ABOUT GRACE
In 2024, I obtained my master’s degree in Construction Management from Western Carolina University (rated #1 by Best College Reviews) as well as my Higher Education Teaching Certificate from Harvard. I’m currently an Adjunct Instructor of Construction Management, teaching Construction and Engineering students at the postsecondary level. Through my graduate school experience, I developed profound motivation and a fervent desire to meaningfully engage, inspire, and shape the next generation of leaders in this important field.
I have also been accepted into the Purdue Polytechnic Doctor of Technology Program with a concentration in Construction Management Technology and plan to begin in August 2025. In my persistent pursuit of the next giant leap, I am extremely excited to explore what this new journey will hold.
Prior to entering into education, I worked as a Construction Project Manager for a commercial and residential general contracting firm located in Asheville, NC. I also plan on obtaining my General Contractor’s license as I enter a new phase of my career. Concurrent with my passion for educating the next generation of innovators within construction, I’d love to continue advancing my personal pursuit of residential home design and construction and expand into real estate development with my own company.
As a female and minority thriving in a white, male-dominated field, I am passionate and determined to serve as an exemplary non-traditional representative within construction and the AEC industry. I feel it important to demonstrate how to carve your own path outside the ordinary to forthcoming generations. A prominent career goal of mine is to develop programs and outreach in my area to encourage youth (particularly girls and minorities) to become more involved and pursue careers in STEM. I find it extremely important to promote female/minority mentorship and inclusion within this industry, and I’d love to be a big part of encouraging youth early on.
I’m an Iowa girl (born & raised)…with a California spirit.
My family has laid our permanent roots in the most beautiful corner of the world (Asheville, NC), and I’m happily carving out our own slice of heaven here.
I’ve got quite a few irons in the fire. You can learn more about that here.
ABOUT GRACE HOMES
In 2014, I embarked on my first renovation in Los Angeles. I rented an industrial commercial space that consisted of two adjacent buildings that formerly housed a mechanic / auto body shop. The space was left in quite a state of disarray. While I was able to secure the lease for a great rate due to the condition of the space, I certainly had my work cut out for me to convert the dingy oil-stained space into a beautiful workshop.
I went to work putting in all new flooring throughout the two buildings, completely repainted the entire space, and made some other minor upgrades to transform it into a new, nearly unrecognizable workshop. Even though I hadn’t started my construction company yet, it was during this project where I came to know that transforming spaces and giving them new life would become a passion of mine.
This new workspace was so vibrant and refreshing, and the idea was to expand my new business with our son in tow (and soon had our daughter on the way). However; with pregnancy and everything else, I found it difficult to maintain so many moving parts while also growing my company. The answer came in the form of purchasing a 4,000+ sq. ft. home and transforming the large master suite into my workshop. No commute and everything at my fingertips. That served us quite well and was the most incredible solution to being able to work around the clock while staying at home with two little ones. While the home was already beautiful, it took some adjustment to get it set up as a working space. When it was time to move, we did all of the final renovations and preparation for sale ourselves.
Not long after, we decided to make the jump across the country to live closer to my family. In preparation for moving to Asheville, NC, I wanted to find the perfect “fixer upper” that we could live in while I upgraded it. Due to the hot real estate market at the time, the first 6 homes I made offers on slipped through my fingers. Desperation (and our moving date) closely approached so I ultimately purchased a property sight-unseen from 2,300 miles away. I had some of my subcontractors lined up and ran inspections to give it a thorough review. Everything passed my scrutiny, and we became the proud owners of our very own fixer upper in the mountains of NC all the way from California. Upon arrival, I dove right in and transformed this house... taking on my biggest renovation yet. That’s when I officially formed my construction & renovation company.
In 2020, I ambitiously took on an even larger project when we purchased 6 acres and an abandoned, little old house that was unlivable in the condition we purchased it in. The house was trashed, left with months old rotten food, black mold, no water source or well, and floors that were sunken in / collapsing. We were able to restore the house to beauty and add on another 500 sq. ft. seamless addition that we now call home. We started a farm and are currently building out a commercial quonset warehouse as well as luxury container office suites with courtyard. We have plans to add commercial office suites and tiny homes (also built out of shipping containers) as well as glamping domes, and a wedding event venue in the future. With my ambition and increasing skill set, there is no end in sight for the dreams we have for this beautiful piece of land on the creek.