If you’ve spent any time around Chuckanut Builders, there’s a good chance you’ve run into Adam. He’s been around since the early days and has seen just about everything: small repairs, full builds, house lifts, you name it.
“I started out doing whatever needed to be done,” Adam says. “Dog doors, partition walls, random stuff all over town. Back then, we were taking on anything that came our way. The team was always looking out for me, making sure I had work, even if it meant bouncing between multiple job sites in a day.” It was hard work, but it was good.
Adam’s sense of loyalty and trust have driven his commitment to Chuckanut over the years. “Chuckanut has always treated people right,” he says. “I can work in my own way, take pride in the work, and know that they trust me to get it done. They value what I bring to the table. It’s not just about the houses; it’s about the people you build ‘em with.”
Over time, Adam moved from carpenter to site lead, taking on larger, more complicated projects. His skills and responsibilities have grown in tandem. He started with small carpentry jobs and now leads some of our most complex builds. “I’ve done a bit of everything; house lifts, panelized framing, you name it,” he says. “Every job has something new to learn. That’s what keeps it interesting. You can’t ever think you’ve seen it all, ‘cause the next day proves you wrong.”
When Adam talks about the company culture, he focuses on authenticity. Adam says, “We don’t do the corporate-speak thing. We just do good work, help each other out, and keep getting better.” Chuckanut’s values are ingrained in how the crew shows up every day, and in the result: beautiful, durable homes.
If Adam had a magic wand to wave at every jobsite he’d wish for a clean job site. “Just wave it and poof, spotless,” he says with a laugh. Adam learned that from him mom. “She ran a seafood market and catering business back east,” he says. She told him, ‘It’s a working mess!’ and she was right. You clean when it makes sense, not every five minutes. I think I picked that up from her.”
As for what kind of work he enjoys most, Adam is clear. He loves new construction. “You get the sense of moving forward. It’s a clean slate and a set of plans – no surprises. That’s my kind of job.” He also enjoys mentoring younger crew – teaching them how to build great homes, and good community.
Looking ahead, he hopes Chuckanut Builders will just keep doing what it’s always done, just keep it steady and solid. “We’re not in a rush to be the biggest,” Adam says. “It’s been slow, steady growth. No wild swings or gimmicks. Just building good stuff with good people.”
At the end of the day, Adam’s the kind of guy who doesn’t need to talk big about the work, the work speaks for itself. He’ll tell you straight: “I like building. I like the crew. I like seeing something real come out of a hole in the ground. That’s enough for me.”
Check out a few of the jobs Adam’s worked on!