WOMEN IN BUILDING
Modern Living on the Prairie
SAVE LIVES heart screenings
Sanford Heart Bismarck
222 N. 7th St.
Cost: $50 per screening
Space is limited. Registration is required.
If you’re between ages 40 and 75, a heart screening can give you a better look at your health. Screenings include painless tests and checks that allow you to learn about the condition of your heart.
Call (701) 323-5202 to schedule an appointment.
RIVER + RANCH MAGAZINE
Volume 8: Issue 1
River + Ranch Magazine is a collaborative effort to showcase the creativity and design of the West. The two publishers of Bismarck Magazine decided to embark on a new adventure and create a different magazine focusing on design, art, and western living.
Publishers
Hannah Haynes
hannah@bismarck-magazine.com
Caroline Crary
caroline@bismarck-magazine.com
Layout Editor
Copy Editor
Contributors
Cover Image
Advertising
Jenna Kluting
Jennifer Kranz
Maria Brezny
Melanie Sioux Photography
Caroline Crary
caroline@bismarck-magazine.com
River + Ranch Magazine Corporation, Copyright 2018 River + Ranch and riverandranchmagazine.com. All rights reserved. This periodical cannot be reproduced without the written permission of River + Ranch Magazine. River + Ranch Magazine will not be held responsible for any errors found in the magazine. Bismarck Magazine Corporation accepts no liability for statements made by advertisers.
RIVER + RANCH TEAM
Hannah Haynes Publisher/Co-Founder
Jennifer Kranz Editor
Caroline Crary Publisher/Co-Founder
Jenna Kluting Layout Editor
Karel Sovak Writer
Maria Brezny Director of Communications
Healthy smiles start here.
Women in Building
Heather Franca
Carbon Oak Plank Mahogany Plank Cedar Plank Oak Plank
HORIZONTAL PLANK
LETTER FROM THE PUBLISHERS
Happy New Year Readers!
This issue, we are excited to feature the incredible impact women are making in the building and construction industry. Historically, this sector has been seen as a male-dominated space, but today, women are breaking new ground—not just as contributors, but as leaders, innovators, and trailblazers who are reshaping the way we think about building and design.
In this issue, we shine a spotlight on the women who are pushing boundaries and redefining what it means to build. From project managers, interior designers to builders, these women are carving out spaces that honor creativity, sustainability, and inclusivity. Their stories are a testament to the power of resilience, vision, and the drive to make meaningful change in a field that is, for too long, overlooked for the richness of diverse talent it holds.
In every corner of the industry, from single-family homes, from historic renovations to forward-thinking designs, women are at the helm, bringing fresh perspectives that elevate every project. This issue is not just a celebration of their successes but also an exploration of the challenges they face—and continue to overcome—while navigating a male-centric field. It’s about recognizing the immense value women bring to every construction site, blueprint, and creative vision and how women compliment men in the industry.
As we reflect on their journeys, we are reminded of the importance of fostering an inclusive industry where all voices are heard and all perspectives are valued. We hope this issue not only inspires you but also encourages the next generation of women to pursue careers in building, knowing that the future of the industry is bright, diverse, and full of possibility.
Thank you for joining us in celebrating these remarkable women.
Connor Picard
WORKS BETTER + LAST LONGER
COVERS MORE AREA + COSTS
Bismarck-Mandan Professional Women in Building Chapter
STORY BY maria brezny | PHOTOS submitted
An interview with Kelli Thompson, president of BismarckMandan Professional Women in Building (PWB) and Sales/ Showroom Manager at Fabricators Unlimited and Vicki Moran, founder and former president of the PWB and co-owner of Hallmark Homes.
Will you give a brief overview of what PWB is?
Kelli: “Professional Women in Building is geared towards women in the industry from all aspects, from building to trades to mortgage to insurance and everything between. We are coming together to better the community through that industry by doing community projects, doing give back opportunities, anything like that to come together and support not only the industry, but each other within the industry.”
Vicki: “Our group has done a lot to bring awareness to women in the building industry in our community.”
