Team

Following a career as a special educator in NYC and many years 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 satisfying. Asked how she likes the industry, Kat says “Leveraging skills from 25 years in the corporate world to owning and running a 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 great team at MSK, and the satisfaction derived from seeing happy clients. Kat and Scott married in 2014 and have beautiful twin daughters. Freetime is spent reading, doing yoga, hiking, golfing, gardening, and spending time with family and friends, both here and in New York.

Nicole Amen is the MSK office manager. She’s a dynamic multi-tasker, and handles everything from purchasing office equipment, to keeping us OSHA  compliant, scheduling client and vendor appointments and even removing splinters! A native Southern Californian, and a 23 year resident of Walnut Creek, Nicole has worked in various companies over the past 18 years, keeping those businesses running smoothly and efficiently. Nicole and her husband have three sons, two of them graduates of the University of Oregon (Ducks) and one in his Junior year @ Cal, Go Bears! The whole family are sports nuts,  game days are big in the Amen household. Nicole and her huband love cooking together, followed by working out 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.

Suzy Baur landed on our shores from Switzerland in 1995, and happily calls the Bay Area 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 enjoys visiting art museums, attending concerts, hiking, biking, gardening and birding.

Luz Lemos is our new Designer. Originally hailing from Colombia, Luz spent five years in Atlanta and then relocated to the West Coast in 2014. With a degree from SF State in Industrial Design, and 9 years’ experience working with kitchen and bathrooms, Luz is knowledgeable, competent, motivated and full of heart! She is a talented draftsperson and works with her clients on every aspect of the project. We are very happy to have Luz on our team!

Born and raised in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Michelle worked in the education field for 16 years as a Portuguese and Spanish teacher, as well as an education coordinator. In 2016, Michelle relocated to California to study English. Fate quickly stepped in and Michelle met her soon-to-be husband. Within 2 years, they were happily married and settled in Walnut Creek, where they live with their dog.

After working in logistics, Michelle decided to join us in the design-build construction field, and we couldn’t be happier! In their free time, Michelle and Joe enjoy hiking, fine dining, traveling, and – yes – raising chickens! And being Brazilian, of course, Michelle loves the beach!

Born and raised in Pune, India, Rutuja received her Bachelor of Architecture from Vishweshwarya University. She then went on to obtain her Masters in Architecture at the University of Illinois @ Urbana Champagne in Chicago. After 2 cold years in Chicago, Rutuja decided on California for her next adventure! With several years under her belt working as a junior architect in India, we were pleased to hire her as our Design Coordinator, where she will learn design build American style!

Rutuja has two passions: fashion styling and travel. Next stop: seeing the Northern Lights in Alaska – well dressed of course!

Curt has worked with MSK Design Build since 2003 our 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 moved here from Oregon in 1997, and has been happily settled in the East Bay ever since. He enjoys the outdoors, boating, hiking, fishing and golfing.

Born and raised in Oakland, CA Chris started in the construction industry as a young woman. With her mother a property owner, and her grandfather a carpenter, it was inevitable! Chris started remodeling homes at 14, and investing in property in 2003. She became a carpenter, then an electrician, and eventually owned her own construction business (until we stole her away!)

Chris is an avid traveler and is currently pursuing flying small planes. She lives near Lake Merritt, and indulges her passion for wine and food in the great restaurant scene in Uptown Oakland. We are so pleased to have Chris on our team!

Jorge has been with MSK Design Build longer than any other employee – he was Scott’s first hire 23 years ago!  His talents encompass many construction areas 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 in Oakland, and enjoys visiting his family and friends in Mexico when he’s not busy swinging his hammer.

Chuck is a talented finished carpenter, having worked through various roles within our company to become a lead carpenter.  With 16 years working with us at MSK, Chuck is a steadfast and respected member of our team. Chuck has 30+ years of flooring installation under his belt, having learned the trade from his grandfather. He’s an expert 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 enjoying life with their three kids and many friends in the East Bay. We are lucky to have him on our team!

A talented landscape artist with years of experience in the family business, Alvaro followed his dream of furthering his carpentry skills and and becoming a lead carpenter in the field of design build. Alvaro joined the MSK Design Build team as a delivery driver and apprentice carpenter. His work ethic, steady manner, natural talent and ability to quickly learn various carpentry skills earned him several  promotions in short order. A natural team-player, Al is now one of our talented lead carpenters, working on everything from plumbing to rough and finished carpentry, as well as cabinetry and flooring installation. With an adorable 6-year-old daughter and a very active 13-year son, Alvaro and his military reservist wife Otilia love camping and spending time with their families. And whenever you see Alvaro, he is calm, hardworking, and always ready with a smile!

Jason Owen is a Northern California native, currently living in Vacaville with his wife Emily and five year old son Brandon. Jason started in the construction trades in 1996, working as a custom home framer, and over the years has become a accomplished rough and finish carpenter, with great plumbing skills as well.  He also added Certified Lead Carpenter to his achievements.

Jason and his family are huge SF Giants and beach fans, and when not indoors watching games,  enjoy gardening as a family and weekend jaunts to the beach.

Born and raised in Marysville, CA Joe was a handy kid. He and his cousins would help out neighbors in the area, doing home repairs and building chicken coops! At 20, Joe discovered a program called Youth Build and worked as an apprentice carpenter for a year, building 2 homes from the ground up. Joe loved the trade, and worked as a carpenter and an assistant supervisor, learning all aspects of the building trades. With 20 years of experience under his toolbelt, Joe is now a lead carpenter at MSK and we are pleased to have him.

Joe married Angela 15 years ago, and they have a 3-year-old son named Joe Junior and live in Manteca, CA. In their free time, they enjoy anything to do with the outdoors, including days at the beach, swimming, hiking, and camping. Joe has a lovely, calm demeanor and a can-do attitude that makes working with him a pleasure.

Jose Mariscal and his lovely wife Erica have three children ranging in age from 18 to 7, so we know they’re busy! Jose has diverse experience in construction, from dry wall and framing to plumbing and flooring. Jose has a very calm demeanor and is always ready with a smile and a helping hand, which makes him popular with the crew. When not building and remodeling, Jose enjoys playing guitar, hiking, camping and listening to Audible books.

Raised in San Jose and Modesto, Shawn has lived in the East Bay now for over 30 years. With an adventurous period in Catalina as a boat captain, and diver,  Shawn settled down 12 years ago in Vallejo with his wife Jennifer and dog Mila. Sean started painting out of high school and has over 25 years of experience in all aspects of professional painting.

Sean and Jennifer are both beach lovers and enjoy boating as well. Sean is a great golfer, with a 13 handicap, and will be our ringer in the next industry golf outing!

Sean was born and raised in Concord, CA and moved to LA when he was 22. He worked as a painter for 7 years, then added construction and plumbing to his resume. He moved back to the Bay Area in 2023 with his wife Cristhiane and his baby Luke, wanting to be closer to family. When not working, Sean and his family enjoy water sports, camping, and weekend adventures to various beautiful spots in the Bay Area and surrounding mountains. We love his work ethic, his positive outlook, and his sunny disposition.

Carlos grew up in Concord, CA, and resides in Walnut Creek, CA with his wife Deztiny. After high school and some college, Carlos worked in the commercial construction industry, specializing in waterproofing. Committed to continuing to grow his skillsets, Carlos expanded into the residential construction field. At MSK Design Build, Carlos is a busy man, working to supply materials to job sites, and doing demolition for remodels. In his free time, he and Deztiny satisfy their passion for good coffee by trying out cafes all over the Bay Area. With his young children Julianna and Noah, the family loves visiting our many local beaches, and discovering new adventures!