Harjo Team

Who We Are

We know that the building and remodeling processes are full of challenges and can be stressful for clients. We also believe that we can minimize and possibly eliminate much of that stress by placing more emphasis and value on clear and consistent client communications.

 

The smallest of projects has a lot of moving parts, so even with the best preconstruction planning in the universe, “stuff” happens. And when it does happen, Harjo Construction proves its integrity in craftsmanship and communication with consistent, honest feedback and engagement on every client project.

Kurt Harjo

Principal, General Contractor

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Since the age of 19, Kurt has dreamt of starting a business to build beautiful things. Growing up in construction, Kurt had a lot of preparation before founding Harjo Construction, including building tree houses, growing up with a home workshop, working in commercial construction during college, and later working in the field and project management.  If he had to choose the single most important thing to do in a day, Kurt believes it’s understanding priorities. He enjoys solving problems with clients, putting together strategies, and helping them visualize a new reality for their home. Inspired by Coach John Wooden, Kurt motivates others by helping people see new or bigger realities for themselves — discovering a capacity within them they weren’t aware was there. Evident in his management style, Kurt encourages his employees to grow by offering them new challenges. If he wasn’t improving homes, Kurt could see himself sailing around the world or designing and building furniture. In his spare time, he likes competitive mountain biking, playing volleyball, cooking and conversing with his wife Meghan and two kids, Koen and Anna.

Favorite Fall Activity: Mountain Biking

Listening to: Khruangbin & Bears Den

Meg Harjo

Controller

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Meg grew up in New Mexico and spent time in St. Louis and Chicago before moving to Seattle in 2012 to work at Starbucks. After eight years at Starbucks, Meg left to join Harjo Construction and is currently serving as the company’s controller, overseeing financials, pipeline management, human resources and a variety of special projects.  She enjoys learning and is embracing the opportunity to learn the construction industry. When she’s not working, Meg is spending time with her toddler Koen and baby Anna.

Favorite Fall Activity: Pumpkin patch

Listening to: Bloc Party, Passion Pit, The Postal Service & The XX

Stacey Spencer

Project Manager

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Stacey fell in love with construction the very first time her father let her ‘work’ on one of his sites. From that moment on, she was hooked. He taught her everything, including how not to use a drill press!  Before joining the Harjo team, Stacey flipped countless houses and has developed a strong appreciation for quality craftsmanship.  Art is her other passion and she loves turning architectural salvage into up-cycled pieces that can be enjoyed in our clients homes. She spends her spare time with her husband and two teenage daughters.

Favorite Fall Activity: Hiking

Listening to: The Rolling Stones

Beth Skirvin

Accountant

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Beth was born and raised in Seattle and attended WSU.  She married a year later and had a son, Zach.. Beth has been working in the construction industry ever since. She started as an accounting assistant for a large commercial contractor before joining a smaller residential remodeler where she really learned about the whole construction process, which Beth enjoys for all its varied experiences. She hopes to be an asset to the Harjo team!

Zach is Beth’s only child however she had 2 foster children (brothers) that she raised as well. They are Beth’s hobbies. Zach is an undergrad at WSU right now studying Organic and Sustainable Agriculture Science, a brand new program in the United States.  And now Beth is a grandmother to a beautiful 3 month old little girl. When she can, Beth heads to Pullman to see them and help work Zach’s own farm (crops and animal rescue). Maybe one day Beth will have time for more hobbies!

Favorite Fall Activity: Watching the leaves change color and blanket everything when they fall

Listening to: Classic Rock & Country

Kori Keller

Lead Designer

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Kori was born and raised in rural Montana, and she earned her Masters in Architecture at Montana State University in Bozeman. After receiving her degree, Kori married her high school sweetheart and moved to Seattle to launch her career. She has experience in custom homes, unique hospitality, and commercial projects. Kori’s passion for design and architecture traces back to being raised by a family active in construction, entrepreneurship, and the trades. Now settled in the Inland Northwest, Kori is staying busy exploring her new home with her husband and 18-month-old daughter.  Outside of work, she enjoys flipping properties, playing at the lake, and spending quality time with family and friends.

