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

“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 the symmetry. Read More

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.

“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. Read More

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.

“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. Read More

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.

Valerie Hill
Business Development Manager | Senior Designer

“The skills I’ve acquired as a tailor and illustrator have transferred well to home design.”

A native of northwestern Wisconsin, 14-year-old Valerie got her start in construction when her grandfather taught her how to wire an outlet and install a hardwood floor. Read More

She had ambitions apart from being an electrician, though, and she spent her early career building an impressive resume in design and the arts. She’s worked as a carpenter, a graphic designer, and an illustrator. In her years as a seamstress for The Minnesota Opera and the Guthrie Theater, she mastered tailoring and pattern drafting. Valerie melds her creative skills with the needs of her clients. “I put myself in their shoes and design as if I were them. I just love that part, adapting to people’s personalities. It’s my job to make it all work for them.”

Favorite Tool: A pencil because it starts everything. You have to draw it before you can build it.

“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. Read More

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.

“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. Read More

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

“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.” Read More

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.

“I can get along with anyone.”

Matt’s ability to jump into new, unfamiliar challenges has always been a benefit to everyone around him. “I’m a good problem solver,” he says. “People call me to do something, and I can just figure it out.” Read More

Jobs in home staging and warehouse management revealed his affinity for fixing, building, sanding, and crafting. He puts his skills to use at home, playing music, designing homes for his three lizards, and creating interesting projects like a wind chime made from beach glass and sand-blasted grapevine.
He’s very happy to have the opportunity to use his creativity and talent on the job. He has his sights clearly set on a path from journeyman to master carpenter.

Favorite Tool: A multi-tool because it can do just about anything.

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. Read More

About eight years later, Matt joined Ben Quie and Sons as Lead Carpenter and earned the nickname “Fast Eddy.” At the start of each day, Matt pulls out his notebook and jots down his to-dos. If he can cross everything off that list, it’s been a good day. 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. It’s the small details like bringing in packages for clients that he believes help create a positive experience for the client.

Favorite Tool: Although detailed work is rewarding, life’s all about balance. That’s why a Sawzall is Matt’s favorite tool. There’s something liberating about the demo process. You can let loose and quickly get done what needs to be done.

“The more pre-planning we can do on a project the better prepared we are.”

Jack is proud to be a part of Ben Quie & Sons and joins the team with many years of knowledge and expertise. As a Project Manager, he acts as a liason, by coordinating with the client, design staff, trade partners and carpenters to ensure a successful project. Read More

His greatest accomplishment is delivering the best value possible within a client’s budget and the established schedule.

Jack often tries to view the project from the client’s perspective. When making recommendations, he considers their specific needs rather than suggesting what is typically done. He also loves to stay connected to clients. In fact, after completing one of his favorite projects, homeowners still call him just to say how much they enjoy the kitchen and how well it has held up over the years.

Favorite tool. A Laser. There are so many applications for a laser that are critical to the work. It also saves so much time and confusion. The more pre-planning we can do on a project the better prepared we are, and a laser contributed tremendously to this.

“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. Read More

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.

Meet the Team

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