Authentic Homes Testimonial
by Ben Watters
As a general rule and basic business principle, partnerships never work and are doomed for failure. Nobody told cousins David Jenner and Reed Hodges of Authentic Homes Inc. If they did…. it would not matter. These two totally different men have flourished because of what each one brings to the business. David with a framing structural new construction background and Reed from a remodeler’s perspective.
It would seem that the different perspectives create a synergy between the two. It is the diversity of perspective and the willingness to compromise that has developed an efficient model producing an awesome product.
Years ago and while still in school, both David and Reed gained experience that would build a foundation for what is Authentic Homes Inc. today. They took different paths that would someday converge. David as a young man joined a framing company. He learned his trade well and soon developed his own crew. Reed, on the other hand, became a mortician and funeral director while doing tile and remodeling work on the side. Reed developed a love of the finished detail and enjoyed his “side hustle” very much. So you are beginning to see the synergy. David focuses on the structural and Reed the finished product.
These two were doing their own thing until the economy came crashing down in the late first decade of the new century. It was then that David’s father, David Sr., asked them both to join him in developing investment properties. With David Sr.’s financial backing and mentorship, the cousins started working closely together. As they gained more experience, the idea of becoming Authentic Homes Inc. was considered.
They would no longer be just a framing crew or a remodeling company but a diverse construction entity that would and could take an idea from beginning to end; from a remodeling project, new construction, and even sub-division development. David and Reed did this with David Sr. as their mentor and developed principles by which they would not waiver. Starting each day in prayer, honoring God, and giving Him credit for all success was the top concern. Controlling scheduling and quality by having their own employees, who do most work on each project. Having a zero-tolerance for drugs on the job. And having an open mind toward new products and ideas that would make the business more efficient.
That is where their Bender Lumber Salesman, Terry Davis, fits in. David and Reed consider Terry a partner in their business. They depend on Terry to help them find the right products and have them delivered on time. Terry’s knowledge and organizational skills help Authentic Homes Inc. be as efficient as possible. Whether on a new construction jobsite or a complete tear-out, Terry has a solution to almost any problem.
Terry is not the only Bender Lumber asset that David and Reed consider essential. Store Manager Ed Craig, with his fleet of trucks and drivers, are most responsive to the needs of Authentic Homes Inc. If they need it, Ed and his team will find a way to deliver material better than anyone around.
David and Reed feel the future is bright for Authentic Homes Inc. Because of their diverse backgrounds, wide breadth of experience, and different approaches, they can withstand the ups and downs of an unstable economy. As we speak, they are developing a new subdivision that will focus on well-built, medium-sized and priced homes.
The long-range goal for both David and Reed is to build a business that can last well into the future with or without them. A business that will be unwavering in their core values.
Maybe that’s why they are such a good fit for Bender Lumber. At Bender Lumber, we are looking towards the future creating a synergy that will be long-lasting for years to come.