Why is the PWB organization important?
Vicki: “The building industry has its own set of challenges and having support from other women is so important, not only for those working every day, but also to be a role model for women who are thinking of entering a field in construction. Only 11% of women make up the construction industry, but that number is climbing every year. The construction industry is facing a significant labor shortage, so anything we can do to change the perception about careers in
construction for anyone wanting to enter the building industry is important for the future.”
How many members are in PWB right now?
Kelli: “Currently, we have about 38.”
How long has this chapter existed?
Kelli: “Four years.”
Vicki: “It was a collaboration of five of us that got together, and if it wasn't for all five of us, it would never have been as successful.”
What are your goals for the PWB in 2025?
Kelli: “We really want to dive into finding our purpose. We did the bedroom makeover for two years,
Kelli Thompson, president of Bismarck-Mandan Professional Women in Building (PWB) and Sales/ Showroom Manager at Fabricators Unlimited and Vicki Moran, founder and former president of the PWB and co-owner of Hallmark Homes.
and it was a great option. It just was surprising how much it took out of the girls who were volunteering. We needed a shift away from it to see if that was the right approach for us. We’ve spent the next couple of years doing more community giveback and really donating the time, resources, and knowledge that we have. For 2025, we really want to find that key purpose… We want to focus on what we can do from a building industry standpoint and make an impact in the community.”
What does your organization do to educate young women about the building industry?
Kelli: “Another PWB chapter wrote a book called The House She Built and published it. It's a great book talking about all the tradespeople that go into building a home. They had built a home in this other chapter, and it was done with all women from start to finish. The book that was written was kind of a recap of that home. We got to bring the book into all the elementary
schools in town here. We read it at the library during the summers… Our goal is to shift to educate more of the older generation and get into high schools and really steer the interests at that age where they are really finding out what they want to do. We also were able to give a $1,000 scholarship out last year to a person going into interior design.”
What's your favorite part of PWB?
Kelli: ”My favorite part is sitting in a room full of women from all aspects
of the industry, from all experiences within the industry, and being there to see growth, to see change, to see impact. You have people in the industry for the last 40 years. You have people who are maybe five years in, and they're in different areas, and it's being able to listen and feed off of women who have come before you. It's empowering, and it's fun to see that and feel it in the room.”
For more information, visit
www.bmhba.com/about-us/pwb.
WOMEn In Building
Learn about eight women in our community making big things happen in the building industry.
Erin Reidman | Truebuild Homes
STORY BY maria brezny | PHOTOS BY DaN Francis Photography
Can you tell us about the rebrand of Plain View Design + Build to Truebuild Homes?
“Plain View started over a decade ago as a design only company. Blake and Tanner were the only ones in the community doing what they were doing, so it was great to establish that brand at the time because they were doing such unique and different things… but we got swallowed into this very small niche of design only and that we only do one type of design, namely modern… We were fighting a battle of expanding into what we are now, which is a team of five who absolutely love to design, but we also love to build great homes in no specific design aesthetic. When Logan joined in 2020, they discussed a rebrand at the time, so it became Plain View Design + Build… Now we are ready to go through the process of changing our name to Truebuild Homes. We’re
very confident in who we are and what we can provide the community. Yes, our name changed but really that’s embracing who we’ve been the whole time.”
What do you love about this project?
“The whole A frame addition seems so seamless and minimal. It’s almost not noticeable how minimalistic it is, but that’s what made it so incredibly challenging. Tanner designed the addition back in the day before we built, so they went to someone else to build, but the design got changed because the engineering required more creativity and more intentionality. So, they came back to us. I just love the clean lines and the simplicity.”
Can you talk about the fireplace?
“It’s very unique. The homeowner showed me this sketch from like 2019 before they started designing
the house. Her vision for the house was this A frame and the fire orb... I love the placement of it in the living room, how nonsensical it almost is just floating there. It’s not in its typical corner. It grounds that space.”
What’s another space in the home you love?
