Stetson Family

Dallas Fort Worth has always held an important place in my heart, and who would have thought that Arizona relationships formed in 2007 would lead me back home.  I’m excited to say that is exactly what happened for me and what now allows me to use my variety of skills and knowledge to take on the role of expanding our forward looking, fast growing company, PSW.

In 2007, I met Anthony and Mike while working for the nation’s largest privately held builder, Shea Homes.  We worked together in Sales Management and I knew from those days the passion each had for delivering exceptional communities, products and services. They shared a common vision and an unparalleled commitment.  A few years later, when Anthony reached out to me to share his excitement about PSW’s growth in Austin, and its potential for the future, I was immediately interested.  They had a vision for our company that was unique and pioneering, and I wanted to learn more.

Beautiful Daughter Ainsley

After many phone and email conversations, and after meeting with Anthony in Phoenix, I decided it was time to go to Austin and see for myself.  After visiting the existing PSW communities like Zilker Terrace and Villa Court, I knew I had to be involved.  It wasn’t just about putting up a stick and brick community, it was about sustainability and doing what is right.  The products were innovative, but the company mindset was a differentiator.  The camaraderie of the employees, constructive communication and shared ideas were freely flowing helping to develop the community of the future.  (It didn’t hurt that we played basketball during lunch either, they knew my passion.)

I now have a great opportunity to continue the legacy built in Austin in Dallas Fort Worth.   This legacy puts people first, and I look forward to building lasting relationships and sharing the PSW story.

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Naturally, as young man I gravitated towards the University of Texas.  It was common for me to attend Longhorn football, baseball or basketball games.  I spent my entire youth thinking I would one day be a Texas Longhorn.  However, my older sister chose to attend Texas A&M University in College Station, TX.  Reluctantly, I made visits to College Station to see my sister and experience first hand what the fuss about Bon Fire, Silver Taps and Yell Practice was all about.  I’m glad I made those visits.  I witnessed an entire community that supported a place of higher learning that molds young men and women into intelligent, spirited and productive citizens.  Needless to say, the choice was for me was easy and I spent four years in College Station earning a degree in Industrial Distribution.

Katie and I Celebrating our 1st Anniversary at the W Austin

Austin called me home after graduation where I began a career in residential home building. My experience at Pulte Homes taught me a mélange of valuable skills that I still use to this day.  I normally don’t use the word “co-worker” because of my experience at Pulte Homes.  Instead, I like referring to my “co-workers” as teammates.  I have a sports background and I enjoy the camaraderie and atmosphere of team sports. My teammates and I, at Pulte Homes, accomplished greatness by working together towards a common goal, disregarding personal wants and desires for the overall good of the company. Our success came through teamwork and resulted in winning JD Powers awards in customer satisfaction!

After some time with Pulte Homes I had the chance to join Bradco Supply as a sales person. At the time, Bradco Supply was the second largest distributor of roofing materials in the country.  As a roofing salesman I obtained more skills that I still use today.  I sold all types of roofing materials and gained knowledge of residential and commercial roofing systems.  Let’s face it, roofs are important as they are present on all dwellings and when installed correctly will keep you dry during a rain storm.  Something was missing……………..as a sales man I sold products, but I didn’t see anything tangible after a day of hard work.  I needed a change. Tangible, construction management was calling me back.

After Bradco Supply, I thrust myself back into the world of building!  Since making that decision I’ve worked on a variety of projects.  As an independent project manager, I was hired to work on some unique sites around Austin.  Each project has contributed to my skill set and has made me into a well rounded construction manager.  Some of you may have even visited houses or commercial buildings that I had a hand in building.  My recent projects include at pedestrian bridge inside the Austin Convention Center, a million dollar home in Spanish Oaks, Flint Hills Fuel Terminal and a granite slab facility in West Austin to name a few.  I love building anything and I’m motivated by being a part of team that wants to do great things!

