Symmetry Builders, Inc.

I am happiest when I am hanging out at the lake, boating, waterskiing, and relaxing. In general, I love sunshine and the outdoors. Last and most importantly, I am a very proud dad, and enjoy doing almost anything with the kids.

I have been working in the construction industry for 26 years with a start prior to earning my degree in construction management from Colorado State University. After graduation, I started in the commercial sector as a Field Engineer where I learned how to operate in the trenches, gaining more "boots on the ground" experience and learning the reality and complexity of this business. A few short years later I was managing projects from start to finish, not knowing that someday I would be responsible for managing the operations team for Symmetry Builders, Inc. I came to Symmetry Builders, Inc. without hesitation and helped Henry develop the company culture and way of business. We raised the company much like a building: from the ground up. After nearly 8 years at Symmetry, our accomplishments continue to be something I am very proud of, and I am looking forward to conquering a multitude of successful construction challenges.

I moved to Colorado from Switzerland in January of 1993 without any knowledge of the English language or traditions. I love the cold and living at 9,000 feet. I am a hippie and deadhead by night and a businessman during the day! I love to travel and experience other cultures and people and believe that nothing is impossible. I hold architecture & engineering degrees with hands-on masonry & concrete construction apprenticeships, and a master’s degree in project management / development.

When we decided to organize Symmetry Builders, Inc., our principal vision was to transform it into a successful company that was motivated by relationships and the common goal of creating positive environments. We manage our projects the same way we lead our employees and trade partners: with mutual respect, honesty and a level of knowledge that allows us to always find the best way forward. We are not motivated by profits but rather by the inspiration that earns Symmetry Builders each project.

I’ve worked with the Henry, Andy, and Lynn in the past and really enjoyed it. It was so fun and I just thought, “Why not sign up for more?” It’s been a whirlwind ever since and I have done some of the most gratifying work of my career.

As far as my background goes, I graduated with honors from CSU with a degree in Construction Management and then went immediately to work as a project engineer/estimator. Beyond that, I grew up in the industry. From driving skid steers on the weekends as a kid with my dad to doing some work in high school/college for extra income, I’ve generally been involved in construction for the better part of my life.

In my spare time, I enjoy taking my camper up to the lake to get away for a weekend and spend time with my wife and kiddo. A fun fact about me is that I actually built my own house. It was essentially two different structures that were finished in just about 5 months despite the fact that I was working a full-time job while building the house!

I was working for another General Contractor in Denver when I first heard about Symmetry. Josh, a friend of mine who I attended college with, had just started at Symmetry and it was really his ‘talking the company up’ that got me interested. Seeing as I was looking for a change, Symmetry seemed to be a great opportunity for me and seeing as I loved the team I decided Symmetry would be a perfect fit.

I went to The University of Nebraska at Kearney and graduated with a Construction Management degree. At school I played football which taught me quite a bit about work ethic and general life skills, but it was my passion for football that led me to pursue a career in the sport where I played and then coached for a year each. After that I moved back to Denver and starting working. I started as a Field Engineer/Office Engineer in Construction for a General Contractor in town, where I worked for a bit before coming to Symmetry. At Symmetry I started as a Superintendent up in Fort Collins and from there everything fell into place to get me to where I am today. I've had a fair share of variety in the types of projects I have worked on which include old renovations, fire stations, commercial constructions, multifamily projects, and tilt-up’s. I will say that Tilt-Up construction is definitely my favorite!

I'm big into archery hunting, particularly for elk, and it is one of my favorite things to do. I do my best to prepare year round and have been constantly improving over the past couple of years. Its a ton of work that requires a significant amount of time to be successful, but that’s all part of the fun. On a given Saturday afternoon you'll usually find me smoking some sort of meat, drinking and spending time with friends and family watching some sporting event or another.

While serving a deployment in Afghanistan, I was put in contact with Andy Wood (Symmetry Builders, Inc.’s vice president) through mutual acquaintances. Symmetry, being in its infancy, was ready to start growing. An interview was scheduled before I finished my deployment and I sat down with Andy and Henry Zurbrugg (President) at a coffee shop in Boulder, CO soon after returning stateside. The rest, as they say, is history!

I received my Bachelor of Science degree in Construction Management from the University of Nebraska at Kearney. I then pursued and received my Master of Science degree in Construction Management with emphasis in Project Management from Drexel University. Prior to my pursuit of higher education, I attended a trade school program and focused on wood framing in construction. Throughout college, I worked for a custom home builder, self-performing the majority of work pertaining to residential building. I’ve been lucky enough to be surrounded by construction my entire life, so Symmetry was a natural fit from the beginning.

Growing up in a blue-collar family, I was not driven to, nor did I, plan on attending college. That all changed when I was recruited to play college football which landed me at University of Nebraska at Kearney. My football career was cut short as I chose to join the military and was deployed to Iraq to serve my country. I spent six years in the US Army Reserves with three of those years on Active Duty. During that time, I served deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan, with a few other stops to countries in between. My role in the military was far different from the job I do today but it taught me many skills that I use on a daily basis.

