Welcome, Damaris! I’m so happy to have you as a participant in Boss Babes! Can you start by sharing a little bit about your business and the locations you serve?

Absolutely! K&D Development is a Denver-based construction management and general contracting company. We service the entire Denver metro area and a majority of Colorado. Our business is 100% women-owned!

What inspired you to start your construction management and contracting business?

So many things! In high school, jobs came easily to me. I was able to obtain management positions easily and quickly found I was feeling held back. As I was looking for more, I went to college in my early 20s for accounting. During this time, I learned how to fix and remodel investment properties while starting a professional painting company. This venture opened my eyes to the vast amount of knowledge and ethics that were lacking in today’s construction industry.

As I learned the true ins and outs of business as an office manager of an audio and video company, I again felt myself hit a plateau. Then, I met my husband, Kurtis, which sealed the deal. He assured me that I was meant to be in construction, something I’d felt a calling to already.

Kurtis supported me as a woman in the field, valued my opinions and strategies, and ultimately joined forces. With my well-organized mind and his work ethic, we created pricing, CRM procedures and made an amazing construction experience together.

We’ve created something special that allows a person to envision an idea. And we bring that vision to life through a well-thought-out process and truly amazing craftsmanship.

That’s an interesting business journey. Thanks for sharing. When you say your husband, Kurtis, joined forces, is that where the business name originated from?

Yes! We decided to combine our initials for our business name. K&D Development comes from Kurtis and Damaris. I love that you picked up on that. Our business name also originated from not wanting to just be an ordinary construction company but one that focuses on development and investment into people's homes.

Can you share why you leaned into the construction business and your favorite thing about the services you provide?

Early in my career, I saw that ethics were lacking in today’s construction industry, and I wanted to change that. Our business is changing the reputation of contractors and sticking around until the end. We ensure warranties are fulfilled, and we stand behind our work and word. We show up to any challenge wholeheartedly, ready to learn and strive to improve.

My favorite thing about our company and industry is that it’s challenging! I’m continuously learning about new materials, techniques, designs, vendors, and building standards and procedures. With all the innovations in technology, this industry is consistently morphing and developing, which is the most fun challenge of them all.

I can see how a challenge would be great for someone like you, a high-achiever who gets bored when things plateau. Have you faced challenges as you’ve grown your business? If so, what strategies have you used to succeed?

My biggest challenge has been growing our business without proper guidance. We have some amazing mentors who have been helpful. But starting a company from scratch is something no one prepares you for.

Another challenge we faced was literally working all the time. We also had to learn how to regulate and manage our time to give ourselves the freedom to take time off.

Our strategies have changed throughout the years, but one constant strategy has been to adapt. Everything changes, and staying adaptable ensures we’re open to those changes. We hope to have exact protocols in line someday, but until then, we are crushing it by doing our best and setting and achieving new goals daily.

You hit the nail on the head with that one. Self-employment is a 24/7 job sometimes.

I love quotes as little nuggets of inspiration. Do you have a favorite quote that resonates with you regarding business?

"Safety First, Then Teamwork." - James Franco

This quote really resonates with me in all aspects of life. This year our company's three things to live by are Safety, Communication, and Teamwork.

We try to have our guys practice this in all aspects of their lives - work and personal, and it’s made a big difference. We feel these three things are becoming more overlooked in today’s society and the construction industry. Everything comes back to being safe, communication, and teamwork. Without these things, success won’t happen.

I love that, Damaris! That quote ties perfectly into my next question. How do you measure success? And how has that changed for you over time?

I measure success as being the best person I can be every day in my job and company. I do this by creating an established routine and setting achievable goals that stretch me to develop and grow in our industry. My passion at the end of the day is always to be learning.

My consistent goals are learning more about design, construction, and business management. But my overall goal is to improve the practices my team and I offer.

My goal to “succeed” started as a passion for painting and became a full-blown obsession to learn about the construction industry. And to feel like I’ve succeeded, I want to fully understand each task and trade we offer our clients. So there’s always learning involved. One day, I hope to manage, sell, and truly develop in the industry on a large national, multi-family, or commercial scale. I’m shooting for the stars!

You’ve already come so far; I know you’ll achieve everything you’re setting out to do. I’ve loved learning more about your inspiration and your business. For our readers, can you share a synopsis of what you offer, who you serve, and how they can reach out to work with you?

Of course, I’d love to! K&D Development is a licensed General Contractor established by multifaceted professionals with over 150 years of combined experience in the construction industry. Our true mission is to create relationships with clients and help make visions a reality. We operate on a client-first approach to exceed expectations the first time.

We specialize in all residential and commercial construction phases and are committed to helping clients develop lifelong investments. We serve all areas in the Denver metro area and also specialize in Insurance Restoration. We are your one-stop shop, lifelong General Contractor, and handyman.

Feel free to check us out on our website or Facebook for any updates. Or reach out directly at (303)-359-0214.

We can build any idea, vision, or project you can think of!

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Damaris Reeme is the owner of K&D Development. Order reprints of Boss Babes Magazine here.