Homebuilding Myths: The Three-Bid Rule

Senior Project Manager

A member of the Harwick Homes team for almost 20 years, Alexandra “Alex” Brennan plays a key role in the Harwick process. Alex was instrumental in the founding of the Maintain It program and involved in the construction of over 110 custom homes and remodels. She has also become the first Senior Project Manager at Harwick Homes.

Alex’s experience at every level of the construction process gives her a truly fundamental understanding of the industry. She ensures the building experience runs smoothly by coordinating all aspects of the new home and remodel process, including managing the myriad of details of project development, permits, estimates, contracts, design selections and client communication.

Originally from Munich, Germany, Alex connects well with clients from the U.S. and abroad. She began her construction career as a licensed dynamite blaster, blasting the bedrock foundation of numerous lakes in some of the most prominent communities throughout Naples. Prior to joining Harwick Homes, she traded her field experience for air conditioning, starting as receptionist and working her way up to project manager of a condominium development in Pelican Marsh.

Alex’s relationships with Harwick team members, clients and vendors are what she enjoys most about working for Harwick Homes. She even embraces the challenges in the industry, always amazed by the results of remarkable teamwork.

In her free time, Alex enjoys Florida’s beautiful landscape and wildlife on kayaking and trail riding trips with friends and family. For quieter days, she experiments with new recipes or relaxes with a good book. She also likes to give back to the community and has volunteered with Habitat for Humanity.

Office Manager

When it comes to details, it’s quite possible no one makes a bigger difference than Donna. With over 37 years of administrative experience, including 19 years in the homebuilding industry, she helps lay the foundation upon which every Harwick Homes project and relationship is built.

Donna’s role includes almost too much to list. She oversees all administrative duties, including keeping the office in order, assisting with accounting tasks, supporting project managers and superintendents, scheduling meetings, arranging vendor presentations, ordering supplies and making sure office equipment is properly maintained. She even makes our special gift baskets once projects are completed. In short, Donna helps Harwick Homes run smoothly and efficiently, with a smile.

A former military wife, Donna returned to Naples from Germany where she served as an operations secretary. Then, after working as a director of medical records for an assisted living facility, she explored real estate and entered the building world. Before joining Harwick Homes in 2018, she worked for another builder as a sales administrator. On top of all that, she even has a real estate license.

Outside of work, Donna is just as busy. An avid music and classic car lover, she attends many concerts and car shows. She also has quite the collection of vintage records, guitars and pretty much anything to do with old cars. Donna is an animal lover and participates in many rescue groups. She has an adult son who teaches English in Taiwan, and a loving roommate who also happens to be her mom.

Superintendent

Len started working for a family owned custom homebuilder when he was just 17 years old. With his natural talents and work ethic, he did much more than learn the ropes. He eventually took over as owner/operator and went on to build an array of beautiful homes in Maine, Massachusetts and Florida.

With over 35 years of experience, Len says the opportunity to work with a highly respected luxury builder attracted him to Harwick Homes. His passion for the job is also quite clear. “Making sure job sites are well organized and highly productive is my primary role, with the ultimate objective being client satisfaction.”

Len provides supervision and support, handles scheduling and coordination, and oversees subcontractors. He also maintains constant communication with Harwick project managers to ensure each project gets done in a timely, efficient manner.

When not busy on job sites, Len enjoys spending time with his family, fishing, boating, biking and travel.

Superintendent

Originally from Woodbridge, Connecticut, Peter Brochin has 33 years of experience in the construction industry. Drawn to Harwick Home’s reputation and clientele, he is a Class-A state licensed general contractor, holding a Business Management degree from Eckerd College. As Superintendent, Peter sees projects through all the way from pre-construction to delivery to the customer. He collaborates with all subcontractors and vendors, establishes orderly workflow on site, and ensures work is proceeding on time. In his free time, Peter enjoys boating, fishing, volunteering and spending time with his family.