I am an avid upland hunter, with time also spent in the blind hunting waterfowl. I am drawn to upland hunting as it aligns with my personality where a successful hunt is accomplished through hard work and dedication. As in life, nothing comes easy, you have to work for it.

My free time is spent hanging out with my wife, son and friends. I am not big on the “what we are doing,” but more importantly, “who I am doing it with.” Family and good friends are a staple in my life that I couldn’t do without.

I was introduced to Symmetry Builders, Inc. through my tenure in the mechanical & plumbing industry and later joined the team to grow the company. I was actually a part of Symmetry's first project as a subcontractor and quickly realized how special the team is here!

While studying mechanical engineering at the University of Colorado Boulder, I began working for a large mechanical and plumbing contractor (RK Mechanical, Inc.). I've always enjoyed the sense of accomplishment that comes from building things so the construction industry was an inherent fit. I spent nearly a decade growing from project engineering/management roles to pre-construction management then to the business development team strategizing on key projects throughout our market. This effort developed my understanding of the Colorado real estate and construction markets leading to my role at Symmetry. I also have a background in auto and motorcycle racing teams in both California and Colorado.

I have a ton of hobbies! I love to ski, fly fish, play hockey, golf and play with everything with an engine (cars, trucks, motorcycles, etc.). I also have a weird affinity for building tables for homes, Symmetry's offices and other fun places. My smoke show wife and I added to our family in 2018 and I've been known to teach him bad habits all too often. He will be entering the NHL Draft in 2035. #GoSharks

I've been a part of the Symmetry family for almost 4 years now and time flies when you are having fun! I landed my first real job in June of 1987 for a firm that designed and developed prototypes for entrepreneurs, investors, companies, or really anyone that had obtained a patent or was pursuing a patent for something that they hoped to market and sell. I was with them for 25 years wearing many different hats but spent most of my time in accounting and finance. Through education, training, hands-on experience and some great mentors I gained the knowledge and skills I needed to become fluent in the accounting and finance world.

I am fun! I love to laugh but I love to make people laugh more!!! I have two grown daughters who I am more than proud of. My oldest spent 6 years in the military and then another 6 years as a civilian with a lot of time in places like Afghanistan and Iraq. My youngest is pursuing a college degree to become a clinical psychologist. I have lived in Boulder County my entire life and worked in Boulder County my entire life, it's only since May 2018 when Symmetry moved to Dacono that I can no longer stick with that part of the statement as our new office is officially located in Weld County!

Fun facts about me: I was adopted, I have had two total hip replacements during my lifetime, both done before I turned 30, I use to arm wrestle and actually have trophies (aka dust collectors), I am an avid Broncos fan, I love animals, I hate snakes and I'm scared of heights.

Having had my hands in accounting and accounting-related fields since high school, I have truly enjoyed most all aspects of my career. It's been amazing to see and be a part of the advances in technology and systems that have changed these fields. I started after high school at an auto parts dealer in Greeley, CO and worked there for about 5 years in various areas: bookkeeping, filling orders, and delivering parts to local vehicle dealers, repair shops, and jobsites. Back in the "old days" it was very rare to see a female delivering auto parts. I then spent about 10 years in Kimball, Lincoln, and finally Hastings, Nebraska working at a major HVAC manufacturer in the accounting and production control departments. It was there that I worked with my first computer which filled two rooms and performed fewer functions than today's common cell phone - something we never could have imagined. I later moved back to Colorado where I handled the accounting for a commercial general contractor in Broomfield, CO for about 10 years until the death of the owner and closure of the company. Immediately after, I went to work for a commercial general contractor in Longmont, CO. I was fortunate to be hired when the company was very small and in the process of being 're-activated' with a new owner/partner. During my 16-year employment and eventual position as Controller, the successful company grew from 3 to over 100 employees.

Interesting fact: while I was working with the construction company in Broomfield, we were contracted to build for the artist Christo. Some of his projects in which the company was involved are the Valley Curtain at Rifle Gap Colorado, the Running Fence in Sonoma and Marin Counties California, the Surrounded Islands off Miami Florida, the Umbrellas in California and Japan, the Pont Neuf Wrapped in Paris, and the Wrapped Reichstag in Berlin. While not directly involved in all projects - traveling, meeting, and working with engineers, contractors, PR people, photographers, etc. from all over the world as well as Christo and his late wife, Jeanne-Claude were all unique and unforgettable experiences.

After retiring and doing a lot of traveling for about 18 months, I missed working, especially in construction, and was looking into a couple of options for part-time work. The timing was right and shortly thereafter I was contacted by my former co-workers, Henry Zurbrugg and Andy Wood. They were in the planning stages of opening a new general contracting firm and asked if I was interested in becoming a partner and handling the accounting and administration areas. It turned out to be the perfect opportunity for me. In less than 4 years, the company had grown to the point that my position required much more time and attention than I was able to give. We were so fortunate to then find a talented and capable accountant, Erin Aitken, who has taken over and rightly excelled in the position. I am very lucky to again be able to work part-time with my old friends and the new, remarkable professionals who have joined our organization the past few years.