Sydney Contant Receives “40 Under 40” Award

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Forty Under 40We are thrilled to announce that Sydney Contant was selected as one of this year’s recipients of the “40 Under 40” award given by Professional Remodeler magazine. The 2016 award salutes the best practices of remodeling’s best and brightest professionals under 40. At 26, Sydney is one of the youngest to be honored.

Sydney Contant’s climb to Project Manager

Sydney Contant of Atlanta Design & Build

After graduating from high school, Sydney worked for five years as an apprentice under ADB project managers, Mike Pike and Jamie Franks. Mike and Jamie had her doing everything, from demo, framing, and trimming out, to decking and screened porches. Now she is a Certified Remodeling Project Manager (CRPM) running jobs on her own. Her favorite part of a project comes after the walls are up and the project is ready for all the cosmetic details. “I actually enjoy tedious work,” said Sydney. “I get great satisfaction out of giving our customers exactly what they want, giving them 100 percent.” Continue reading Sydney Contant Receives “40 Under 40” Award →

H. Dale Contant Installed as NARI National President

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NARI National President, Dale Contant, giving his acceptance speechH. Dale Contant, president of Atlanta Design & Build, spent four exciting days at the 2016 National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) Spring Business Meeting April 6-9 in Austin, Texas. The meeting offered inspiring keynote speakers, top-notch educational opportunities, and ample possibilities for networking with his remodeling peers from across the nation. The meeting started out with an inspiring speech by current Chairman of the Board, Judy Mozen, in which NARI was described as having a “can do” attitude. She used the World War II promotion of Rosie the Riveter to exemplify that attitude. Dale was impressed by the energy generated by the attendees who are putting forth great effort to move the association and the remodeling industry forward. Atlanta Design & Build strives to reflect the forward motion of the industry and took a moment on a jobsite to strike their “we can do it” pose. Check out the picture on our about page. 

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Celebrating 20 Years with Mike Pike

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As Atlanta Design & Build celebrates our 20th Anniversary this year, we also celebrate the 20 years we have been blessed with the incredible skills of co-owner and Senior Project Manager, Mike Pike.

Mike’s start in construction

Raised in southern Georgia, Mike started working, in his early twenties, as a “grunt’ for a company that did commercial/industrial electrical work. He worked on the electrical wiring for a college, a hospital and a paper mill, learning on the job as he went.

Then a friend who was framing houses asked Mike to work with him. Mike had no experience with carpentry, but he did like working with his hands. He discovered that he enjoyed construction work and was motivated to learn more. His friend was not the type of person who teaches his skills to others, so Mike had to pay very close attention to whatever his friend was doing. “I’d go home at night and practice with the tools, such as the speed square,” said Mike. “I didn’t know how he was coming up with all those angles.” After six years being attentive and willing to practice, Mike developed skills needed and sometimes found himself running the show by himself when his friend could not come to work.

Moving to Atlanta and expanding skills

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Dale Contant At The Great Ideas Conference

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Great Ideas ConferenceLooking ahead to his leadership position as National President in 2016-2017 for the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI), Dale Contant wants to make a difference for the association. His desire is to build an even stronger association that can help all its members flourish and attain higher levels of success. With that in mind, he and Fred Ulreich, NARI CEO, attended the 2016 Great Ideas Conference from March 13-15 at The Broadmoor in Colorado Spring, Colorado.

Each year this conference is hosted by the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) and draws association executives and directors from across the United States as well as the globe. They discuss the future of associations and the big ideas that will get them ahead of the curve. Every association faces challenges, so this conference encourages the executives to connect with each other and share their ideas. It also inspires them with keynotes, idea labs, educational sessions, leadership workshops and special events. Dale and Fred left the conference feeling energized and ready for an exciting, productive year with NARI.

Celebrating 15 Years with Jamie Franks

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A Passion for Construction in Many Generations

Jamie Franks believes that his passion for the construction industry and his abilities are a part of his DNA. His grandfather built houses, and his dad built and installed cabinets. “Even though I didn’t grow up with my dad,” says Jamie, “In terms of our engineering interests we are as much alike as Twinkies.” So it makes sense that Jamie would eventually find himself working full time in the construction industry.

He grew up in a small town that didn’t offer many employment opportunities. During high school he worked part time as a diesel mechanic. After graduation, that job turned into a full daytime position, while he also worked part time in steel fabrication at night.

Five years later, having the desire for more education in the engineering direction, Jamie joined the Navy as a member of the Seabees Naval Mobile Construction Battalion. He built school houses for children in the Dominican Republic. It was heavy commercial construction, and he feels the education he received was worth it. After the Navy, Jamie got into insurance work. This job helped him transition from government to civilian life.

Jamie Franks: Working Up the Ladder at Atlanta Design & Build

In 2001 he heard about a job opening at Atlanta Design & Build and he went for an interview. He was very impressed with Dale Contant and decided he wanted to work for him, even though it would mean a cut in his salary. He started out as a Helper on a three-person team primarily building decks. After two years, he became the Punch Guy because he could fix anything. Later he started running jobs as a Project Manager, and today he is Production Manager overseeing all the ADB projects. Continue reading Celebrating 15 Years with Jamie Franks →

Dale at the NARI booth

Dale Contant at the NARI Booth

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NARI Unveils a New Booth

Design & Construction Week 2016, which includes the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show (KBIS) and the International Builders Show (IBS) was spectacular again this year! There were so many innovative products on display and wonderful educational seminars were held throughout the day. Dale was excited to join the other NARI national officers in the beautiful new NARI booth in the North Hall of KBIS.

Dale at the NARI booth
(from left to right)
1. Treasurer: Tom Miller, CR, CKBR, Portland, OR
2. Secretary: David R. Pekel, MCR, UDCP, CAPS, Wauwatosa, WI
3. President: Judy Mozen, CR, GCP, Roswell, GA
4. Chief Executive Officer: Fred W. Ulreich, Des Plaines, IL
5. Chairman of the Board: Kevin Anundson, MCR, CKBR, Elm Grove, WI
6. President-Elect: H. Dale Contant, MCR, CRPM, UDCP, Marietta, GA