Meet our Staff.

Meet the hard working people that make Acheson Builders the most trusted name in home renovation and remodeling in the Ann Arbor area.

Jim Acheson, President

Jim Acheson, the founder and owner of Acheson Builders, is highly regarded for his craftsmanship and his eye for design. While you may sometimes see him wearing a “cowboy” hat, he’s really the son of a jeweler (read: extremely meticulous), a well educated, highly disciplined, very gifted designer and builder with a passion for excellence in everything he does. He cares about the fine details, – such as how the placement of windows will light an area, versus how they will function for exterior design or viewing. On many occasions he has consulted with homeowners to help solve construction problems other builders have unknowingly created.

When he’s not on the job site, Jim is a skiing enthusiast, and general outdoorsy kind of guy. When he does find himself indoors he loves to read, especially philosophy and theology. Keeping up with the changing political landscape of our country has always been of importance to him; he believes it’s crucial to be active in communicating with our politicians regarding important issues. He also feels it is important to serve in the community for those who are underprivileged. You’ll frequently find him at Hope Clinic, serving meals to the needy.
Marilyn Acheson, Vice President

With multiple roles, Marilyn has assisted in the company since marrying Jim in 1977. She has done everything from bookkeeping to phone handling, to IT management, HR management, Marketing, Insurance, Accounting, and general business management. She has training as an artist, and likes to do renderings for projects when needed. She has also been instrumental in setting up the company’s logo (recently re-branded) and designing marketing materials. Currently she serves as CFO, and assists Jim Acheson in project management as well.
Ben, Lead Carpenter

Ben started with Acheson Builders as a 17 year old kid. He was strong and fit, but didn’t know much about construction. He started out working with Jim Acheson as a helper, when Jim was still doing carpentry in the field. Jim taught him, year by year, and Ben was a good student – quiet, but retaining things well. He has worked for Acheson Builders for over 25 years, and now is a skilled leader for job production, and an exceptional cabinet maker, as well. His favorite free time activity is fishing.
Levon (Lee), Lead Carpenter

Lee brings a lot of skills and experience to our carpentry team. He has over 14 years of experience in the field of residential carpentry, having done all sorts of framing and exterior finish work (including siding, roofing, repairs, basement waterproofing, etc.) as well as interior trim work, doors, stairs, and railings.
Lee works well with others, and has been in supervisory positions, yet he is happy working on his own as well. He is driven to perform careful craftsmanship – just what we require! He has a cheerful attitude and you may find him whistling as he goes about his work.

Besides enjoying woodworking and carpentry, he is an avid reader, and also enjoys the outdoors. He loves taking his children on nature hikes. Another native Michigan man – he grew up in Ypsilanti, just as did another lead carpenter of ours: Ben!

We are thankful to have Levon’s energy and positive attitude on our workforce!
Eric, Job Coordinator

Eric is an Ann Arbor native, and he has always had a passion for the building trades, venturing into the field as a teenager at Ann Arbor Pioneer High School, where he won the Excellence in Design Award that resulted in the trade program choosing to build a home utilizing his design. He continued his education at Lawrence Technological University in Architecture, and later achieved a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management, while working in some manufacturing fields, and growing into the roles of supervision, engineering, and management. Returning to his passion for the building trades, he opened his own construction and contracting firm in 2004, working in all aspects of building and remodeling, as well as obtaining his Michigan Residential Builder’s License. In 2019, having decided he wanted to move more into office and supervisory roles, he joined the Acheson Builders team!

We are extremely fortunate to have such a skilled and experienced addition to help lead our team. Eric’s knowledge of construction is invaluable in managing and scheduling all phases of our remodels, additions, and new construction. Accepting the ever-evolving nature of our projects, he is exceptional at forecasting material needs for the next step, problem solving, and achieving the desired results, all while keeping good communication with our clients.
Amber, Interior Designer

We are thrilled to be working with a talented young designer, Amber. She has recently joined our design team, and we find her to be careful, thoughtful, and thorough in her approach to each project. She is available for our clients to help with their selections. Clients can choose to use more or less of her time, depending on their budget and their needs, but we do include some design time with each project, to help get you started.

It’s a big job to pull together all the elements needed – function, style, color, space, products, cost, and fit – into the many facets of your home: flooring, fixtures, wall colors, siding, trim, and so much more. Amber is skilled at assisting in all these areas

In her own words:

I’m passionate about combining form and function to create a breathtaking space that feels at once classic and personal to the client. When you work with me, you know you’re getting the best guidance toward the home you’ve always wanted — and a vision to ensure you get there. I love [having] the opportunity to work hands-on with my clients. Over the course of the project, we’ll get to know each other on a deeper level and work together toward an end result that will ‘wow’! I design thoughtful, timeless interiors that grow with my clients’ needs. My spaces are functional and beautiful, modern and full of warmth, sustainable and elegant. My favorite part of design is working to seamlessly integrate personal details that elevate a house to a home.

Amber started her career in finance before making a switch to interior design, allowing her to combine the best of both worlds — numbers (your budget) and a creative touch — to help you plan or transform a home so that it feels uniquely YOU. She grew up on the shores of Lake Michigan in picturesque Grand Haven and currently lives and works in Ann Arbor.
Michael, Carpenter Apprentice

A friendly, energetic guy with an upbeat attitude and a big smile, Michael is a hard-working apprentice in the trade of carpentry. His goal is to become a great craftsman, and, with his eagerness to soak up new skills, he is learning quickly from some of our seasoned carpenters. He has experience as a carpenter’s helper with many remodel duties (framing, siding, insulation, HVAC, plumbing, wood trim, and cabinetry), as well as fabrication of outdoor structures such as decks, pergolas, and retaining walls.

Michael has studied at Schoolcraft College, and Southwest School of Woodworking, in Arizona. He’s a Michigan native, a former Rugby player, a runner, and enjoys rock climbing when he gets a chance. We are happy to have him on our team!
Jeff, Driver and Skilled Laborer

Jeff has a great attitude, and he works diligently without complaining even on the menial tasks he is often given. He watches carefully to make sure the materials that he picks up to take to jobs are exactly as specified. He is also happy to join the crew in the field and help with general work that needs to be done – especially cleaning up and making sure things are in proper order. He willingly stays late whenever needed to complete a task – rather than leave it only partially accomplished. Jeff is married to Bonnie, and they have one son and some grandchildren!
Dustin, Estimator

Dustin found us – we didn’t find him, and are we blessed! He walked into our office, having researched our company and wanting to work for a professional builder of high integrity such as ours! His resume cover letter stated: “Acheson’s mission and strategies, emphasizing attention to detail, people-first orientation, and fierce commitment to professionalism, align with my own passions.” How could we NOT hire someone with such a vision?

Dustin is a young man with a BA in English from Hillsdale College, who has a desire for a career in hands-on work – carpentry. Having started doing fine woodworking and furniture making at a young age, he kept it up all through college, doing general construction, rough and finish work, and then working with Habitat for Humanity building homes for needy people. Dustin is smart, likable, self-assured, and is soaking up knowledge and growing his skills as he works with us; a fine, up-and-coming talent, a hard-working man with an outstanding character and great potential.
Ross, Payroll Clerk

Ross has played a role in several areas of the company. Having done labor work while young, he later spent several summers working here (between college semesters) in the office. His Masters in Computer Science degree has come in handy implementing our estimating system and doing computer work, administrative work, job coordination, product research, and more. He currently serves part-time as our Payroll Clerk remotely from Mexico. He is intensely accurate and precise in all he does. We are thankful for his capable assistance.