TEAM
Barry Buford
President
In 1998, Barry Buford started his own homebuilding company, BufordHawthorne, after gaining years of valuable experience as a builder for several construction companies. From the construction site to the business office, it wasn’t long before he established a reputation for exceptional work and attentive client service. That’s because behind his relaxed, easy-going personality is an earnest businessman intently focused on his clients’ absolute satisfaction. Over the years, Barry’s team has concentrated on architecturally driven projects both large and small for a very discerning clientele. When Barry is not meeting with clients, designers and architects to pour over the details of a project, he enjoys spending time with his wife, Lucinda, and his adult twins, or frequenting local museums and galleries.
Gabriel Hawthorne
Partner / Project Manager
With extensive years of experience, Gabriel Hawthorne brings an invaluable quality to his role as partner and project manager at BufordHawthorne — the ability to remain calm, cool and collected in any situation. His steady demeanor and level-headedness allow him to manage the most demanding projects without breaking a sweat. And with his unmatched organizational skills and copious note-taking, no detail slips past him. After joining the BufordHawthorne team in 2003, he became a partner in 2014. Gabriel lives in Richardson with his wife and two children.
Bruce Baughmen
Project Manager
Bruce Baughmen has been expertly overseeing some of BufordHawthorne’s most intricate projects since 2010 without missing a beat. Having started in the construction business in the early ’80s, he brings a wealth of experience to every job. Texas born and raised, his easy-going personality, consistent reliability and excellent customer service put clients at ease. Known as “a guy you can count on,” it’s no wonder he’s been married for over four decades. Bruce is also “Dad” to two grown children and “Grandpa“ to three grandchildren.
Elisha Fuqua
Project Manager
Elisha Fuqua is a man of many talents. Having grown up in the construction business under the instruction of his father, he has homebuilding in his genes. With just about every type of experience you can imagine, he is an exceptional project manager at BufordHawthorne and has honed his skills in concrete work and custom framing. He and his wife have six children and two more on the way. Impressively, Elisha still manages to find time for other passions, such as travel and playing classical guitar and the cello.
Barry Baldwin
Project Manager
In a former life Barry Baldwin, a Texas Tech alum, worked in banking and investment banking for 20 years. With a lifelong passion for construction and the process of building, he pivoted in 1996 and started Waterford Construction Company, which was a competitor of BufordHawthorne for many years. After a tornado ravaged North Dallas in October 2019 and increased construction demand, Barry Buford invited Barry Baldwin to join the BufordHawthorne team. As the second Barry in an office of seven people, he’s good-natured about the emails and phone calls that are for “the other Barry.” Barry Baldwin brings with him a wealth of experience and know-how, and revels in the construction lifestyle – which he lovingly jokes is not a 9-5 job. When he is not working, Barry is a passionate golfer and a member of the Royal Oaks Country Club.
Gina Lawhon
Director of Estimating and Purchasing
Gina Lawhon joined BufordHawthorne in March 2020 and has been an instant asset to the team, bringing with her 21 years of experience as a framing estimator and superintendent. She is a one-person estimating powerhouse and the resident CoConstruct guru, allowing her to bid and verify every step of projects and keep clients up to date on their status through the software portal. Early in her career, Gina served in the Army as an avionic helicopter mechanic based in Georgia and North Carolina. In her off-time, Gina is a proud dog mom to Begonia, a 50-pound Xoloitzcuintle (Mexican hairless dog).
Rocio Lara
Office Manager
Behind the scenes at BufordHawthorne, Rocio Lara is always hard at work keeping the team’s ducks in a row and ensuring the office runs like a well-oiled machine. She manages the company’s financial transactions, insurance and payables with painstaking accuracy and attention to detail. Born in Mexico City, she is fluent in English and Spanish — another feather in her cap. When she is not managing the office, she does an equally remarkable job of managing her husband, Alex, and two young sons, Adair and Milad.
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