Today we’d like to introduce you to Troy Stackhouse.
Hi Troy, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I grew up in LaGrange, Indiana, a small town where everybody knows everybody. My dad was a homebuilder and remodeler, so construction was always around me, even though I never really pictured myself ending up in it. He is still the most skilled craftsman I know and one of the hardest working people I know. He is semi-retired now, but still works part time with us at Maker Construction, which means a lot to me.
I studied Industry and Technology in college, with a focus on Construction Management. After college, I worked with my dad for a while in Arizona doing high-end trim and doors. That was where I started to understand how much detail, patience, and care good work really takes.
I moved to Nashville in 2008, right when construction and real estate were in a rough place. I ended up working as an independent property adjuster on commercial properties for several years. Nashville eventually became home. I met my wife, Kline, here in 2010, and we now have an 8-year-old son, Landry.
In 2013, after my parents had moved to Nashville, my dad and I started building together. One of our first projects was a historic renovation in Salemtown that we sold for around $300,000 (hard to believe nowadays). Over time, I got more involved in real estate development and investment.
After a few years of shifting my focus to those areas, I was hesitant to get back into general contracting, but it became clear how hard it was to get houses finished with the level of detail and quality we expected. Ryan Stringfellow, my former roommate from the days of bachelorhood, encouraged me to get my contractor license in 2019. Ryan had also studied Building Science in college, so he brought a lot of knowledge and perspective to that conversation.
Maker Construction officially started in 2020. Today, I have two business partners I really respect: Chase McGillis, who is also a well-respected musician around town, and Ryan Stringfellow. We have a team of seven, and I honestly cannot take much credit for our success. I am grateful to be surrounded by solid people who care about the work and care about doing things the right way.
Maker has evolved from taking on all kinds of jobs, including mid-sized renovations, to focusing mostly on luxury new homes and large-scale renovations. We have stayed busy because we care about the houses we build. That means communication, details, durability, clean work, strong relationships with our crews, and continuing to learn better building science practices.
These days, I probably enjoy the team and business side the most, along with seeing new homes and historic renovations come together. I do not get out to the field as much as I used to, but I still try to get by and see how things are going.
I hope to keep doing this for a long time, and I hope I get to keep doing it with the same people I am lucky enough to work with now.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has not always been a smooth road, but we have been very fortunate. With Maker, we were lucky to stay busy from the beginning, so the challenge was less about finding work and more about figuring out how to handle the work the right way.
The hardest part early on was getting our roles and processes organized. We had to figure things out in real time, as we were moving along with our first projects – who handles what, how to communicate better, and how to keep jobs moving without letting important details fall through the cracks.
Another big challenge was building the right team. I feel like we have that now, and I do not take it for granted. Construction certainly isn’t a perfect science and there are always obstacles to overcome, but having the right people around you makes a huge difference.
As you know, we’re big fans of Maker Construction. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Maker Construction is a Nashville-based residential construction company focused on luxury new homes and large-scale renovations, including historic renovations.
We are a small team, and I think what sets us apart is that we care deeply about the houses we build and the people we build them with. We focus on quality, communication, craftsmanship, and building science best practices.
I am proud that we have intentionally stayed small and remain focused on doing good work with good people. Ultimately, I want people to know that Maker cares about the details and wants to build homes that last.
Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources you think our readers should check out?
For our business, Slack has been a lifesaver. It helps us keep communication organized and moving, especially with different projects and people involved.
For books, I like legal thrillers, and every once in a while I’ll read a good nonfiction real estate or financial book. My friend Tim Shaw also wrote a great book called *Blitz Your Life* that I think everyone should read.
I’m not a huge podcast guy, but I will listen along to my wife’s true crime podcasts once in a while.
Honestly, one of the biggest resources for me is still face-to-face meetings and talking through things with people. I think a lot can get done when you sit down with someone, have a real conversation, and show them that you’re human too. That may not exactly be a book, app, or podcast, but it definitely helps me do my best in work and life.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.makertn.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maker.tn
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MakerConstruction/
