About Me

My career in residential construction began in 1987 with a high end custom home builder, Ray Tonjes.  I spent twelve years with Ray, the first ten years as his office manager, learning all aspects of construction documentation – contracts, draw schedules, selection and allowance schedules, bank and insurance requirements, and proper cost accounting within the construction industry.  Later I began assisting with ordering materials and scheduling sub contractors for the multiple jobs.  This experience lead me into a smooth transition as a field superintendent , on site  meeting with customers and supervising sub-contractors.  Ray is known for his excellent detail work, and it was Ray’s high standards where I learned my eye for detail.  I will always owe a debt of gratitude to Ray for the excellent foundation he gave me in the construction profession.

The next three years I was with Glenn George of George Custom Homes; first as an office manager and then as a project manager.  Then with Columbia Constructors, another high end builder, as a project manager where I had a superintendent under me.

I then spent 5 years as a project manager with Joel and Lucy Katz of Katz Builders, where I honed my project management and estimating skills, running multiple job sites.   Joel has a CPA background and has run many successful businesses including his custom home building business .   I learned a lot from Joel and Lucy about running a successful business but it was the family atmosphere of working with a husband and wife team that prepared me for meeting my mate, best friend and business partner, Pat Jamail.

Pat, at the time was an independent contractor doing all aspects of the work himself, operating as Jamail Custom Homes. With my management skills in construction scheduling, accounting, documentations and product knowledge, I was able to take Pat to his next level of running multiple jobs.  Although he still preferred to have his “hands on” the daily work, I continued to assist clients with their selections and took care of the paper work associated with running a business. We spent five wonderful years together building and remodeling and creating long lasting relationships with our clients.

Sadly, it was March of 2012 that I lost the love of my life and business partner unexpectedly to colon cancer.  This life changing event made me step back and wonder if I should continue in the construction business without him.  Fortunately, my phone kept ringing and work keeps pouring in, all word of mouth and referral based, and I’m ever so thankful that I have a solid foundation under me and the love of Pat inside me to keep going in the construction industry.  I enjoy the customer interaction and my greatest joy is exceeding my customer expectations.  Come let me show you how that feels!

Even in the early years I was involved in the Home Builders Association of Austin as I watched Ray and then Joel climb up the ladder in the Association and Ray actually became the president of the state level Texas Association of Builders.  I became accredited as a Green Building Professional, GBP, and Certified Aging in Place Specialist, CAPS.  In 2013, I became a Certified Graduate Builder, CGB.

In 2015, I joined the local chapter of NARI, a trade organization to assist me in growing my business through mentoring and leadership training, and networking with vendors and local suppliers to stay on top of the latest product innovations.  I had a home selected to be on their 13th Annual Tour of Remodeled Homes in 2015. This particular collaborated project with Bartush Design and Nine Design Group has now won several awards.

I am still currently active in both the Home Builders Association and NARI. These organizations provide me with the educational tools to keep me informed of the ever-changing building codes and latest building technology and products.