What we’re all about
Loren Wood Builders is a family-owned business that works hard to uphold a reputation for quality, client experience, and commitment to our community. We want to help our clients realize their vision for a dream home, updated office space, or renovated and restored structure. Good design and quality craftsmanship are the values that we apply to every project. We place the same importance on each of our team members, creating a positive and engaging workplace that translates to high-quality work.
Every project – whether it’s a large new build or a small remodel – is given the same amount of care and the highest expectations for quality. We take responsibility for every step in the process, from planning and permits to build-out and finishes, making the experience as low-stress as possible for our clients. We work with clients to determine the right design details and materials to fit their values and their budget.
We value our employees as a critical part of our success as a business. We recruit and hire the best, and we do our best to treat our team well. We are committed to paying a living wage, providing a competitive benefits package, and offering profit sharing. Our team members are highly skilled and dedicated, and we are fortunate to have them putting their skills to work for LWB.
Our clients and team are part of our community, and we are dedicated to them all.
Our clients and team are part of our community, and we are dedicated to all of them. We support the efforts of many non-profits in the Bloomington area through sponsorships, donated materials, and services. Quality and care extend beyond our business values, they are also our personal values.
The LWB Team
Loren Wood Builders creates beautiful homes and commercial spaces through the hard work and talents of our team. We hire great people with quality skills and experience, and treat them like family (and sometimes they are family). We’re just as proud of the team we work with as we are of the buildings we create.
Loren Wood
Owner, Project Manager, Carpenter
After moving to Bloomington in the mid-90's, Loren spent 10 years teaching high school before switching full-time to building and renovating houses with his wife Lindsay. Besides continuing to nurture his passion for building, Loren spends his time with his wife, their three kids, and dogs. He also enjoys hiking, climbing, riding bikes and life in Bloomington.
Joel Keefer
Director of Project Development
Joel Keefer has lived in Bloomington since 1993. He has two children and a beautiful wife. He enjoys hiking, boating and fishing around Monroe County with his family. A love for building began with the purchase of his first house and the remodeling that followed. An interest in houses and real estate spurred him to acquire his Real Estate Broker's license. A one-time educator, Joel worked as a summer painting contractor when he wasn't working on his own projects. Continually inspired by the diligence, craftsmanship, and ingenuity of his colleagues, Joel considers his work at Loren Wood Builders to be his dream job.
George Wyatt
Carpenter
Born and raised in Bloomington, IN, George has been working in construction since he was 15 years old. He has a beautiful daughter and girlfriend and enjoys softball & basketball. George works on the demo and the framing crew for LWB and loves every minute of it!
Tucker Jaroll
Project Designer
Tucker Jaroll holds a Masters of Architecture degree and a Bachelors in Environmental Management, both from Indiana University Bloomington. After apprenticing for a tiny house builder and participating in an architecture program at Harvard, he decided to pursue a career at Loren Wood Builders as a carpenter in 2017. This inspired him to go back to school for architecture, graduating in 2021. In his free time he likes to travel, cook, research genealogy and history, bike, and hang out at home with his fiance and dogs.
Bailey Swan
Site Manager, Carpenter
Bailey grew up in Valparaiso and moved to Bloomington in 2013. After studying nutrition at Indiana University she decided to further her education and received her certification as a holistic health coach. With certification in hand she traveled the country on her motorcycle and worked on organic farms. She also spent a year in New York City as a Food Corps service member teaching elementary students how to grow, cook, and taste healthy foods. Wanting to return to Bloomington after her travels, she decided to join the LWB team and pursue a career in carpentry.
Amber Connor
Marketing & Communications Director
Amber moved to Bloomington in 2002 after graduating from Ball State University with a BFA in Graphic Design. She started a freelance design business and helped local businesses and organizations develop their brands. After five years of running her own business, she started working at Bloomingfoods and ended her ten-year tenure as the Kirkwood downtown store manager. After helping a local food start-up with their sales and design, and then spending five years in marketing at a digital advertising agency, she joined the team at LWB as their Marketing Director. She and her family love living in Bloomington, and she enjoys hiking, gardening, cooking, and painting.
