Case Design/Build

Chris Risher and Jeremy Martin, principals of Austin, Texas-based RisherMartin Fine Homes, have won the 2016 Fred Case Remodeling Entrepreneur of the Year Award. Risher and Martin received the award, which includes a $10,000 first-prize check, at an awards dinner and gala during the Remodelers Advantage & Remodeling Summit in Kansas City, Mo., on Oct. 26.

The three finalists for this year's award were also honored: Stephanie Vanderbilt of Coastal Windows and Exteriors in Beverly, Mass.; Andy Haste of Riverside Construction in West Lafayette, Ind.; and Leo Lantz of Leo Lantz Construction in Glen Allen, Va. Each finalist, plus RIsher and Martin, received a plaque and a $2,500 prize.

Remodeling profiled Risher and Martin, as well as the three finalists. Click the links below to learn more about each honoree.

This is the 10th anniversary of the award, established by Fred Case in 2006 to honor remodeling industry leaders who demonstrate excellent business acumen, company financial strength, community and industry involvement, and entrepreneurial spirit. The award is open to all remodeling company leaders and recognizes specific individuals, not a company. This is the only industry award of its kind in that a cash prize is awarded to finalists as well as to the winner.

RisherMartin Fine Homes, a 6-year-old company that posted more than $4.5 million in revenue in 2015, specializes in whole-house remodels of high-end homes in the Austin area. Risher and Martin impressed the judges with their strong revenue growth, low variance (0.3%) between actual and estimated cost, and their commitment to a paperless office.

Said the judges: "Going paperless brings many benefits ranging from the environment, to collaboration, to archiving of information. While easy to say, going paperless is hard to do. Chris Risher and Jeremy Martin have assembled a completely paperless, cloud-based platform that allows flexible, rapid, and accurate communication with the entire project team."