Our Kitchen and Bath Team
Department Managers
Bart Bauer, Chelsea
Manager of Kitchen and Bath Design (Chelsea Location)
Bart
Bauer worked part-time for Chelsea Lumber in the early 1980s, then operated
his own commercial art company for two years. Since joining us full-time in
1987, Bart has excelled in our home design and construction finance departments,
and now oversees our kitchen and bath design team. He also spearheads our “Go
Green” initiatives. Bart, who has degrees in theater and arts management,
remains active in stage work: In his free time, he design sets for Chelsea’s
Purple Rose Theatre Company. Bart lives in Chelsea.
“When customers come to us for kitchen and bath work, they become part of the family. We strive to treat our customers as fairly as we would treat members of our own families. This extends to our fees. We aim to give our customers the best possible pricing.”
Dan Smith, Saline
Manager of Kitchen and Bath Design (Saline Location)
Dan
Smith joined our Bridgewater Lumber team in 1991, a few years after earning
a degree in advertising and marketing from the University of Toledo. Along
with his responsibilities in Kitchen and Baths, Dan has handled Bridgewater
Lumber’s advertising. A Toledo native, Dan now resides in Carleton, Michigan.
“It’s rewarding to help guide a project from idea to completion. I feel this is one of the main qualities that distinguish our company. We make the extra effort to keep the construction project as easy as possible for our customer.”
Kitchen/Bath Design Staff
Becky Chamberlin, Chelsea
Becky Chamberlin joined Chelsea Lumber in 1997 as a sales assistant in the
kitchen and bath design department. Today she is herself a kitchen and bath
designer, plus a salesperson, job coordinator, estimator, and buyer. With builders
in her family, Becky comes naturally to her job. She is a Chelsea resident,
born and raised in nearby Dexter.
“As I meet with customers to work through their kitchen or bath needs, I get to know them really well. My goal is to give the customer the best design for the best value. The challenge is to put all the details together to make the kitchen or bath remodel go smoothly. And the result I aim for is a satisfied customer.”
Pam Kiel, Chelsea
Since joining Chelsea Lumber in 1986, Pam Kiel has acquired her skills in kitchen and bath design almost entirely on the job. Pam’s early days here were, in her words, “a baptism of fire,” but she quickly gained expertise through extensive product training.
“I take great satisfaction in creating a new kitchen or bath design that fits the client’s lifestyle and needs. For most of our clients, the kitchen is the heart of the home. I know how important it is to them to get the kitchen’s design right.”
Rick Tarantowski, CKD, Chelsea
Rick Tarantowki has worked in the building trades for over 30 years. He has
been a journeyman bricklayer and cement finisher, has owned a custom
design and construction company, and is a licensed builder. He is also
a Certified Kitchen Designer (CKD), who has worked for Chelsea Lumber
since 1993. Rick resides in Jackson.
“In my designs, form always follows function. My desire is for you to have a kitchen that performs, meets your cooking style, and is pleasing to the eye. ”
Mamie Wallace, ASID, Chelsea
Mamie
Wallace holds a bachelor of fine arts degree in interior design, is a
member of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID), and began
working in interior design in 1989. Since joining Chelsea Lumber ten
years later, Mamie has designed a wide variety of living space for our
customers, including libraries, media rooms, wet bars, and outdoor dining
and relaxation areas, as well as kitchens and baths. Mamie is a native
of Tecumseh, Michigan. She continues to reside there.
“I’m happiest when I’m able to help my clients realize their dreams with well-functioning kitchen and bath designs. At the end of a project, the customer should be happy to look upon the new room, and enjoy it on a daily basis.”
Jennifer Mann, Saline
Kitchen and Bath Design and Sales
In
February 2007, Jennifer Mann transferred to our Bridgewater Lumber location
in Saline after having worked at Chelsea Lumber since June 2002. She has supplemented
her kitchen and bath design experience with interior design courses and Woodharbor
cabinetry training. Jennifer was raised in Manchester, Michigan, not far from
Bridgewater, Chelsea, and Saline, and she now lives in nearby Napoleon, Michigan.
“Whether it’s simply changing knobs on a customer’s kitchen cabinetry or helping them remodel their entire kitchen, I enjoy working with customers to get the most out of their homes.”