Professional Remodeler's Forty Under 40 Class of 2012

Beth Johnson, 30
Preservation and planning specialist, City of Covington, Covington, Ky.

EDUCATION

• Bachelor of Urban Planning/History, Ball State University
• M.A., Historic Preservation Planning, Cornell University

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• Executive producer/script writer for award-winning video Historic Preservation: Saving Place for the cities of Covington and Bellevue, Ky.
• Co-founder of NKY Restoration Weekend educational event for restorative remodelers (first in 2012).
• Created a Home Journal and Tool Kit to help remodelers and homeowners plan projects and maintain historic homes.

OFF THE CLOCK

• Hobbies: Baking, refinishing furniture, and the Cincinnati Reds.
• Favorite vacation spot: Charleston, S.C.
• Favorite food: Black olives out of a can.

SECRET LIFE

• Norm Snead, four-time NFL Pro Bowl quarterback, was a close family friend and loyal client at grandfather’s service station.

Vincent D’Avena, 38
Owner, A.V. Remodeling & Construction/Intellectual Homes, McLean, Va.

EDUCATION

• B.S., Environmental Science, Massachusetts Maritime Academy
• Master of Environmental Science, Johns Hopkins University

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• Founded A.V. Remodeling & Construction at age 30.
• Company has won four NARI Contractor of the Year awards, D.C. Metro Chapter.

EXTRACURRICULAR

• Annual Food 4 Trees food drive has donated more than $12,000 worth of food to local food banks and engages more than 200 families in the community.

OFF THE CLOCK

• Hobbies: Sailing, softball, coaching sons’ baseball and soccer teams.
• Favorite movie: “Rudy” or “Field of Dreams.”
• Favorite vacation spot: Anywhere on the ocean.

SECRET LIFE

• Was tossed around at sea 50 miles off shore in a 27-foot sailboat while serving as a deck hand. Picked up by the Coast Guard after a long day and night fighting 22-ft swells, 55 mph winds, and seeing hundreds of sharks and whales. Barely kept the boat from sinking in the storms.

Nathan Coombs, 35
General manager, DreamMaker Bath & Kitchen, South Ogden, Utah

EDUCATION

• BS, Weber State University
• MBA, Capella University

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• Led his franchise to the No. 2 ranking in DreamMaker’s current national franchise ranking.
• Also serves as salesman and designer with DreamMaker.
• Captain in the U.S. Air Force Reserves.
• Earned and holds a private pilots license.
• County delegate for his local precinct.

OFF THE CLOCK

• Favorite movies: “Lord of the Rings” trilogy.
• Hobbies: Mountain biking, running, and backpacking (summited Mt. Whitney in Calif. last year).
• Favorite food: “A thick, juicy steak cooked to medium served with a sweet potato topped with butter and cinnamon.”

SECRET LIFE

• Served as a missionary for two years with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in the Dominican Republic.

Doug Lynch, 36
Owner, Exterior Additions, Indian Trail, N.C.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• Started Exterior Additions at age 22; company now does more than $1.5 million in gross sales annually.
• Winner of 20+ Super Service Awards on Angie’s List, with 200+ reviews generated over the last decade.

EXTRACURRICULAR

• Member, NAHBA.

OFF THE CLOCK

• Does bodybuilding training 4-5 times per week at 5 a.m.
• Favorite food: Spaghetti. “I think I still could eat it everyday, but my family isn’t as much in love with it as I am.”
• Favorite vacation spot: Las Vegas.

SECRET LIFE

• Built a 1967 Mustang as a track car. “It has yet to make it to the track.”

Adam LaLumia, 33
Operations manager, NewBath, New Orleans

PROFESSIONAL CREDENTIALS

• Commercial contractor for the state of Louisiana; CAPS.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• Started as an installer with NewBath and now leads a multiple-state installation force of more than 25 employees.
• Company has experienced more than 40% growth each year over the last five years.
• Dale Carnegie accreditation in Leadership Management & Skills for Success.
• NAHB Business Management accreditation.

OFF THE CLOCK

• Hobbies: Deep sea fishing, skydiving, cycling.
• Nickname: Squirrel. “I have an uncanny ability to climb almost anything without the assistance of any man-made devices.”
• Can’t live without: his two boxers, Kal-El and Due-Due.

SECRET LIFE

• Had to take a boat to get to the bus stop in second and third grade.