Ask Kathi Fleck what sets her remodeling business apart and she’ll make no bones about it. “I’m a woman-owned business in a male-dominated world,” says Fleck, proud president of LoneStar Design Build.
That difference is more than just a curiosity. Fleck says it also gives her a competitive edge in a business where women homeowners are often making final decisions. “Little tiny things are important to women,” she explains. “And I think being a woman and having some people on staff who are women, we see that and relate to it.”
In fact, women run the show at LoneStar even though Fleck’s husband Don is vice president. Four of her seven staff are female, and “they’re the ones driving decisions and the process and working with the trades,” says Fleck, who has written books and taught classes on remodeling.
No one is more surprised than she is about this outcome. “When my husband and I started this business, I thought he might take more of a leadership role,” she recalls. “But he was like, ‘Just give me a list and let me know what you need done and I’ll get it done.’ It’s probably different for other husband-and-wife teams, but it works well for us.”
Another thing that’s worked well is the flexible work schedule that Fleck allows. One of her field workers who has been with the company from the beginning likes to golf on Wednesdays, so he takes that day off. Another office worker isn’t an early morning person, so she doesn’t start until after 9:30 a.m.
Fleck’s main concern isn’t when her employees work, but rather how well they provide what she calls “exceptional client experiences.”
“Once we’re hired, we are dedicated to their project,” she says. “Our goal is to reach out to clients before they reach out to us. If someone has to call and ask where we are on their project, that’s a red flag.”
