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had as many as 60 employees. Today, while we still self-perform some carpentry, we’ ve consolidated down to our current team of around 20 +. We no longer self-perform framing, opting instead to use our reliable network of subcontractors.
“ We have six superintendents with an average tenure of 25 years, so I’ ve known most of our people my entire life. Each and every one of them is a talented and experienced builder in their own right and together we’ ve been blessed to navigate the different economies and market changes, while creating hundreds of unique homes for our clients, most of whom are all still friends of ours. We service our work after it’ s completed and have formed great longstanding working relationships with architects and designers, as well as discovering new people to work with, which has been great. We have a good pool of subcontractors who travel almost anywhere for us. While I grew up in the company, I worked with other builders and went away to get my degree in construction management, coming back in 2011 to rejoin and grow our business in San Francisco. It took a couple of years, but the hustle paid off and we’ re still building in San Francisco today. My dad is still heavily involved and can be found on our jobsites or in the office almost every day. My background is in
My favorite aspect of any project is forming a completely new team
project management, so I’ ve helped to develop that within Y & B, and I also oversee daily operations,” Samantha elaborates.
“ I’ m lucky in that I know everyone in our business on a personal level, and they’ ve put their trust in me to let me guide them through new process implementation. Construction can be a legacy industry and while not all changes happen overnight, we’ re certainly making progress.
“ There are definitely more women working in the commercial sector of the industry than in residential. That said, there are certainly many women in construction education as well as design and architecture and the number in construction is growing. In terms of clientele, it can be mixed, but a lot of women are the driving force behind their home projects. It probably doesn’ t hurt that I’ m still showing up as a united front with my father, thereby reinforcing our history and experience. I do believe, however, that it’ s an exciting time for women in the industry.
“ My favorite aspect of any project is forming a completely new team,” she continues.“ The best projects involve a full team with everyone working collaboratively. We don’ t do the design element, but rather are there to execute it. We do have input in usability and functionality, as well as highlighting various construction methods and options. We’ re able to push the project forward and it’ s our job to coordinate with the architect, interior designer, structural engineer, lighting designer, landscape architect, and the owner’ s representative to ensure we’ re
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