At HighCraft Builders, clients are more than just clients. They’re like family. So naturally we work hard to make each one happy. Sometimes it’s a juggling act, but you would never know because each member of the HighCraft team refuses to drop the ball – for clients or for each other. Check out our profiles and get to know HighCraft Builders a little better.
Bryan Soth, CGP, CAPS
Co-founder, Owner and Mission Control
Bryan’s quiet strength and intellectual depth is respected and appreciated by staff, clients and industry peers alike. We’re pretty sure the phrase “still waters run deep” was coined for Bryan. As a co-founder of HighCraft Builders, he’s a steady rock in a self-made pool of deep, cool calm. When Bryan talks, people listen. He makes every word count. A simple, yet powerful, insight from Bryan often provides the perfect solution. Bryan’s even keel is complemented by his even-handed approach to all business dealings. Bryan’s word is his bond, and it’s backed by an authenticity and commitment to excellence that serves HighCraft clients well.
“Everyone at HighCraft wants to make the client happy. We truly care. So we go above and beyond to make sure each client has the best experience possible.” – Bryan
LIKES: Systematic approaches, dark chocolate, structure, being on time, and a perfect crema on espresso.
DISLIKES: Frosting, people who drive slow in the fast lane, listening to someone eating chips, and making the same mistake twice.
More than meets the eye:
Bryan studied in France and later in Italy, where he acquired several languages and a discriminating taste for good tiramisu. He also earned his master’s degree in Business Administration. When he’s not fly fishing or playing guitar, he enjoys spending free time with his wife and two beautiful daughters.
Dwight Sailer, CGP
Co-founder, Owner and Big Thinker
To say Dwight is a people person is an understatement. He’s an incredible problem solver, morale booster, budget defender, big-picture dreamer, and overall make-it-right guy. But Dwight’s not all talk. He’s been a serious entrepreneur since high school, and this year marks his twentieth anniversary in the remodeling business. Dwight knows this industry like the back of his hand, so he knows what it takes to do the job right. As a co-founder of HighCraft Builders, Dwight’s heart and soul is in this company because his life’s work is to make people happy.
“At HighCraft it’s ALL about the client. We’re in the business of taking care of people, establishing trust and building relationships. I’ve met so many amazing people through HighCraft. It feels good to help them go from liking their home, to loving their home.” – Dwight
LIKES: Family road trips, California wine, old cowboy trail songs, and being himself around clients and staff.
DISLIKES: Convenience stores, Calvin and Hobbes stickers on truck cabs, and being in a room while someone’s vacuuming.
More than meets the eye:
Dwight loves heading down the highway, either pulling a horse trailer for his daughter or enjoying a cross-country road trip with the entire family. He’s just as comfortable in a 4H livestock barn as he is spending time in the ocean on a surfboard.
Scott Fetters
Project Manager and Master of No Surprises
If Scott seems a little quiet it’s because he’s a terrific listener, which makes him one of the best project managers in the trades today. His job sites are always clean, productive and panic free. Scott’s carefully orchestrated schedules effectively manage expectations, giving homeowners total peace of mind. In fact, the longer you know Scotty the more you want to adopt him. Don’t say we didn’t warn you.
“Everyone at HighCraft is like family.” – Scott
LIKES: The Broncos, family time, and the end of a project when everything comes together.
DISLIKES: Silverware, seafood, and chaotic job sites.
More than meets the eye:
Scott’s an avid outdoorsman and skilled archer who can hit a bull’s eye from 70 yards.
Gordon Winner
Project Manager and Get it Done Guru
Homeowners love Gordon, and what’s not to love? He’s meticulous about getting it right for the client. Gordon tempers his laser-beam perfectionism with a naturally relaxed manner, letting homeowners know they’re in good, balanced hands. With Gordon it’s like western wolverine meets eastern philosopher as he tenaciously goes after a problem – large or small – then gently explains the solution to a homeowner with the patience of a sensei.
“HighCraft is committed to making the remodeling experience a positive growth process for clients and staff.” – Gordon
LIKES: Family, nature, simplicity, working with his hands, working with people, teaching, and solving problems.
DISLIKES: Lima beans, clutter, meat, and being late.
More than meets the eye:
Gordo is our resident guitar playing vegetarian snowboarding music composing kinesiologist who also enjoys the outdoors just a wee bit. The Appalachian Trail? He knocked it out in less than five months. And Gordon’s a proud new papa to boot.
