DOUG BAUER
Chief Executive
TRI Point Group Inc.
Irvine
Age: 53
Lives in Newport Beach
WHY: Runs the largest homebuilder based in OC, with a market value of nearly $2 billion.
HOW: In 2009, Bauer and two co-founders, Tom Mitchell and Mike Grubbs, started TRI Pointe after leaving William Lyon Homes. Started building for Irvine Co. under master developer’s executive builder program. Grew from a small startup to one of the top 10 homebuilders in the U.S., more than 1,000 employees. Went public in 2013.
RECENT: Battling market headwinds, with questions over state of national homebuilding industry and Wall Street down on the building sector. Not so bad in the company’s home state, he says. “I know a lot of people get concerned about California, but we’re very blessed to have very strong assets with a very strong margin profile, at least here in Southern California.”
FAST FACT: Accomplished triathlete. Sports run in the family; daughter Maddie is a professional soccer player.
QUOTABLE: On 2009 start during Great Recession: “We had a fundamental premise when we started that the housing market, which was being pummeled at the time, would recover. It was just a matter of when that would happen. We thought it was a good bet.”
PERSONAL: Previously served as president and chief operation officer at William Lyon Homes. Involved in the California Building Industry Association and HomeAid Orange County. Bachelor’s degree from the University of Oregon; MBA from the University of Southern California. 2016 inductee, California Homebuilding Foundation’s Hall of Fame.
