About Chesmar

• The Legend of Chesmar
• Our Purpose
• Our Promise
• Key People

The Legend of Chesmar

A long time ago, in another part of the world, there was a set of crossroads frequented by traders and merchants from far away places. The intersection was a place where they would camp and trade with others from all over the land. One summer, a young couple, Chester and Maria, met, fell in love, and married.

They decided to open an inn and start a family at the crossroads. In honor of their marriage, they named their establishment "Chesmar Inn". Once the inn was open, the crossroads began to thrive.

More traders and families settled and opened shops and businesses of their own. The intersection became a village, which took the name Chesmar. Chesmar grew and became a very special place.

The village of Chesmar had one huge problem. There were not enough quality places for Chesmarians to live. Houses were generally made of straw. This method of construction created many problems for the homeowners.

First, there was a large population of wolves that were frequently seen around the town, and everyone knows what wolves can do to straw houses. Also, during the rainy season the roofs leaked, which made sleeping and eating difficult.

In addition, fires used during the winter months to heat the homes created a hazard for the straw houses. One winter, a small fire spread and burned down half of the village. The Chesmarians knew they had to do something. They loved their village and did not want to move. They just needed better housing.

The village council, realizing the problem elected a new mayor known far and wide as Robert D'builder. Mayor D'builder was a master builder and knew how great quality homes should be built. He designed a system where wood replaced straw walls.

He knew how to produce bricks, which were used along with stone and other modern materials for the outside walls. Rooms were spacious. They were well designed and detailed for the different people who lived in Chesmar. Mayor D'builder equipped kitchens for the modern family with all the latest appliances and gadgets. Lighting was ample and abundant. Special attention was placed on windows and natural light.

Energy efficiency was a top priority to help keep firewood cost to a minimum and to assure the comfort and safety of the inhabitants. Mayor D'builder also made sure the home had lots of high quality extra features and had included everything so the citizens would not need to buy anything additional when they moved into their new home. He also developed a system for servicing the homeowners after the sale.

He helped in 'setting a higher standard' for homebuilding in Chesmar. Robert D'builder brought quality, integrity, and reliability to all the homes he built in Chesmar. All the townspeople were Happy, Overjoyed, Merry, and Elated with their new CHESMAR HOME.

Because of the foresight of Mayor Robert D'builder, the village of Chesmar grew and prospered, first into a town, and then into a city. Merchants from all around the globe came to trade with the Chesmarians. They took construction ideas that they saw in Chesmar and spread them to everyone all over the world.

It is in the spirit of Chesmar, that we proudly build homes for our friends.

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OUR PURPOSE

The purpose of Chesmar Homes is to provide high quality homes to our homebuyers in great neighborhoods. We understand that your home is the single most important and significant investment you’ll ever make. It’s the place where your memories will be made. The home you purchase will be the one you love, one that fits your lifestyle, one that is uniquely you.

At Chesmar, we build homes because we love to build homes. It’s in our blood. It’s our passion. It’s our profession of choice. Creating neighborhoods and homes of distinction is what the people at Chesmar are all about. Because of this, we make the following promise to our homeowners.

OUR PROMISE

To each of our homeowners, WE PROMISE to treat you as a member of our family and to:

 

Provide a pleasurable buying experience. Build a home of great quality and value. Provide exceptional post closing customer care. Do what we say we will do – our word is our bond. Treat everyone with dignity and respect.

 

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Key People

Don Klein - President
Don has over 26 years homebuilding experience in Houston with Ryland Homes and Lennar Homes, both times rising to City President. He is well respected in building and development industries in Houston.

Don would tell you that the absolute best part of the building business is the satisfaction that he feels when he knows that a family is realizing their dream of homeownership, and he was a small part of helping that dream come true. Of all the adventures that Don has taken in his personal life, he would tell you that Chesmar is the most exciting.

He is able to accomplish things that he was not able to do working with a large national builder. His fellow associates would tell you that he loves to have fun at everything he does, including work and has a wonderful sense of humor.

 

Scott Merovitch - Vice President of Sales and Marketing
Scott exudes energy and enthusiasm, which spills over into everything he undertakes.  He will tell you he acquired a wealth of experience and knowledge during the 14 years he spent with Lennar Homes as he worked his way from sales consultant to division president.  Nothing is more important to him than happy, enthusiastic homeowners.