Tom Quintana
Site Superintendent & Finish Manager
I'm originally from Cleveland, OH. My parents bought a farm when I was nine years old. There I learned to work with my hands. I really enjoyed seeing the progress of a days work. My first job was in a cabinet shop. I went on to work for a third-generation builder, where I really fell in love with woodworking. I was fortunate to have the opportunity to work alongside some highly talented craftsmen. I then moved to Bloomington in 2002 where I took a job as a Finish Carpenter. I built a shop where I made custom cabinets, bookcases, and entertainment centers. I'm also a Union Carpenter/Layout Engineer and have worked all over IU campus on various projects, most recently the new Bloomington Hospital. In my free time, I like to mountain bike, that's how I met my wife. We try to get away as often as possible to ride bikes. I've followed LWB for years on social media and really liked the work they do, especially the attention to detail. I contacted them and they generously offered me a position on their very talented team. I'm looking forward to contributing to the Loren Wood Builders Team.
Jonathan McCoy
Lead Painter
Born in Amarillo, Texas and settled in Bloomington at age 19. He began painting at age 20 with a few different companies finally deciding to start his own. After a few years of working for himself, he hired on with a remodeling company but always went back to painting. When not working he enjoys fishing and spending time with his wife of 12 years and their 2 boys Benjamin (11) and Jackson (4).
Ali Matte
Office Manager and Bookkeeper
Ali has lived in Bloomington most of her life but originally, she is from western Illinois. She has been married for 11 years to her husband Richard and they have three boys- Drew-10, Evan-7, Marc-6. Most of her adult career she had focused on restaurant management, event planning and catering. She has had a love for design and home plans since she was a child and decided to find a more family-oriented career. She is so happy to be working with LWB because of their care of the community and providing a family friendly work environment, as well as, building the most beautiful homes in the community.
Pete Allen
Trim Carpenter
Pete was born and raised in Bloomington and has always had a passion for making things and working with his hands. After graduating from the University of Indianapolis with a degree in Business Management he moved back to Bloomington and knew that he wanted to work in the construction field. Pete is very excited to join the LWB team.
Hannah Duncan
Architecture Project Manager
Hannah's parents dropped her off at Indiana University in 2013 and she's called Bloomington home ever since. After graduating magna cum laude from SPEA and growing her professional skills at the City of Bloomington and IU Health, Hannah made the decision to turn towards a longtime passion and interest of hers: design. Hannah lives with her husband Gordon and their little black pug Homer; they enjoy breakfast at the farmer's market, long walks to the dog park, and traveling with friends.
Austin Lucas
Painter
Austin grew up in Greene County, Indiana and then later moved to Bloomington with his dad. Growing up, his jobs have always consisted of hard labor, however a couple of years ago his fiancé's dad introduced him to painting. He has since developed a huge passion for it and is excited to join the painting crew at LWB. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his family, playing video games, being outdoors, and playing cornhole.
Natalie Foy
Site Manager, Carpenter
Originally from Medina, Ohio, Natalie moved from Cincinnati to Bloomington in early 2022 after enjoying weekend camping trips and hikes in the many parks in the area. She has worked in residential construction in various roles since 2013, getting her start at Habitat for Humanity in Cincinnati, and most recently with a local design-build company as construction manager. In her spare time, Natalie enjoys cooking (and eating!), reading, running, and hiking with her husband and dog.
Alyssa Bullock
Project Designer
Alyssa holds a Master’s in Architecture from Indiana University and a Bachelor’s in Sculpture from Herron School of Art and Design in Indianapolis, where she was raised. She has 5+ years experience working in wood shops and has always loved creating three-dimensionally. At the end of her undergraduate degree, her art had shifted from sculptural objects to curated environments designed to evoke a specific experience. This led her department head to ask if she had ever considered pursuing a career in architecture, which she had not, and within a year had begun working on her M.Arch. She considers architectural design to be the perfect intersection of artistic expression, attention to detail, and technical skills. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling and seeing live music with her fiancé, doing anything creative, and spending time outside.
Elijah Frank
Painter
Elijah grew up in the small town of Orleans, Indiana and is the youngest of four boys. He and his partner/high school sweetheart have four precious children together. At home he loves to take care of his extensive array of animals along with his collection of exotic plants. Elijah enjoys singing, playing piano, guitar and drums and in his free time records music. He loves to paint because it combines integrity along with his attention to detail and the way it transforms everyday environments into loveable and inspiring spaces.
