Today we’d like to introduce you to Bernie Calcote.
Hi Bernie, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
In 2008, I responded to a Craigslist ad from Melde Construction looking for a carpenter’s helper. I was told if I showed up for a week, I would get a $1 per hour raise. Leon Melde was the owner and founder since 1980. I went on to become a project manager for him, then onto becoming the General Manager up until 2016. In July of 2016, I bought the company from him and ushered in a new era of MELDE. Leon and I are still good friends and we both felt like we got the better end of the deal. He got to leave a legacy as he moved into retirement and I got the opportunity of a lifetime. Almost 10 years later, through the relentless hard work of so many people, we have built a solid foundation on which this organization will live for generations to come. I had never attended college and had zero education around high-end construction or business. But what I did know was how to build CULTURE. I believed that if I could rally people around a common mission and establish core values that made people feel valued and empowered, then all the business and money and growth things would work themselves out. Today, I genuinely believe we have a company culture that I didn’t know was possible And it is not because of me, it is because of our team. Everyone shows up with these things on their minds – We exist to improve people’s lives. We behave with Humility Curiosity Diligence and Confidence. We put others first, execute best practices and remain perpetually relevant.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Taking over an established company means you are inheriting a lot of good things but also a lot of deeply engrained bad practices. We had to overhaul the entire back end systems, transition everything to digital and clean up some sloppy procedures on the production side of the business. Struggles have come in the form of difficult clients, egotistical designers, bad hiring and holding on to some toxic team members too long. I’ve learned so many lessons in my time at Melde and would not want a smooth road. Growth comes in the friction.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
We collaborate with like-minded trade partners, design firms and clients in the construction of unique spaces. We specialize in taking the art that each designer bring to us and guiding them and our clients down the path through development to realization. There is a niche of understanding and executing architecture at the highest level. Not all people value it, few builders know how to execute it. We are most known for not only the high quality product that we deliver but the process we give each member of the project team. We believe you should Love your home and Enjoy the journey. This means setting and managing expectations from the very first interaction with clear and authentic communication. Utilizing a robust data base, we are able to help projects develop and stay within 2-3% of desired budget. I think what sets us apart from any other builder is the way we do all of this. It is with the highest level of Hospitality. Not luxury which is just expensive but hospitality which is thoughtful and moves people. It stays with them. We want people to feel valued, seen and cared for in any way possible. The fact that we have so many references that will speak a testimony publicly to this kind of experience with us is what I am most proud of.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
I think the biggest shift will be in AI. I think estimates will be based on hard data and not gut feelings. I think renderings will help manage client expectations on what they are getting. This is a new frontier and we want to be at the front edge of it.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.meldeconstruction.com
- Instagram: @melde_construction
Image Credits
Chase Daniel
Casey Dunn
Ryann Ford
Adam Fortner