“The kitchen is phenomenal. You don’t notice how functional it is or how many cabinets are in it because of how it’s designed to blend, but there’s an insane level of storage, and
she’s got four ovens in there. It’s great how the design blends with how she functions in life.”
What does it mean to be a woman in building?
“Being in the building industry in
my specific role as project manager is unique because it’s typically a man’s job. Bringing female qualities into a typically male job, like when I’m dealing with clients, is beneficial because how we approach conflict resolution, management of people, and communication is so different
from what men are wired to do. That’s our magic bullet, one of our secret niches that we have. It’s good to have that female leadership presence dealing with clients and managing subs in a different way.”
Who are the other women on your team?
“Kayla is our interior designer. Clients love that, too. When we do our meetings, whether it’s pure interior design-based meetings or whether it’s just production meetings, having me, Kayla, Logan, and Tanner, the feminine balancing the masculine is so comforting. I think clients, both men and women, appreciate having both of those. We have powerhouses on both sides and that’s really beneficial.”
Stephanie Metzger | Diversity Homes
STORY BY maria brezny | PHOTOS BY Melanie SiouX photography
Diversity Homes, founded in 2009, just celebrated its 15th year of building. Started by owner Jason Frank, Diversity Homes has grown into one of the larger custom home builders in the BismarckMandan area thanks to their dedication to building high-quality homes at a good value, all while making the process as easy as possible for their clients. Stephanie Metzger has been working at Diversity Homes for about ten years, the first two as a subcontractor, then as a salesperson. Now, Stephanie manages all the sales, marketing, and design.
What do you love about your job?
“Everything. The biggest thing is just helping people. Seeing things come to life from the ground up is really cool. We give them that little edge of help, hold their hand throughout the process and make them feel comfortable so that when it all comes together, it’s reflective of them and their style.”
Why did you choose to highlight this home?
“This was one of the first homes I did the sales and design for, and definitely the first one I did sales plus the actual work.”
What’s unique about the workout room?
“Just to have a workout room in your upper house and have the glass and be able to look out through the whole house and outside to the water. They didn’t want to be working out in a basement with no windows. This is great for people who want to work out and feel a part of the house and see out over the water on sunny days.”
Can we talk about the railings?
“That’s the Diversity signature rail. Jason used to custom weld all of his rails, and he had only anticipated when he started doing like five or six
houses a year, but it went to like sixty, so he couldn’t keep up on the manufacturing of unique handrails. But we came up with this design that’s been our staple piece that goes into most of our homes.”
What do you love about being a woman in building?
“I’ve never known anything different. My dad was a custom cabinet maker, my grandpa did excavating, my other grandpa was an autobody mechanic, and I’ve painted my whole life. My first five houses were flip houses, so you learn a lot by hands on… I was
looked at a little bit in the beginning, like, oh, a girl. But… you gain people’s respect when they either see your work or see your work ethic.”
What other women are on Diversity’s staff?
“We do have a lot of women. Shawnee is our other salesperson… She is so
good. She’s the one that I trust most for picking out light fixtures for spec houses or anything like that… We have Dylan now coming on with us, and she is now taking on the sales
assistant role, and she’s flourishing... We’ve got Sarah in the office. She does all our bidding and estimating. Janae does our accounting… It’s a team effort for sure.”
Kirsten Thomson | J.E. Builders
STORY BY maria Brezny | PHOTOS BY Melanie SiouX photography
Kirsten Thomson and her husband Jeran founded J.E. Builders in 2017 with the purpose of building and designing high-quality homes at a fair price. Over its eight years in building, J.E. Builders has grown into an industry leader, focusing on quality, innovation, and customer satisfaction, while remaining dedicated to affordability. Kirsten wears many hats at J.E. Homes, including accounting manager, lead salesperson, and lead real estate agent. She oversees the accounting department, leads the sales team with a focus on trust and transparency, and delivers exceptional service to clients. Additionally, Kirsten manages 17 rental properties that she and her husband own.
Why did you choose to feature this home?
“This home stands out because it’s obviously uniquely different from the typical styles you see on the market now. Designed by Shannon Koski of Studio
One Design, it pushed us to innovate and explore new creative approaches.
