sold more than 170 custom homes in Chicago’s most celebrated neighborhoods, winning multiple awards and becoming Chicago’s premier residential design-build firm. The company’s success is largely due to three factors: vertical integration of skills, personal values included in the company’s mission and long-term relationships with clients. Ken continues to guide Environs and lead the industry, but in his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his family and feeding his need for speed by participating in amateur motorsports.
Dawn Duhamel, CSP
Denver, Colo.
Dawn is the director of sales and marketing for Possibilities for Design, one of the country’s most recognized home builder and developer-centric interior design firms, and she previously held roles at Standard Pacific Homes, John Laing Homes and Pulte Homes. Dawn is a nationally-known speaker, has chaired Denver’s MAME awards and was honored with the Denver SMC’s prestigious “Person of the Year” award. Her deep understanding of the home building industry, experience selling and marketing to consumers and her love for well-designed spaces combine to give her a unique perspective on design.
Allison King
Pittsboro, N.C.
Allison serves as the co-founder and president of Clarity Design-Build. Prior to that, she was the division president for Garman Homes. In that role, she was responsible for the day-to-day operations of the company, new plan design and staging and merchandising of all model homes. Her career in new construction began in 2004, when she obtained her North Carolina real estate license. Over the past 14 years, her experience has grown through sales, administration, construction, project management and finally design, reflecting her urge to learn as much as she can about an industry she loves.
Brad Simons
Lindon, Utah
Brad began his career in the home-building industry working with his father while in high school and now serves as vice president and CFO of Magleby Construction. He has also been a licensed real estate broker for 25 years. He earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Utah and his MBA from Westminster College. Brad is past president of the Utah Valley HBA and Utah County Habitat for Humanity and currently serves as a member of NAHB’s Board of Directors. He was awarded the Silver Beaver for his work with the Boy Scouts of America and is married to Shawn; they have four kids and a grandson
Bob Stone, RLA, ASLA
Orange County, Calif.
Bob is co-owner of NUVIS, a professional landscape architectural firm celebrating 47 years of creating responsible and memorable design solutions for outdoor spaces. With a degree in landscape architecture from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, Bob’s broad design background includes international work, commercial developments, residential design, education campuses, streetscapes and recreation spaces. He has won numerous building industry awards
Bill Warwick, AIA
Philadelphia, Pa.
A principal of BartonPartners, Bill’s 25 years at the firm have been focused on multifamily development, planned communities, active adult, traditional neighborhood development and urban infill. He serves on the NAHB 55+ Housing Council and, for the last several years, has been a judge for NAHB’s Best in American Living Awards, Pillars of the Industry Awards and Best of 55+ Housing Awards. Bill was recently inducted to the Carpenters Company of Philadelphia, the oldest existing craft guild in North America. Bill is also an active Chester/Delaware County HBA Member.
