The Marin Builders Association has selected Dan McLennon as the recipient of the 2023 Peter Arrigoni Building Community Leadership Award. The award recognizes an individual for excellence in industry leadership and community involvement. Recipients are considered based on their dedication to industry, commitment to education, and their support of the Marin Builders Association goals and initiatives. The award was established in 2019 in honor of the late Peter Arrigoni who served as General Manager of the Marin Builders Association from 1977 to 2003 and served on the Marin County Board of Supervisors from 1968-1976.
Dan is a managing partner in the San Francisco Bay Area office of Smith Currie Oles (smithcurrie.com), a national, award-winning construction law firm, where he specializes in construction law cases in California's state and federal courts. Dan’s law career began in 1986 following a judicial clerkship with the 14th District Court of Appeals in Houston, Texas. He then managed McLennon Law Corporation until merging with Smith Currie Oles in January 2016. Dan’s interest in construction began early in life. “Since childhood, I was always building something—multiple ‘forts’ and tree houses—and fascinated with construction sites, equipment, and processes,” he says. “Construction law was a natural fit for me when I first joined a firm after law school.” His extensive list of clients includes project owners, contractors, suppliers, and other industry professionals. He has helped parties resolve hundreds of cases through mediation, arbitration and trials which have involved disputes over construction contracts, payment disputes, construction defects, and partnership conflicts. In addition, he has experience in appellate cases, with four published opinions in California law books. His legal abilities and deep experience have earned him Martindale-Hubbell's highest "AV" rating and recognition as a Northern California construction "Super Lawyer" working in construction law for a decade or more. Dan Has been connected to the Marin Builders Association for the last 20 years. He began his affiliation as a committee member, then joined the board, and ultimately served as the board’s president. He has supported the association’s workforce development initiatives to train young people for construction careers. Dan has supported the Education-to-Career (E2C) Construction Skills Program, the North Bay Construction Corps (NBCC) and the Marin Builders Association Scholarship Program. In addition, when he was board president, he visited the Regional Occupational Program (ROP) at Redwood High School—and was so impressed with what he saw that he and his wife Nancy bought one of the program’s famous garden sheds. Dan enjoys writing and speaking, having edited a significant treatise and written articles for legal associations. He and his wife have been married since 1982, have two daughters, and are active in their church. Dan is most proud of his 35+ year streak as a youth Sunday School teacher and volunteer—he notes that the kids keep him young, and he gets choked up recounting hugs from visiting former students. In his free time, he enjoys time with family, golfing, and hiking.
“For the past two decades, Dan has served the Marin Builders Association and our industry in every way possible,” said Rick Wells, CEO of the Marin Builders Association. “Dan takes his role as a volunteer leader seriously. His unwavering dedication, knowledge, and commitment to the positive influence of our industry here in Marin is astounding.”
Dan McLennon observed about the award, “I am honored to be considered for this award by a group of good people that are fully committed to our industry and our local community. I hope to be able to give back in some way for many years to come.”
Dan will be featured in the upcoming edition of the 2024-2025 Marin Home Resource Guide, releasing in mid- July. The Marin Builders Association is honored to present the Peter Arrigoni Building Community Leadership Award to Dan McLennon.
