A business is like a house. It begins with a well-designed plan, should be built on a solid foundation, and must include all of the components that enable it to serve its purpose. If the walls and windows are not air tight, or if there’s a crack in the foundation, trouble will ensue.
Rob Cuthbertson, general contractor and owner of Cuthbertson Construction, appears to have built his business on a rock.
A Scottsboro, Ala., native, Cuthbertson did construction work in high school, but didn’t immediately pursue a career as a builder. He laughs as his wife, Wendy, who’s seated next to him on the couch in the living room of their Apison, Tenn., home reveals his original career plan: “He was going to be a dentist.” “My grandmother was a dental assistant, and it looked to me like dentists didn’t work a lot and made good money, but I quickly realized I wasn’t going to like being one,” he says.
So, Cuthbertson changed gears and studied construction management at Brigham Young University. While in school, he worked as a project manager and an estimator. His zeal for construction was evident to Wendy, whom he met at BYU. “On one of our first dates, I asked him to tell me what he was studying, and he pulled out a couple of two-by-fours, a sheet of paper and a pencil, and taught me how to calculate roof pitch. Even though it wasn’t the most exciting thing to do on a date, I thought it was cool. I could see he was passionate about it,” Wendy says.
Cuthbertson laughs again, this time at the memory of his unconventional, yet effective, strategy for wooing Wendy. The two of them married and moved to the Chattanooga area, where he’d done an internship for a local homebuilder between his junior and senior years at BYU. He spent the next year working for the same company, and then struck out on his own. “I wanted to get to know the area first, get some experience under my belt, and save a little money,” Cuthbertson says.
When Cuthbertson began building homes in 2005, the market was strong, so he built spec houses, all of which sold. Over time, he also began to build custom homes. Then he began renovating homes with water and fire damage. The latter saved his business when the economy went south. “Right now, insurance work makes up about 80 percent of what we do. That’s the direction of the market at the moment. And we stay busy,” Cuthbertson says. Cuthbertson does not actually swing a hammer, but instead oversees the subcontractors that do the actual work. He also meets with clients, sets schedules, and tends to the monetary aspects of his projects.
His wife says he’s a good fit for the job, as he’s proactive, a good communicator, and an effective manager. “He’s not timid when it comes to asking people to do what needs to be done, especially when he’s doing reconstruction work. He’ll talk with his client, get the insurance company involved, and bring in the subcontractors.” Cuthbertson says his experience working with insurance companies makes him a good choice for renovation work.
“I know how insurance companies work, so I know how to get a project through the system faster than someone who doesn’t have experience in this area.” Cuthbertson says the confidence he projects and his ability to remain calm are also key to his renovation work. “Renovations can be deeply emotional for some people because it disrupts their lives. They have to leave their homes, which have been damaged, and live in a hotel. I understand that, and I sympathize with my clients, but the best thing I can do is put things back together again as quickly as possible.”
Cuthbertson also makes a point of keeping his clients up to speed on the status of his work on their homes. “If I say I’m going to do something, I make every effort to do it. But sometimes, things change. When they do, I let my clients know immediately.” His wife admires his boldness. “I like that he doesn’t shy away from uncomfortable situations, but takes care of them right away,” she says. Although Cuthbertson brings a lot to the table, he’s only as good as his subcontractors. Through them, he says he’s been able to maintain a high level of quality.
“The advantage of using subs over employees is they’re motivated to do a good job because you don’t have to use them again. My subs want to maintain their connection with me because I give them homes to build and insurance work. That gives me leverage.” One of the things Cuth-bertson enjoys the most about construction work is the satisfaction he feels upon completing a project. While getting to that point can involve working evenings and weekends, he doesn’t let his job consume his life. Rather, he spends most of his time with family, is active in his church, and enjoys kicking back and relaxing.
He and Wendy have two daughters, the youngest of which has claimed a spot on his lap. Her name is Ivy, and she’s everything an 18-month-old should be. Their 4-year-old daughter, Kate, is making herself scarce. Soon, these two girls will have a brother, as Wendy is pregnant with her and Cuthbertson’s third child. Faith is an important part of Cuthbertson’s life as well. As a young man, he served two years on a church mission in Paraguay, where he learned to speak Spanish. And today, he and his family attend the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Ooltewah, Tenn.
When it comes to leisure time, Cuthbertson is cut from the same cloth as a lot of men who grew up in the South: he likes to hunt, fish and watch sports, and does so without apology. Visiting his grandparents at their farm in Scottsboro is also high on his list of favorite things to do, as is traveling. Last year, he and Wendy toured Europe.
The fruit of Cuthbertson’s hard work, skills as a general contractor and strict business ethics are evident all around him. His company is doing well in a challenging economy, and the house he built for his family is stunning. But more significantly, his success as a father and husband are evident in the love his wife and children clearly feel for him. Cuthbertson has done more than build his business on a solid foundation; he’s built his home on a rock as well.
Cuthbertson is licensed to do residential general contractor work in Tennessee, Georgia and Alabama. He’s also licensed to do light commercial work in Tennessee. For more information about Cuthbertson Construction and to view photos of the company’ work, visit www.cuthbertsonhomes.com.