We received a lot of feedback about our “10 Most Influential People in Remodeling” article in the February issue. Here are a few of the suggestions we received from readers about who else should have been on the list.

During his more than 30 years at the National Association of Home Builders, Mr. Ahluwalia has conducted research, economic analyses, and established data to track and inform the remodeling industry. Until the Remodeling Futures program at Harvard was established in 1995, Ahluwalia's research was the only remodeling data available outside statistics collected by the Federal government. In fact, he paved the way for later researchers and economists who now study the remodeling industry.

In the early 1980s, Mr. Ahluwalia worked with the resources of NAHB and his experience tracking the housing industry to create a body of knowledge and a repository of relevant remodeling data. Using his personal vision of the industry's latent potential and with his tireless professional dedication, Gopal helped to establish a distinct identity for remodeling as a legitimate and dynamic sector of the housing industry. In the process, he also created a deeper understanding of the fundamental workings of the industry and of the corresponding consumer market for the benefit of professional remodelers and countless other companies that serve this vast industry. Through his work he became a much quoted spokesman for remodeling, which, in turn, helped to confirm the NAHB Remodelers' preeminent standing in the industry. Mr. Ahluwalia is widely sought as a speaker and serves regularly as a press spokesman on remodeling in national outlets. His thoughtful remarks and depth of knowledge continue to powerfully raise public understanding about remodeling.

Twenty-five years ago little was known about remodeling beyond the skeletal information published quarterly by the U.S. Census Bureau. Misperceptions about the industry abounded. Remodeling was looked upon as a mere diversion for builders when housing construction sagged, rather than as an industry by itself. At the time, it was widely believed that remodeling expenditures went up when new home sales went down, and the media reported DIY as the "big story" in remodeling while overlooking the steady climb on the professional front that continues today. These are a few of the erroneous assumptions that were later dispelled with Mr. Ahluwalia's ground breaking research.

Mr. Ahluwalia's research accomplishments include studies on the Cost of Business for Remodelers, consumer preference surveys, and surveys of remodelers. Studies of consumer preferences helped the remodeling industry evolve to meet consumer demand. He also has worked with the U. S. Census Bureau to study their statistics on remodeling and to improve their data collection. Additionally, Mr. Ahluwalia established the Remodeling Market Index, the only quarterly survey of remodelers about current and future market conditions.

Because of his research, Mr. Ahluwalia is the premiere expert on the development, trends, and future of the remodeling industry. Through his work, remodelers, suppliers, manufacturers, economists, the public, and many others have an understanding of remodeling that would not be possible without Mr. Ahluwalia. His more than 30 years of service to NAHB have set precedents for future economists to follow for generations. Mr. Ahluwalia's dedication to increasing our knowledge and understanding of the market, his tireless devotion to the industry and NAHB Remodelers have largely impacted the change in the perception of remodelers from trades people to professional business owners.

It's a shame you neglected to include Gopal Ahluwalia on your top ten influential list because when it comes to understanding the remodeling industry, he has been the most influential of all.

NAHB Remodelers, Washington, D.C. 

How could you have left Linda Case off of your list? She has deeply influenced thousands of business owners through her roundtables business — Remodelers Advantage. She and her business partner, Victoria Downing, have more commitment to the welfare of the businesspeople who are the heart of the industry than half the people on the list.

Susan Pierce, Architect Vienna, VA 

How can you post this list and not have Bob Vila and Norm Abrams. They have done more to get the homeowner interested in remodeling and were the original DIY guys on TV.

David Kirkland, Regional Manager, B&G Equipment and Supply, Birmingham, Ala.