Seth McCanse
CFO, Project Manager, Carpenter
Seth grew up in the Midwest working with his father and grandfather in McCanse Engineering, a small engineering & manufacturing firm started by his grandfather. He attended the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana where he earned his Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering degree. During college, he participated in an international exchange program and studied for a year at Monash University in Melbourne, Australia. In 2004, Seth partnered with his father building houses and has since built his own home, and currently manages the construction of numerous projects, including new homes, remodels, and additions. Seth manages bookkeeping for LWB and works on continual process and efficiency improvements. He is also the proud father of two amazing boys.
John Vinson
Lead Estimator, Project Engineer
John Vinson started with LWB in August of 2014 and now fills the role of Lead Estimator and Project Engineer. He is a creative problem-solver, provides attention to detail in his work, and appreciates the variety of projects that LWB clients bring. When he's not on the job, John is either working hard on his own home improvements, with assistance from his wife, cats, and small flock of chickens (they are not much help) or enjoying Bloomington's great restaurants, live music, theater, and outdoor recreation.
Rick Dyer
Lead Carpenter
Originally from Cornwall, England, Rick picked up the carpentry trade while working in his father's construction company. While also skilled in tool and die, Rick returned to construction when he arrived in Bloomington in 1980. From that time forward, Rick has been a constant fixture in the local building scene and brings an expansive depth of experience to LWB. When Rick is not scrambling ladders and swinging hammers, he spends the majority of his time astride his motorbike.
Nathaniel Baker
Finish Manager, Carpenter
Nathaniel has lived in Bloomington for most of his life. He got his feet wet in high school working summers with his uncle and helping to build his family home. Nathaniel got married a few years ago to his high school sweetheart. and took a job in Cincinnati creating themed environments for zoos, aquariums and theme parks across the country. Nathaniel first fell in love with LWB five or six years ago after driving past one of their spec homes. After his family started growing, Nathaniel joined the team with LWB and was able to move his family back to their hometown. He enjoys building custom furniture in his spare time.
Stewart Hamilton
Carpenter
Stewart Hamilton is a Purdue University graduate, obtaining a major in forestry and a minor in environmental science. He lives on a small farm in Mitchell, Indiana. Stewart enjoys farming and vends at a local farmers market. In addition to farming he enjoys being outdoors. He decided to work with LWB after graduating because he wants to learn how to build things and enjoys working with his hands.
Alex Minor
Project Designer
Alex was born and raised in Bloomington, Indiana. His passion for art, design, and experience helping his Dad with his home repair business made the decision easy to pursue architecture as a career. He graduated from Ball State in 2016 with a Bachelors of Science in Architecture and worked in Indianapolis for a year and a half at an architecture firm that specialized in K-12 educational projects. He then went back to Ball State to pursue his Masters of Architecture and graduated in May 2019. Alex strives to create architecture that authentically captures the unique story each client has to tell. Loren Wood Builders is an amazing opportunity for him to learn and work on dream projects. In his free time, he enjoys woodworking, painting and listening to local bands with friends.
Scott Rodriguez
Electrician
Scott grew up in Louisiana and later moved to Plainfield, Indiana. He now lives in Bloomington, Indiana with his three kids; his twelve-year-old son and eight-year-old twin girls. His background in electrical comes from years of working as a motorcycle technician and mechanic. This gave him a great understanding of alternating and direct currents. He is known around the office as the “man lift fixer” because with his expertise he brought our lift back to life. Scott is happy to be working at LWB and says this is the most welcoming and accepting place he’s ever worked at and how his coworkers feel like family.
Russ Herndon
Senior Designer
Following initial drawing coursework at the Herron School of Art, at age 20, Russ designed/built his simple “cabin in the woods” off-grid, in Brown County. From this rustic base, Russ engaged in all studio ranges, art and architectural history in fine arts IU Bloomington, later completing a business degree. His career included building the local design/build team Herndon Design, with his lovely, talented wife and partner Shelli. The cumulative art and design aesthetic accrued, I believe for me; continues to hone and keep fresh my creative work while ever balancing restraint. Restraint is beauty and like music. Sometimes the most wonderful piece is a result of the notes one does not play. The best projects remarks Russ; are simplest in design, coupled with streamlined space development and minimal finishes palette. As a first principle, natural light is premium while seamlessly blending the interior space with the out of doors. Outside interests: Boating, working in the garden, playing guitar, and of course: enjoying our wingnut Dachshund, Lowla!
