Christopher Canavan, formerly Senior Vice President of W.B. Homes, has been promoted to President of W.B. Homes, Inc. as announced today by Founder William J. Bonenberger. Mr. Canavan will be responsible for the day to day operations of the company. Mr. Bonenberger will assume the title of Chief Executive Officer.
After more than a decade serving the public as a municipal manager in Montgomery County, Mr. Canavan joined W.B. Homes in 2003. A rising star since starting at W.B. over 16 years ago, Mr. Canavan’s experience at all levels of the company uniquely prepares him for the role of President. “Chris has excelled in every position he has held from Land Approvals Project Manager, to Director of Land Acquisition & Development, to his current role as Sr. Vice President, gaining valuable experience, strengthening relationships, and taking on additional responsibilities at each stage,” said Mr. Bonenberger. “Chris understands and has helped create W.B.’s unique culture. He is ready to take the next step as President.”
Mr. Canavan earned his M.P.A. in Public Administration and B.A. in Political Science from American University, Washington, D.C. After departing the public sector for W.B. Homes, Mr. Canavan remains involved in municipal government, serving on the Board of the Montgomery County Conservation District and since 2011, has served as an elected member of the Lower Salford Township Board of Supervisors. As a member of the Advisory Committee for Souderton School District’s Pathway 360 program, Mr. Canavan uses his expertise to provide industry information and career guidance to inform the Pathway 360 program that serves students grades 9-12. His experience in and passion for local government is one of Mr. Canavan’s greatest assets, according to Mr. Bonenberger. “Part of Chris’ success is his unique experience and understanding of both the public and private sectors. He understands how government and private developers can effectively work together to achieve the best possible results for the communities they serve.” Mr. Canavan has also been active with the Home Builders Association of Bucks and Montgomery Counties and the Pennsylvania Builders Association on legislative and advocacy issues.
Mr. Canavan and his wife, Amy, have four boys, ages 5 to 15. Since 2013 he has been the Pack Committee Chair for Cub Scout Pack 137, is also active with Boy Scout Troop 137 and has helped coach many Harleysville Baseball teams through the years. As a family they enjoy hunting for treasures at garage sales, antique shows and flea markets, going to Stone Harbor in the summer and spending time with their three dogs at home. “ Amy and I are humbled and honored that Bill and Janet have the confidence and faith in my abilities to entrust me with the opportunity to be President of the company they founded, nurtured and grew into one of the most highly respected land development and homebuilding companies in the Philadelphia region. I look forward to working with my fellow members of the W.B. Homes team to continue to grow the company while maintaining the W.B. company culture and continuing the mission of delivering the highest quality homes at the greatest value to our customers.”
Ensuring that employees, homeowners, and trade partners understand that W.B. Homes is “here to stay” is a top priority, according to co-founder Janet Bonenberger. “This move is designed to help solidify W.B.’s leadership in our industry for the future,” she said, explaining how the promotion will give Bill and herself the opportunity to focus their attention on the company’s strategic growth plan. “We have an incredibly talented group of employees and subcontractors and we are committed to seeing the company transition to the next generation, so we can continue to serve homeowners in our community for the next 30+ years.”
W.B. Homes, Inc. is one of the largest privately held home building and real estate development companies in the Philadelphia MSA specializing in single family home, townhome, and carriage home neighborhoods. Since its inception in 1986, it has completed 80 neighborhoods and over 3,000 homes.