Remodeled Living Room

In my spare time, the love of my life, Katie and I have enjoyed renovating three different houses that we have lived in over the last three years.  My devoted wife, an interior designer and I recently purchased a house in South Austin that we completely renovated and turned into a oasis complete with a set of deer horns on our living room wall……okay that was my design contribution and I love my wife for tolerating my sense of style.

I recently joined the PSW team!  Immediately, I felt a sense of camaraderie and teamwork, much like when I was part of the Pulte Homes team.  My feelings are confirmed by a proven track record at PSW and I’m anxious to contribute to great things at PSW.

What is your profession?  Travel Division Director, Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT)

Do you have any pets?  No, I travel too much!

What circumstances led to your search for a new home?  I’ve rented for years and knew I was ready to buy when I saw PSW’s 12th Street Court community.

What attracted you to this community over other options you were considering?  Location to downtown.

What feature about the home is most exciting to you?  All of it…location, size, and green build.

What do you most look forward to experiencing in your new home after you get settled in?  Creating my first home and sharing it friends and family.

Lightening Round:

Favorite Austin Hang-Out Spot:  My house and spending the day browsing South Congress

Favorite Austin Restaurant:  Paggi House

Favorite Local Spot to be One With Nature:  Town Lake

Favorite Austin Event:  Festivals throughout the year

Favorite Austin Watering Hole:  San Jose Hotel patio

Favorite Margarita:  Ranch 616

Favorite Austin Non-Profit:  Junior League of Austin

Favorite Austin Band/Music Venue:  Stubb’s

What is your profession? I own Feathers Boutique on South Congress. We sell ladies vintage clothing and artisan jewelry. I am also a Kundalini Yoga teacher.

Do you have any pets? I have a blue merle Australian Shepherd named Ajna.

What circumstances led to your search for a new home? I currently live in an apt in Clarksville and was trying to find a nice house to rent that I could afford. I missed out on a few places and had the epiphany that I should pay my own mortgage, rather than someone else’s so I started to look for my own place.

What attracted you to this community over other options you were considering? I am currently a single woman and this is my first home purchase. I was searching south Austin and noticed that the small amount of inventory in my price range was not right for me. The places were small and needed a lot of work. When I found the Creekside community, I was surprised that I could afford such an awesome house. I purchased the A floor plan and it is nearly twice the size of the other properties I had been viewing.

What feature about the home is most exciting to you? I am very excited about the solar panels. I love the idea of minimizing my foot print and having $25 electric bills for a house that would usually be $200.

What do you most look forward to experiencing in your new home after you get settled in? I have lived in many old buildings with cracked walls, drafty windows and kitchen drawer pulls that begin to wear on me. I am very excited to have a brand new place of my own that is energy efficient, aesthetically pleasing and I can do whatever I want on the inside. I finally get to execute some of the ideas I’ve been saving up for a space I can truly call my own.

Lightening Round:

Favorite Austin Hang-Out Spot: Bouldin Creek Coffehouse

Favorite Austin Restaurant: Uchi

Favorite Local Spot to be One With Nature: The Greenbelt

Favorite Austin Event: Austin Pow Wow

Favorite Austin Watering Hole: Yellow Jacket Social Club

Favorite Austin Non-Profit: Austin Pets Alive

Everyone seems to have one, but very seldom do we take the time to look into it. As if it is a forgotten memory, yet we keep them filled with what we consider to be our most valuable times in our lives. Yes, I am referring to the memory box. You know the one…it holds the old love letters from a once forgotten high school boyfriend, the first concert ticket stub from your favorite band, the photo you took with your college buds after one too many drinks. Well this weekend I went into my memory box so I could find a flier that I was going to write about. Instead I found something that is much more meaningful to me and worthy of sharing. I found a simple hand written thank you note from a mere child of no more than seven or so.

This note isn’t just from anyone, it was written to me by my big sister Denise probably sometime in the late 1970′s (I know it to be around this time as the back of the card is dated 1974) and it is written in her young child-like scripture. As we all can assume this note was probably coerced by mother for her to write to me for a birthday gift or something that my mom probably bought on my behalf. Nothing too exciting about this, as I’m sure most parents do this sort of thing between siblings. However, there are two things that strike me as unique about this situation. First, being that I still have this card from my sister since the 70′s (okay I’m giving away my age a little too much here…insert smiley face) and second I had totally forgotten that I had it. To me this isn’t just a simple card from one sibling to another when they were kids…this card is much more than that. To be honest, I would have never thought that a simple thank you card from my sister would make me feel so close to her and my day that much better.

