PAGE 14 WWW.CONSTRUCTIONGUIDE.NET SEPTEMBER 7, 2007 by Shelley Hawes Meet the TJB Family Team! Founder of TJB Homes, Thomas Budzynski: the History Thomas J. Budzynski, founder and current owner of TJB Homes, Inc had a knack for real estate at the age of 18. He invested in an undeveloped lot on Clear Lake in Northern Minnesota, and in two short years, by age 20 he sold the land and doubled his money. In 1975, he decided to sell real estate full time, and besides selling houses, Budzynski would buy residential homes, remodel them himself and resell them for profit. Additionally, he bought small properties to develop the lots or sell them to devel- opers. Budzynski began purchasing 20 and 30 unit apartment buildings and following complete renovations, would sell them to investors. Tired of working with old properties in 1979, Tom turned his attention to new home construction. Early on, he was building three to five homes per year, and by 1985 he was up to nearly 25 homes per year in the $250,000 to $800,000 market range. The Home Building Industry Takes Notice Success was certain in 1987, when Budzynski built a $795,000. Home in Bloomington, MN, which was the most expensive home in the 1987 Parade of Homes. This house was fea- tured on "Good Company" with Sharon Anderson, and both the 6:00 and 10:00 news on channels 4, 5, 9 and 11, and many celebrities includ- ing Kirby Puckett and Neil Diamond, both of whom considered buying it, toured the house. Through the late 1980's, Tom specialized in bigger homes, but the market changed in 1990, and he changed his emphasis to second home buyers in the $120,000 to $180,000 market range. Through lots of intense bargaining with subcontractors and suppliers, Tom was able to keep most of the special features that made the bigger homes so special. He still brags about the fact that there is a "stained glass" window in every home he builds, and added a new feature a few years back, a solid brass address plate with the company logo on it. Over Thirty Years and Going Strong After almost thirty years, Tom is still involved with the schedules and supervision of every home-site. He feels that this keeps the quality control at its top level and keeps proj- ects on time. It's been said that he is hard on his subcontractors and sup- pliers, but he does this to insure the best possible "New Home" for his buyers. Tom has been featured in arti- cles in "Corporate Report," "The Wall Street Journal," "Builder's Magazine," "The Star Tribune,” and the "St. Paul Pioneer Press." TJB Homes was also featured on KARE 11's New Home Workshop spon- sored by Andersen Windows. During his career, he has been a Board of Director for the St. Paul Builder's Association and is credited with many of the new concepts that are used in the Parade of Homes and Spring Preview. He has won many sales and building awards, including over 10 awards from the Parade of Homes and the Builder's Association Competition. Tom and his wife and TJB Homes co-owner Jan, have been mar- ried for over 30 years. Both of their sons, Jason & Justin, are involved in the business. Daughter Tiffany is cur- rently working in the office. Tom’s Wife & TJB Homes Co- Owner, Jan Budzynski Jan is not only Tom's wife but is also co-owner of the company. In the early years, Jan worked in the office and handled all of the accounting. As the company got bigger, those respon- sibilities were taken over by full time employees. Jan now helps in the decorating of the model homes. She purchases all the furniture and decorations. Once delivered, she stages the model homes for show. In addition, Jan helps with model finishing selections such as car- pet, tile, lighting fixtures, paint colors, interior and exterior. Not limited to design duties, Jan plays an important role as sounding board and trusted advisor to Tom regarding the family business. When not working for the company Jan is active in the community serving on several boards and committees. Tom’s Son & TJB Homes & TJB Development Company Vice-President, Jason Budzynski Jason has been working on job sites with his Dad since he was 5 years old, when he used to help sweep and clean the houses, and help landscape for the Parade of Homes. When Jason was 12, he worked with his Uncle Rick trimming new homes and by 13 he was helping in model homes and actually had his first sale. After high school, Jason had his own business remodeling and build- ing decks; His natural mechanical aptitude helped him quickly master home construction. Presently, Jason heads up TJB Development Company working with the local government, civil engi- neers and architects. Along with land and commercial development, Jason handles Property Management and commercial building improvements for retail, office, restaurant and ware- house space. Tom’s Son & Vice President of New Construction, Justin Budzynski Justin Budzynski works with the homeowners