Brandon Bedolla
Carpenter
Brandon grew up and lived in Spencer, Indiana for the majority of his early life before moving to Bloomington in early 2017. He was drawn to Loren Wood Builders because of the way we value our employees and the high quality work that we produce. He has been here for nearly two years learning and growing into a sufficient Finish Carpenter. Brandon recently got married in the fall of 2020 and enjoys spending his time camping with his wife, traveling around the country, making furniture, and playing disc golf! He loves working with homeowners in the Bloomington area and can’t wait to see where his work leads him.
Ellis Worstall
Masonry & Concrete, Carpentry
Ellis joined our team to help with masonry, concrete, and carpentry. He had followed our LWB projects and always said that he wanted to join our team to focus in on a trade and grow his expertise. In his free time he likes spending time with his pit bull buddy and building furniture.
Josiah Ummel
Laborer
Josiah was adopted from Ethiopia as a baby and has lived in Bloomington with his parents and 5 siblings for 14 years. He is in high school and enjoys drumming and running XC and track. He has always enjoyed working with his hands and is looking forward to learning about building at Loren Wood Builders.
Jonelle Gross
Project Manager
Jonelle grew up in Ohio, and started her time as a Hoosier when she left for college at Trine University. She spent a couple years in the fire sprinkler industry in the northern part of the state, designing systems and managing projects. Jonelle moved to Bloomington in 2010 with her husband, Adam. During that time, she worked as a product development engineer for the automotive industry. She is excited to bring her skills in project management & passion for the details, to LWB. She is also eager to start a career that will be very active within the Bloomington/Monroe County community. In her freetime, she enjoys all things outdoors, Jeeping with her husband & spending time with their 2 cats, Iggy & Salty.
Rob Blair
Site Superintendent
Rob started working in construction at the age of 16 during summers in his hometown of Pontiac, Illinois. He now has over 20 yrs. experience specializing in structural carpentry and T.C.O.B. He lives about an hour North of Bloomington with his beautiful wife Katie, and their two girls, Lucy and Jill. His interests include family, archery, gardening, and the outdoors.
Chris Looney
Trim Carpenter
Chris apprenticed as a joiner in England where he was certified by the City and Guilds of London. He worked in the Northeast for the majority of his career and has been fortunate enough to work all over the world with many clients. After his children graduated from Indiana University, he followed his family and moved to Bloomington where he now resides. On his off time, Chris enjoys birdwatching and exploring new hiking spots in Southern Indiana.
Jamil Moore
Carpenter
A native Bloomingtonian, Jamil discovered a passion for woodworking and design during his college years in Vermont. Since then, he has worked as a solar installer, carpenter, and trail builder. In his free time, he enjoys mountain climbing, songwriting, and spending quality time with friends and family.
Brad Snyder
Lead Licensed Electrician
Brad Snyder formed Lone Wolf Electric Inc in 1992 and was an LWB sub contractor from 2011 to 2014. In early 2014, Brad partnered with LWB there by bringing all our electric services in house. Brad has over 33 years of experience with 25 as a licensed electrician/contractor. In his spare time, Brad and his wife can be found driving country roads on their Honda Shadow, working in the garden and enjoying their rural homestead.
Ernesto Castañeda
Design Principal, Architect
Ernesto Castañeda has compiled nearly two decades of professional design experience in Bloomington. Ernesto has worked with a variety of clients, from business owners and private developers to single-family homeowners. He completed his Bachelor of Architecture degree from the Universidad Veracruzana in the State of Veracruz, Mexico in 1997. Ernesto came to the U.S. in 1997 to continue his studies at DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana with a concentration on Art History and Modern European History. In 1999, Ernesto joined local Bloomington Architecture firm Kirkwood Design Studio (KDS). Ernesto spent the next 11 years at KDS working on projects ranging from single-family residential, mixed-use multi-family developments, historic preservation and master planning. Ernesto also designed furniture in collaboration with Wedge, a local modern furniture company. In 2010, Ernesto founded Bloomington Office of Design + Architecture (BODA) and started his own practice. Loren Wood Builders has teamed up with Ernesto on many projects over the years and finally convinced him to come in-house with Loren Wood Builders. Ernesto is passionate about small living, community- oriented neighborhoods, and efficient, sustainable design.
