Show Notes

Emerald Builders

On Instagram

Reggie Lebel: President and Foreman
Started Emerald: 2006
Years in carpentry: 17
Favorite tool: Occidental leather tool belt, 14 years and still going strong!
Boots: Labonville, Keen, or Thermarest flip flops
Music: James Taylor, Pearl Jam, The Cult…depends on how much decaf he’s had.

“I love exploring craft in the built environment with wood and creating interesting spaces”

Reggie got his start as a kid helping his dad on drywall jobs, and knew from a young age he wanted to be a carpenter. He started Emerald because he wanted to create a company that filled his soul’s need to practice craft, environmental stewardship, and provide upstanding quality in all aspects of building. He loves mixing old world craft and natural and local building materials with modern building science to create spaces that feel warm and inviting and connect the occupant with nature, while using as little energy as possible. And he just loves working with wood.

When he’s not pounding nails Reggie likes his quiet time at home with his wife Rachel and their two adorable daughters. He also loves chasing after the perfect ribbon of single track on a bike, deep powder in the trees on a snowboard, perfect timber, and the ultimate session IPA.

John Deans: Carpenter and Marketing Director
Joined Emerald: 2017
Favorite tool: Combo Square
Boots: LL Bean Cresta
Music: Phish, or podcasts

“There is magic in the process of joining material together to make something functional and beautiful, and I love getting to be a wizard-in-training every day.”

For almost a decade John was an organizer and campaigner for environmental and progressive causes, including a long stint at Greenpeace USA. He loved fighting the good fight, but found himself increasingly chained to a laptop and cell phone. Yearning to breathe fresh air again and work with his hands, he joined Emerald.

Along with lending us his carpentry skills he is our in-house sustainability expert and spends part of his time promoting our work as our Marketing Director (He wanted us to tell you to go to our Instagram and Facebook page)

Outside of Emerald Builders, John hangs with his favorite person and wife Liia, playing board games, going on outdoor adventures, and working on their little old farmhouse in Bowdoinham. They also serve the sweetest dog in the world, Odin, and most talkative cat, Gambit.