Team

Following a career as a special educator in NYC and many years as a sales executive in the shipping industry, Kat jumped ship for the design build industry. She joined Scott at the company in 2011 and finds owning an award winning design build firm creative and very satisfying. Asked how she likes the industry, Kat says “Leveraging skills from 25 years in the corporate world to owning and running our own creative business allows us to bring professionalism, integrity and heart to our work. We love what we do, and it shows in our work.”

Kat enjoys the creative and dynamic nature of the business, the wonderful clients with whom she collaborates, the great team at MSK, and the satisfaction derived from seeing clients thrilled with their beautifully transformed homes. Kat and Scott married in 2014 after 6 happy years together. Freetime is spent reading, doing yoga, hiking, golfing and spending time with family and friends.

Nicole Amen is the MSK office manager. She’s a dynamic multi-tasker, and handles everything from purchasing office equipment, keeping us OSHA  compliant, and scheduling client and vendor appointments to removing splinters! A native Californian, and a 18 year resident of Walnut Creek, Nicole has worked in various companies over the past 16 years, keeping her businesses running smoothly and efficiently. Nicole and her husband Will have three sons, two of thems Ducks, and the family enjoys visiting the University of Oregon and seeing their sons in action.  Nicole and Will love cooking together, followed by going to the gym to work off those delicious meals!

Margie joined MSK Design Build in September 2011. Having worked as a bookkeeper in a local construction firm for over 30 years, Margie’s wealth of experience, great work ethic, and dry sense of humor are a welcome addition to the team. An avid music lover and traveler, Margie is also a wonderful hands-on grandmother. Margie pays the bills and keeps us laughing!

A Certified Master Kitchen and Bath Designer, and a Certified Interior Designer, Kelly joined MSK in 2002 after relocating from Canada. She’s a second-generation designer with over 25 years of experience.  She is also the author of several design books as well as an avid and well-respected kitchen and bath blogger.   Not only has she served as a design judge for NKBA national and regional competitions, but six of her MSK Design Build projects have won NARI awards. Well-traveled and savvy, Kelly’s clients love the high-end projects she creates as much as they love working with her. When not working, Kelly enjoys fine dining and European travel.

Linda joined MSK Design Build in October 2012, bringing 25 plus years of design experience to the company. Having run her own design business, Linda enjoys working at MSK Design Build, where she gets to work with great clients, create beautiful projects, and work hand-in-hand with our team of craftsmen and designers. Linda loves listening to her clients, really hearing what they want in their new space,and then helping them realize it.

Suzy Baur landed on our shores from Zurich, Switzerland in 1995 with her husband Stephan, and happily calls the Oakland Hills home. Starting her career as an art historian, Suzy found herself drawn to interior design, including kitchen and bath design, as a means of beautifying the practical. A Certified Interior Designer, she loves listening to her clients, hearing their vision for their new space, and making the space a reality which reflects their lifestyle. Suzy loves working with a company that builds their own design projects. Color, material, and simplicity are her passions in design. Outside of the design world, Suzy & Stephan enjoy visiting art museums, attending concerts, and hiking local trails.

Karen began her design career in Washington State over 20 years ago, in the textile, furniture and material specification sector. She enjoyed the industry so much that she returned to school, earning her undergraduate degree in Interior Design. Fast forward to today, Karen is an accomplished kitchen and bath designer with many years of experience. The diversity of her job, from client collaboration to material selection, jobsite coordination with the crew and staying current on trends is Karen’s passion. In her free time, Karen enjoys hiking and skiing with her daughter Alyssa.

Luz Mendoza is our design coordinator and the latest addition to the design dream team. Originally hailing from Colombia, Luz spent five years in Atlanta, until she and her husband relocated to the West Coast in 2014. With a degree from SF State in Industrial Design, and 5 years’ experience working with a kitchen and bath group, Luz is knowledgeable, competent and motivated. She works closely with the designers and our clients on every aspect of the project, from drafting to ordering, scheduling, and design. We look forward to great things from Luz!

Curt has worked with MSK Design Build since 2003 as project manager. He oversees the construction operations in the field, manages the client relationships on the job, keeps clients and subcontractors updated, and is responsible for scheduling the crew and trades once construction is underway. His calm demeanor makes organizing all aspects of a remodel look easy–it’s not.

Curt is a transplanted Oregonian and an avid fisherman. When he’s not working, or with his wife and daughter, Curt’s busy puttering around on his boat, or out on the water fishing. And we are often the lucky recipients of his fishing largesse!