Thaddeus Walker
Finish Manager, Carpenter
A painter, woodworker, cabinetmaker, and bowyer, Thaddeus Walker has loved working with his hands since his youth. He enjoys detailed work and is always up for challenging projects. He has been a resident of Bloomington for five years. He and his wife of eighteen years are foster parents to three children—twin boys and their younger sister. He loves to spend time with them and to be outdoors whenever possible.
Rhett Elliott
Commercial Project Manager, Metalsmith
Rhett’s life in construction started at a young age while working for his father in residential framing and remodeling in Northern California. This early introduction to construction lead him to a sheet metal apprenticeship following high school. After completing a five year apprenticeship he began running various projects ranging from architectural panels, siding and roofing to large HVAC installations including commercial pharmaceutical and specialty metals. Rhett’s management style, twelve years of experience and success as a field foreman created the opportunity for him to take on more responsibility as a project manager for one of the largest sheet metal contractors in the nation. During his tenure there, he worked hand in hand with architects and general contractors to create unique architectural elements on large and small projects throughout Indiana. As an outdoor enthusiast and artistically driven-individual, Rhett looks to exemplify the style and outstanding customer service that has been the trademark of Loren Wood Builders.
Jesse Cooper
Finish Manager, Carpenter
Jesse Cooper started working in construction in 1995. After spending time at an established window company working on sunrooms, windows, doors, and siding, Jesse next worked for a historical restoration company in Indianapolis. High profile projects during Jesse's renovation work included Union Station and Homewood Suites. Jesse took time off from carpentry in 2006 and worked as a production artist for Adidas producing art for screen printing. Jesse brings a wealth of construction knowledge to the LWB team. Jesse loves to hike, camp and Kayak with his three children (Skylar, Willow and Phoenix). Everything Jesse does is for those three smart, amazing kids!
Sarah Menefee
Carpenter
Sarah Menefee, Boston-born and Bloomington-raised, loves to sing and work with her hands. She has five years of experience working in landscaping and groundskeeping. Sarah has a love for figuring out how things work, having grown up with a mechanical engineer as a father. She’s been a member of two award-winning show choirs and is a performer with the Ooolites, an ensemble created by composer Malcolm Dalglish. Sarah’s also the lead singer for local blues band King Bee and the Stingers, which made the semifinals at the 2018 International Blues Challenge in Memphis, TN. She is thrilled to join the Loren Wood Builders team!
Kait Garner
Senior Office Manager
Kait was Hoosier born but fled to the West Coast right after high school. Despite her wanderlust and many, many moves, she landed in Bloomington in 2017 and joined the LWB family in 2018. Her favorite part of the day is laughing with her co-workers. She is referred to by some of the crew as "shop mom" (among other things). Outside of work Kait enjoys cooking, gardening, studying nutrition and Ayurveda, and listening to audiobooks and podcasts.
Daniel Knipstine
Paint Manager
Dan graduated from Indiana University with a BA in Telecommunications. He worked as a disc jockey and later as a kitchen manager for several years. He joined a friend’s painting company which grew to become the largest in Bloomington at the time. He became its operations manager and estimator. In 1998 he started his own company called Advent Decorating. It specialized in upper residential painting, wallpaper, decorative and faux finishes. His second career is as a Christian minister serving a church in Columbus, Ohio since 1992. He and his wife Chris, who is a mosaic artist, have five children. He enjoys reading, writing and making music. “We chose to raise our children in Bloomington because of its flourishing art scene, diverse culture, dining and entertainment opportunities. We spend our spare time taking advantage of all Bloomington has to offer.”