Project Manager

With seven years of home building industry experience, Nick was attracted to Harwick by our reputation, extraordinary projects and exceptional clientele. As a project manager, he oversees projects from start to finish, with planning, contract execution, budget monitoring and client/designer communications as his primary responsibilities. Nick also holds a certificate of specialization in construction management from Columbia University. Before getting into homebuilding, cabinetry and remodeling, he worked in the IT industry. Nick spends his free time relaxing with family and friends as well as traveling and exploring new places.

Assistant Superintendent

Long before he joined Harwick Homes, Craig was on the ice crew at Hertz Arena before entering FGCU and earning a bachelor’s in business management. As an assistant superintendent, Craig helps the superintendents in every possible way—from picking up supplies to scheduling subcontractors and supervising job sites. He spends his free time working out and playing golf, ice hockey and lacrosse.

Project Manager

With over 16 years of industry experience, Amanda has a rich understanding of project management, design and business operations. She holds a bachelor’s of technology, as well as a project management certification from Buildertrend. As project manager, Amanda oversees all aspects of project management and accounting, including construction timelines, budgets and vendor relations. In her free time, Amanda enjoys fishing, golfing and horseback riding.

Office Manager

Angy joined the Harwick Homes team for the opportunity to grow alongside a collaborative team with rich industry history. She holds a bachelor’s in education from Florida State University and has previously worked at a homeschool co-op and as a family nanny. In her role as office manager, Angy oversees phone calls, company invoices, office organization and team scheduling. Outside of the office, Angy enjoys baking, traveling and hosting dinner parties.

Superintendent

Before joining Harwick Homes, Chris spent 27 years as a fire captain and 10 years as the head of his own construction company in St. Louis. In his role as superintendent, he oversees day-to-day operations in the field, ensuring every new home and remodel project meets both client and company standards. Outside of work, Chris enjoys spending time with his family, traveling, boating and keeping active outdoors.

Superintendent

With over 10 years of industry experience, Jarrett was drawn to Harwick Homes for its attention to detail and quality builds. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Geology from Auburn University. In his role as Superintendent, he oversees construction progress and vendors, manages workflows and maintains project schedules. In his free time, Jarrett enjoys playing golf and watching his favorite sports.

Superintendent

Kevin has 50 years of notable experience in the construction industry, as well as Florida General Contractor and Florida Residential Contractor licenses. Before joining Harwick, he owned and operated his own successful construction company. As Superintendent, Kevin is responsible for the management and safety of active projects. He also oversees and supervises the contractors in the field, ensuring they maintain Harwick’s construction standards. In his free time, Kevin prioritizes community service, volunteering for a number of local organizations.

Board Member – Board of Directors

Mark brings a dynamic combination of skills to Harwick Homes, all of which have been honed by more than two decades in the industry. With a strong eye for perfection and an understanding of clients’ highly individual lifestyles, he works to provide the best possible experience at all times.

Born in Vancouver, British Columbia, Mark attended the University of Bridgeport in Connecticut. Moving to in Naples in 1988, he worked for several years as a framing contractor before joining the Harwick team in 1993 as a Superintendent. There, he quickly worked his way up the ladder into management.

Our immediate past president, Mark now supports Harwick as a member of its board of directors, a role that allows him to spend more time with his wife and two daughters as well as contribute his expertise as a Certified Building Contractor. He maintains his attention to detail and helps to make each client’s specific vision a reality. In his spare time, he enjoys nature and can often be found fishing or sailing.

President

As President, Shane focuses on new business and project development with a hands-on approach. He meets personally with his clients to ensure Harwick standards are always upheld. His business acumen took the remodeling department from a small division to the number 44 position among the top 550 remodelers in the country.

A graduate of Brigham Young University, Shane brings a great deal of organizational experience and high ethical standards. He’s an active member of the Collier Building Industry Association (CBIA). Shane not only served on its Board of Directors, but also was voted CBIA Builder of the Year.

For many years, Shane was active in Remodelers Advantage, a national organization comprised of the top remodelers from across the U.S. and Canada, Shane attended their Summit annually, as well as their yearly Roundtables™. He and other top international remodelers congregated with leading industry consultants to sharpen their skills.

