Today we’d like to introduce you to Hilary Stalder
Hilary, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I interned with a home builder when I was in college and fell in love with the challenge of being a Construction Manager! After graduating from the University of Virginia, I ended up working at the company I interned with for 3 years. Problem solving, people skills, homeowner relations and a tangible end product were all so enticing to me as a young professional. I was building highly custom tract homes in Lake Nona. I really loved my job, but after a few acquisitions I knew it was time for me to move on.
I then started working in commercial construction with Brasfield & Gorrie out of their Orlando office. While the homebuilder taught me the technical skills and basics of construction, Brasfield & Gorrie took that to a whole new level as I was primarily focused on Healthcare Construction during my time there. I became an expert at understanding plans, the professional builder process of RFIs, submittals and communication with architects, but more than anything I learned how a business was run at a very high level. I was with them for 5 years and learned so much from all the excellent teachers and selfless leaders there. Ultimately I had to leave, due to my own ambitions to be an entrepreneur and missing the emotional element of working with a homeowner.
I started my own company while still working at Brasfield & Gorrie. Stalder Construction was started in 2019. With careful planning and execution, I finally went on my own and feel like I was able to do so confidently based on so much of my past experience. The homebuilder taught me the fundamentals of construction in a very fast paced, high stakes environment. Brasfield & Gorrie taught me the business and how to run a company and run a job in a correct and organized way. I am very grateful to both of those past experiences because they got me to where I am today.
Today I run Stalder Construction with the help of my partner Mike Slater. We are a multi-million dollar, design-forward construction company that focuses on high-end residential construction and small commercial. We run our company with a focus on design, client experience and relationship building. We are a builder that thinks outside the blueprints, we pay attention to details on the job, but also with our client relationships. We want our clients to end projects with us not just happy, but eager to refer us to their friends and family! We treat our clients like members of our family and it’s not uncommon to hear us refer to them that way. We run our business on transparency and trust. We like to say our Stalder family is always growing, and we mean it!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It’s never a smooth road as an entrepreneur, but that’s part of the fun! Early in my company when money was very tight, I was faced with an issue on a project: a tile was damaged. It was unclear who damaged this tile because so many tradesman had been in the bathroom and it was covered with floor protection so I did not see it until the end of the project. I was faced with a dilemma: Do I charge the homeowner for this repair or do I take it on myself? Early in the business this choice was not an easy one, but I decided to take on the cost of this repair myself. We still operate our business like this today, albeit on a much larger scale, and I think it speaks to who we are as a builder. Yes, we’re in business to make money, but our homeowner relations are so much more important than that. The client comes first, we don’t just say that, we mean that.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Stalder Construction LLC?
Stalder Construction is a female led, design-foward builder in Winter Park, FL. We do large residential projects like full home renovations, additions and new home construction in the Central Florida area. We are different from your average builder because we think about the end product and specifically the design. If our client doesn’t have a designer on board, I’m very involved in the material selection upfront. I can gently guide homeowners if they’re stuck on a decision and I’ve been known to speak up if they’re making a choice I can see them regretting.
Also, on the jobsite, this means we’re looking out for details: if there’s a window over a sink it HAS to be centered; if we’re planning cabinetry, let’s think about symmetry; if there is structural detail that will throw off our aesthetic, let’s get creative and think about how we can make it look intentional. We do a lot more upfront than other builders do and this planning helps us execute the needs of the clients in a detail driven / intentional way! I think this part of working with us is our main differentiator from other builders.
We also have a strong loyalty to our clients. The upfront planning and design centric attitude is how we leave our clients ecstatic about their experience, it all goes hand in hand. We want our clients to finish the project thrilled with the end product!
What were you like growing up?
I was always a go-getter, straight-A student always achieving and yearning for more! I’ve always been a dreamer as well, when I was really young I was chosen as a Disney Dreamer and Doer at my Middle School. In High School, I did the IB program at Winter Park High School, I was captain of my tennis team, and started an engineering club. I was not “cool” per-se but I didn’t care much about that. I was always thinking outside my bubble and about the future, what’s the next chapter in life? What can I do next?
I was lucky to have the best support system in the world : my parents that taught me I could do anything I dreamed of and a younger brother that taught me humility. I think most big sisters can agree their siblings have a great way of bringing them down to earth! I’ve always been very outgoing and have never met someone that’s not a friend! My mom used to joke she could leave me on any corner and I’d go home with the first girl I saw and have a new friend. I’m still like that today! I love making friends and meeting new people.
Growing up I could be a little bit of a perfectionist. My mom gave me this amazing book before I went to college called “Being Perfect” by Anna Quindlen, I think that book shaped me to who I am today. It basically breaks down that being perfect is not the end all be all and it’s okay to make mistakes. I look back on my mistakes and think they made me the person I am today. You live, you learn and you grow!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.StalderConstruction.com
- Instagram: StalderConstruction
- Facebook: StalderConstruction
- LinkedIn: Stalder Construction
- Youtube: Stalder Construction
Image Credits
Kristen Elizabeth Studios
