Legends of the Industry

Scott Colwell was nominated by Builders and Remodelers Association of Greater Boston. Scott is a co-owner of the Hoover Realty Trust with his father, Calvin, and represents the third-generation of the home building and land development company started in 1951 by his grandfather, Wesley Colwell. Scott joined his father, Calvin Colwell, at the company in 1980 and learned the business from the ground up. Father and son expanded the business, building custom homes in Wellesley, Millbrook Estates in Wrentham, Maple Park Estates in Norfolk, Indian Hill and Woodcliff Estates in Medfield.

Since 1992 Scott Colwell has been an active member at BRAGB, at the State level and at NAHB. He is a two-time BRAGB President, serving both 2000 and again in 2014. He was the 1997 BRAGB Builder of the Year and in 2017 Scott was entered into the BRAGB Hall of Fame. He was awarded the President’s Award for Outstanding Achievements in 2012. Scott currently sits on the State Association’s Board of Directors and is a Director of the National Association.

Scott Colwell has worked with many non-profit endeavors in addition to the Home Builder Associations. Colwell Homes participated in the 2005 Extreme Home Makeover helping to rebuild a home for a family in need. He is also active with the Medfield Lions Club.

Scott and his wife Julie have two sons, Ryan and Cam.

Michael Duffany, President of M. Duffany Builders, has been a critical leader in the building industry on Cape Cod. Established in 1983, M. Duffany Builders has been a family-owned and operated business growing from 2 to over 30 employees over the years. A full-service general contractor the company has been providing building, renovation and maintenance services in Falmouth, MA and surrounding towns.

Michael’s history with Home Builders & Remodelers Association of Cape Cod (HB&RACC) began in 2011. He quickly involved himself in the association becoming President of that group in 2013 and serving until 2015. Mike remains an active member of the HB&RACC Board of Directors and was nominated to the Cape Cod Builders Hall of Fame in 2017.

Mike has been involved in State and local regulations and legislation working diligently in the reform of Workers Compensation and providing advice and counsel to the Board of Building Regulations and Standards in an effort to help the industry. Locally Mike serves on the 300 Committee (Falmouth’s Land Preservation Trust) and has served on multiple community building committees including all 4 of the recent School building renovations, Falmouth High School, Falmouth Senior center and the Falmouth Community Television.

Understanding the critical need of tradesmen in the industry Mike has been on the forefront in recruiting individuals to the trades and has made a significant impact on workforce development in Cape Cod.

Mike is indeed a key leader in the building industry on Cape Cod. He and his family are generous by nature, giving of their time, mentorship and financial resources to the community they serve and to the Home Builders and Remodelers Association of Cape Cod.

Mike lives in Falmouth with his wife (and high school sweetheart) Christy. They have two sons Todd and Tim.

Michael McDowell, CBO is President of a conglomerate of companies including Total Construction, Total Real Estate and The Building Inspector of America. Since opening his business in 1987 he has been providing construction, real estate and home inspection services.

Mike has been a member of the home builders association since 1988 and has served in multiple leadership positions including President of the Home Builders & Remodelers Association of Western MA in 2000-2001 and the Home Builders & Remodelers Association of Massachusetts from 2011-2013.

His many professional achievements include three gubernatorial appointments by three different governors to; the State Board of Building Regulations and Standards where he has served since 2015, the Massachusetts Historical Commission since 2012 and the Board of Registration of Home Inspectors where he has served for thirteen years. He is a Certified Building Official, an EPA Energy Star Home Builder and Energy Crafted Home Program Consultant and Builder. He is a past member of the Massachusetts Construction Supervisors Licensing Exam Committee and he was the recipient of the United Technologies Award for extraordinary management effectiveness.

Michael’s community service includes working with the Wilbraham Children’s Museum, community outreach to build access ramps for those in need and participating in a house build for the Wounded Warrior Project in Granby, MA. Additionally Michael is a Justice of the Peace in his home town of Wilbraham.

Michael has been married to his exceptional wife, Jo Ann, since January 1981. Together they have two adult children, son Sean and daughter Megan, and grandchildren Mya, Max, Zoe, Desmond, Lily, and Ivy.

John T. Smolak is a partner and Co-Founder of Smolak & Vaughan LLP, Attorneys at Law in North Andover, Massachusetts, where he has practiced for the past 15 years, prior to which time he was the Co-Chair of the Real Estate and Environmental Practice at the Boston Office of Burns & Levinson LLP. John’s practice is concentrated in the areas of land use, environmental and real estate development law. He has represented property owners and developers in Massachusetts and New Hampshire in all aspects of commercial and residential real estate development, and has been involved in the permitting of over 3,500 residential units of housing over his career.

John graduated from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst summa cum laude and went on to receive his master’s degree in public administration from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs, and his law degree at Boston College Law School in 1990.

Since joining the Northeast Builders and Remodelers Association in 1994 he has maintained a high profile. He is a Life Director for the Northeast Local and is on the Board of Directors at the State level. At the State John provides his valuable insight as Chair of the Governmental Affairs Committee, a critical committee that serves as a watchdog for all the members of the State in the legislative, regulatory and environmental areas.

Apart from the time John gives the home builders association he has chaired the Environmental Committee for the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties (NAIOP).  He was  a member of the Boston Bar Association Environmental Law Section’s Steering Committee, served as Commissioner and Vice Chairman of the Merrimack Valley Regional Planning Commission and has served the Town of North Andover on its local land use, economic development and planning committees.   He currently serves as a Board Member of the UMASS Building Authority.

John embodies the saying “If you want something done, give it to a busy person” as he also served on the Board of Directors of the Special Olympics of Massachusetts Inc.

John makes his home in North Andover along with his wife of 29 years, Mary. They have three children, Devon, Kathleen and John Jr.