I’m particularly proud of the custom walnut cabinetry crafted by our very own cabinet line, Roosevelt Cabinets, as well as the moody, sophisticated ambiance in the main bathroom and downstairs wet bar. The quartz ledges in the kitchen and bathrooms, along with the arched doorways and mirrors, evoke a vintage charm reminiscent of the 1920s. This home is a true reflection of our dedication to craftsmanship, creativity, and versatile design. I’m proud of the outcome and the lasting impression it will leave.”
What’s your favorite part of your role?
“My favorite part is working directly with clients to help them find or create their dream homes. Seeing projects come to life and knowing they bring joy to families is incredibly rewarding. Of course, our success wouldn’t be
possible without our amazing team whose combined skills and expertise shine through in every project. Without them, there would be no J.E. Builders.”
What does it mean to be a woman in building?
“Being a woman in a building industry is about breaking barriers and redefining what leadership looks like in this space. It’s an opportunity to contribute meaningfully to an industry that hasn’t always been welcoming to women and to pave the way for future generations. It’s rewarding to be part of a growing community of talented women who bring fresh perspectives and strength to construction. Like any career, it comes with challenges, but the resilience it requires makes the successes all the more fulfilling. I’m proud to be a part of this movement and wouldn’t trade the experience for anything.”
What other women work for J.E.?
”Jessica Silha, a realtor at Trademark Realty and in-house interior designer. As the client design concierge, she coordinates all client meetings and guides them step-by-
step through the design process, assisting with all interior selections.
Makayla Anderson, an in-house drafter, is responsible for creating floor plans, cabinet renderings, and designs. Cierra Fisk, our procurement manager, is responsible for managing quotes and bids for all custom and spec home projects. She also contributes to exterior design and ensures materials are delivered to job sites efficiently. Madison
J.E. Builder representative at Century 21. Nikki Strand is a realtor at eXp Realty and our Accounting Assistant, responsible for managing invoices and processing payments.”
Messer is a realtor at Century 21, our social media coordinator, and
Kari Anderson | Big River Builders
STORY BY maria brezny | PHOTOS BY Melanie SiouX photography
Big River Builders has been building beautiful homes in the Bismarck/ Mandan community for thirteen years. Kari Anderson owns the company with her husband, Jordan, and together they focus on building quality custom homes. With a large, experienced team, Big River Builders can handle most of the construction in-house, from the design and estimation to carpentry. As well as being co-owner, Kari is the lead designer. She considers herself a client liaison and advocate, acting as their eyes and ears at their home when they can’t be there, all while designing the most beautiful home for them at the same time. Why did you choose to feature this home?
“This home is truer to my style than anything I’ve ever gotten to get my hands on. This client and I saw eye to eye on everything. She also let me go with some ideas that I have. She was
open to things and really was a good working partner in this home.”
Can you describe some of the design choices?
“There’s a lot of things that are on trend in this home but are, at the same time, timeless and classic. It’s going to age well, and that’s kind of been my design aesthetic from the start. That’s why I love it so much. One of the big differences in this home is the mixing of the woods. There’ve been a lot of clients who have been scared to take that plunge, but this client trusted me with it. We put it in just the right places where you can see it, but it’s not overwhelming. There are white cabinets, there’s white oak, and there’s walnut like in the floating shelves and the beams in the living room. So, it’s not a ton, but the three all work really well together.
It’s blending different wood tones and natural textures together. There’s a lot of natural textures in this home and soft colors. We’ve got the trending brass, but then I also feel like we’re ahead of the trend with the brown poles versus everything being brass… And incorporating timeless colors and textures with pops of colors and things that can be changed out easily.”
What does it mean to you to be a woman in building?
“It’s an honor in a way because we are a minority in a very male dominated field. So, for me to work as a female in the industry and have the respect and knowledge that I have and have learned and has been given to me is just rewarding, an honor, and exciting every single day.”