Jesse Jacob Harris
Carpenter
I am a non-genetically engineered organism, who has 25+ years on the job experience in the building trades. A legacy carpenter, my grandfather, father, most of my uncles, my aunt, brothers, and cousins were or still are in the trades and I have been blessed to be able to work with most of them. I have a wide skill set in fields such as industrial demo, masonry, metal framing, drywall, wood framing, painting, and trim carpentry. I am always looking to add more skills to my kit. Loren Wood Builders with his professional crew and highly skilled office staff, to his artisans and craftsmen in the field, I believe I can do that and more.
Chris Reese
Flooring & Finish Carpenter
Chris is a former Marine, IU grad, bowyer, and finish sprayer. He enjoys detailed work, and opportunities to learn and hone his skills. In his spare time Chris enjoys playing disc golf with his family, friends, and coworkers.
Tim Rush
Carpenter
Tim was born and raised in Bloomington Indiana and went into the army right out of High School. After ten years in the army he joined the union as a glazier and has been in construction for the past ten years. When Tim isn't working he spends all of his time with his seven year old son, Leo.
Glenn Myers
Electrician
Glenn moved to Bloomington in 2006 to study music and telecommunications and has been actively participating in the local music scene since. He worked for CATS for ten years doing video production, but also has been “Mr. Fix It” on the side doing carpentry and all sorts of other work for his friends and family. Glenn says that joining the Loren Wood team has been very fulfilling. When he is not at work he's either spending time with his family, recording at the studio, or on the road.
Priscilla Rocha
Project Designer
Originally from Brasilia, Brazil, Priscilla grew up in Valparaiso, Indiana with her mom and two younger brothers. After receiving a Bachelor of Science in Arts Management from the School of Public and Environmental Affairs (SPEA), she worked within the Bloomington art scene, painted murals, organized art events, and directed a gallery in downtown Bloomington. She began to realize that strong creative communities are fostered by the existence of public spaces that become places where people connect and grow, so she dove into design to explore the built environment and received a Master of Architecture from the J. Irwin Miller Program at IU. She is a painter at heart, loves all conversations involving the spirit of big ideas, and is currently remodeling a 1920s bungalow in Bloomington with her fiance and three tiny dogs - Salvador, Pablo, and Frida.
Phoenix Cooper
Carpenter
Phoenix grew up in Brown County with his family and two sisters, and also attended the Project School. He is excited about working at LWB and is eager to learn from the team. He has a passion for woodworking and is hoping to pick up some painting skills during his time here.
Dan Crites
COO, Project Manager, Carpenter
Dan, after a handful of years molding the minds of America’s youth and nearly three tiresome years toiling in the drudgery of the auto factory, makes his triumphant return to the construction industry. Growing up under the watchful eyes of small local builders in Greentown, IN provided Dan with an array of building experiences, nimble feet, a proper hammer, and a quick wit. Dan manages remodel jobs at Loren Wood Builders, manages the daily operations, and manages to work a pun into almost every conversation. When he is not vigorously working, Dan can be found charging about vigorously with his lovely wife Kali, endeavoring to corral, contain and otherwise cherish their children Lomasi and Huxley.
Curt Silvers
Lead Carpenter
Curt has been working as a carpenter for Loren Wood Builders for six years. He began his building career fresh out of High School, working on various framing crews in Bloomington area. Curt is a hiking and camping enthusiast and enjoys spending time with his wife and their beloved poodles.
Russell Wyatt
Punch Specialist
Russell was raised in Brown Co. and lives in Monroe Co. Russell and his wife Lissie raised two children in their house they built themselves on N Maple Grove 32 yrs ago. He considers himself a craftsman and enjoys working on any aspect of construction. When not working around their 8 ac. hilltop property he can be seen out in the fields picking up arrowheads for his collection.
Erik Weaver
Licensed Electrician
Erik Weaver is a native hoosier, originally from Columbus, IN. On top of his experience as an electrician, Erik has a BS in elementary education from New Mexico State University and a rich background in horticulture. With five awesome kids and one awesome wife, Erik is happy to have arrived on the LWB electric team.