Favorite Fall Activity: Pumpkin Patch & Baking

Listening to: Caamp and Mac Miller 

Sadie Waddell

Designer

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A PNW native, Sadie graduated from Oregon State University in 2016 with a BS in Interior Design, followed directly by a move up to Seattle.  She started working in the hospitality industry where her role included project management as well as design and permitting for hotel renovations across the country. With a love for old Seattle homes, Sadie loves giving each home a new life and improving the functionality of the spaces within. On a more personal note, Sadie has a fluffy cat named Stevie, after Stevie Nicks, and in her spare time she enjoys seeing live music, camping with friends, and rollerblading around Green Lake.

Favorite Fall Activity: 

Listening to: The Shins

Alyssa Plett

Junior Designer

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Alyssa is from Bellevue, WA and recently graduated from Seattle Pacific University with a major in Interior Design and a minor in Business Administration. She has a lifelong love of art and after starting at SPU, Alyssa realized that interior design is truly the field for her. In this field, she can combine her love of art with her logical and technical side.  Alyssa is passionate about using design to improve the quality of life by designing with both function and beauty in mind. Some of her hobbies include baking, and spending time with family and friends.

Favorite Fall Activity: Watching sports while curled up in a blanket

Listening to: Taylor Swift

Cory Zeitlin

Project Manager

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Cory has worked as a finish carpenter, siding installer and project manager in both the commercial and residential sides of the remodeling industry.  Cory’s passion is in restoring, renovating and transforming homes, the client experience and team collaboration.  He was born and raised in Washington but left shortly after high school and lived in Oregon, California, Georgia, South Carolina and New York.  Cory, his wife and their 12-year-old pup moved back home to Seattle a few years ago to get back into nature and the things they love.  They enjoy taking off on Friday nights for camping, kayaking, biking and skiing.  They are avid travelers and amateur chefs, and board game night at their house gets scary competitive.

Favorite Fall Activity: Hiking

Listening to: Enya, Wu Tang, and Memphis Slim

Edgar Marin

Project Manager

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Edgar has worked in the construction and design industry for over a decade. He was born in Mexico and raised in a small town in Southeast Idaho. Edgar moved to southern California after high school to attend design school. Working in the field as a framer and finish carpenter gave him the ability to turn rough design ideas and sketches into reality. During his early professional life, Edgar worked in the hospitality, institutional and corporate design sector. After living in Orange County and Los Angeles for over a decade, Edgar moved to the Pacific Northwest in 2015 to work as project manager for real estate investment firm. Outside of work, Edgar enjoys an active lifestyle. His daily routine consists of waking up at 4:00am to a warm cup of coffee and emails, followed by a CrossFit workout. Most weekends are spent either on a road bike or exploring trails along with his six-year-old Frenchie named Lola.

 

Lindsay Perrigo

Project Coordinator

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Lindsay was born and raised in Northern California (wine country), went to UC Davis and graduated with a degree in International Relations and Socio-Cultural Anthropology. After college, she snapped up the first job that would have her and learned a lot about corporate office work. She moved to South Lake Tahoe to enjoy the mountains every day as she transitioned into a new role. In 2014 her boyfriend (now husband) and her moved to Washington for a change of scenery. Lindsay transitioned to working in the food & beverage industry, starting as customer service at Chateau Ste. Michelle then working in a local bar as a hostess, a brewery as a server, a steakhouse as a sommelier/server/manager and then most recently at the Herb Farm in Woodinville. After 7 years in hospitality, Lindsay went back to school for Project Management and transitioned to her Project Coordinator role at Harjo Construction.  Her hobbies include photography and hiking (usually both together), skiing, traveling to new places, WINE, hanging out at home with her husband and 3 cats.

Favorite Fall Activity: Intense hikes & photography

Listening to: Classic Rock, AC/DC, etc.