Nataly Weisz | Tobias Marman Construction
STORY BY maria brezny | PHOTOS BY Melanie SiouX photography
Tobias Marman Construction was started in 2001 by Tobias Marman. Operating for nearly 25 years, Tobias’ construction company has become known for their willingness to take on difficult projects and their creative solutions and designs. They do occasional custom home builds but mainly focus on home remodels and additions and commercial new builds and renovations. Nataly Weisz is an interior designer and drafter at the company and loves the challenges that come with the projects they take on.
What was the process of building this home?
“We met with the homeowner and went through a couple drafts of the house plan. It was a unique project because this house was totally burnt to the ground, so we were working with an existing underground foundation… We got the house plan to where he
wanted it, and after that, my role was done there, but throughout I was producing renderings, so he had a feel for what he wanted.
How much of a vision did the homeowner have?
“He had a pretty good idea. He had stuff that he wanted to incorporate from his old home, like hickory floors and rustic cherry. He had a pretty good idea of how he wanted it to feel, a little more arts and crafts, with the inside cabinetry and lighting style and things like that.”
What are some unique features of the kitchen?
“The hood is real hammered copper and quartzite countertops... And then the backsplash is a cool, rusty subway, a little metallic to kind of play off the sheen of the copper. The hood is in the middle instead of against a wall. That
was something he was really specific on. This was kind of like his set up in his old home. He really liked the center island cooktop hood feel, and he picked out a hood that he wanted to be the main attraction. He collects a lot of art, and he looked at this as an art showcase.”
How does functionality play into the design?
“The homeowner is an entertainer, so everything’s very open. There’s lots of seating. There’s the bar right next to the kitchen. He wanted to stand in the kitchen and look over if people are playing pool, if they’re outside, if they’re at the bar, if they’re dining. He wanted it wide and open.”
What does it mean to be a woman in the building industry?
“I think it’s an awesome time for women in building. We’re becoming more accepted generally. Here we’ve had project managers that were
women, and now we have another gal that’s on board that’s starting to take on some drafting and smaller projects. Generally, I think men appreciate getting a woman’s take on stuff, like our cabinet guys, when they just have a question about a
detail or something. I think women are more attuned to answering those questions and thinking about the details and guys a lot of the time brush over some of that stuff. I think there is a great place for women, and I’m proud to be one.”
Sara Blotter | Vance Vetter Homes
STORY BY maria brezny | PHOTOS BY Melanie SiouX photography
Vance Vetter Homes has been in business for well over 20 years. They do a wide array of projects from medium to larger custom-built homes and small to large-scale remodel projects. They take pride in their exceptional finish quality and making sure every plan and detail is unique to the homeowners’ style and lifestyle. Sara Blotter has been with Vance Vetter Homes for 14 years now doing design work. She designs new builds, remodels, and additions, from foundation to rooftop, from exterior to interior. She also makes all the construction drawings, bid specifications, and manages projects throughout construction.
What is your favorite part of your work?
“My favorite part of my job is the creativity! I have been a creative person since a young age and have always found a need to have creative outlets in
all parts of my life… I also love building relationships with our homeowners. I get to be a “design counselor” of sorts, helping them work through the big and small decisions in their build, ensuring the final outcome is everything they dreamed of.”
What are some of your favorite spaces in the home?
“This is my personal home… Our kitchen is a comfortable size with a large island that seats all 6 of us, has plenty of workspace and storage. I chose a deep navy/teal color for the perimeter cabinets with a dark mocha-stained island, classic white countertop and a larger scale subway tile. The adjacent pantry has the same color scheme but switched up in the application of colors - bold teal subway tile backsplash and white cabinets. The combination of finishes seems to give it a classic feel that doesn’t really date it.”
“Since I live 70+ miles from town, I do a lot of my design work from home. My office is placed right off the kitchen, on the front side of the house… We were able to incorporate a set of old doors salvaged from a downtown building in Bismarck.
Each door is 100+ years old, still with original hardware and glass and fitted with modern style transom windows.”
What does it mean to you to be a woman in building?
