Ken started building as a young’un. Since the early days, he’s created a niche for himself, committed to learning and excellence in every project he touches. Ken grew up working alongside his father in a family that values quality and hands-on problem-solving. Eventually, he stepped into roles as a landscaper, painter, roofer, and pole building installer. To this day he’s continued to add to his ever-growing skill set. Each job added another layer of understanding of how a well-built home comes together. Even music played a role, shaping his appreciation for collaboration and rhythm, skills that translate seamlessly now onto a job site.
Outside of work, you’ll find Ken skiing, biking, and playing music. All things that connect him to his community.
What still excites him decades into this work is the endless learning curve. The art of building is limitless. Inspired by vernacular architecture (letting the natural environment inspire the built environment), timeless structures, and works of art like the Hagia Sofia and Gaudi’s Casa Batlló, Ken understands that the built environment has a profound impact on how we feel, move, and live our lives. Good buildings don’t need to shout; they need to serve.
Raised in a home that was “high performance’ long before it was trendy, doing high-quality work was never optional. Ken learned that excellence comes from intention and diligence. Mentors like his father and older brother instilled a deep respect for doing things right, even when no one is watching. Over time, that commitment has expanded to his role as a mentor on a job site. For Ken, the real joy comes from seeing what people can accomplish together.
When asked about what he hopes newer folks to the trade can learn, he is clear that the tension between efficiency and craft is one to be respected. That “if you don’t feel [that tension], you’re probably not paying attention. Knowing when to keep pushing and when to let go is part of the work.
Every decision carries weight when you imagine living with it for the next 30 years. “Perfect,” he’ll tell you, “is often too expensive — but thoughtful is not.” To Ken, “green building” is less about flashy technologies and more about responsibility. It’s careful detailing, safer materials, and a willingness to obsess over the unglamorous parts; the interfaces and penetrations- managing moisture and airflow. These are the things that make buildings last.
Sustainability also extends beyond the walls of a home, into how a community connects and supports one another. Get Ken talking about the elements of a connected community, and you’ll leave inspired!
Perhaps what stands out most is his generosity as a thoughtful teacher. If someone wants to learn, Ken’s in. “Mistakes aren’t failures; they’re moments of clarity,” says Ken. “The goal is to stay curious, stay humble, and keep solving problems in ways that honor both the client and the craft.”
After seven years with Chuckanut Builders, Ken’s “job site superpower” is simple but rare: he can see the whole picture. He draws from a lifetime of varied experience and is keen to help move a project forward with creativity and care. It’s a quiet kind of mastery, built over time and meant to last.
You can see a few of the homes Ken has worked in our Portfolio.