By Irene Jones
By Irene Jones
Construction isn't just about building walls and rooms and cabinetry. It's about lifestyle and living and making tomorrow a better day because of where you live and how you live. It's about giving this lifestyle and a better life to clients &endash; friends &endash; and leaving a legacy for generations to enjoy. This is the goal for general contractor J. Mark Sims, owner of True North Construction, Santa Barbara, and so far his reputation for achieving this goal has kept him very busy as a custom homebuilder on the South/Central Coast.
"I truly love the whole process of construction," Mark explains. "It's being able to be creative from inception to completion. It brings tremendous satisfaction to see not only a structure go up, but to watch it come alive as it serves the needs of those who will live and work inside. It's very satisfying to know that you've helped contribute to a better lifestyle for your friends and those with whom you associate. And it tends to have the ripple effect &endash; their better lifestyle and life affects their family and friends and also those of us who were involved in the construction. All of us on the team are only as good as the last project we completed and the job we're on now."
Mark insists that maintaining a good working relationship with his crew and subcontractors is important but even more essential is the communication between client and contractor. "Construction of anything in the home is a life changing event and if I'm involved in that event, I want it to be positive. Building something and knowing it's going to be there for a long, long time, is my incentive to do the best I can on every project. I enjoy helping people reach their dreams and I consider it a privilege to be selected by a client to participate in such a major event."
Mark has been involved in construction since college when he took a "winter" job while attending the University of California at Santa Cruz. Graduating with a degree in literature, Mark ventured part time into writing and worked for a short time at the Santa Cruz Sentential while completing his apprenticeship as a carpenter. It was then that he knew that he wanted to stay in construction full time. He worked for numerous contractors as a site supervisor, gaining experience in every kind of construction. As he became more knowledgeable about the industry, the satisfaction he gained from working with clients and helping them achieve their goals motivated him to acquire his general contractor's license.
A native of Los Angeles, Mark grew up all along the Pacific Coast as the oldest of five children and the son of a doctor who did medical research for hospitals throughout California. Mark attended schools in Santa Barbara and Ventura, and spent his youth "up and down the coast." He suspects this series of moves gave him the ability to mingle and make friends quickly and communicate well with people of various lifestyles, a skill he insists has helped him as he focused on the construction industry.
While in Santa Barbara, Mark learned sailing, at about age 11, and soon gained a reputation in the area as a "natural" sailor. As a college student in Santa Cruz, his ability in sailing brought him notoriety. He often was hired by those owning sailboats to guide their crafts, literally, across the oceans of the world. He would work on construction during the winter and spend his summers sailing around the world. His skill has taken him to four continents and across three oceans, not only as a professional sailor but also as a racing consultant. He has spent weeks working with racing teams in Honolulu, Bermuda, South America, Sweden, South Africa and all along the East Coast, helping them prepare for annual sailing and yachting competitions. His credits include world championship awards and world speed records, as well as dozens of other significant sailing commendations. An accomplished writer, he continues to publish articles about sailing and competitive yachting in various trade magazines.
"Everyone has their natural skills and their right brain creative abilities," Mark explains. "I'm a natural-born sailor but my creative side comes out when I'm working in construction. It's been great to enjoy the best of both worlds." The best of both worlds includes the name of his construction firm &endash; True North &endash; coming from a navigational term that he feels is also applicable to building. In addition, he relies heavily on the latest technology, not only for his navigation, but also to keep in touch with his family and to keep his company running the days he is away. Using fax, e-mail, cell phones, the Internet and conference calls, Mark doesn't miss a meeting and always is available to solve problems, should they arise.
"I've surrounded myself with very dependable people who know the business and are able to handle major responsibility," Mark says. "No one can be on the job 24/7 but modern technology sure makes it easier to occasionally pursue a hobby and run a business at the same time and I'm thankful for that because as much as I love construction, I would hate to give up sailing. Construction is my life and my bread and butter but sailing is like the frosting on the cake. I know people who pursue all types of hobbies and travel over the world to fulfill their yearnings. I feel blessed that I have a vocation that allows me some time to enjoy my hobby, too."
After 18 years, Mark's expertise in building has almost become his second hobby. He has experience in both residential and light commercial construction and currently specializes in new construction. He also does remodeling and provides construction management services. "The projects I've been involved with have run the gambit from award-winning homes to Santa Barbara's historic old Mission," he states. "My company is dedicated to serving our clients with the best possible personnel, workmanship and materials." As a salute to his ability as a contractor, Mark and True North Construction received the Santa Barbara Contractors Association Award for Excellence in All Trades for 2000.
Mark's reputation as a builder has brought him numerous letters from clients who appreciate his insight and experience. "All the qualities you want in a contractor-builder are found in Mark Sims," one client states. "He's first class in all respects, from his knowledge of building to his managing of subs and getting things done in a timely fashion. He's totally client centered and is attentive to costs and schedules. He handles the inevitable job crises both quickly and efficiently. More importantly, True North's finished product is always a work of art and Mark delivers it all with a sense of pride and a great smile."
Another client adds that they are "impressed by his persistence, honesty and desire to do a good job. It would have been a very trying experience if Mark hadn't been our contractor."
"Most of my work comes from referral," Mark claims. "I find that my clients are like an extended family and whenever we can we come together as friends. It's these types of relationships that I'm determined to continue to build as I help people visualize their dreams. It's my way of giving to the community and leaving a positive imprint for posterity."
A family man, Mark and his wife, Priscilla, have two children, Fletcher and Madeleine. Mark doesn't know if they will be interested in construction as they mature, but he's making sure they enjoy sailing and Fletcher already has learned the skill. "There are millions of jobs out there and if they want to be part of the building industry, it will be a positive force in their lives, just as it has been in mine."
Mark sees himself as a builder for years into the future. "I'm very happy with where I am today and I expect I'll be doing something in construction for the rest of my life. It's such a part of me, I can't imagine doing anything else." Because Mark and True North Construction have helped build the lifestyle that is unique to Santa Barbara, that's good news for Mark's long list of clients and also for the construction industry on the South/Central Coast.
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