Today we’d like to introduce you to Jasmine Chambers.
Hi Jasmine, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Every so often, life has a way of throwing a curveball that completely upsets reality as we know it. The plane on which we stand, surrounded by our perfect 3-dimensional perception, begins to shake and we realize that our personal universe is really just illusive shrouds, slowly pixelating and disintegrating – blowing away with the winds of change. Where we are left standing and who is beside us, show exactly what is most important in this short life… At that moment, one must choose forgiveness or bitterness and begin to craft a new life – either from courage and intention or from fear and anger. I recommend the first.
At this precipice is where we found ourselves nearly seven years ago. For my husband and I, this crisis resulted in leaving behind an organization that we were both completely intertwined with since babyhood. We found ourselves literally homeless after deciding that the best way to move forward was to cut all ties and leave behind the life we had worked tirelessly to build, including friends, our home, vehicles – everything. At this time, our children were ages 10, 8, 5, and 1. It was early December 2014, we had nothing except each other and a few basic belongings. What got us to this point is a lengthy tale that would include much explanation; however, here, I will focus on my favorite part – what came next.
A dear friend loaned us his hunting barn in the wilderness of Tennessee, where my family camped out while we figured out our first steps in our new life. We experienced an outpouring of kindness and generosity from so many people during this time, it still brings me to tears thinking about it. I was getting calls almost every day from strangers offering any help they could, from a prayer to a place to stay. Within three weeks, Jed (my husband) secured a job with Solomon Builders Inc. and we found an 800 square foot duplex apartment in Fairview that would be the home of our family of six for a year.
Fast forward to June 2018, we closed on a beautiful 11-acre farm in Williamson County after an enormous amount of concentrated effort and hard work. Here we plan to build our dream estate and are steadily taking steps to get there. During the four years leading up to acquiring this new home and land, I went back to school to pursue a business degree; we also bought, lived in, renovated, and sold a house.
By 2020, I was anticipating graduation from Lipscomb University College of Business. I began interviewing for positions as an entry-level Accountant at firms around Nashville and even completed a full-time internship during tax season. I gradually realized that, despite the pressure from my advisors, professors, prospective employers and recruiting agents, I did not need to prove my worth by following a traditional path, painfully working my way up the corporate ladder in the financial industry. I knew that was not the life I wanted or needed. Besides, I had much more life experience to draw from than the dozens of other qualified class of 2020 graduates (most of whom were at least fifteen years younger than me).
This is when Jed and I began discussing the possibility of becoming business partners. After all, we make a great team! With his extensive experience in residential and commercial construction as well as management, and my business knowledge coupled with years of administrative work, our combined skills could create the synergy required to launch a top-tier construction company. We believed we had a competitive advantage that had a chance at winning in the crazy Nashville market.
All was good and grand, we decided we would launch our company in June – a month after I graduated. It was February; Jed decided to tell his boss of our tentative plans to give the company time to fill his spot (he was the general superintendent for the entire interior division of his company). Instead of “thank you, we’ll begin succession planning…” it was, “okay, you can go ahead and go in 2 weeks.” Needless to say, we had to expedite our business start-up plans. Not only was I still finishing up my coursework and capstone with a 15-hour semester of the most challenging classes; we also had to get this “baby” through the birth canal, care for an elderly parent fighting late-stage cancer AND continue to parent our 4 kids attending 3 separate schools, staying involved in their abundant extra-curricular activities.
Then Covid hit. What was barely doable became unbearable. Again, in the moment of crisis, the good hearts of the people in our community shone. Sometimes you have to just stop, swallow the pride, and ask for help. I reached out to my professors in desperation. I had worked SO HARD, maintained a 4.0 GPA, passed the exams where ¾ of the class was disqualified… now I would have to just drop it – 3 weeks away from graduating. They would not let that happen. The Lipscomb College of business faculty met and agreed to let me draw on the goodwill I had accumulated. They found a way to get me to graduation while significantly reducing my study load. I was able to graduate – remotely, with no ceremony – finishing the last of my exams online.
JASPER LLC was born through all of this as a product of our intention, tears, exhaustion, mentorship, a lot of support… and most of all a passion for building a brighter future. We believe that anything is possible if one is willing to put in the work.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
To say there have been challenges would be an understatement. First of all, the entire world shut down the moment we take our first breath as a baby company. For us this meant we were suddenly homeschooling four kids on top of figuring out how to run a company plus caring for a high-risk elderly parent. Then, building costs began to skyrocket and, at that moment, when lumber prices rose 300%, we were stuck in a couple of fixed-price contracts. Besides immediately assessing a cash-flow hemorrhage, we had to make sense of how to win new bids and still offer the level of process and product that Jasper boasts without significantly reducing our margins. Just when we thought we were starting to solve some of these issues, the global and national supply chain went caput. Scheduling multiple projects with key items that have fluid lead times of anywhere from 12 to 25 weeks is no small undertaking. On top of this, now many industries face a severe labor shortage which greatly impacts all B2B functions. I could tell stories for days about all the mishaps, mazes, juggling matches, and hurdles. The challenges are endless and daunting, but we are gaining traction and momentum and applying continual pressure to get the flywheel turning.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Jasper LLC is a compact and agile custom builder serving the greater Nashville area. We specialize in luxury home additions, residential renovation, and well-designed light commercials. Jasper builds by design to create a legacy, integrating time-honored construction practices with innovative techniques. Our mission is to build a bright and sustainable future for our team, clients, communities, and the generations to come.
Today, we are extremely proud of Jasper, the people we have hired, the work we have completed, and the reputation we have established in Nashville and beyond. We have created a brand that reconnects the client to the people who actually build their dream. We are passionate about building and nurturing relationships with our clients, industry partners, and the design community. For every project, we will always value clear communication, use optimum materials, and strive to deliver on time and within budget. Our clients can expect the entire process to involve a high level of professionalism.
Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
Jasper loves to collaborate! We are constantly searching for partnerships with other companies and individuals who share our values. We are looking for those who strive to be above average, take pride in excellent work and communication, and who are passionate about creating the best life possible for themselves and those around them. If this is you or someone you know, let’s talk!
Contact Info:
- Email: jasmine@jasperbuilds.com
- Website: https://www.jasperbuilds.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jasper.builds/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JasperIBuilds/
Image Credits
Headshot – Photo credit Andrea Farmer Photography https://www.andreafarmerphotography.com/
