Friends of Build Magazine

With a passion in building and construction since childhood, which seems to be within the family, (with his younger son following suit), Ranny has worked in the industry for over 35 years. Even a tra…

The third-generation woodworker has spent the last 32 years building on the foundation his grandfather, a master woodworker from Europe, began prior to World War II.

Allan’s family business is a legac…

“I was about to become a Santa Fe statistic,” she says. “I’m not proud of that. But it’s the truth. I knew that if I didn’t get out of Sante Fe and do something really big and scary, I didn’t have a …

Asked why there seems to be a lack of tradespeople today, Will says that there simply aren’t enough opportunities for apprenticeship in the US.

Serious journeymen find themselves having to leave the c…

With his forward-thinking “what if?” approach to business, in a short span of time David’s leadership at The Fireplace resulted in a remodel of the company’s showroom (that had never been touched sin…

Going further, Esther explains that her standard for successful design is when it evokes a feeling out of anyone who enters the space. Like a musical composition, she constantly strives to mix and ma…

Leslie and Catherine reflect on their partnership and passion for their work. To them, “a door is functional art,” and that “not every door has to make a statement, but every door serves a purpose.” …

Of his clients, Justin always asks, “How can I serve them well? How can I be authentic?” It is a way of thinking he developed largely thanks to his father’s saying that “money is a consequence of goo…

Matthew's father says, “His mission for this company was to create a place where brilliantly talented people could come together and do what they love to do—and he was the orchestra leader.”

That them…

John discusses his transition from East Hampton to Naples and how he has adapted a specific design process he was already so familiar with to a state with completely different architectural standards…

A transplant to Big Island from San Francisco, Gary brought over his 16 years of experience in the fast-paced Bay Area world of commercial and retail lighting.

Gary and the Aloha Light & Design team o…

In 2000, Vern's son Bob became General Manager of the business while his daughter Charcie oversaw the accounting functions and human resources. Bob passed away in 2015, and his son Dave took over the…

In today’s conversation, Kevin shares how he found massive success in a complex industry a decade after founding his company in the aftermath of the Great Recession.

He explains the ins-and-outs of LE…

He refers to the old saying, “You can’t teach common sense,” to explain his success as an immigrant despite lacking a college degree. “If you can’t make good, fundamental decisions,” says Jason, “the…

Listen in as Marc and Mike reflect on their journey together in business, from rocky beginnings in 2005 through the Great Recession to working with millionaire and billionaire clients globally a deca…

The firm typically self-performs the majority of the work on its projects, allowing for flexibility, control, and direct cost.

Listen in as Kevin shares how he came to set up shop in both Arizona and …

Mark is the founding design partner of de Reus Architects. A veteran of over three decades in the architecture space, Mark has a number of design awards under his belt and has been featured in intern…

He goes on to describe his laid-back approach to dealing with clients, brand name or otherwise. He explains how DA Architects acquired its balanced reputation for being cutting-edge while maintaining…

Listen in as Scott shares why he prizes personal responsibility above all else, particularly as a business owner. “They hire me,” he says, “because they’ve seen what I do, and they know I care about …

Kenny, along with his business partner Matt Yates, offered to collaborate with Highland and offer their expertise. In 2016, the two bought out their original partner, giving Kenny and Matt 50/50 owne…