Patrick Hamill founded Oakwood Homes in 1991. (Courtesy photo)
Oakwood Homes CEO Patrick Hamill is retiring from the homebuilding firm he started more than 30 years ago.
“It is time for me to play a different role and there are still ways that I can and want to contribute,” he said, adding that he will now advise the company.
“Every good leader knows when it is time to make room for others to lead,” said Hamill.
“It’s the right time both for me personally and for the business.”
Ryan Smith, president of homebuilding, is now leading Oakwood as chief operating officer. Smith joined Oakwood in 2018 after spending more than 20 years in the home building industry, including a decade with Shea Homes’ Active Adult Trilogy brand and two years as division president of Beazer Homes in Indianapolis.
As Oakwood’s strategic advisor, Hamill, 65, will work closely with the Oakwood leadership team and the community to continue providing “attainable” housing.
“It is important to me that teachers and first responders can afford to live in the communities where they work. Homeownership is key to building generational wealth, and we want to play a big role in building healthy communities,” he said.
Hamill, who grew up in the Midwest, attended the University of Denver and subsequently settled in Colorado.
“I credit my father for helping grow my roots in Colorado. He was my mentor and a successful entrepreneur, and he fueled my passion for learning and for skiing,” Hamill said. “If you have a passion for learning and skiing, then Colorado is the place for you.”
Hamill founded Oakwood Homes in 1991 with Larry Canarelli and Robert Sanderman. Since launching, the company has built more than 20,000 houses. The company expanded outside Colorado to Utah in 2014 and to Arizona in 2021. In 2017, Clayton Properties Group, a Berkshire Hathaway affiliate, bought Oakwood for an undisclosed amount.
Hamill said developing Green Valley Ranch is both his proudest accomplishment and one of his biggest challenges.
“We built quality homes where teachers and police officers and health care professionals could afford to live in the same neighborhoods where they work. And we built-quality schools like the Denver School of Science and Technology,” he said.
Hamill plans to spend more time “channeling my entrepreneurial spirit into the BuildStrong Foundation and my other community endeavors that involve supporting great schooling and getting people back to work,” he said.
“I want to spend more time mentoring and less time in meetings.”
BuildStrong was formed in 1997 by Hamill and Marshall Kaplan, former dean of the University of Colorado’s Graduate School of Public Affairs, as the Foundation for Educational Excellence. The foundation was renamed BuildStrong in 2017.
“I have big plans as I move into this second half,” Hamill said.
He plans to focus on BuildStrong Academy, a nonprofit that provides free, hands-on training to help people find careers in the construction and trades industries. The academy’s mission is to create 1 million jobs by 2035.
It will move to the Community College of Aurora’s new Center for STEM, Power Mechanics and Applied Technologies in fall 2025.
“One of my priorities is to focus on workforce development. We will be taking BuildStrong national as we open a new academy in Charlotte, N.C., and look to build out this model around the country,” Hamill said.
“In my new role, I can color outside the lines a bit more and think about ways that philanthropy can leverage new resources for affordable housing, jobs, and education to truly transform communities where people live and work. There are so many opportunities to innovate and identify new solutions to old problems and I want to be a part of that.”
Hamill’s Cherry Creek home was originally the town hall for Harman, which was later annexed by Denver. (BusinessDen file)
Hamill is also selling his own home. He relisted his Cherry Creek mansion on May 2 for $10.9 million. Hamill initially listed the 13,656-square-foot mansion for $15 million in 2022.
According to property records, Hamill purchased the building and the lot next door in 2009 for $1.65 million. He renovated the building and added a three-car garage with subterranean storage space that can fit 10 cars, an event space, a finished basement with two climate-controlled wine cellars, a theater and a hidden speakeasy.
Correction: A previous version of this article gave an incorrect title for Ryan Smith.
Patrick Hamill founded Oakwood Homes in 1991. (Courtesy photo)
Oakwood Homes CEO Patrick Hamill is retiring from the homebuilding firm he started more than 30 years ago.
“It is time for me to play a different role and there are still ways that I can and want to contribute,” he said, adding that he will now advise the company.
“Every good leader knows when it is time to make room for others to lead,” said Hamill.
“It’s the right time both for me personally and for the business.”
Ryan Smith, president of homebuilding, is now leading Oakwood as chief operating officer. Smith joined Oakwood in 2018 after spending more than 20 years in the home building industry, including a decade with Shea Homes’ Active Adult Trilogy brand and two years as division president of Beazer Homes in Indianapolis.
As Oakwood’s strategic advisor, Hamill, 65, will work closely with the Oakwood leadership team and the community to continue providing “attainable” housing.
“It is important to me that teachers and first responders can afford to live in the communities where they work. Homeownership is key to building generational wealth, and we want to play a big role in building healthy communities,” he said.
Hamill, who grew up in the Midwest, attended the University of Denver and subsequently settled in Colorado.
“I credit my father for helping grow my roots in Colorado. He was my mentor and a successful entrepreneur, and he fueled my passion for learning and for skiing,” Hamill said. “If you have a passion for learning and skiing, then Colorado is the place for you.”
Hamill founded Oakwood Homes in 1991 with Larry Canarelli and Robert Sanderman. Since launching, the company has built more than 20,000 houses. The company expanded outside Colorado to Utah in 2014 and to Arizona in 2021. In 2017, Clayton Properties Group, a Berkshire Hathaway affiliate, bought Oakwood for an undisclosed amount.
Hamill said developing Green Valley Ranch is both his proudest accomplishment and one of his biggest challenges.
“We built quality homes where teachers and police officers and health care professionals could afford to live in the same neighborhoods where they work. And we built-quality schools like the Denver School of Science and Technology,” he said.
Hamill plans to spend more time “channeling my entrepreneurial spirit into the BuildStrong Foundation and my other community endeavors that involve supporting great schooling and getting people back to work,” he said.
“I want to spend more time mentoring and less time in meetings.”
BuildStrong was formed in 1997 by Hamill and Marshall Kaplan, former dean of the University of Colorado’s Graduate School of Public Affairs, as the Foundation for Educational Excellence. The foundation was renamed BuildStrong in 2017.
“I have big plans as I move into this second half,” Hamill said.
He plans to focus on BuildStrong Academy, a nonprofit that provides free, hands-on training to help people find careers in the construction and trades industries. The academy’s mission is to create 1 million jobs by 2035.
It will move to the Community College of Aurora’s new Center for STEM, Power Mechanics and Applied Technologies in fall 2025.
“One of my priorities is to focus on workforce development. We will be taking BuildStrong national as we open a new academy in Charlotte, N.C., and look to build out this model around the country,” Hamill said.
“In my new role, I can color outside the lines a bit more and think about ways that philanthropy can leverage new resources for affordable housing, jobs, and education to truly transform communities where people live and work. There are so many opportunities to innovate and identify new solutions to old problems and I want to be a part of that.”
Hamill’s Cherry Creek home was originally the town hall for Harman, which was later annexed by Denver. (BusinessDen file)
Hamill is also selling his own home. He relisted his Cherry Creek mansion on May 2 for $10.9 million. Hamill initially listed the 13,656-square-foot mansion for $15 million in 2022.
According to property records, Hamill purchased the building and the lot next door in 2009 for $1.65 million. He renovated the building and added a three-car garage with subterranean storage space that can fit 10 cars, an event space, a finished basement with two climate-controlled wine cellars, a theater and a hidden speakeasy.
Correction: A previous version of this article gave an incorrect title for Ryan Smith.
