DAN BAWDEN

Daniel D. Bawden, CGR GMB CAPS CGP JD
Residential Construction Expert

Education:

• Bachelor of Science in Biology and Psychology, Baylor University, 1978
• Doctor of Jurisprudence (Law Degree) from Baylor University School of Law, 1980
• Licensed to practice law in Texas in March, 1981; still licensed
• Advanced Certifications in Construction (see below)
• Top Instructor for the National Association of Homebuilders
• Trained Residential Construction Mediator and Arbitrator (through CDRS.com)

Company Credentials

• President & CEO of Legal Eagle Contractors, Co., an award-winning design build residential construction company
• Forty-plus years of experience in construction, and 20 in expert witness work
• Knowledge in both new construction and remodeling, residential and light commercial.
• Familiar with Industry Performance Standards and Standards of Care, for mid-range, high end, and high-rise residential remodeling
• Cost of repair and cost of completion analysis
• Project Management analysis.

Professional Credentials

• Served as the 2017 National Chairman of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Remodeling Division (“NAHB Remodelers”); active as 2019 Chairman of the Leadership Development Committee
• Only residential builder sitting on the Board of Directors for the Greater Houston Better Business Bureau (14th consecutive year)
• Co-authored the “Residential Construction Performance Guidelines for Professional Builders and Remodelers” (a widely used NAHB publication); currently on the committee updating that publication.
• Certified Graduate Remodeler (CGR), since 1995
• Graduate Master Builder (GMB) since 1996
• Certified Green Building Professional since 1998
• Certified Aging in Place Specialist (CAPS), since 2002 (Inaugural class of graduates).
• Member in good standing, State Bar of Texas (since 1981)
• Member in good standing Houston Bar Association
• Past Faculty Member, Houston Bar Association for Continuing Legal Education
• CDRS (Construction Dispute Resolution Services) Certified Construction Arbitrator and Mediator

Professional Construction Affiliations:

• Member Forensic Expert Witness Association
• Member SEAK Expert Witness Directory
• Greater Houston Builders Association (GHBA)
• Past President of GHBA, responsible for construction industry in Harris County and seven surrounding counties, 1999-2000
• GHBA Board of Directors 1994-2001
• President of the GHBA Remodelers Council, twice
• Active in, and frequent speaker at, the GHBA Remodelers Council and Custom Builder Council events through 2020

• National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)
• Achieved Lifetime NAHB Director status
• Current Member, Board of Directors
• Past National Chairman, Board of Governors for the Certified Aging in Place Specialists (NAHB - AARP) Program
• Current paid writer and content provider, writing and updating NAHB builder courses

• NAHB Remodelers Council
• NAHB Board of Directors (since 1995)
• National Association of Home Builders Remodelers Council Board of Trustees (Since 1996-2019)

• Texas Association of Builders (TAB)
• Past Director, TAB for 6 years
• Past Member TAB Remodelers Council, Board of Directors
• Past President of TAB State Remodelers Council
• Won Texas Remodeler of the Year twice, by vote of fellow TAB members

Recent Awards and Honors:

• 2021 Master Design Awards from Qualified Remodeler Magazine, for Universal Design and Specialty Project
• February 2020, voted by NAHB peers into the NAHB Remodeling Hall of Fame, for making a lasting impact on the construction industry on a nation-wide scale
• September 2020 Earned Designation as a Graduate master Remodeler, the highest-level certification offered by the National Association of Home Builders
• September 2020 Winner of the Greater Houston BBB’s “Award of Distinction”
• August 2020 Won Silver Award in the Master Design Awards competition, Universal Design project
• July, 2020 Won Better Business Bureau “Award of Excellence” for the 9th time
• February 2019, Won: Best Design-Builder in Bellaire - 13th Consecutive Year

Publications ~ Articles published by, about, or quoting Mr. Bawden, have appeared in the following:

• The Houston Chronicle, as recently as Sunday, April 15th 2023 and many times before that
• The Wall Street Journal
• Money Magazine
• Forbes Magazine
• Kiplinger Letter
• Professional Remodeler Magazine (most recent article I wrote was published February 2019)
• HGTV
• Smart Money Magazine
• Better Homes and Gardens
• HousingZone.com
• Remodeling Magazine
• Wall Street Journal online
• Qualified Remodeler Magazine
• Consumer Reports Article
• New York Times and NYT online
•  USA Today
•  AARP Bulletin & Publications
• The New York Times
• BBB’s “Better Business” magazine.
• AP wire stories
• Newspapers across the country
• Appearances on “Today’s Homeowner” on HGTV
• Business Week Magazine
• Houston Builder Magazine
• Professional Remodeler
• This Old House Magazine
• Electrical Contractor Magazine
• More on Google

Professional and Civic Memberships:

• Greater Houston Builders Association (GHBA)
• President of GHBA (1999-2000) and Director for 8 years
• The first remodeling specialist ever to serve as President of GHBA
• Speaker at Remodelers Council, Custom-Builder Council, and Associates Council industry meetings

• Member, Greater Houston Better Business Bureau, Plus…
• Past Chairman of the BBB Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee
• Active Member BBB Board of Directors, 20th consecutive year
• Only Residential Builder to hold BBB Board member position
• Remodeled BBB offices in 2002

• Houston Bar Association
• Member, Wills, Probate, and Trust Section
• A 23-year veteran of Night Court Musical Comedy, singing, dancing and playing first trumpet with the city’s most talented attorneys, raising money for local charities
• Has served on HBA Faculty for Houston Continuing Legal Education (CLE)
• Member, Texas Bar Association since 1981

Community Service:

• 2019 and 2018 Participant in Charity Remodeling projects done under the auspices of the Greater Houston Builders Association Remodelers Council; 2019 helped renovate Casa de Esperanza, (home for battered women).
• Recognized by the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services. Awarded the “DFPS Commissioner's Award of Excellence Winner” for a fully funding and completing charity remodeling project for an elderly man in East Houston

• Boys Scouts of America Troop 549
• Does “Dan the Tool Man” presentations
• Does “What it’s like to practice law” for Scout career day
• Helps with Eagle Scout projects involving construction

• Other
• Often Guest Co-Hosted the “Home Improvement Hotline” call-in radio show on AM 950 Radio Mojo, Houston’s largest Talk-Radio station.
• Home Show Speaker in Houston
• Speaks to Stroke survivor, Lou Gehrig’s Disease and other medical support groups about accessible design ideas and construction
• Past Civic Club Officer, Deed Restrictions Committee Member, Active in Marilyn Estates Civic Club
• Gold level Blood Donor – over 96 donations!