from the beginning to the end including being present at the closing and is also part of the sales team. “TJB Homes is a family busi- ness, so that means we all do what it takes to produce sales or complete a house on time.” Justin has been with TJB Homes his whole life as his father used to bring him to work when he was about six years old and made him and his brother pick up sites! He grew up finalizing the homes, sweeping out houses, picking up trash, clearing trees, doing bobcat work, building additions, mowing lawns and land- scaping the models. At 19, Justin broke away and started his own successful landscape company for three years until TJB’s fifteen year veteran supervisor passed away. Justin then returned to work full time as TJB’s new Project Manager. During the Extreme Home Makeover Justin was one of the Project Leads, ensuring the house was built right and on time! It was a great deal of work coordinating all the peo- ple on this project. In anticipation of the challenges, Justin stated, “Each contractor will be right on top of one another, when one trade is done in a room, the next trade will be jumping over him to get in the room. The other difficult job is to make sure the materials are there when they need it. You can’t obviously have the whole house of material waiting right out- side. You have to have it loaded on a Volunteers and the TBJ Homes team stand before the new home. One final congratulatory handshake is exchanged between Ty Pennington and Thomas Budzynski. CONTRACTOR FEATURE Extreme Makeover host Ty Pennington and both families applaud volunteer efforts of the entire TJB Homes building team, partners, volunteers and contributors that made this miraculous effort possible. The gift of one family’s love to another: Extreme Makeover Home Edition’s builder— TJB Homes, Blaine, MN
Transcript
PAGE 14 WWW.CONSTRUCTIONGUIDE.NET SEPTEMBER 7, 2007
by Shelley Hawes
Meet the TJB Family Team!
Founder of TJB Homes,Thomas Budzynski: the History
Thomas J. Budzynski, founderand current owner of TJB Homes, Inchad a knack for real estate at the age of18. He invested in an undevelopedlot on Clear Lake in NorthernMinnesota, and in two short years, byage 20 he sold the land and doubledhis money.
In 1975, he decided to sell realestate full time, and besides sellinghouses, Budzynski would buyresidential homes, remodelthem himself and resellthem for profit.Additionally, he boughtsmall properties to developthe lots or sell them to devel-opers.
Budzynski began purchasing 20and 30 unit apartment buildings andfollowing complete renovations,would sell them to investors. Tired ofworking with old properties in 1979,Tom turned his attention to newhome construction. Early on, he wasbuilding three to five homes per year,and by 1985 he was up to nearly 25homes per year in the $250,000 to$800,000 market range.
The Home BuildingIndustry Takes Notice
Success was certain in 1987, whenBudzynski built a $795,000. Homein Bloomington, MN, which was themost expensive home in the 1987Parade of Homes. This house was fea-tured on "Good Company" withSharon Anderson, and both the 6:00and 10:00 news on channels 4, 5, 9and 11, and many celebrities includ-ing Kirby Puckett and Neil Diamond,both of whom considered buying it,toured the house.
Through the late 1980's, Tomspecialized in bigger homes, but the
market changed in 1990,and he changed his emphasisto second home buyers inthe $120,000 to $180,000market range. Through lotsof intense bargaining withsubcontractors and suppliers,Tom was able to keep mostof the special features thatmade the bigger homes sospecial. He still brags aboutthe fact that there is a"stained glass" window inevery home he builds, andadded a new feature a fewyears back, a solid brass
address plate with thecompany logo on it.
Over Thirty Years andGoing Strong
After almost thirtyyears, Tom is still involved
with the schedules andsupervision of every home-site.
He feels that this keeps the qualitycontrol at its top level and keeps proj-ects on time. It's been said that he ishard on his subcontractors and sup-pliers, but he does this to insure thebest possible "New Home" for hisbuyers. Tom has been featured in arti-cles in "Corporate Report," "TheWall Street Journal," "Builder'sMagazine," "The Star Tribune,” andthe "St. Paul Pioneer Press." TJBHomes was also featured on KARE11's New Home Workshop spon-sored by Andersen Windows.
During his career, he has been aBoard of Director for the St. PaulBuilder's Association and is creditedwith many of the new concepts thatare used in the Parade of Homes andSpring Preview. He has won manysales and building awards, includingover 10 awards from the Parade ofHomes and the Builder's AssociationCompetition.
Tom and his wife and TJBHomes co-owner Jan, have been mar-ried for over 30 years. Both of theirsons, Jason & Justin, are involved inthe business. Daughter Tiffany is cur-rently working in the office.