He is an active participant in a National Association of Builders (NAHB) 20 Club of which Harwick Homes has been a member of for many years. The 20 Clubs are comprised of builders and remodelers from non-competing markets who meet several times a year to share their business expertise, learning from each other how to improve operations and increase bottom lines. Members share and compare financial information, look for trouble spots and offer each other advice on how to increase their profit ratios and improve their performance.

Happily married with five children, Shane enjoys backwater fishing, golf and riding his road bike. An Eagle Scout in his teens, he remains involved with the Boy Scouts of America. Shane also volunteers with his church to help families in need and organizes service projects and youth activities. He especially enjoys time with his family and going to the beach.

Project Manager

A seasoned professional with over 25 years of experience, Kathryn Simpson is responsible for overseeing remodeling construction at Harwick Homes with an emphasis on delivering exceptional customer service.

Kathryn is a second-generation Atlanta construction industry veteran who began her career working in her father’s construction company. She eventually moved on to larger construction companies where she became a superintendent and general contractor for private homes. She met her husband in Alaska. Together with their five children, they lived in the Portland, Oregon area before relocating to Naples in 2015.

When not managing Harwick projects, Kathryn enjoys spending time outdoors with her family, sailing in the Gulf of Mexico and kayaking in coastal backwaters. The entire family likes inline speed skating and travels across the country to participate in several long distance races each year.

Project Manager

Jeff Kelley brings over 35 years of building industry experience to Harwick Homes. He is responsible for client walk-throughs, writing and developing scopes of work, contracting with subcontractors and developing budgets for clients.

Jeff began his career in Indianapolis, Indiana, working as a superintendent building homes and project coordinator building condominiums. He was also a purchasing manager for a national homebuilder. After relocating to Florida in 2002, he became VP of Purchasing for a national homebuilder.

Originally from Ohio, Jeff is a veteran of the U.S. Navy where he served on the USS John F. Kennedy. He is a member of the American Legion and a lifetime supporter of the USO.

When not working, he enjoys time with his family, woodworking and cycling. Jeff is married with three children and four grandchildren.

Project Manager

A construction industry veteran and Naples area resident since 1987, Denise Jones brings 30 years of experience to Harwick Homes. She oversees the construction of custom homes and multiple renovation projects, always delivering on time and within scope. Along with her passion and drive, her extensive construction and business background ensures goals and objectives are met while monitoring schedules, budgets and resources.

Raised in a real estate and construction family, Denise relocated from Michigan to Clearwater, Florida where she began her career, as well as earned her Florida Certified Building Contractor and Florida Real Estate Broker licenses. Since then, she has dedicated her career to custom homes, multifamily residential developments and commercial projects. Prior to joining Harwick, she worked as a purchasing manager for a luxury homebuilder, managing bottom-line purchasing and negotiation activities. Before that she worked as a project manager, purchasing manager, superintendent and contractor for several construction companies throughout Southwest Florida.

Denise believes the best part of Harwick is the people and loves spending time with them. She also enjoys working in the field, watching the transformations take place. When it comes to Harwick clients, Denise really loves seeing and hearing their reactions when the home of their dreams becomes reality.

Outside of work, Denise has an active lifestyle and spends time with her sons, Evan and Alec, her precious dad and friends. She enjoys cooking, road trips, Disney, seeing new places and attending Florida Everblades hockey games. You can also find her exercising at Crunch, shopping at Coconut Point, seeing movies and trying new restaurants. She has been an avid book club member for 9 years with the same group of gals. She also treasures time walking and playing with her two beloved Papillons, Taz and Tux.

Controller

Jack brings over 20 years of accounting experience in the Southwest Florida construction industry to the Harwick Homes team. He not only maintains the financial records, but he is also on-hand to answer any questions clients may have regarding the billings of their projects. Whether a client is interested in day-to-day billings or periodic reports, Jack will work with them to ensure they understand where they are and where they are going on a project. When a task requires extra research and a keen eye for solving problems, that’s when Jack really thrives.