Jeanette Kudela

Project Coordinator

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Jeanette is a PNW native and has lived in the Seattle area most of her life. She moved back to the South Park neighborhood of Seattle a year ago with her long term partner after living on the central coast of California for five years. The last 15+ years of her career have been in the agriculture industry, with a focus on logistics, supply chain and operations. She obtained her CAPM (Certified Associate in Project Management) certification in June and is thrilled to start a new chapter in her career as a project coordinator at Harjo Construction. In her spare time, she loves to cook and makes pizza in her outdoor pizza oven most Friday evenings. She plays piano (quite badly) to relax, and she also recently started paddle boarding and looks forward to exploring more lakes around the area. She’s auntie to six nieces and nephews that live on the Kitsap peninsula and loves spending time with family.

Favorite Fall Activity: Coffee walks in local parks

Listening to: Masego, RY X

Mckenzie Monroe

Office Manager

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Mckenzie is a PNW native. She has over a decade of experience in administrative roles (office management, HR, home organization). No matter the setting, she loves taking care of details behind the scenes. She lives in Bothell with her husband and their extremely spoiled cat named Gus (full name: Burton Guster Monroe). She is a season ticket holder for the OL Reign, and loves going on walks or bike rides, and binging a good tv show.

Favorite Fall Activity: Drinking a latte while walking through fall foliage

Listening to: BØRNS, Maggie Rogers, Maintenance Phase

Luis Chaires

Superintendent

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Luis enjoys the home building process and helping his fellow carpenters, especially with framing. A self-professed “professional learner,” he’s always looking out for the client, from cleaning the job site to securing a property before he leaves. Luis likes the ample opportunity at Harjo Construction and isn’t deterred by complicated projects. Away from work, you might find Luis hiking a trail or relaxing at Ocean Shores.

Stephen Markert

Superintendent

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Stephen was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest and grew up in the Shoreline/Richmond Beach area.  He currently lives in Bothell with his wife Michaela and their two youngest children.  Stephen’s hobbies include cooking (mainly on a outdoor grill), board games with his family and most outdoor activities, including camping, hiking and fishing (especially fly fishing).  He’s also a die hard Mariners and Seahawks fan, and he’s waiting for the NBA to return to Seattle!  After graduating from Shorewood High School in 1990, Stephen spent five years in the Navy.  He began his journey in construction in 1996 when he entered into a business partnership in the landscape/hardscape industry where he discovered a passion for woodworking and the construction side of the business.  In 2001 Stephen made a permanent move into residential home construction, and he’s been working in the industry ever since. 

Favorite Fall Activity: Camping and Fly fishing

Listening to: Classic Rock

Jonathan Cruz-Martinez

Carpenter

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Jon is a Mexican-American and has lived in the northwest for 18 years.  He graduated from Meadowdale High School and enjoyed sports such as wrestling and football due to the discipline and competitiveness.  Jon’s introduction to construction was being a framer.  He started as the “Go-fer” until he was able to cut and measure, and soon after he got the privilege of starting to install walls and anything else pertaining to being a framer in the northwest.  Jon is now a carpenter and enjoys being part of a select group as well as the whole process of a job.  He’s a proud father of two beautiful children, and Jon and his wife have been together for five years.  Jon enjoys whittling around in their garage working on house projects.  He is a huge hiker as well; his favorite trails are Tiger Mountain and Mailbox Peak.

Octavio Jimenez Duarte

Carpenter

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Octavio brings a range of knowledge to the jobsite. He was a painter for a few years before he transitioned to working on framing, drywall, and finish carpentry which he has been skillfully mastering at Harjo for the past 5+ years. Octavio’s sense of humor brings our guys in the field together and adds to the camaraderie of the team.  In a previous career, Octavio played in a band and would go on tour singing and playing keyboard! He is a family man so when he is not working, Octavio enjoys spending time with his son who is training to be a marine, watching boxing, and spending time by the water.

Favorite Fall Activity: Camping with his family

Listening to: Juan Gabriel, an incredible song writer!