Competition Co-Director

Bobby is an accomplished architect, educator, and leader in sustainable design, specializing in modular construction and high-performance building systems. He co-led the FutureHAUS Dubai team to a historic first-place victory at the Solar Decathlon Middle East and serves as a Co-Director for the Housing Innovation Challenge. Bobby’s expertise extends to his role as a previous Advisor and Innovation Jury Member for the 2019 Solar Decathlon Africa and as a Performance Verification Assistant for the Orange County Sustainability Decathlon in 2013. He also mentors future architects through teaching positions at Virginia Tech while advancing research in energy-efficient, market-viable housing solutions.

Competition Co-Director

Richard is the visionary founder of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Solar Decathlon, launched in 2000 to inspire university students in renewable energy and sustainable design. Serving as its director until 2016, he expanded the competition globally, establishing editions in Europe, China, Latin America, the Middle East, and Africa. As CEO of Creative Energy LLC, he continues to consult for international Solar Decathlon events, shaping the future of energy-efficient architecture. King also co-authored Solar Decathlon: Building a Renewable Future, documenting the competition’s impact. With a background in Energy from American University, his leadership has left a lasting mark on the global innovative housing movement.

President | Housing Innovation Alliance

Dennis is passionate about creating places where people thrive. With extensive experience in driving innovation and change management within the residential development and homebuilding industry, he has a proven track record of leading large-scale market engagement programs and fostering collaboration across diverse business ecosystems. His background includes orchestrating comprehensive market transformation efforts and advising on international government-backed housing initiatives. As the leader of strategy and programming at the Housing Innovation Alliance, Dennis activates industry collaborations that drive business growth opportunities within the U.S. housing market. Passionate about building sustainable communities, he is committed to mentoring and investing in the next generation of housing-focused entrepreneurs, ensuring that the industry continues to grow and evolve. Dennis and his family reside in Pittsburgh, PA, where they can most often be found on the water or in the mountains.

Managing Partner | Home Technology Ventures

Chris’ career has lived at the intersection of finance, business development and the housing industries for more than 20 years. He began his career as an investment banker focused on homebuilders, building materials, distribution and specialty contractors before joining Lowe’s where he helped launch and acquire several new businesses, led the Strategic Development group and launched and led Lowe’s Ventures. Over the course of his career, Chris has played a leading role in more than $1.5 billion in closed transactions across a wide range of housing industries including homebuilding, building materials, distribution, home services, smart home, retail, interior design and software. Chris lives in Charlotte, North Carolina with his wife, two kids and two dogs. When he is not working to move the housing industry forward, he is enjoying the outdoors, sharpening his poker skills or expanding his whiskey collection.