Amid personal and structural changes, CRD Design Build is succeeding beyond expectations 

For many in the US homebuilding industry, the path has been one built on family connections, but for Teri McDermott, CEO of CRD Design Build (CRD), her story is one of determination. Since the passing of Teri’s husband, Michael, CRD’s Strategic Operations and Plans Manager, in July 2024, Teri has seamlessly taken responsibility for the business, continuing their legacy and providing excellent remodeling services across Seattle.  

“Although I’ve always held a key position within the business, I never imagined I’d be leading a $12-million business on my own,” Teri opens. “Originally known as Conner Remodeling and Design, CRD was established in 1980 by Denny Conner. Michael and I ran a different general contracting business, but in 2008 during the housing crisis, I started doing accounting work for other companies, one of which being CRD. I joined the team in 2010 and transitioned to the role of operations manager in 2014. Shortly after, Denny wanted to sell the business and with the economy coming back, Michael and I realized CRD’s potential and decided to purchase it.  

Dedicated team 

“When Denny decided he wanted to retire, he renamed the business to CRD Design Build to maintain the reputable brand Denny had built, which celebrates its 45th anniversary this year, and after a two-year transition period, we completed the sale in 2021. Michael was in construction for his entire life and ran his own business from 2000. In 2022, he was diagnosed with a very rare cancer and he sadly passed away in July 2024. 

“Michael was always the ‘good cop,’ and I was the ‘bad cop;’ I looked after operations and Michael was the production guy liaising between design and production. We both loved taking clients’ needs, wants, and dreams, and making them a reality within their budget. It has been a very difficult transition, and we have actually created an entire procurement department to take on Michael’s role of estimating, plan set review and purchasing products.” 

Despite these circumstances, Teri is quick to highlight that she is blessed with a dedicated team. “It’s been a hard transition, but my team are phenomenal, and they are the key reason the business grew from $3.5 million to $12.5 million since our purchase of CRD, despite me and Michael being away from the business for the majority of the last two and a half years. We have a culture like no other and we do everything by our core values. Michael and I always strived to create a workplace where we could have fun every day. 

“Our daughter also plays a key role in the business, although when we first offered her a role, she took our offer and got a better offer elsewhere,” Teri laughs. “But it was meant to be, as we hired her as our marketing manager just one week before Michael was diagnosed. She’s gradually evolved into our operations manager with an oversight of marketing and hopefully one day she will take over from me.  

“It’s difficult being a woman in this industry, but fortunately things are changing,” she adds. “I’m part of an organization within the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties called the Professional Women in Building Council (PWB), which allows women to network, strengthen our ties, and share opportunities. Within CRD, we have women across all levels of the company including in managerial positions, and we also support a range of trade schools and community events to encourage more women to join the homebuilding industry.” 

Preparing to expand

Turning to projects and capabilities, Teri continues: “Prior to us purchasing the business, CRD only offered full gut  

remodels, but we now offer everything from small projects like replacing windows and flooring to kitchens, bathrooms, whole-house remodels, additions, dig downs and house lifts. We do detached accessory dwelling units (DADUs) and accessory dwelling units (ADUs) too, which provide extra accommodation often used to house guests or elderly parents. We’ve recently completed a fantastic standalone DADU in Wallingford, where we transformed a small garage into a beautiful living space with a kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, and home office.  

“We’ve also recently completed some whole-house remodels. We refreshed a Whittier Heights home and fully updated the kitchen, as well as added a second story to create three bedrooms and two beautifully designed bathrooms. In Ballard, we did a full remodel for a young family who needed casual living and outdoor space, as well as a modern, open-plan kitchen. We added custom cherry cabinets with shaker doors, and a beautiful new oak staircase seamlessly integrated the two floors. Another remodel saw us completely transform an old 1920s home in Queen Anne into a fresh home with a large master suite, spacious closets, and a luxurious spa bathroom.  

“As a service-oriented business, clients are our top priority,” Teri states. “I believe in educating clients, so our website focuses on education around all sorts of topics related to homebuilding. We also offer a two-year warranty on all our projects to provide clients with peace of mind. Our dedicated team of architects, designers, and interior designers, as well as our full production team, are on hand to work closely with clients throughout the process from sales through production.” 

As our conversation closes, Teri explains what’s next for CRD. “For 2025, we’re focused on solidifying our foundation and preparing for expansion in 2027,” she concludes. “We want to establish successful and scalable processes to align with our ambitious growth targets over the next few years. Further afield, we’ll increase our employee base from 33 to 50-to-60 people, and perhaps add a new location. Alongside remodeling, I’d like to see CRD diversify to offer custom homes and land development across the Seattle area.”   

www.crddesignbuild.com