Jacob Hyer
Shop Manager, Finish Manager & Carpenter
Jacob Hyer is originally from Columbus, Indiana where he gained 16 years of woodworking experience at multiple prominent custom cabinet shops. He moved to Bloomington and is currently living in the rolling hills of Eastern Monroe County. Jacob has an additional seven years of experience in all facets of construction. He has been fortunate enough to have started, owned, and ran his own cabinet and fine furniture company. His true passion lies in high-end details and quality craftsmanship in the woodworking areas of all homes and projects. Secretly, his favorite part of what he does is knowing that the customer will enjoy the functionality and precision of details that will stand the test of time once a job is complete. In his off time, he loves spending time with his sons, hiking, exploring the creek and woods, and fossil hunting. Since moving to Bloomington, Jacob has longed to have the camaraderie and fellowship of a great collaborating team. For that reason, he is extremely happy to be part of the crew of Loren Wood Builders.
Evan Knipstine
Lead Painter
Evan is a Bloomington native and started working in the trades when he was 16. With a fine art background in photography and metal fabrication, detail has always been a priority. He is married and they love being in nature.
Stephen Baker
Finish Carpenter
Stephen and his family have lived in Bloomington since 2003. He’s been married to his wife, Sebra, for 26 years. They have six sons and four grandkids. Their oldest son, Nathaniel, has been a finish carpenter with LWB for several years. In 2012, he and his older sons began to build a large family home in Monroe County that would provide a gathering place for their extended family and friends. The first home of its kind in Monroe County, it is a modern 5,000 square foot farmhouse built around an engineered steel frame, clad with energy-efficient steel insulated panels. Stephen and Sebra designed the home and Stephen and his four older sons did a major amount of work to get it done (along with a lot of help from their friends). Serving as the designer, general contractor, and laborer on this project threw him into the deep end of the construction world. Stephen has admired LWB’s work for years and is thrilled to have the opportunity to join the team as part of the finish crew. When he’s not working on the jobsite, Stephen serves as a pastor at Trinity Reformed Church and as the Dean and lead instructor of New Geneva Academy, a program that trains pastors.
Will Hill
Flooring & Finish Carpernter
Will was born and raised in Tunnelton, Indiana and settled in Bloomington in 2012 when he took a job with LWB as a laborer. Will quickly developed a passion for carpentry and leadership as he worked his way up to lead carpenter and job-site supervisor within the span of about 5 years. Will went out on his own for about three years to explore his love for hardwood flooring, even apprenticing with a local craftsman to improve his sanding and finishing skills. Will, however, missed the comradery and work environment offered by LWB, and asked in 2020 if he could rejoin the team and bring his flooring skills along with him. In his spare time you can find Will spending time with his beautiful fiancee Kaitlynn, and his son Wilder.
Caleb Samland
Painter
Originally from Buffalo, NY, Caleb moved to Bloomington in 2015 to study at Jacob's School of Music. In addition to his work with LWB, he also works as a caregiver for an elderly gentleman with Cerebral Palsy and interns at his church, where he plays various instruments and helps arrange and record new music. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with friends, disc golfing, reading, building and restoring furniture, and playing guitar.
Sasha Shumyatsky
Lead Designer & Architect
Sasha Shumyatsky completed his Bachelor of Architecture degree from Cornell University in 1998. His first jobs out of school were designing apartment renovations with SPAN Architecture and freelance model making for Ralph Appelbaum and Rafael Viñoly in New York City. He returned to Ithaca in 2001 to pursue teaching, both as a design studio critic and as the wood & metal shop manager / educator at the College of Architecture, Art and Planning. In 2005, he settled in Los Angeles, designing & building custom homes for Marmol Radziner. Before joining Loren Wood Builders this year, he spent the last 11 years in LA as a Senior Associate and Senior Designer with Clive Wilkinson Architects designing creative workplace interiors, educational buildings, and residential projects ranging in scale from 2,000sf to 500,000sf for Google, lululemon, The UCLA School of Theater Film and Television and Valve Corporation. Along with their two cats Romeo and Phoe-Phoe, Sasha and his wife Kate are thrilled to call Bloomington their new home and are excited to explore every square inch of it. They love biking, hiking, watching movies, gardening and cooking.
Josh Vogel
Carpenter
Josh has been working in the residential remodeling industry in the Bloomington community since 2015. He has a strong background in residential construction beginning in 2012. Josh is well versed in all systems of residential building. He takes pride in producing quality work, and bringing a positive attitude into the work space. Outside of work, Josh spends most of his time with his wife and their two toddlers. Josh is proud to be a part of the LWB team.
