Professional Remodeler's Forty Under 40 Class of 2012

Elliott Pike, 38
Owner/managing member, ELM Construction, Vestavia Hills, Ala.

EDUCATION

• B.S., Journalism, Troy University

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• Co-founded ELM Construction in October 2008, at the height of the recession; revenues have grown an average of 80% annually since then.

PROFESSIONAL CREDENTIALS

• CAPS, BBB, Licensed Commercial General Contractor.

EXTRACURRICULAR

• Member, Greater Birmingham Association of Home Builders.
• Member, National Association of Home Builders Remodelers.

OFF THE CLOCK

• Hobbies: Boating, skiing, and wakeboarding.
• Favorite movie: “Saving Private Ryan.”
• Enjoys mowing the grass.“I would love to spend a couple of weeks with the head greenskeeper at Augusta National to see how it’s really done!”

SECRET LIFE

• Grandfather flew under the London Bridge in a small plane during World War II.

Michael Armstrong, 31
Senior design manager, Baugher Design & Remodel, Birmingham, Ala.

EDUCATION

CAPS, Auburn University

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• Instigated the firm’s move to a computer design system, clients are shown their home in a virtual tour before a nail is ever driven.
• Winner of 12 awards from the Alabama Remodelers Excellence Awards program.

EXTRACURRICULAR

• Volunteer, Rotary Club.
• Frequent guest on local radio show, “Our House.”

OFF THE CLOCK

• Can live without: People talking or texting on their cell phones while they drive.
• Favorite hobbies: Hunting, fishing, photography, and disc golf.
• Favorite food: Turkey and dressing.
• Favorite vacation spot: Enjoys going to the mountains of Tennessee and Colorado.

SECRET LIFE

• Enjoys cooking and baking. “There is something about the blend of art and science that appeals to me.”

Matthew Wendorff, 39
President/founder, RPI Design Build, Morris Plains, N.J.

EDUCATION

• B.A., Communication, Fairfield University
• MBA, Finance, Pace University

PROFESSIONAL CREDENTIALS

• CGR
• CGB

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• 2011 Remodeler of the Year, New Jersey Builders Association.
• 2010 NJBIZ 40 Under 40.
• Regular contributor/contractor host for “George to the Rescue” on LXTV’s Open House program (works on distressed homes/facilities for those in need).
• 2011 Remodeler of the Year, New Jersey Builders Association and Community Builders and Remodelers Association of New Jersey.
• Best of the Best Design Awards winner, Professional Remodeler, 2007 (Silver) and 2008 (Bronze).

EXTRACURRICULAR

• Member, NAHB.
• Board of directors, CBANJ.
• Member, NJBA.

OFF THE CLOCK

• Hobbies: Sailing, surfing, jet skiing, lacrosse, and waterskiing.
• Favorite food: New York cheesecake.
• Favorite vacation spot: Hilton Head Island.

SECRET LIFE

• Took apart and fixed his grandmother’s cuckoo clock at age seven.

Jeff Ellis, 36
Owner/vice president of sales & production, Firstcall Construction, Grimes, Iowa

PROFESSIONAL

• CGR, GMB, CAPS, IICRC Certification in Water, Fire, and Smoke Damage Restoration.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• Remodeler of the Year, Home Builders Association of Greater Des Moines Remodelers Council, 1998, 2000, 2006.
• Better Business Bureau Integrity Award, 2004.
• Established home repair program offering free labor and materials to homeowners in Urbandale, Iowa.

EXTRACURRICULAR

• Chairman, American Institute of Architects’ Allied Group.
• Board member, Urbandale (Iowa) Community Action Network.
• Board member, AIA – Iowa chapter.

OFF THE CLOCK

• Favorite food: Bacon cheeseburger pizza.
• Favorite vacation spot: “Any place in the Caribbean that my cell phone doesn’t work.”
• Hobbies: Watching son play hockey and daughter dance.

SECRET LIFE

• Can clap with his feet.

Heather Ferrier, 32
General manager, Ferrier Builders, Fort Worth, Texas

EDUCATION

• International Business/Spanish, University of Texas at Arlington

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• Designed her own home as Texas’ first LEED Platinum home in 2006.
• Green remodeling of a historic home was named 2011 Green Remodel Project of the Year by NAHB; Heather named Remodeler of the Year.
• Implemented successful new marketing strategy that combines social media, home tours, and a revamped website (earned “Best Website” award from Building Systems Council).
• Named to the Building Systems Council’s 30 Under 40 in 2008.
• Named to Professional Builder’s 40 Under 40 in 2012.

EXTRACURRICULAR

• Member, NAHB CGP Working Group.
• Blogger, ProudGreenHome.com.
• Member, 2012 NAHB Green Building Conference Planning Group.

OFF THE CLOCK

• Hobbies: Traveling, gardening, and working out.
• Can’t live without: Coffee. “I’ve tried and it’s not pretty.”
• Favorite vacation spot: Kauai, Hawaii.

SECRET LIFE

• Great grandfather imigrated to Texas from Scotland to help build the Texas State Capitol Building as a stonemason.