This year marks a big milestone for Chuckanut Builders: 15 years of building homes, relationships, and a stronger Bellingham community. What started as a scrappy crew working on decks and crawlspaces has grown into something so much bigger—and we couldn’t be more thankful.
When we threw our 15-year anniversary party, the turnout blew us away. Friends, clients, teammates (past and present), and partners came out in force to celebrate with us—and together we raised over $10,000 for local nonprofits in the process. Talk about feeling the love!
Remembering Our Roots
Back in 2008, we were just trying to make it work—hustling every day, learning as we went, and relying on the support of people who believed in us from the very beginning. One of those people was Howard Mortimer, who helped start Chuckanut and shaped our foundation with his kindness, humor, and hard work. Howard passed away a few years ago, but his spirit is still very much a part of who we are.
Another major chapter in our story was our involvement with the Community Energy Challenge (CEC). The CEC wasn’t just a source of steady work—it was our crash course in building science. Those early weatherization jobs (yes, including a lot of tight crawlspaces) taught us what makes homes really work. We learned how to air-seal leaky houses from the early 1900s and make homes more energy-efficient—long before “green building” was a buzzword.
The Crew That Built This
We’ve had incredible people on our team over the years. Truly. Chuckanut has always been about more than just craftsmanship—it’s about heart. Every team member, whether they’ve moved on or are still swinging hammers with us today, has left a mark on this company. And our current crew? They continue to carry that legacy forward every day with pride, talent, and purpose.
As our COO Forest Chiavario put it, “Our crew doesn’t just build beautiful homes—they build with heart.”
Why B Corp Matters to Us
In 2023, we officially became a Certified B Corporation—a big step that reflects what we’ve believed all along: that businesses can (and should) be a force for good. It’s not just about what we build, but how we show up for our community.
That commitment was front and center at our birthday celebration. Guests donated nearly $3,000 to local nonprofits like Lydia Place, Wild Whatcom, Kulshan Community Land Trust, and Whatcom Land Trust. We matched those donations with another $7,500, honoring our pledge to give 3% of profits to local causes since 2020.
What Comes Next?
So… what’s next for us? We’re just getting started.
With our B Corp values guiding every decision, a passion for modern, high-performance, and Passive House-level design, and a commitment to doing right by our team, our clients, and our community, we’re feeling more energized than ever.
If there’s one thing these 15 years have taught us, it’s this: the most beautiful home is just a building—until you fill it with community.
Thanks for being part of ours. Here’s to the next 15.