In February 2023, Andrew and I took our first trip to the International Builders’ Show. It was actually the first industry trip we had ever taken, and we came home feeling two things at once: energized by everything we learned, and frustrated by a challenge that had been weighing on us for a long time.
We were struggling to find labor.
We had been searching for the right hire for many months. We knew we wanted to grow our team, but we also knew we weren’t willing to rush into bringing on just anyone. The longer the search dragged on, the more discouraging it felt.
Then we got home.
Sitting in our home office voicemail was a message from some young guy named Jack Schnaubelt, calling about our open position. The timing couldn’t have been more ironic — or more perfect. He had called while we were out of town, right in the middle of that IBS trip where we had been talking nonstop about the future of our business and the kind of team we wanted to build.
I remember listening to the message late that night we arrived home, feeling an overwhelming excitement. I honestly wanted to call him back immediately just to say, “We’re not ignoring you — we were just out of town!” I was so worried he thought we were ignoring him and moved on to another builder.
That was not the case, however. The following week, we connected and brought Jack in for an interview. It didn’t take long to realize he would be a great fit for our growing team.
Since joining our team, Jack has been an incredible addition. He’s someone who genuinely wants to learn and improve his craft as a carpenter. He cares deeply about the quality of his work — sometimes to the point where he’s harder on himself than anyone else because he wants things to be just right. That level of pride is something you can’t teach.
Jack is reliable, shows up every day, and puts in solid, consistent effort. Other than a really good fishing day here and there, he never asks for time off. He’s committed to the work, but even more importantly, he’s committed to the team.
One of our favorite parts of this story? Jack didn’t find us through a job board or an ad. A family member got to know him through fishing and suggested he check us out. That personal connection led him our way — and ultimately led us to one of the best hires we’ve made.
Looking back, it feels like one of those moments where timing just works out the way it’s supposed to. We went to IBS looking for inspiration and direction, and we came home to a voicemail that helped shape the future of our team.
We’re incredibly grateful Jack found us — and even more grateful he chose to stay. Cheers to THREE years, Jack!