Kira Koldeway, Allied Member ASID
Interior Designer and Marketing Maven
Whether she’s coordinating interior finish selections or a food drive to feed the hungry, Kira brings order and grace to anything she touches. Her warm, encouraging smile tells clients and co-workers that she’s carefully listening. Her understanding and effective communication keeps everything on track. Kira’s calming effect is instant and universal because she genuinely cares about people, and her natural sense of style conveys exceptional taste and confidence.
“I love my job because of the people I’m surrounded by. I’m encouraged to share ideas and take the reins, which makes each project exciting and creative.” – Kira
LIKES: Having everything in its place, the smell of cookies baking in the oven, and collaborating with clients on design.
DISLIKES: Footprints on carpet, cluttered spaces, and people who take potshots at Greeley.
More than meets the eye:
Kira’s not afraid to get dirty. Most weekends you’ll find her tackling a home improvement project or spending time with her husband on the family dairy farm.
Michelle Stalker
Estimator and Queen Bean Counter
For Michelle a penny saved is a penny earned, so she keeps an eagle eye on our books, looking out for each client’s best interests. She crosses every “t” and dots every “i” offering exceptional accountability, processes and systems to help projects run smoothly and on budget. She’s the master of organization. Give her a tangled-up mess of overwhelming details and she’ll explain it in a way that makes perfect sense.
“We’re always working to improve at HighCraft. We’re honest and we keep our promises.” – Michelle
LIKES: Lasagna, organizing other people’s stuff, desserts, mornings, and genuine people.
DISLIKES: Coleslaw, ragged edges on envelopes, one-sided conversations, and the smell of coffee.
More than meets the eye:
We think Michelle might have a hollow leg. She’s a petite little thing who will finish off anyone’s half-eaten sandwich faster than you can say “leftovers.” She refinished a piano. She draws nature. She’s just finished making her first quilt. And if you need a group activity, Michelle has a million ideas up her sleeve.
Steve Werning
Home Services and Rescue Hero
Steve is all attitude, and we mean that in a good way. His glass half-full approach to every repair and maintenance project is backed with the biggest and best skill set in the business. He’s the jack of all trades and master of every single one. Steve’s broad smile puts clients immediately at ease, and his commitment to quality is second to none.
“HighCraft pushes for the highest quality possible and we stand behind it with the best warranty in the business.” – Steve W.
LIKES: Raising his daughters, Mexican food, finishing projects on schedule, golfing, and happy homeowners.
DISLIKES: Excessive bumper stickers, a messy job site, and parmesan cheese.
More than meets the eye:
Steve was born and raised in Windsor and raced professional motocross for five years. Thought you recognized #323? Yeah, that was him.
Dana Gibson
Home Services Manager and Your Personal MacGyver
Dana isn’t your average fix-it guy. He’s a third-generation craftsman with an exceptional eye for detail and an arsenal of solutions in his MacGyver-like brain. He enjoys working with people to solve problems – and man, is he good. Replace a window? Build a deck? Seal up a cracking foundation? No problem. And homeowners feel comfortable in the process because Dana takes the time to explain things well. So sit back and relax. Dana will take care of it.
“HighCraft has values and integrity, and we all work hard to establish good expectations. HighCraft doesn’t just say ‘family is important’ – they mean it. It’s phenomenal.” – Dana
LIKES: Family time, developing relationships with clients, punctuality, the great outdoors, and any kind of sweet dessert.
DISLIKES: Rude and disrespectful behavior, lack of follow-through, the color purple, and messy work areas.
More than meets the eye:
Dana has a brown belt in Brazilian Jui Jitsu, but he uses his incredible super powers for good – like wrestling stubborn two-by-fours during a demolition, or opening sticky jar lids for his wife. Dana was bitten by the travel bug when he visited Africa as a teenager, and to his delight has never recovered.
Cheri Freestone
Interior Designer and Eternal Optimist
Cheri is a style aficionado with a true knack for design. Her creativity, passion for selecting interior finishes, and ability to relate to clients is apparent from your very first meeting. She believes in the value of hard work and honesty, and feels that life is all about the experiences you create.
“I love taking a space that a client isn’t thrilled about transforming it into their favorite spot in the house. It’s fun working with a team of people who share this same passion.”– Cheri
LIKES: Farmers markets, the changing of the seasons, laughing, and spending quality time with family and friends.