Tom’s Wife & TJB Homes Co-Owner, Jan Budzynski
Jan is not only Tom's wife but isalso co-owner of the company. In theearly years, Jan worked in the officeand handled all of the accounting. Asthe company got bigger, those respon-sibilities were taken over by full timeemployees.
Jan now helps in the decorating of
the model homes. She purchases allthe furniture and decorations. Oncedelivered, she stages the model homesfor show. In addition, Jan helps withmodel finishing selections such as car-pet, tile, lighting fixtures, paint colors,interior and exterior.
Not limited to design duties, Janplays an important role as soundingboard and trusted advisor to Tomregarding the family business. Whennot working for the company Jan isactive in the community serving onseveral boards and committees.
Tom’s Son & TJB Homes &TJB Development CompanyVice-President, Jason Budzynski
Jason has been working on jobsites with his Dad since he was 5 yearsold, when he used to help sweep andclean the houses, and help landscapefor the Parade of Homes. When Jasonwas 12, he worked with his UncleRick trimming new homes and by 13he was helping in model homes andactually had his first sale.
After high school, Jason had hisown business remodeling and build-ing decks; His natural mechanicalaptitude helped him quickly masterhome construction.
Presently, Jason heads up TJBDevelopment Company workingwith the local government, civil engi-neers and architects. Along with land
and commercial development, Jasonhandles Property Management andcommercial building improvementsfor retail, office, restaurant and ware-house space.
Tom’s Son & Vice President ofNew Construction,Justin Budzynski
Justin Budzynski works with thehomeowners from the beginning tothe end including being present at theclosing and is also part of the salesteam. “TJB Homes is a family busi-ness, so that means we all do what ittakes to produce sales or complete ahouse on time.”
Justin has been with TJB Homeshis whole life as his father used tobring him to work when he was aboutsix years old and made him and hisbrother pick up sites! He grew upfinalizing the homes, sweeping outhouses, picking up trash, clearingtrees, doing bobcat work, buildingadditions, mowing lawns and land-scaping the models.
At 19, Justin broke away andstarted his own successful landscapecompany for three years until TJB’sfifteen year veteran supervisor passedaway. Justin then returned to workfull time as TJB’s new ProjectManager.
During the Extreme HomeMakeover Justin was one of theProject Leads, ensuring the house wasbuilt right and on time! It was a greatdeal of work coordinating all the peo-ple on this project. In anticipation ofthe challenges, Justin stated, “Eachcontractor will be right on top of oneanother, when one trade is done in aroom, the next trade will be jumpingover him to get in the room. Theother difficult job is to make sure thematerials are there when they need it.You can’t obviously have the wholehouse of material waiting right out-side. You have to have it loaded on a
Volunteers and the TBJ Homes teamstand before the new home.
One final congratulatory handshake isexchanged between Ty Penningtonand Thomas Budzynski.
CONTRACTORFEATURE
Extreme Makeover host Ty Pennington and both families applaud volunteer efforts ofthe entire TJB Homes building team, partners, volunteers and contributors that madethis miraculous effort possible.
The gift of one family’s love to another:Extreme Makeover Home Edition’s builder—TJB Homes, Blaine, MN
truck and prepared to deliver a coupleof blocks away.”
“I am very excited to be a part ofthis project. Not only is it an opportu-nity to be on a TV show, which willbe viewed by probably billions of peo-ple, but it’s a chance to do somethingfor a family in need.”
Tiffany Budzynski has spent herlife with TJB but worked full time forthe last three years. Tiffany is thereceptionist and handles warrantyscheduling as well as anything askedof her.
“My duty for the project is main-ly as a Volunteer Coordinator. I am soexcited about Extreme MakeoverHome Edition, it is a once in a life-time opportunity and so happy thatwe are apart of it!”
Tom’s Brother Rick Budzynski &Vice President of TJB Remodeling
Rick's responsibilities are allhands on and he oversees theentire remodeling operation fromplanning and design, to schedul-ing and project completion.
Rick started working for hisbrother Tom in 1978 with therenovation of distressed incomeproperty in the Minneapolis area.The hands on job experiencehelped Rick develop the extensiveknowledge of building construc-tion from foundation to finishedproject.
Rick will be one of the projectleads for the Extreme MakeoverHome overseeing the building andcompletion of the home on time.
Project Coordinator, Sherri Patzer Sherri Patzer has been with the
company since 1996 scheduling thehouses, working with the subs, meet-ing with buyers on all selections,changing orders, finalizing numbersfor closing and many other variousduties as assigned.
