What we preach to our team is that our clients need to be cared for.

Our dedicated staff is committed to listening to your needs and producing exceptional work.

Jacob Aronson
Carpenter

“Relationships with homeowners are very important to me because I don’t want to be this stranger in your home that’s swinging a hammer and making noise.”

Even though he’s a carpenter, brick homes have a special place in Jacob’s heart – it’s all about symmetry.

After going to culinary school and working as an EMT, Jacob traveled around the country building climbing walls – which is how he landed at Ben Quie & Sons. Some of his favorite clients are the pets he meets on the job, especially cats.  He is looking forward to buying and working on a home of his own.

Favorite tool: 5-in-1 Painter’s Tool, a very simple hand tool with a plethora of uses that I use every day.

Matt Beaver
Lead Carpenter

“A good day at work is when I can get in the groove of building something and at the end of the day see it accomplished.”

Matt wasn’t looking for a new job, but the opportunity to work on old houses every day was too good to pass up.

After working as a solo remodeler for over a decade, he is excited about learning new techniques from his colleagues. When it’s called for, he’s not afraid to play therapist with a client. Remodeling can be scary, sometimes people just need to talk it out and know that they are in good hands.

Favorite tool: Festool Domino, a specialized tool for creating mortise and tenon joints to fuse two pieces of wood together. It only does one job, but it does it well and saves a ton of time.

Amanda Claessens
Design Assistant

“A good day for me is when I get to learn something new about the construction process that helps me to be a better designer.”

Amanda knew from a really young age that she wanted to be a designer. Then in 2018, she and her husband bought a turn-of-the-century home in Minneapolis. It inspired her to transition to design as a career. She spent years planning and executing remodeling projects in her own home and decided that she’d really love to help other people do the same.

Most of her career has been in Customer Experience. She’s learned over the years that the client’s experience is just as important as providing quality work. From the color palette to the trim profiles to the way a client feels at the end of a meeting, every detail matters.

Favorite Tool: An orbital sander – quality is all about the prep work, and it’s saved me the most hours of work by far!

Tom Claessens
Production Manager

“After two years working in pre-construction, I decided to follow my passion and get back to building beautiful, high-quality residential projects.”

Tom worked his way through carpenter, lead carpenter, and project manager positions at Ben Quie & Sons and other residential remodeling companies.  After seven years, he completed a BS in Construction Management.  After two years of working in pre-construction, he decided to follow his passion and get back to building beautiful, high-quality residential projects.  

When not at work you can find him training for or competing in cycling or Nordic ski races, or collaborating with his interior designer wife on remodels of their 1916 craftsman home in North Minneapolis.

Favorite Tool: Track Saw, it’s portable, efficient, and makes nearly perfect cuts every time.

Matt Edblom
Lead Carpenter

“It’s the details that go into it, and it is those challenging details that make the end product so much more rewarding.

With his dad being a General Contractor, Matt is no stranger to the construction field. In 2014, he got his official start in the industry. About eight years later, Matt joined Ben Quie and Sons as Lead Carpenter and earned the nickname “Fast Eddy.”

At work, he sees stair work as being the most satisfying. It’s the details that go into it, and it is those challenging details that make the end product so much more rewarding. Matt loves to make conversation with clients and prides himself on being easy-going and friendly.

Favorite Tool: Although detailed work is rewarding, life’s all about balance. That’s why a Sawzall is Matt’s favorite tool.

Leaf Enz
Lead Carpenter

“Working outside on a beautiful day, that is a moment where I think to myself: this is a really special job.”

Leaf comes from a family of people who fix things – from his grandparents on the farm who had to keep up all their own equipment, to his father tackling projects around the house.

He carries on that tradition at Ben Quie & Sons, using his ingenuity to solve whatever carpentry problems come his way. His favorite days are when he can work outside, whether it’s on a warm autumn day or in the sub-zero winter.

Favorite Tool: Oscillating Multi Tool, it was first created to remove casts, but it’s very functional and can do jobs that other tools just can’t accomplish.

Paul Gorton
Project Manager

“No matter what, you are just a handshake away from the person who is actually doing the work, putting the trim on the wall.”

When Paul and Ben first met, it was kismet. They shared so many connections and values, it makes perfect sense that they work together today.

Paul has worn every hat in the building game – from being a “one-man band,” to managing multimillion-dollar new-construction projects. He brings a problem-solving mindset to his work and strives to constantly improve the level of service and quality in everything we do. As a watchdog for the client, he will look out for your best interest every step of the way.

Favorite Tool: A jointer. It makes things square and that’s something I can count on.

Kendra Kramar
Office Administrator

“I am happy to become the go-to person here as I learn and identify areas where I can contribute effectively to the team”

Kendra has always worked for small, mostly family businesses in an administrative-type role. She had most recently been working part-time for 10 years after being home with small kiddos, and this fall, her nest became empty. Kendra wanted to pursue a full-time position, and Ben Quie & Sons caught her attention right away for its size and purpose in making and preserving beautiful spaces.