DISLIKES: Unfriendly people, an unorganized workspace, and extremely cold temperatures.
More than meets the eye:
Cheri is a fifth-generation Fort Collins native who spent the last seventeen years perfecting the family tile business along with her husband, and carefully balancing life as a mother to three very spirited children ages thirteen, eleven and three.
Andrew Joseph
Home Services Project Coordinator and Good Cheer Purveyor
Andrew is one of the most positive people you’ll ever meet. His enormous smile and friendly greetings are contagious, and you can’t help but feel uplifted when he is around. He is a Colorado native who has spent all but the first year of his life right here in Fort Collins and having grown up with family construction, he was practically born with a measuring tape in one hand and a framing square in the other. What you see is definitely what you get with Andrew. If he tells you he is going to do something, you can trust that he will do it and will more than likely exceed your expectations in the process.
“I love meeting new people and building relationships with them, so I feel very lucky to have a job that allows me to do that every day. Everyone that we work with at HighCraft including fellow employees, subcontractors, and our clients quickly become members of the family.” – Andrew
LIKES: Woodworking, classic cars, the Broncos, anything with chicken in it, bicycle riding, and spending time on the patio watching the sun go down with his best friend; his wife.
DISLIKES: Pizza sauce, the noise a train makes as it roars past, painting, and Kias.
More than meets the eye:
When Andrew was little, he was not an ordinary lemonade stand entrepreneur like his peers. He was a serious businessman. By the time he was 12 years old, Andrew owned his own construction site cleaning service and was in charge of three employees, had a fleet of three dump trucks and had a client roster that included nine local construction companies.
Russ Barrett
Warranty Manager and Team Utility Player
We call Russ our utility player because no matter what position he takes on, he jumps in head first and brings with him a comprehensive knowledge of multiple trades. His constant desire to get the job done quickly and efficiently makes him the perfect person to handle job close-outs and the occasional warranty call.
“I love the way that everyone at HighCraft works as a team to offer support and learn from one another. If you fall short on one area, there is always someone there to help you learn the ropes and improve your skill set.” – Russ
LIKES: Supporting local business, the eclectic Fort Collins community, 4-wheeling, and camping with his wife.
DISLIKES: Chewing with your mouth open, uncontrollable tempers and a dirty job site.
More than meets the eye:
Russ is a lover of the outdoors and all things sports. When he was young, his baseball team was one game away from playing in the Little League World Championship in Tokyo.
D Walker
Project Manager and Proponent of Perfection
D may be our newest project manager, but he has been part of the HighCraft family for over 10 years. Upon first meeting D, you can’t help but form an instant bond that will often last long after your project is complete. He’s a no-nonsense kind of guy who is known for always offering an honest opinion. D’s un-sugarcoated thoughts may be frank, but they’re also real and refreshing, and his attention to detail is nothing short of remarkable.
“HighCraft is dedicated to each and every customer and they will not cease until the job is right. That’s what I love about them.” – D
LIKES: History, the outdoors, bands like Boston and Kansas (it’s More Than a Feeling for D), and the San Diego Chargers.
DISLIKES: Rap music, spicy food, and being called DeForest.
More than meets the eye:
Whether he’s surfing, running 10k races, or conquering another 14,000-foot peak, D is always on the move and pushing his limits.
Mandy Mullen
Interior Designer and Homeowner Hero
Mandy fills every room she’s in with energy and brilliance, and we’re not just talking about her fun-loving nature around the office. Believe it or not, her passion for design and creating a perfect living space for homeowners outshines Mandy’s vitality. Whether she’s helping another designer select materials or putting the finishing touches on her own projects, Mandy’s top priorities are to give 110%, thoroughly take care of the client, and above all, make sure that everyone had fun every step of the way.
“When an entire team of professionals has a singular goal, you know you’re part of something special. For me, it’s about helping the pieces of a project come together to give homeowners a renewed pride in their home. I feel lucky to be part of the HighCraft family.”
LIKES: Running, hiking, biking, snowboarding–all things Colorado, cooking family recipes, traveling with her husband, and CSU football games.
DISLIKES: Chewing noises, heavy metal music, driving at night, and chipped fingernail polish.
More than meets the eye:
Mandy is a small-town girl from Northeast Colorado who likes to test her physical abilities by training and running half marathons.