Scott’s speed is fast, he loves fast cars and he likes to make things happen--fast.  Fortunately his wife, Sandra, is able slow him down on occasion.  He and Sandra have been married 17 years and are kept quite busy with their two children Zach and Morgan.

Scott impacts the sales team through mentoring and training.  Teamwork and fun are key elements to Scott’s work philosophy.

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Terry Shakarisaz - Controller
After graduating from University of Florida, Terry enjoyed a 20-year career with General Homes working in both land development and homebuilding.  She continued her career with David Powers Homes in Houston.  Her comprehensive industry knowledge and meticulousness are assets to the Chesmar Homes culture as well as the balance sheet.

Terry is Mom to three grown sons, Jonathon, Steven and David.  She is always upbeat, loves to laugh and when pressed confesses to being a closet stand-up comic.  Her work ethic, positive outlook and penchant for levity exemplify the Chesmar profile and are characterized by her favorite adage: “work hard, play hard!”




Jana Blackburn – Director of Design
Jana brings 11 years of design experience to Chesmar Homes.  She spent 8 years designing homes as Director of the Design Department for Lennar Homes, Village Builders, and NuHomes. Since joining Chesmar in 2005 she had designed five different series of home plans.

She has a BS degree in Design from University of “Hook em Horns” Texas in Austin.  Jana has a unique instinct to design floor plans and elevations of homes that customers’ desire. Jana loves to see the exciting reactions of customers when they walk into one of her homes for the first time.

At home, Jana extends her passions to swimming, bike riding, and, along with her husband Mike, raising their young son Casey. Jana says “I truly love being part of the process of changing raw land and fields into communities where families can live their dreams.”

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Seth Tobey – Director of Construction
Seth joined Chesmar in 2005 with more than six years experience in construction and purchasing.  He would tell you that his current job is his most favorite as an adult, since the first four years were spent as an officer in the US Army, including one year as a peacekeeper in Bosnia.

Seth learned homebuilding from the best and has an uncanny ability to build value into every home. When Seth learned about the opportunity to get in on the ground floor of a new homebuilding company, he said "WOW, sign me up!"

Seth along with his wife Paula are raising their two young daughters in Kingwood along with two unruly dogs.  Seth says that he “enjoys finding new products and discovering new construction practices that allows us to provide a better home and a greater value to our homeowners.”

Raymond Willburn - Director of Purchasing
Raymond Wilburn may have started out in Amarillo, but he got to Houston as soon as he could (where he has spent most of the last thirteen years).  He has been in the homebuilding business for most of his life… “at least 27 years," he reports.  Renown for his purchasing expertise, he joined the cast and crew of Chesmar Homes in April 2006, where “Everybody Loves Raymond”.

Besides traveling, boating and playing with single-engine airplanes, Raymond and his wife Linda find time to enjoy his three daughters, grandson and Tigger, the cat they saved from death row.  Chesmar home buyers benefit from Raymond’s philosophy of “Setting A Higher Standard, That  Gives Homeowners a higher value" 

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Linda Chrisman – Purchasing
Linda Chrisman joins Chesmar Homes with a 10-year background in Purchasing and Operations Management in the home building industry.  She is known for streamlining systems to result in smooth processes and excellent vendor partnerships. 

Love of the outdoors ranks high with Linda and her family: husband Patrick, daughter Courtney, son Cole and “groovy dog” Bomber (Bom-diggity-dog).  Much of their free time is spent camping, hiking, dirt biking and playing ball together. 

Linda believes that the leadership of a company, an organization or a family is the most important factor in it's success and well being.  She says of Chesmar, “I believe in the leadership of Chesmar, the integrity filters down.”  Linda is a valued member of the Chesmar family, where her outlook and character align perfectly with company “higher standards.”

Cherry Mayfield - Purchasing

Cherry has tried her hand at careers from administrative assistant to claims examiner to new home sales, giving her a well rounded understanding of business operations as a whole.  Everyone who works with Cherry soon learns that she believes in hard work and always being a team player. Her diligence and dedication are a great asset to Chesmar's purchasing department.

One of Cherry's favorite things to do away from work is fishing with her husband and son.  She also enjoys gardening although she admits its a lot more fun when the plants produce.

"I believe that with my experience and my desire to succeed, I will make as great an impact at Chesmar Homes as the company and it's people have made on me", states Cherry.  Chesmar Homes is very happy to have Cherry on the team!

