As Featured in Featured Builders: 2002 Mark Varnum Construction If you're looking for a specialist to completely change the look of your home, Mark Varnum is the contractor to call. Owner of Mark Varnum Construction, based in Camarillo, Mark has been involved in the industry for more than 30 years and has built his business on the South/Central Coast with a wide base of referrals. Tyler Development As a custom homebuilder, Ron Udall stands alone in a class by himself. Owner of Tyler Development Corporation, Ron's solid reputation precedes him. He could refer to his extensive collection of finished projects as proof of his expertise or show off his long list of projects in progress but Ron lets his work speak for him. A visit to what he modestly refers to as "completed custom homes" turns out to be a sightseeing tour through notable multi-million dollar estates from Palos Verdes to West Los Angeles, up the coastline to the Westlake area, and also extending into Montecito. A & A Builder Design Trained as an architect in the 1970s and a general contractor since the mid-80s, owner Othello "Otto" D. Abata, owner, A & A Builder Design, Santa Maria, has been designing and building "vacation" homes on the South and Central Coast since moving to the area in 1985. He's also well known for his work as a commercial contractor. Schaub Construction, Inc. For Dave Schaub, it's about service and doing the job right the first time. Ask Heather Locklear or Richard Carpenter. Ask baseball pitcher Brett Saberhagen or actor Lyle Waggoner or a number of Central and South Coast doctors and attorneys who live in homes built by Dave Schaub. Thomson Construction, Inc. Tom Thomson leads by example. Owner of W. T. Thomson Construction, Inc., for the past 23 years, Tom has become a well-known leader in the South Coast Construction industry and in the community. Based in Santa Barbara, Tom not only is a respected professional with a wide range of experience in both commercial and residential building, he also holds numerous awards for his finished projects, as well as leadership positions in various community organizations. This past year the long-time board member was elected president of the Santa Barbara Contractors Association for a second term. Berto van Veen Construction If there ever was a dichotomy, two years ago it was between Berto van Veen and the concept of green building. Even though Berto is from Europe where "green building" has been practiced for decades and he always has been concerned about conservation and excessive trash, when he was approached by Bill Hayward to construct a "green building" in Santa Maria for Hayward Corporation, his initial reaction was to let someone else do the job. Lockwood Brothers Construction, Inc. What do graduates in management, finance and marketing have in common? In the case of the Lockwood brothers, Eric, Greg and Guy, it's a dynamic construction company. Based in Camarillo, the firm, Lockwood Brothers Construction, Inc., is well known as a producer of quality, custom high-end homes. Steve Armstrong Construction If you're inclined to do research on the contractor you've selected to build your home, be sure to find out how long he's lived in the area and worked in the industry. On both of these counts, Steve Armstrong, owner of Steve Armstrong Construction, Thousand Oaks, can show that not only has he lived in the area since childhood, but he and his family also have been affiliated with the local industry for generations.