A native Minnesotan, Bridget is now an enthusiastic Californian! With a degree in Construction Engineering from Iowa State University, and a natural affinity for numbers and spreadsheets,  Bridget is a great fit for the estimator/project manager position. With five years Project Management experience in industrial construction, as well as two years volunteering in the Philippines remodeling Youth Centers, Bridget brings many talents to our team.  She loves the outdoors, water, hiking, and camping.  Any wonder she loves California??

Chuck is a talented finished carpenter, working through various roles within our company to become lead carpenter.  He began working at MSK Design Build doing flooring installation. Chuck has been installing fine wood flooring for 26 years, learning the trade from his grandfather. He’s a master at cabinetry installation, and does all manner of fine finish work in the home. His attention to detail and willingness to listen to the customer’s comments and concerns earn him high praise from our clients, who speak highly of his work and professional manner while in their home. When he’s not working, Chuck and his wife Venetta are busy having fun with their three kids and many friends in the East Bay.

Joe Businsky  joined MSK Design Build in 2015, and it feels like he has been with us for years – and we mean that in the best possible way! With over 25 years of construction experience, Joe is talented in both rough and finished carpentry, and loves to take on a project and “own it” till completion. His can-do attitude probably comes from his years of experience raising five children and three grandchildren with his wife Tina. When he’s not running his crews at work or at home, you’ll find Joe relaxing with his fishing rod and tackle – out fishing.

A talented landscape artist with years of experience in the family business, Alvaro is following his dream of furthering his carpentry skills and learning all facets of the construction business. Alvaro joined the MSK Design Build team as a delivery driver and apprentice carpenter. His work ethic, steady manner and ability to quickly learn various carpentry skills earned him an immediate promotion. A natural team-player, Al is now one of our talented carpenters, working on everything from plumbing to rough and finished work. With an adorable 2-year-old girl and a very active 8-year boy, Alvaro and his military reservist wife Otilia have many of balls in the air. And yet whenever you see him, Alvaro is calm, hardworking, and always ready with a smile.

Hailing originally from Vermont, Dan tired of the cold and the snow and decided to head for Hawaii in his early thirties. Fast forward 11 years, Dan has recently relocated to the East Bay with his wife Stephanie and daughter Makenzie in tow! Between Tahoe, Yosemite and the beaches, the family is thrilled to see all the wonders of California. In between the fun, Dan is a talented lead carpenter with MSK, with many years of experience in everything from framing to finish. He loves what he does, and it shows.

Jorge has been with MSK Design Build longer than any other employee.  His talents encompass many areas of construction including plumbing, framing, stucco, and rough & finished carpentry. Jorge is quiet, funny, and extremely hardworking. No job is complete without him as a steady presence on the job. Jorge lives with his wife and two daughters in the East Bay, and enjoys visiting his family in Mexico when he’s not busy swinging his hammer.

Josue began his career in the construction industry after graduating high school, doing demolition and working his way through the various trades. Now skilled in plumbing, framing, and rough and finished carpentry, Josue has a keen interest in continuing his education in the field of construction. Josue lives with his girlfriend Carla and his dog Bella in Oakland, and enjoys working out in his free time.

Jose and his wife Erica have been married for 8 years and live in the East Bay. A tightknit family, they enjoy fun outdoor activities such as horseback riding at a friend’s farm, visiting the zoo, and riding their bikes together. Seven year old Gio is a big soccer player, and four year old Natalia loves the pool.

After working as a roofer for a number of years, Jose turned his sights to carpentry, and specializes in rough carpentry. He works with MSK as a utility carpenter, and looks forward to continuing his education as a finish carpenter.  We’re happy to have him onboard!

The oldest of two children, born and raised in Antioch, CA, Giovanni, or Gio as we call him, joined the team shortly after graduating from Antioch High School. Gio’s high school interests were centered on chemistry and math, and his extracurricular interests include spending time with family and friends, fishing, and dirt biking. The youngest member of the team, Gio brings curiosity, hard work and dedication to his role. He handles any and all tasks that come his way, including demo, keeping the jobsites clean, and learning the tools and tricks of the trade.

After recently relocating to the Bay Area, Colby joined the MSK team as Delivery Driver and Carpenter’s Apprentice. With experience in the oil field, as well as working as a conservationist in Tahoe,  Colby had been itching to get into the construction field, and we snatched him up. Colby enjoys kayaking, fishing and he really likes food and wine, Pho being his favorite!

Dom Dinatale has been painting for 25 years, on both commercial and residential projects. He got into it accidentally, (as many of us do!) and he loves it. The instant gratification of taking the ugly and making it beautiful pleases him. Dom grew up in Livermore and lived his whole life in the East Bay, which he proudly calls home.  Dom and his wife Leslie love spending time with their 5 and 8-year-old kids, be it hiking, biking or hitting the museum and local zoos.