I came to PSW Homes in January of this year, and in February our team went to the training seminar of a wonderful man by the name of Steve Rigby. I was very reluctant of going at first, not because of the seminar, but because of where it was located. The location was in Spicewood, Texas and as to some that is far, yet to others it’s right down the road. To me it was a painful drive to a place I had not been in 4 years. You see my sister, Denise, lost her life in a very tragic camping accident right down the road at Pace Bend Park. I didn’t look forward to that drive because the last time that I had driven that way I was in a panic, and I had received a phone call from my mom saying the divers had found my sister at the bottom of Lake Travis. Knowing the place I was getting ready to go to was on that same lake not a mile away made me cringe, yet I went and I dealt with my emotions anyway.

During the seminar Steve talked about the importance and consideration of sending someone a simple hand written thank you note. Emphasizing that something so easy for you to do can change a person’s day for the better, or even change their lives forever. During the break I went up to Mr. Rigby (which he prefers me not to refer him as…insert smiley face) and I told him the story of how I remember my mom making me and my sister write each other thank you notes.  She would tell us that one day we would appreciate it, and saying that it would make our day better for doing it. In the same conversation I also told Steve of my sisters passing right down the road from his house, he remembered it very well as it was breaking news that day. I will never forget his kind sentiments to learning this heartbreaking part of my life and I will always cherish them, as I will Steve.

At PSW Homes we embrace the idea of a thank you note because you just never know what the impact may be. To date I have personally sent out around 78 or so thank you notes, which is much less than I probably should have by now. Although, each one I write I hope it makes that person smile and their day a little brighter. As a child I never truly understood the concept of a thank you card…thinking it silly, but as an adult I completely understand the importance. A simple thank you note cannot only make some ones day, It could quit possibly change their life.

Mom, Denise and Me

When I found the thank you card my sister wrote to me I wasn’t exactly having the greatest of days. So seeing that card made me smile with its childish sentiment and my day at that moment changed. It made me realize to appreciate the people in your life as you never know when they may be gone. As simple of a card with the heart and the word thanks written in the center, thanking me for the gift that she really liked it meant more to me than anything at that moment. Well this is my thank you card to my sister, Denise….

Thank you for the gift of being my sister. I cherish the time I had with you, the laughs that we shared, and the memories you left. I love you!

I spent 2004 through 2008 building homes, learning customer service, and selling homes.  I completed my MBA at ASU and felt ready to open the next master planned community in Arizona.  However, in 2008, new communities were no longer in the near future in Arizona.  Fortunately for me, I had been working with Anthony Siela in sales management, and he invited me to come to Austin to see what PSW communities were being built in Austin.  After two trips, I knew Ryan Diepenbrock and Anthony were onto something special.

They asked me to come to Austin and help the company grow.   In January of 2009, I joined PSW full time.  My wife and I decided to allow our children, Emma, Garrett and Olivia to finish the school year before moving to Austin full time in the summer months.

The vision for PSW was contagious and I knew their attention to quality, financial backgrounds and desire to build better communities was something I wanted to be a part of.  What I didn’t know was that we would be able to hand pick such quality people over the last four years that shared our passion for excellence at PSW.

Sharing the PSW story with people, one at a time, has been a blessing.  I have met many wonderful people that have become partners, advocates and friends.  A lot of our investors had no idea they could be part of our communities until we met.  Partnering with PSW has allowed a lot of people to be part of Texas real estate but more importantly, invest with a company that puts people first.  Specializing in urban communities, PSW focuses on bettering neighborhoods and lives, one community at a time.

Like my family, many people visit Austin and quickly realize this is home.  I am grateful to help make that a reality for many people through a PSW home, one person at a time.