“I love being a woman in the building industry! Women simply think differently than men, and it’s a great thing to be able to complement each other… Working with subcontractors can pose its own challenges, having to prove myself and shed the
stereotypical “designer” title that a lot of these guys sort of joke about and making them realize I do have the best interest of the homeowner in mind and care how the finished product comes together. Even though it’s not my home, it’s personal to me.
I designed it! Sometimes the subs don’t realize how involved I am with the plans until I’m on site. I know exactly where every door, wall, and window needs to be framed so I can do a quick walkthrough and will notice if a window is off without even breaking out a tape measure… Seeing your vision and completed project come to life is priceless and gives me a high I can’t explain.”
Vicki Moran | Hallmark Homes
STORY BY maria brezny | PHOTOS BY Melanie SiouX photography
Hallmark Homes has been building people’s dream homes since 2002. Known for their high-quality custom homes, clients have returned to Hallmark Homes time and time again, building for some clients as many as four times. Their time in the community has allowed them to build important relationships with subcontractors and clients, making them a staple in the region. Vicki Moran is one of the owners of Hallmark Homes and has worked hand-in-hand with her husband Scott to grow Hallmark Homes into a successful business. Vicki is involved in all aspects of the company and regularly meets with clients to help them design their dream home.
What’s your favorite part of your work?
“My favorite part is delivering our client’s dream. I love being part of the moment that our homeowners get to see everything all cleaned up for the
first time… Homes are truly happiness when you get to experience the joy of a client when they get to see how their selections all come together.”
You chose to feature your own personal home. Can you talk about what you love about it?
“We were in our last house for 17 years, raised four boys, and were perfectly comfortable staying there, but then all the kids grew up and did their own thing. We had this lot, and I was like, we really need to live here because the sunsets and the sunrises are pretty fabulous. Everywhere you look, you have a view of the perfect North Dakota landscape.”
What is the significance of your cookbook room?
“When my mom passed away, she had two spiral notebooks, and she’d always wanted to do a cookbook. When she
passed away, I made a cookbook in her memory… She was also a big garage saler, and she’d always pick up cookbooks. So now, if I see cookbooks, sometimes I pick up cookbooks… It’s perfect because it’s right off the kitchen, so it feels like a really natural place to have a cookbook room.”
Can you tell us the story behind the vintage couch?
“The vintage couch was actually purchased before we broke ground. It was one of the things that we had to incorporate somewhere, somehow in the house. We have a theater space where we can have snacks, play cards, or relax while watching a movie. It’s great for entertaining. The couch is very mustard. It looks vintage, but it blends in perfectly. I love it.”
What does it mean to you to be a woman in building?
“I’m proud to be a woman in building. It’s an industry that you never stop learning about and wanting to be better in. Over the years, I have met
so many amazing women who I have been able to work side by side with.
I just finished two terms as a board member on the Bismarck-Mandan Homebuilders Association and wish more women would take advantage of the opportunity to have a seat at
the table. There is a lot we have to offer as far as different perspectives, ideas and input that can have an impact on the building industry as a whole.”
Jenessa Wickline | Artisan Homes
STORY BY maria brezny | PHOTOS BY Melanie SiouX photography
Artisan Homes is a new custom home builder in the area, but the team behind the company is not new to the building industry. After seeing a growing demand for new home builds, Jenessa Wickline and her husband, Jay Wickline, decided to create Artisan Homes. Artisan Homes focuses on building new spec homes and custom homes, rather than remodels like their first company, Interior Finish & Remodel. At Artisan Homes, Jenessa is the design coordinator, sales agent, and a real estate agent with Realty ONE Group. Jenessa’s role is to coordinate designs from start to finish in their spec and custom home builds. Jenessa also takes on the selling of their spec homes because as the builder, she has the most knowledge and insight on each one, making it easy for her to explain the value and uniqueness of each home.
What was the thought process behind the design of this home?
