02/15/2021
Retiring after 44 yrs. in business.
Marylin and I were married in Oct. 1972 and left Wellton Ariz. for Tucson, with a total of $300 to our names, and have been living here ever since.
In February of 1977, we started Desert West Construction fulfilling a dream that I had since I was 14 yrs. old. Marylin ran the office, doing the accounting and paying the bills, while I handled all of the construction operations. We have always stayed busy but struggled at times to make ends meet for the first six to seven year of business. Finally, we were able to build a good enough reputation where we were able to get jobs without always being the lowest bidder and started making some money and getting ourselves ahead. I have always loved what I do, but making a little money certainly made it more enjoyable.
As time went by, our reputation continued to grow, and we became more and more successful. I quickly learned though, that we were only as good as our employees and subcontractors. Over the years, we were fortunate to have some key employees, like, Ken Whetten, Aaron Nymeyer and Scott Schagel, who were so important to our success. Especially Scott, who worked with us for almost 25 yrs. Scott was a jack of all trades and a true master craftsman who I could, and did, always depend on. I can’t even adequately express my love and appreciation for the years Scott, and I worked together.
We also developed a core group of subcontractors and suppliers who were loyal and that I could count on to do things the right way and to the quality that I wanted and expected. Several of these subcontractors have worked for me for well over 15 to 20 yrs. and a few, well over 35+ yrs. I owe so much gratitude and appreciation to Michael Cline (Cline Masonry), Jay Hoke and Leroy Chenowth (Hoke Construction), Terry Carson (Benchmark Concrete), Vaughn Sudrala and Kevin Davis (Vaughn’s Electric), Bill Sisson (Sisson Plumbing), Mike Sisson (Mesa Verde Plumbing), Jeff Hamtra and Gary Dean (Hamstra Heating & Cooling), Fred Seger (Seger Painting), John and Kevin Conway (Conway Tile), Doug and Rob Staples (Cimarron Circle Const.), Katrina Mullinax (Home Works Cabinetry), Martin and Ralph (Headlee Roofing), Mike Summer (Accura Systems), Curt Hansen (Hansen and Kramer Stucco), Eric Myrmo and Curt Venos (Myrmo & Sons), John Carson (Optimum Concrete), Randy Herder (RS Herder Corp.), Ric Canfield (Canfield Custom Closets), Rob Wilson (Flame Connection), Tom Colby (Hartman Glass), Tony Filip (Arizona Sash and Door and Stan Greer Millworks), Trevor Johansen (Garden Gate Landscaping), Matthew Chapman and Martha Rodriquez (Ferguson Enterprises), Elizabeth Miller (Fractured Earth), Ernie Perry (Holderness Supply), Ken Fredrick (Conquistador Exterminating), Robert and Gary Mackley (MB Contractors).
We feel so very fortunate to have had the opportunity to build some of the nicest custom homes in Tucson and to work closely with two of the best Architects in Tucson, Kevin Howard and Ron Robinette and two special interior designers in Lori Carrol (Lori Carrol & Associates) and Doug Marsceill (Marsceill Design).
Of course, none of this would have been possible, except for all of our many clients over the years who chose Desert West Construction to build their home. There are way too many to try to list here, but we greatly love and appreciate our association with everyone of them. Marylin and I were trying to count all of the homes we built over the last 44 yrs., and we got up over 105, or so, and I’m pretty sure we have forgotten a few of them.
We started in February 1977 and now in February 2021, with some sadness and also some excitement for what will come next, we have decided it’s time to retire and close the doors. We had a good run that has far exceeded all of our dreams and expectations. We have been truly blessed.
We can’t thank you all enough, who were there with us along the way.
Bern and Marylin
