Meet the Team

Steve Sobkowiak, Co-owner

Steve’s career in the building industry began at an early age while working with a mason on custom homes in Oakbrook, IL and as a general contractor building playgrounds during his high school summer breaks. From this early age, Steve knew he would somehow be involved in the construction industry for many years to come. Following graduation from Montini Catholic High School, Steve attended the University of Iowa, where he graduated with a double major in marketing and human resources. Soon after, he began his career as a sales consultant. After success in that field, he bought his first condo conversion in Chicago. While Steve had lived away from the western suburbs for almost 10 years, he always dreamed of returning to build new homes and contribute to the growth in the communities he called home for so many years.

Jen, architect

From a young age Jen can recall sketching out homes and room layouts. This creative outlet let her to pursue her degree in architecture from Ball State and she now has nearly two decades of experience in residential architectural design. Clients appreciate Jen's listening ear and ability to problem solve their wish list into a functional floor plan. From classic to modern and everything in between, Jen's designed it.

Bill, senior project manager

Bill grew up in the Chicago area and now resides in the western suburbs. He worked in the roofing industry for many years. Bill now acts as our primary project manager on our custom homes. On any given day Bill is visiting our job sites to ensure timelines are being met and the work being done is Oakley quality. He's likely to be thrown plenty of curveballs and works to respond to those so our homeowners don't have to.

Julia, design assistant

Julia's eye for detail and ability to track with the many selections on each project has made her an invaluable asset to our team from the start. You'll work with her in selection meetings, she'll update you on pricing options and will always dig deep for sourcing your perfect material options.

Shelton, project manager

We're so fortunate to have Shelton's experience on our team. As a project manager his day-to-day involves checking in on various sites to supervise the work being done. In addition to those projects, he also runs double duty, working with clients on finalizing job closeouts and partnering with past clients on any warranty work.

Ryan Dunham, Co-owner

Ryan’s initial experience in the construction industry came during summer breaks in his high school years in Rockford, IL. His construction career continued through college by working with various tradesmen, performing duties such as flooring installation and remodeling work. He obtained a bachelors degree in marketing from Illinois State University School of Business, after which he began a consulting career working with several Fortune 500 corporations. After Ryan bought his first condo, he soon kicked off his development career converting condos and 2/3-flats in Chicago’s Lakeview and Wicker Park neighborhoods. He has since moved his family to the western suburbs to be closer to the many home sites he and co-owner Steve are developing.

Heather, designer

Heather, a Michigan native, made the return back north to the Chicago area a few years ago after spending several years in the Naples, FL market as an interior designer. Heather brings a wealth of ideas and solutions to our clients that helps to keep the process from becoming too overwhelming. She'll suggest the perfect white paint color or educate you on the ideal height for hanging a light.

Gayle, project coordinator

As a lifelong Glen Ellyn resident, Gayle knows her suburbs. As a former teacher, she's also extremely organized. Both qualities benefit our clients from the start. She handles contracts, coordinates with utilities throughout the build, and works with the various village departments throughout the permit process. Gayle often handles the not-so-glamorous, but extremely important upfront pieces of any given project.

Jack, project manager

Jack's calm demeanor and unparalleled work ethic means we can always count on him to show up and get the job done. He is a constant presence on many of our renovation and new build job sites, working with our subcontractors to ensure the job is moving along as it should.

Sarah, sales & marketing

Sarah started off as a client, building in 2011, and years later left the advertising world to join our team. She has a deep understanding of our process and guides clients in navigating the upfront steps. When she's not with clients, she's populating our website and Instagram hoping to fuel you with inspiration for your next project.