4 minute read
Building a Legacy
How Mary Peters is Redefining an Industry
BY JULIANA RENNO BOUNDS
Strong women come from all kinds of backgrounds. Like Wonder Woman, their journeys are often underscored by genuine caring and generosity. Like Sasquatch, they can be mysterious, elusive, and reclusive. Seldom witnessed in repose, but working diligently behind the scenes.
Though she lacks Bigfoot’s signature size and definitive shaggy brown hair, Mary Peters, founder and owner of Sasquatch Contracting in Boise, shares his work ethic. Her business is largely rooted in a desire to serve and do better.
“I would describe her as a very selfless, passionate and hardworking woman, who constantly strives to be the best version of herself,” said Mary’s daughter Desi, a freshman at Montana State University.
Mary’s story started in Nevada, where she grew up in “a strong, supportive Basque family,” one of six kids, fourth generation cattle ranchers. In 2008, she came to Boise alone with her two toddler daughters to attend Boise State University’s pre-med program.
While attending school, Mary also worked full time as a fire engineer, designing and building fire protection systems for a variety of buildings. During that time, she learned a lot about construction and people’s difficult experiences with contractors. She figured out that Boise needed a contracting company committed to disrupting the status quo. In 2016, she left her job to start Sasquatch Contracting.
“I found that if I want to see a change, I need to make that change,” she said.
Being that change, creating partnerships, taking care of team members and clients, and constantly evolving are values Mary embraces and shares with others.
“A lesson I have learned from my mom is that with the right mindset, anything can be achieved, as long as you are looking at the situation with a forward and open mindset, which she has proven time and time again,” said her daughter Rylee, a senior at Oregon State University.
Mary's positivity certainly helped her plans. She started Sasquatch focused on providing solutions for all kinds of construction challenges. “I thought, how do we improve, how do we change the client experience, especially when it comes to remodels,” she asked.
By 2018, her husband, Dean, joined Sasquatch Contracting to support the company’s growth.
Accustomed to working in industries dominated by men, Mary often finds herself in interesting situations, having to remind others that she is indeed the contractor, the owner, and the one ready to help. “I am the boss,” she laughed. “And I am showing up here for you.”
“We may not be the right company for every project, but we will still show up for every person,” she said. “We treat everyone with the same level of respect.”
For Mary, being the boss is not enough, though. She continues to seek more education about construction, asking questions, talking to other professionals, keeping up with the constant changes of the industry, and looking for ways to better serve the community.
Sasquatch now provides the Yeti Services, a subscription service for home maintenance and regular repairs. The service was inspired by her own grandmother and her challenges of living alone as she aged. With Dean, Mary has also created videos with tips about designing, building, and “aging in place.”
Mary shows no signs of slowing down, even now as a newly empty nester. A “strong and generous” woman, as Rylee described her, Mary is filled with energy for the future.
“I think I am just getting started,” Mary said. “We are barely scratching the surface.”
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