In 1959, the business started when Teri Froetschel and Amy Schoemaker’s mother and father, Willis and Sally Schoemaker, decided to become builders. Willis designed homes until 1992 when his daughters, along with Teri’s husband, John, took over the home building aspect of the business so he could focus on development. When Willis passed away in 1999, Teri, Amy and John made a conscious decision to keep the business going.
“We grew up in the business, but neither of us thought we would return to do this,” Amy says. “It just seemed to work out well.”
Amy is the company’s marketing director and begins initial contact with clients. Teri is the director of design, turning a client’s idea into a reality, and John is the construction director, coordinating with Teri on the design and working with all the sub contractors.
“We all work together, keeping a consistent flow from vision to completion,” says Teri, who has been married to John for 24 years and has three children: Kyle, 19, Lorin, 16, and Willis, 7. “It’s a great team, and we all work well together.”
Along with the sisters and John, the team works with three others – Rudy Hernandez as the estimator, Amy Duke as the comptroller and Lorenzo Tagle as the foreman. The interiors of the model homes come from Signature Elements, and they look so great in the Willis Homes, some customers buy them furnished.
The work Willis Homes puts into their homes catches attention. In 1997, the company received the Pacesetter Award for Design from Custom Home Magazine and in 2006, they received the 2006 Star Award from the Texas Association of Builders for the best architectural design for a home under $500,000.
Willis Homes is focusing on their subdivision, The Overlook at Sky Island, where they have 14 homes built and The Sanctuary at Sky Island, where they will soon begin building.
“People like the subdivision. They feel like it is a village; a small community,” Amy says. The homes are all different, but fit well in the area.
“We want it to be their home and fit their lifestyle,” Teri says. “We don’t want someone to drive by and say ‘that’s a Willis Home,’ we want them to say ‘that’s a nice home.’”
John ensures the homes will be nice and unique. “We work well with difficult sites,” he states, referring to homes that are designed site specific, like on the side of a mountain. “It allows you to take advantage of the views. It makes the house more appealing from the street.”
While the team prepares the plans and builds the homes, they keep in mind the home will be there long after they are gone, not just when they are done building – and they want it to be the best home possible.
“We put a lot of integrity into each house,” John says. “There is a lot beyond the walls that most people don’t see, but we take a lot of pride in it.” |
