Los Altos Hills resident Roger Menard has been named president of John Laing Homes’ new San Francisco Bay Area Region, headquartered in Pleasanton.

The company was recently named residential construction’s “Most Admired Builder of the Year” by Big Builder magazine for its dedication to homebuyers, community involvement and employee development. The firm is the nation’s second-largest private homebuilder.

“This award is truly significant for our employees and valued trade partners as we establish our presence here in the San Francisco Bay Area,” said Menard. “Our Bay Area team is empowered to provide a superb homeownership experience for all of our homebuyers.”

John Laing Homes is developing such new home neighborhoods in the Bay Area as Roubion in San Ramon, a community of 72 executive-level, single-family homes at Norris Canyon Estates. The company is also building Villa D’Este, 276 townhomes and single family homes in the Ardenwood area of Fremont.

Menard has had a long and stellar career in homebuilding. Before joining John Laing Homes last year, Menard was president and CEO of SummerHill Homes in Palo Alto.

Prior to that, Menard worked in several capacities for KB Home, one of the largest homebuilders in the country, from 1985 to early 2001 - as a consultant, as president of U.S. operations and as president of the Fremont-based South Bay division.

Under his direction, the South Bay division grew into the company’s most profitable operation.

Earlier, he was president of the Northern California division of Pulte Home Corp., and before that was president of Broadmoor Homes. His career in the housing industry spans more than three decades.

Menard holds a B.S. degree in engineering from San Jose State University and an M.B.A. from the University of Santa Clara.

Menard has been active in many community activities, including as president of the Board of the Peninsula Center for the Blind.