Our Team

John M. Schafer – Founder

I have been interested in building things as long as I can remember starting in my Grandfather’s shed in Columbus, Ohio to spending my summer vacations in high school and college working for various Nantucket builders.  I graduated from The Ohio State University with a Bachelor’s of Science in Finance and the Capital University School of Law with a Juris Doctor.  After a stint in the Public Defender’s office, I met my wife on a Nantucket vacation and we soon moved to the Island where I changed careers to residential building.  After a successful run of home building on Nantucket, I moved my family to Stowe, Vermont and continued to build some extraordinary mountain homes.  In 2013 I expanded the Stowe Mountain Builders team to include projects on Nantucket, Island and have now come full circle to where it all began.  I live and travel between Stowe & Nantucket with my wife, three daughters, two golden retrievers and Newfoundland puppy.

Jaime Mendez – Site Supervisor

Our most experienced carpenter born Jose Jaime Montoya Mendez in El Salvador came to the United States with his family and settled in Florida where Jaime came up in the trades as a ceramic tile installer.  He quickly moved on to carpentry and currently has 22 years’ experience and is now considered a master at his trade.  Jaime resides on Nantucket Island with his son and enjoys fishing when not working.

 

Enrique B. Deras – Framing Foreman

Moved to the Boston area from his native El Salvador and quickly gained experience framing commercial townhouses.  After moving with his wife and two children to Nantucket, Enrique continued gaining residential framing experience.  After 16 years in the field he now runs our framing crew and also enjoys fishing when not at work.

 

Rudi Alexander – Exterior Trim Foreman

Born Rudi Alexander Valle Guillen in El Salvador, Rudi came to the United States with his family directly to Nantucket where he began apprenticing in the carpentry trade.  After 15 years of high end residential experience, Rudi has shown his skills as a capable leader of our exterior team.  Rudi is single and enjoys playing soccer when not working.

 

Victor DeJesus – Painting Foreman

Victor came to Los Angeles with his family from his native Mexico and gained experience in the commercial painting business learning airless techniques. After switching coasts to Nantucket, Victor applied his experience to the residential market and now heads up our painting team.  Victor lives on Nantucket with his wife and son and enjoys playing the drums when not working.

 

David Franco – Carpenter

Victor David Franco Tejada born in El Salvador is the youngest member of our team having recently moved to Nantucket where he is learning under the capable tutelage of Jaime Mendez.  David lives on Nantucket with his wife and two children and also likes to play soccer when not working.

 

 

Alexis Perez – Carpenter

Born in the Dominican Republic, Alexis came to Nantucket eight years ago and began his experience in the trades right away as an apprentice.  Alexis is now in charge of the site maintenance of all our projects and doubles as our safety officer insuring all protocols are met.  Alexis lives on Nantucket with his wife and three children and enjoys playing basketball on his time away from work.

 

Elmer Maldonado – Painter

Came to Nantucket from his native El Salvador five years ago and began learning all aspects of painting and is now a valuable member of our painting team.  Elmer lives on Nantucket with his wife and child and plays soccer when away from work.

 

 

Ulises Duran – Carpenter

Moved to New Orleans with his family from El Salvador right after Hurricane Katrina and began his work experience in the drywall trades.  After several years, Ulises expanded his skills into carpentry and now has a total of 13 years’ experience combined.  Ulises is single, has three children and likes to cook when not at work.

 

Ida Perry Vann – Office Manager

A graduate of North Carolina State University and she holds several other Master’s degrees, Ida has been the driving force behind the office at Stowe Mountain Builders pretty much since the beginning.  Ida keeps the records straight and the rest of us on our toes!  She lives in Stowe, Vermont with her husband and three daughters.  Travel is her hobby and she frequents our Nantucket projects to make sure everything is running smoothly.