Kendra loves to camp. She has an old pop-up camper that has traveled to many places and National Parks. She also enjoys creative challenges, from designing a holiday card every year and Halloween costumes to a well-organized closet. Reading and puzzles are her favorite cold-weather hobbies, and summer is for all things outside.

Favorite Tool:  My favorite tool is a to-do list (on paper). Lists give me a sense of order and satisfaction from creation to check off.

Josh Meyers
Carpenter

“Carpentry is a good fit for me.”

When Josh moved into an old house in St. Paul and began fixing it up, he began to suspect that working behind a desk might not be for him. A former freelance designer and youth pastor, he found a love for carpentry working on his home in St. Paul. “There’s a lot of stuff to fix.” From his first day on the job as an apprentice carpenter, he has put his enthusiasm to work. Helping to build a new porch on a historic home in St. Paul has been his favorite project so far, but every day on the job has been special to him. “Every day has been a firehose of information,” he says. “I’ve learned something new or overcome a challenge or solved a problem. Those are good days.”

Favorite Tool: A hammer. It’s the same tool my great-grandparents used to build their house almost 100 years ago.

Katie Post
Director of Project Development

I was the first woman in Minnesota to obtain my Certified Remodeler Certification from NARI in the early 90s

As Director of Project Development, Katie makes sure that projects flow through our development process smoothly and accurately.

Katie Post has worked in residential remodeling since she was 21. Over the years, she’s worn many hats-finance, fieldwork, owner, drafting, design, and production manager. Years ago, Katie worked at Ben Quie & Sons part-time, doing project management. When the opportunity arose to return to the team, it seemed fitting. 

Any project that fits the original integrity of the architecture of the home and modifies it for modern living is Katie’s favorite type of project. What we do is very personal and listening to our clients is key.

Favorite tool: A coffee maker. There are multiple ways to use it and you can tell a lot about people by their choices.

Wayne Holmberg
Lead Carpenter

“I usually listen before I talk.”

Like the craftsman homes he works on, Wayne isn’t very loud or flashy. For more than 30 years he’s been quietly “learning on the job” and acquiring over 60,000 hours of experience that have made him an exceptional carpenter.

A south Minneapolis native, he started working summers “hauling trash and stuff.” He enjoys solitude and spending time at the family cabin. For him, a good day is when things go mostly as planned and he doesn’t find anything “odd.” Wayne plans to do more traveling in the future. Maybe he’ll take a plane but he’ll probably just drive his truck.

Favorite Tool:  Cordless drill. It’s super versatile.

Mary Ellen Rantanen
Designer

“I really enjoy space planning and getting to know our wonderful clients.”

Mary Ellen worked at Ben Quie & Sons for a couple of years, then spent about a year and a half at another company. She decided that missed our team and the character of the old homes we work on, so returned!

Mary Ellen’s favorite project is whichever one she’s working on at the moment! She really enjoys space planning and getting to know her wonderful clients. The challenge of designing for function inside of what is often a fairly small space, and reflecting the personalities of the home and everyone who lives there, is an honor.

Outside of work, Mary Ellen spends a lot of time outdoors, walking dogs, and gardening. She loves listening to live music, traveling, spending time with her family, and, of course, working on projects in her own 1937 home.

Favorite Tool: A small, old hammer with a smooth, worn wooden handle that she inherited from her dad. When she was a little girl, her dad would let her use it working in the garage workshop together.

Jeff Schwartz
Office Manager

“I enjoy working behind the scenes, making a difference by helping someone else be successful.”

Jeff is the glue behind the scenes, keeping the office running smoothly, and that’s just the way he likes it. In the winter, you can find him driving his trusty Toyota Avalon through the snow, harkening back to his first job as a school bus driver.

Favorite Tool:   Quickbooks, it was a difficult process to make the transition from our old software, but everything works much smoother now.

Stacey Quie
Director of Fun

“I decided to join the family business and start coordinating some of the fun employee activities”

Stacey started off working and volunteering at a non-profit, hosting gallery openings in the heart of South Minneapolis for artists. From there, she learned and started teaching metalworking and jewelry classes for kids and adults and started creating and designing my own metal jewelry.

Afterward, she decided to stay home with her two kids (and balance occasional part-time work and designing wooden jewelry on the side.)  In 2022, she decided to join the family business and coordinate some of the fun employee activities for Ben Quie & Sons. I love people and hospitality, so it’s been a great fit.

Favorite Tool:  A laser cutter which she uses to create and engrave the jewelry pieces for the wooden earrings she sells locally.

careers-sam-quie

We’re always looking for
great people to join our team.

Complete the form below to share your information with our hiring team or email us at jobs@benquieandsons.com for a list of open positions.

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