Susie Rodriguez - Accounts Payable
Chesmar is really fortunate to have Susie on its team to help keep costs down for the company and its homebuyers.  Through a diverse background in the travel industry, web-based data analysis and homebuilding she garnered experience that pays-off everyday in her work for Chesmar Homes.

Susie, husband Albert along with daughters Sabrina and Siera are very close and as a family place great importance spirituality, service and friends.  They set a great example for all with their commitment to sharing with and helping others.

Susie’s integrity and professionalism shines through her quiet manner and personality.  And is evidenced in the quote by Edwin Lewis Cole by which she lives. --“The difference between people who succeed and fail is their ability to handle pressure.” 

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Donna Newcomb - Director of Marketing
Donna has played numerous exciting (or at least interesting) roles thus far in her life that have prepared her for the marketing responsibilities at Chesmar. These include stay-at-home mom, surrogate mother to wandering teens, grandmother, seamstress, full-time school volunteer, educational aide, crafter, drafter, decorator, marketer, and dog food demonstrator (which she liked least, by the way).

After 11 years with another home builder, Donna felt it was time to look for something different to get into. She says, “The opportunity to work with a brand new company, building a brand new product, and displaying a brand new attitude is awesome! It is inspiring see the people, the homes and the company develop and to be a participant in the process.” Donna says her greatest enjoyment is her family. She loves to sew and bake and is currently working on a Chesmar Cookie recipe.


 

Tammy Beene - Closing Administrator
Before joining the Chesmar team, Tammy Beene spent five years overseeing the closing of thousands of homes in the Houston area.  Her successful management of the closing process earned her respect throughout the homebuilding industry.  Chesmar’s new homebuyers will experience first hand the benefit of Tammy’s skill and expertise during the closing of their home.

Tammy’s time away from Chesmar is spent with her Mom and her four-legged daughter, Lady Victoria Belle Beene, aka, Tori Belle.  She enjoys time with her great nieces and great nephew, as well as entertaining and preparing gourmet meals for friends. 

Tammy’s work philosophy is about doing things the right way with the right attitude.  She says, “I believe that a job needs to be fun! At Chesmar, I hope to bring fun not only for the first time homebuyer but also for every buyer that walks through our door and I will do that with honesty, integrity and pride.  I want our buyers (or anyone that walks through our door) to be happy with the experience and with their new Chesmar home.”

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Victoria Lentz - Staff Accountant
Victoria has a zeal for life and recognizes the importance of scheduling time for the things you love most.  For Victoria that is her family, running and tennis. 

Victoria is a graduate of the University of Houston.  After graduating, she worked for a time for an industrial accounting position before joining Chesmar Homes as Staff Accountant.  She is serious about running and though she has only completed one marathon, she is working on her next.  Victoria states, “I will someday run in the Boston Marathon!” 

Managing to possess a positive glow, Victoria is an inspiration to anyone near.  She hopes to make a huge impact at Chesmar through hard work, a can-do attitude and the introduction of new ideas.  Chesmarian's are excited that she joined the team and look forward to her energy and contributions.

Colleen Blair - Accounting Administrator
Colleen Blair has a background in Houston homebuilding, land development and property management. She and her husband, Robert, also owned and operated a 1950’s style hamburger restaurant for 13 years, after which they moved to northern Idaho. Four winters there convinced the native Texan, it was time to move back to stay!

Texan’s are rejoicing about Colleen’s return because that means that her cookbook collection, which happens to be one of the largest in the state, is returning to its rightful home. Colleen is a great cook, you need only ask her family: Robin who teaches, Rachel a Hospice Nurse, Courtney (a Princess), and her son Roger who attends College.  Colleen is also accomplished at quilting and jewelry making.

Professionalism and enthusiasm are just two of the contributions Colleen makes to the Chesmar culture. She says, “I am a very positive and organized person, and believe these attributes are a necessity in a fast paced and growing company, like Chesmar.”

Christian Del Rio - Warranty Administration
Christian is known for his soft-spoken, easy-going style and even temper, which complete his excellent customer service skills.  Homeowners will find that he is easy to talk to, knowledgeable and quick to respond to their needs. 

Christian enjoys his family and places great importance on keeping close, old fashioned family bonds.  He loves a good laugh and credits growing up with three siblings for the development of a quick wit, a sense of humor and everyday survival skills.

Always stretching to achieve, Christian is a great team player and is very goal oriented.  Chesmar Homes is extremely proud to have him on the team!

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