Who started your company?
Me, Arnie Drennen.
When and how did you
choose this career? In 1978
Ft. Collins was growing like crazy and my
pre-USAF experience was in maintenance
and remodeling.
What did you do before be-
coming a remodeler? Captain,
USAF Missile Launch Ofcer
What is the best advice you
have received in your career?
Diversify.
How has the remodeling pro-
fession changed since you've
been involved? It started as mainly handy-
man work. Now it is design-build work looking
at the whole house and how this build changes it.
Finding qualified labor is
a challenge. Are you hir-
ing this year and how are you going
about finding the right people for
your company? Yes, I am hiring this
year. I am talking with other businesses to
inquire if they know of good people.
What is your No. 1 source of
leads right now and why is it
working? Referrals. Forty-two years is a
lot of past friends/customers.
What is the most unusual
project your company has
completed? Converting a garage to
a stain glass studio and building a new
sunken three-car plus garage with a deck
on part of it.
What is your favorite item in
your ofce? My wireless headset.
What does being part of
NAHB mean to you? Being
part of planning for doing things better in
the future.
What have you done to grow
your business during the cur-
rent economy? Scramble to keep up.
What motivates you every
day? New and diferent challenges.
Anything else you'd like to
mention about career ac-
complishments? Diversifcation adds
business stability while driving my staf and
me crazy changing hats and focus.
|
Right now, what is your fo-
cus as a remodeler — more
growth or steady revenue at greater
proftability? Please explain. Drennen
Custom Contracting is shifting to design as
we now have an architect on staf.
Many remodelers are report-
ing increases in their average
job size in 2015, are you seeing this
as well? Yes.
Where do you go to look for
solutions and ideas for your
business? HBA classes at the International
Builders' Show.
If you could have a 30-minute
conversation with any busi-
ness leader in the country to pick their
brain for business ideas, who would it
be? Joseph W. Lstiburek
Diversify Your
Company
Drennen Custom Contracting rounds out its
services with remodeling, roofng and radon
By Laurie Banyay
ARNOLD DRENNEN
Drennen Custom
Contracting,
Ft. Collins, Colo.
TITLE: Owner
YEAR FOUNDED: 1973
NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES:
10 to 15 depending
on season
YO U'L L R E C E I V E a full-page profile in QR as well as coverage on QualifiedRemodeler.com
Candidates must be active NAHB Remodelers members.
Local HBAs may nominate a member or members may self-nominate.
Candidates may submit for any month and will compete with peers across the nation.
Before being confirmed as the month's winner, NAHB will check with the candidate's EO to
confirm their qualifications.
All applications must be submitted electronically.
The deadline is the 15th of each month.
Winners are encouraged to apply for the NAHB Remodeler of the Year award.
A P P LY AT: http://www.nahb.org/en/find/award-programs/nahb-remodelers/
nahb-remodeler-of-the-month.aspx
Be the next Remodeler of the Month
PROFITS: NAHB Remodeler of the Month
18 August 2015 QR QualifiedRemodeler.com