Story

I began R-Value Homes in 2004, after 10 years at a Michigan based commercial concrete contractor, starting as a laborer, and quickly moving into the position of a poured wall foreman. But the seeds of Insulating Concrete Forms (ICF) were planted much earlier…

I was raised in a large family on a West Michigan dairy farm; where long hours were the norm, complaining was taboo, and both conservation of energy and stewardship of resources was a way of life. I came to respect durability and simplicity, both in our equipment, and in our buildings. Let me put it another way: I began working at 6, and broke a lot of stuff. Quality stuff broke less and was easier to fix. You didn’t waste time on the farm, and when things broke, time was wasted.

As I grew, I took quite an interest in high-performance engines. No, this does NOT go very well with the ideas of conservation and stewardship! Nevertheless, the lessons I learned about designing the engine and the vehicle as a system, as well as for durability, shaped who I am. I came to understand that high performance was not installing a couple of performance parts, but that the entire engine needed to be specified with a well-defined goal. The entire vehicle must be built to complement the engine.

I had no idea how these various experiences would converge to change the path of my career! Since I also enjoy reading, I naturally read a lot to keep up on my industry knowledge, and followed trends. Once I heard of Insulating Concrete Forms, I immediately knew it was for me. Here was high-performance, conservation, stewardship, durability, and concrete all wrapped into one!