Professional Builder 40 Under 40: Ben Passyn

Ben Passyn, 36

Owner

American Craftsman Construction, Easton, Md.

EDUCATION

BS, Mechanical Engineering, Tulane University

ACCOMPLISHMENT

Launched custom home-building business in 2007; averaging one sale per month

Managed to stay profitable through the market downturn, booking more than $4 million in new-home sales the last two years

EXTRACURRICULAR

Member, International Code Council

OFF THE CLOCK

Loves to barbeque on his Big Green Egg

Can’t live without Netflix (“I don’t have, nor do I ever want, cable”)

Hobbies include pretty much anything outdoors, especially duck hunting

Getaway spot: Any remote cay in the Bahamas to fish with family

SECRET LIFE

One of 10 children; married to an only child

Served as an AH-1W Cobra helicopter pilot in the Marine Corps