As for his favorite part about working for Harwick, Jack says it’s the people. “Our president, Mark Smith, never loses his cool under pressure. And our office manager is always smiling and completes any task assigned to her.”

Before coming on board in 2011, he worked in project development, residential and commercial construction, golf courses, restaurants, hotels and manufacturing. His proudest professional moment was working with the Perkins Restaurant Group as they transformed from a small franchise to a franchisor with 122 corporate restaurants and 400 franchises.

Originally from Bloomington, Minnesota, Jack enjoys spending time with his wife, and he is an avid fisherman and traveler. He also loves to take scuba diving adventures.

Lead Superintendent

Preston brings nearly 30 years of experience in the construction field to Harwick Homes. Since joining the team in 1998, he has spent the majority of his time onsite, where he keeps a watchful eye on every detail of the construction process, ensuring everything is carried out to perfection.

Preston’s desire to create a quality product is complemented by his friendly personality, which makes the experience enjoyable for every client. His attention to detail and friendliness allowed Preston to lead and succeed in creating the masterful Contemporary in Estuary estate. Although he was essential in the completion of this difficult project, he shares all the praise with everyone involved, including Harwick’s President. “I admire Mark Smith for everything he has done to make Harwick successful.”

Preston holds a degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Florida and is a Certified General Contractor. Before he was a Superintendent at Harwick, Preston spent 12 years as a Superintendent overseeing high-end home construction for a leading development company in Florida.

Although Preston was born in Tampa, Florida, he has lived in a variety of locations, such as: Utah, Portugal, California, and the Netherlands. Preston is the proud father of two sons, Jarrett and Austin, graduated from Auburn University and the University of Florida, respectively. Preston and his wife, Dana, enjoy taking in the Florida lifestyle and can often be found off-shore fishing and stone crabbing.

Superintendent

Mark contributes strong communication skills and a thorough knowledge of the industry to Harwick Homes. He thrives working with clients and provides great follow through on all questions and concerns, ensuring each project runs smoothly and the customers come home to something special.

Drawing from his decades of coaching experience, Mark emphasizes teamwork and relationships to create beautiful homes. “My coaching experience helps get the team focused and motivated.” He appreciates the unique qualities every employee brings to a project, and he extends his relationships to those outside the team. “I thrive in building interpersonal relationships with clients and sub contractors. Bringing everyone together is how we can successfully put all the pieces together.”

Originally from Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Mark received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration Management from the Warren Wilson College in Asheville. Since 1985, he has worked with custom homebuilders and developers throughout the Southwest Florida area. He joined the Harwick team in 2010.

Outside of work, Mark has volunteered for over 30 years in youth soccer programs throughout Southwest Florida, and was the head coach of the Barron Collier High School boys varsity team for 16 seasons. He enjoys the outdoors, reading, and spending time with his wife of more than 20 years, Leslie, and their two boys, Graham and Hugh.

Superintendent

Graham has been working with the Harwick Homes since 2011. “I started in high school as a painter, and then during my college summers I was a laborer. The experience prepared me for a smooth transition to full time Superintendent in 2015.” Graham is no stranger to the construction and building industry, as his father, Mark Wilkinson, is also on the Harwick Homes team. Graham grew up on job sites and has been involved in construction throughout his entire life.

Although Graham enjoys every aspect of the building process, he especially likes the excitement of starting a new project and seeing the customers happy with the final result. His organizational skills and attention to detail make everything in-between a breeze—but if he ever encounters an issue, the whole team is there to help. “Everyone works great together and you can go ask anyone on the team for anything. It’s what makes the Harwick team great.”

Born and raised in Naples, Graham went to Barron Collier High School and then went on to graduate from Warren Wilson College in Asheville, North Carolina with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business. During his college years, Graham was the Captain of the WWC men’s soccer team and a two-time USCAA All-Academic award winner. In addition to his sports accomplishments, he was also a recipient of the Kevin Omollo award, which is given to the senior student-athlete with the highest GPA.

Away from the jobsite, Graham continues to stay active, playing soccer, tennis or going for a run—but he also doesn’t mind just relaxing and watching Netflix.