Building Teams, Building Dreams

Building Teams, Building Dreams

I don’t tend to be the sort that looks backwards. And that’s just as well, because in the business of construction and design, the focus is always on the future. What’s evolving in the industry? What are the best new products on the market? How can we provide even more stellar service for our clients?

But having recently celebrated two fantastic years in the US, I can’t help but take the time to stop and reflect upon where Victoria and I have been as both business owners and guests of the great state of Arizona. As most worthwhile journeys are, this one has been both exhilarating and exacting.

And I wouldn’t trade a moment of it.

We arrived in February 2017 with our loyal pup Purdey in tow, and hit the ground running. There was simply no time to stop and smell the (cactus) flowers. As appealing as the idea of a leisurely settling in was, it was far more exciting to get out into the community as quickly as possible. There was so much to offer our potential clients – from top-of-the-line appliances and remodel options to Victoria’s original artwork – that it seemed only natural to house it all in a beautiful showroom in the heart of the  Scottsdale Quarter. The storefront enjoyed great success, and we had a brilliant time hosting events there that drew hundreds of people at a time. But once the lease renewal rolled around at the end of the first year, a high-quality problem presented itself: the remodeling side of the business had taken off so well that there was simply no time to maintain a retail presence. So, I opted to not renew our lease and focus instead upon expanding our top-notch building and design team.

And that’s exactly what’s happened. To date, C&C has completed over 25 remodels in the Phoenix metro and Scottsdale areas and has four employees on our payroll, as well as nearly 20 subcontractors that I keep busy on a regular basis. While I’m obviously proud of our superior craftsmanship and growing roster of happy clients, what is equally rewarding is the fact that this company is putting people to work and contributing to the US economy. The reason I chose this particular visa (E-2 investor visa) is that it required the creation of employment for Americans, which is something that I believe in, and am delighted to have accomplished.

But there has also been a great deal to celebrate on the personal front. After nearly a year in the states, Purdey made it known that he wanted a sibling. (All right, so we wanted another Griffon…but our boy came around to the idea rather quickly.). So, in November of 2017, we welcomed Princess Pippa to our family. And I can honestly say that I have met more people that have become true friends and trustworthy colleagues than I ever have anywhere else in such a relatively short amount of time. Of course, there were a few less-than-rosy scenarios where certain people tried to take advantage of our situation as we worked to build a business in unfamiliar territory. But those sorts of characters were few and far between, and I have been absolutely blown away by the warmth, kindness and generosity of the Americans who have welcomed us to this country with open arms.  

Next month, I will be visiting the US Embassy to discuss our visa extension. And while I will be the one making the trip, I am representing the whole of “Team James.” As I’ve said many a time, Victoria is truly the “create” in “Create and Construct”, and without her – and our incredible employees and contractors – there would be no C&C. It is our sincere desire to keep doing what we do best: building teams of passionate, dedicated craftsmen who then help to build the dreams of our treasured clients. This is what we live for, and our crew can’t wait to forge ahead into year three – and beyond – in this beautiful Sonoran sanctuary of Scottsdale, Arizona.