Allyn Lambert
Project Designer
Allyn has spent time working for respected architectural firms in Bloomington and Indianapolis before joining Loren Wood Builders in 2022. He has experience in single family homes, multi-family residential and mixed-use buildings. He is looking forward to the challenges working with a Design/Build team and the knowledge that will come with this opportunity. In his free time, Allyn enjoys many hobbies, as well as, being outdoors and traveling with his wife Renee. Allyn is also a member of BloomingLabs, a local non-profit makerspace for people who like to make things.
Ben Farmer
Site Superintendent
Ben lives in Owen County with his wife Abby, who he says is the most amazing person he knows, and his three children, Austin, Gracie, and Makinzi. Two of which are in high school and one, a senior in college. They live on a small hobby farm with 40 laying hens, 2 donkeys, 4 goats, and typically a cow or two. They love being outside, relaxing on their property, and staying busy with the chores around their funny farm, if they aren’t traveling for volleyball. He is excited to be at LWB (again) and says Loren is the best employer he’s ever worked with and feels like this is a second family to him. He says it’s really rewarding to be a part of building new homes and remodeling homes and seeing the end product.
Rachel Henry
Adminstrative Assistant
Rachel was born and raised in Brown County, IN and moved to Bloomington after high school. She has taken on many different roles throughout her professional career, from pastry chef to carpenter, where she worked along side her father building custom pieces for local patrons. Having a young daughter at the time, she also specialized in designing and creating wooden puzzles for kids. After igniting a passion for the home building process while working for the county as zoning inspector she decided to join the LWB team. She is excited to experience the other side of building and be a part of making beautiful, custom living spaces come to life. After recently becoming empty nesters, Rachel and her husband enjoy biking, camping, gardening, and hanging with their dog in their newly purchased 100-year-old bungalow on the South side.
OUR PROCESS
How we design and build impacts the experience, the quality, and the community.
We are committed to conscientious design and construction. The quality of the work as well as the materials and methods the builder uses are all important aspects of this process. We combine a sustainable approach with exceptional craftsmanship. How we design and build impacts the experience, the quality, and the community.
Phase 1:
PLAN
This is our time to sit down with you and go over your project wish list, budget and desired timeline. We want to learn everything about you and your project goals.
Phase 2:
DESIGN
In this phase we document all of the current existing conditions of your project. Once we have a full understanding of what you have we can begin to create your new preliminary sketches. Once we have narrowed down a few sketches, we begin the process on the computer. Preliminary site development, floor plans, elevations, and 3d massing may be created to help you visualize our early concepts for your project. If approved, we dive into the details. Frequent progress meetings, early collaboration with our project managers, and budget reviews ensure a high level of transparency along the way.
Phase 3:
BUILD
Now we bring your vision to life. The design-build alignment creates a fluid and efficient transition. You will have the full team at your disposal so your project, budget, and goals stay on time.
Phase 4:
MOVE IN
Above all, we want you to be ecstatic about your new space. We’ll work hard to make sure this is the case. Construction projects are time-consuming, stressful and expensive. We know this, and we really appreciate the trust you place in Loren Wood Builders.
Phase 1:
PLAN
This is our time to sit down with you and go over your project wish list, budget and desired timeline. We want to learn everything about you and your project goals.
Phase 2:
DESIGN
In this phase we document all of the current existing conditions of your project. Once we have a full understanding of what you have, we can begin to create your new preliminary sketches. Once we have narrowed down a few sketches, we begin the process on the computer. Preliminary site development, floor plans, elevations, and 3d massing may be created to help you visualize our early concepts for your project. If approved, we dive into the details. Frequent progress meetings, early collaboration with our project managers, and budget reviews ensure a high level of transparency along the way.
Phase 3:
BUILD
Now we bring your vision to life. The design-build alignment creates a fluid and efficient transition. You will have the full team at your disposal, so your project, budget, and goals stay on time.
Phase 4:
MOVE IN
Above all, we want you to be ecstatic about your new space. We’ll work hard to make sure this is the case. Construction projects are time-consuming, stressful, and expensive. We know this, and we really appreciate the trust you place in Loren Wood Builders.
