Named one of the “10 Who Will Remake the Remodeling Industry” in the coming century by Remodeling magazine in 1999, Mark Richardson has served as president of Case Design/Remodeling, Inc. since 1996.

Mr. Richardson began his career in architecture and construction doing fieldwork with a mechanical contracting firm and working subsequently as a designer of mechanical systems. He received his Bachelor of Architecture with honors from the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in 1978. He designed and built his first home at the age of 21 as part of his architectural thesis work and went on to partner with one of his professors in designing and building residential remodeling projects.

In 1980 Mr. Richardson joined Case Design/Remodeling, Inc. as a project designer. Less than a year later he was the company’s top salesperson, and by 1982 his sales figures were double that of his fellow project designers. In 1985 he was promoted to Assistant Vice President, and in 1986 Vice President and Director of Design.

Under his leadership, Case design/build division sales increased from $2.5 million in 1985 to $4.9 million in 1987. In 1994 he was named Senior Vice President and was promoted to President in December of 1996. Mark now oversees all Washington DC headquarters and national operations of Case, an $85 million enterprise anchored by the nation’s largest full-service residential remodeling company.

Key player in development of the Case Handyman® Services franchise

With Case received an increasing number of calls from remodelers across the country for guidance on developing profitable handyman divisions to handle small remodeling projects, Mr. Richardson and Case founder Frederic F. Case, CR decided that a national franchise system – Case Handyman® Services – would be the most effective vehicle for deploying Case systems and services nationwide. Case Handyman Services was launched in 1998 and there are currently more than 60 franchises across the country. Mr. Richardson spearheaded development of the concept, and is a key catalyst for the development and growth of the Case Handyman® Services franchise system.

Commitment to education and professionalism

Mr. Richardson is an enthusiastic advocate of remodeling industry education for both consumer and for professionals in all related sectors, and he and Frederic F. Case, CR sit on the Remodeling Futures Board of Harvard University’s Joint Center for Housing Studies. He is a frequent national speaker on remodeling issues and the author of a monthly column on industry topics for Remodeling magazine. In 1992 he created what is now called “At Home with Mark Richardson” a weekly radio web cast featuring consumer education on home care and maintenance topics. For these and other efforts he was recognized in 2000 with the Harold Hammerman “Spirit of Education” award for excellence in remodeling industry education and training.

Mr. Richardson is a visible and active member of several industry trade organizations. In 1992, he served as Co-chair of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) Public Relations Committee, and is currently one of only 6 remodelers nationwide invited to sit on Andersen Window’s Remodeler Partnership Council.

Mr. Richardson earned his Certified Remodeler (CR) designation from the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) in 1986 and in 1994 was the first individual recipient of the “Big 50" Sales and Marketing Award for high achievers in the industry -- an award theretofore reserved for companies.

He has won more than 15 national and regional design awards for his projects, many of which have been featured in The Washington Post, Better Homes & Gardens, Woman’s Day, Luxury Homes, My Home, Homeowner, Home Mechanics and Remodeling Ideas and other publications.