“It’s a patio style home. We typically gear a patio style home towards an older couple or someone looking to downgrade from like a ranch style home to a patio home, so we figured whoever would be living here would need an office. We decided to make a nice, dark, cozy office space for that, but it could work as a bedroom as well… The mantel surround is just classic stone. The vision for it was beams, wood, wood tones, warm, cozy, and then with that it was just a huge ground fireplace with the natural stone. Still white and bright, but also warm and wood tones.”
Do you have your own cabinetry line?
“We have a few different cabinet lines that we use depending on the price range of the home. We use our cabinets exclusively in our builds. I do all that design for that too, the measuring, the renderings, and the ordering.”
What does it mean to be a woman in building and why do you love it?
“Building is something I did fall in love with as soon as I started construction. It means a lot to me that I’m able to work hand in hand in a field that’s dominantly run by males. Another important aspect
of that to me is it’s good for me to show my daughters that they fit into wherever they want to fit in.”
Do your daughters ever help with your projects?
“They do. My daughter will just walk
in, and she’ll talk about the cabinets or say, I don’t know if this is supposed to be here, oh, this is a little crooked.
She’ll point everything out. It’s cool how she’s catching on to everything.
Our oldest daughter also wants to start working in the field. She’s
worked at Menards for a very long time in the building department. She wants to learn about the building materials first, and then she’ll find another way and incorporate her knowledge.”
Creative Wood Designs
What is your role at Creative Wood Designs?
“I’m a cabinet draftsman and design consultant. A large part of what I do is I physically draw up cabinets in the software, designing it in there. When clients come in, we show it to them, and we talk through problems or different designs that they might want to incorporate. Then we talk about colors, finishes, hardware, what they want the space to look like. Once they sign off on everything, then it comes back to me,
and I’m literally opening up and clicking into every single cabinet in the software.
If your job has 150 cabinets, I’m looking through every one of them, making sure that the material is correct, the hardware drilling size is correct, making sure every
margin’s correct, dropping in different parts or cutouts. I check over every detail before it goes out to the shop.”
story: Maria Brezny | photos: Melanie Sioux Photography | @creativewooddesignsnd
How many years have you been at Creative Wood Designs?
“October was my seven year anniversary, so coming up on seven and a half years.
What’s your favorite part of your job?
“The ability to create relationships with customers and that they give me and Mike (owner of Creative Wood Designs) the opportunity to be creative with their space… Some people just want someone to basically reassure them that the stuff they’re picking isn’t horrendous. That’s where the guidance comes in.
If I don’t think what they’ve picked goes well, there’s certain things that I can say to switch the direction they’re going, which is really cool because it means they’ve put enough trust in me to allow me to do that. That’s the rewarding part, that you built this relationship with them, and they trust you.”
What does it mean to you to be a woman in the building industry?
“I really enjoy being a woman in the building industry. I feel like I work really well with men. Men and women are two separate people, and we’re supposed to complement each other… Women bring a different perspective to the situation. We
analyze, plan, and even problem solve in different ways. Like even being a mom, I think about different things for storage or how you want to do things in specific ways that maybe Mike wouldn’t. Or I’m able to quickly switch my attention from one task to another, where some men need to focus on completing that one task before
moving to a different one … I also have the opportunity to be a role model to women or kids even, like my daughter. If you want to be in the trades program, you want to be an electrician or a plumber or a cabinet maker or anything? Great. Go ahead and do it! You don’t need to be macho, you don’t have to change your appearance to do so. Just do it
because you’re more than capable of doing it.”
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Elevate your brand inside and out.
For over 12 years, we’ve been expertly crafting brands that make a lasting impact — from the first impression of your logo to the seamless experience of your website. Now, we’re extending our expertise to transform your physical spaces, including shortterm rentals, that stand out in a competitive market. Whether it’s designing an office that reflects your company’s identity, curating a stylish rental that guests won’t forget, or creating a personalized home, we ensure every detail aligns with your brand’s story. From concept to completion, we bring your brand to life in every dimension.
Let’s create something extraordinary together. Contact us today at 701-595-7300 to discover how we can elevate your brand in every space.
www.studionorthdesigns.com
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