Richard “Dick” Bartolomeo

Dave Yoho Associates announced the latest recipients of its annual Legends of the Home Improvement Industry awards—this time including six door and window dealers. Among the recipients are: Chris Counahan, chief sales officer for Hudson, Ohio-based Leaf Home and president of LeafFilter Gutter Protection; Charlie Gindele, founder of Santa Ana, Calif.-based Dial One Window Replacement Specialists/Renewal by Andersen of Orange County; Michael Hoy, president and CEO of Great Day Improvements in Macedonia, Ohio; Paul Birner, CEO of Renewal by Andersen of St. Louis; and Miles Wilkins, owner of The Board Store Home Improvements in La Crosse, Wis. Richard “Dick” Bartolomeo is nominated posthumously. Bartolomeo worked in the industry for over 50 years, including as national sales manager for Pro Materials Direct in Smyrna, Ga., before his passing in October of 2022.

Awards are given to leaders from the home improvement industry who exemplify creativity, positive leadership and customer care. “These are the foundation and standards that have become benchmarks in the home improvement industry,” the consulting firm suggests. Nominations are submitted by industry peers, mentors and friends, after which prior recipients and members of Dave Yoho Associates cast deciding votes.

Chris Counahan

Counahan has an extensive 26-year background in the construction and remodeling industries. With Leaf Home, he manages a network of customer service delivery centers and sales teams, including more than 2,500 managers and sales representatives across North America. He leads direct-to-consumer sales and installation services across the company’s four brands, which together post revenue of $2 billion in annual sales. Before joining Leaf Home, he served as vice president of sales at Owens Corning for over 11 years and worked alongside LeafFilter Gutter Protection founder Matt Kaulig at Erie Construction, where he currently serves as a board member. Counahan also serves on the investment firm Gridiron Capital’s board of business executives.

The company’s Leaf Home Enhancements division includes the Storm Tight Windows, Quillen Brothers Rhino-Tuff Glass, Tundraland and Window Works brands.

Charlie Gindele

In addition to founding Dial One Window Replacement Specialists/Renewal by Andersen of Orange County, Gindele has served in various roles within the home improvement industry over the past 50 years. In his 35-plus years of ownership, his company completed over 42,000 projects totaling over $425 million in revenue—all while employing over 1,300 people. After retiring in 2021, he now spends time coaching and mentoring home improvement companies.

Michael Hoy

Under Hoy’s leadership, Great Day Improvements is ranked one of the top remodeling companies in the U.S. and is ranked second on [DWM] magazine’s Annual Top Dealers list. As a $900 million-plus direct to consumer business, the company includes the Stanek Windows, Hartshorn Custom Contracting, APEX Energy Solutions, Universal Windows Direct and Champion Windows and Home Exteriors brands.

“Michael is a strong believer in building businesses by following a system and hiring the right people,” Yoho and Associates states. “While he prefers to maintain a low profile, his corporate achievements are recognized and praised throughout our industry.”

Paul Birner

Birner and his family have a background in the heating and air condition industry, but later started Amazing Siding, a multi-state company. After selling Amazing Siding, he and his family then joined the Renewal by Andersen brand. As the CEO of Renewal by Andersen of St. Louis, Birner has steered the company to $6 million in retail sales at peak. In 2021, the company’s revenues exceeded $60 million.

Berner was awarded additional territories by the company, including Springfield, Mich., Memphis, Tenn., and Southwest Louisiana. He has received a number of awards from Renewal by Andersen, is held in the highest esteem by the Better Business Bureau and is an active contributor to the American Cancer Society, Habitat for Humanity and Wounded Warriors.

Miles Wilkins

Under Wilkins ownership, over half of The Board Store Home Improvements’ annual revenue is from past customers and referrals. The company has grown to 80 employees and $14 million in annual sales. Wilkins has been in the home improvement industry since 1972, believing that true success should come from “doing things right, but also doing the right thing,” Yoho and Associates states.

This year’s recipients will be honored at the firm’s Growth Mastery Summit 2023, held September 14, 2023, at the Hyatt Regency Dulles, in Herndon, Va.