“For the Extreme MakeoverHome Edition, I will be a volunteercoordinator for the check in tents andany other duties assigned.”
Sales Manager, Jereomy Fiskwold Jereomy Fiskewold is the Sales
Manager for TJB Homes, Inc. andhas been with TJB Homes for 5 years.Jereomy’s duties include meeting withall potential TJB customers, helpingin the design process for custom builthomes and models, overseeing thesales team for all TJB developments.
Master of all Trades,Steven M. Wuornos
Steve has worked with TJBHomes since 1999. His primaryresponsibilities include supervisingand maintenance of job sites through-out the metro area, walking throughnew homes with homeowners prior toclosing, and facilitating necessary war-ranty work.
For the Extreme Home Makeoverproject, Steve will be supervising andcoordinating the loading and ship-ment of building materials from theoffsite location to the house.
Designer, Donald F. PertinenDonald F. Pertinen has been
designing custom homes since 1967. Recognized as one of the top
SEPTEMBER 7, 2007 WWW.CONSTRUCTIONGUIDE.NET PAGE 15
design firms in the metro area, D.F.P.Planning & Design L.L.C. hasdesigned award-winning homes forover 200 Reggie Awards in the annu-al Parade of Homes Competition.
“Our association with TJBHomes began over 25 years ago.Our designs have been used tobuild over 25,000 homes by majornational firms and custom home-builders, and featured in severalpublications. Most recently ourfirm was a partner of the designteams providing plans for seven of
the twenty-two homes featured inthe 2007 Luxury Home Tour. “
“Currently our firm designs
approximately 300 custom homesannually for custom builders andindividual clients, in the $750,000.00
to $5,000,000.00 price range.” “Together we have provided
exciting and unique home plans thatreflect our client's lifestyles and turndreams into reality. With a commongoal of making the entire design,building process a rewarding andenjoyable experience.”
Laborer, Jon Ramey Jon Ramey has been with TJB
Homes Inc. for 3 months and doesanything and everything that is askedof him.
“For this Extreme MakeoverHome Edition I will have close to thesame job title as far as doing anythingand everything asked for me to per-form. I will be on the jobsite for theentire duration of this project. I amreally excited to be doing this proj-ect.”
Remodeling Foreman, Tony Junker Junker has been with TJB Homes
for one and a half years working onthe remodeling side. He is in chargeof miscellaneous tasks such as fram-ing, sheetrock, making sure job sitesare clean, but mainly "finaling out"houses. Junker supervises subcontrac-tors to stay focused and on schedule.“I make sure we honor every job. Iwill work as hard as I can to be surewe turn this job with the highestquality in any way necessary. I comefrom a close knit family who caresabout each other, and loyalty is every-thing to my family.”
Tom’s Sister-in-Law & InteriorDecorator, Donna Budzynski
Donna's role is primarily assistingdecorating model homes. Her exten-sive arts and crafts background comesin handy and her work can be seen inany number of TJB Homes.
For the EMHE project she will beshuttling people around and ready tolend the design team a hand if theyneed it.
Operations Manager, Arlyn Kittelson TJB Homes, Inc. has been home
to Arlyn Kittelson since January of1986. At that time, it was only sheand Tom running the office, so Arlyndid most of the day-to-day officeduties. As time went on, they hired onhelp and her duties changed alongwith the times. At this time, she han-dles all of the bookkeeping and isTom's personal assistant.
From the start, Tom took inArlyn's family as his own and theyare all a part of the TJB HomesFamily. It is because of the close-knitcorporation that Arlyn has contin-ued being a part of it for all theseyears. Doing Extreme Makeover,Home Addition has just proved how"Family helping Family" is part ofwhat TJB Homes is all about. Visit:www.TJBHomes.com. °
Feature Contractorcontinued from page 15
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Scharber & SonsRogers, MN
763-428-4107
Scharber & SonsLong Lake, MN952-473-5634
PolfusNew Richmond, WI
715-246-6565
Green ImageHastings, MN651-437-7747
AG PowerBelle Plaine, MN
952-873-2224
Isanti EquipmentIsanti, MN
763-444-8873
RDOBurnsville, MN952-890-8880
Booth #C8
Show host Ty Pennington watched on with the Swenson-Lee children whileparents exchange warm thanks with the Budzynski’s.
PAGE 16 WWW.CONSTRUCTIONGUIDE.NET SEPTEMBER 7, 2007
