Joseph Sheets owned Sheets Construction for more than a decade before the Great Recession forced him to close. When his employer, Todd Hess, asked him to take over his construction company in 2021 so Hess could retire, Sheets hit the ground running.

He and his wife, Danielle, changed the company’s name to TH Builders Corp.; obtained their own license and insurance; took over the existing contracts, tools and equipment; and retained the Hess team.

“One thing we love the most about our work is that not one project is the same. Every project is different, so you get to learn about new clients and what they do every day,” Joseph said.

Danielle appreciates that the small ESB is like a family. “I love going to work not only because of the variety of the projects we get to work on, but also because of the people we get to work with.”

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The Alvarez family, led by Fatima, Noe and Jorge Alvarez, started Alvarez General Contractor in 2022 after developing expertise and experience in roofing over the last nearly 20 years.

The company works with all roof types, including flat, asphalt shingles, metal and shake. Its projects include multifamily, residential and commercial structures.

Fatima Alvarez said she wanted to become a part owner of the company to have a better life as she grows older. “I enjoy the freedom of not working for someone else and doing my work at my own pace,” she said.

As new members of NAMC-OR, the Alvarezes hope to build relationships with other members, get more involved and obtain more work opportunities. Along the way, Fatima Alvarez said, she is learning to evaluate the scope of the work at hand and always trust the process, advice she recommends to other small business owners.

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Kim Johnson initially planned to study graphic design in college, but her parents encouraged her to pursue a more stable field and follow in her dad’s footsteps as a civil engineer.

She gained technical skills and the ability to interact with clients, manage projects and lead a team while working in California. In 2022, she started 7 Oaks Engineering and runs the Silverton-based company with her husband, Steven Johnson.

“It has always been a dream for my husband and me to have our own civil engineering business. I reached a point in my career where I felt I had hit a ceiling. Despite the industry’s dynamic nature, I felt I had more to offer and wanted to achieve more in my career. So, I decided to take the leap,” she said.

Johnson enjoys the challenges and variety her work offers, adding, “This job keeps me on my toes!”

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