Meet our Family
The men and women who remodel and construct new homes are your neighbors and friends. They’re part of the BATC family. They work hard and are immensely proud of what they accomplish as they build communities all across the region.
Erica Vergin
Foreman at Carpentry Contractors Company
Erica has been in construction for more than 10 years, starting as Carpenter Helper and working her way up to her current position as Foreman. In her current role she cuts and assembles stairs in the prefabrication shop. She always knew she wanted to build things and work with her hands. After high school she got started in the industry by studying carpentry in college.
One of her favorite parts of working in the industry is the variety she has each day. “One day I’ll be building something and the next day I’ll be cutting stairs. There’s always something different,” Erica explained. Erica thinks the industry is a great fit for anyone who wants to work hard and see that hard work come to life. “You’ve got to be passionate about it,” she said. “If you like to do physical work and work with your hands, then this is an awesome industry to be in.”
Ed Finneseth
Lead Carpenter at New Spaces
Ed has been in the construction industry since 1978. He joined his current employer, a local remodeler, more than 20 years ago to gain stability and security while raising his children.
Ed enjoys being a carpenter because he gets to see the end product that he built with his hands. “When you take on a project and then get to stand back and see it—you’ve got to be kind of proud,” he said.
He said that over the years you will tweak your goals, and if you’re looking to get into the industry it’s important to join a company that will continue to train you as you go. He enjoys the flexibility of the field and that he is constantly meeting new clients.
Remodeling homes is the perfect fit for Ed because it is always testing his skills. “It’s the challenge of something different,” he said. “There is always something different and new challenges to run into.”
Sunil Dubay
Assistant Project Manager at Carpentry Contractors Company
Sunil has been working in construction since high school and has been a part of his current carpentry team for nine years. When Sunil and his team come into a house, it’s a shell. They swoop in and do the finishes—the cabinetry, doors, railings and other trimmings. “I’m a really big perfectionist, so I love putting the finishing touches on someone’s house,” said Sunil. “I like seeing a house finished and then having someone walk in, and it’s their dream house. I get to see that constantly.”
He loves being a part of an industry where he learns new skills and shares his knowledge and experience with others. That’s why he encourages anyone who is interested in construction to jump right in—there’s so much to learn by actually doing. “Don’t worry about not knowing … anything,” Sunil said. “This is an industry that’s taught on a day-to-day basis. And it’s a job you can start at any age.”
Sunil also appreciates that hard work pays off in this industry. He’s achieved big milestones and still has goals on the horizon. “When I started working in construction, I wanted to get into that manager position,” said Sunil. “And I’m getting close to that.”
Ross Gravrok
Lead Carpenter at New Spaces
Ross is a lead carpenter at one of the region’s top remodelers, and has been with the company for 26 years. He developed an interest in carpentry during his woodworking classes in high school and jumped into the industry by taking vocational-technical classes after graduation.
Why does he think remodeling is such a great industry to get into? “You get to get dirty,” he said. “And you don’t have to wear a suit every day.” One of his favorite parts of being a carpenter is creating new things with each project. “I like working with my hands,” he said. “I like doing different things every day and meeting new customers all the time. It’s never boring.”
He sees value in taking the time to do a project right, not just rushing through to get something done. That’s why he’s stayed so long with one company. “They let you take your time and do it right,” Ross explained. “Doing it right is super super important around here. It’s not get it done fast—it’s get it done right so everybody is happy.”
Hannah Leinonen
Carpenter Helper at Carpentry Contractors Company
Hannah is new to carpentry and eager to be a part of a growing industry. On her fourth week on the job, her main goal is to learn as much as she can.
She saw carpentry as an opportunity to work hard and develop skills that she could use in other aspects of her life. “It’s not just an applicable skill for work, but for at home as well,” she said.
She enjoys being able to come in and create something every day. “I like that it’s hands-on,” Hannah said. “I like that it’s kind of physical.”
Her advice for anyone thinking of joining the industry? “Just do it!”