May 8, 2017

Meet Jill D. Weber of Kitchen Connections in North Fulton

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jill D. Weber.

Jill, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Upon moving to Alpharetta in 1996, I started thinking about a return to the work force. My whole life up to that point had revolved around the kitchen and food. As a graduate of Florida State with a BS degree in Food and Nutrition I knew that whatever I did it would revolve around the home.

In 1997, I enrolled in the Interior Design program at Georgia State and spent the next few years targeting a new career in Kitchen and Bath design. I knew from personal experience that I had a knack for creating kitchens with both form and function. This came from 19 moves throughout the USA and the unique opportunity to be involved in both new construction and remodeling of the homes we chose to buy throughout this journey. Many of the homes that we sold never went on tour and the only explanation was the kitchen and baths that I had designed for my own use.

In 1999, I went to work for a large kitchen and bath franchise in Alpharetta. It is here that I obtained the bulk of my knowledge about kitchen and bath design and construction. I became the administrator for 3 Kitchen and Bath Sales designers working on high end projects. The days were very long and it was not unusual for me to work 70-80 hours but I loved it.

After 911, the company gave me the opportunity to leave and I grabbed it and started Kitchen Connections, LLC. I immediately started racking up awards and accolades for my work. The 1st award was for a contemporary home in Sandy Springs from the Atlanta Homes and Lifestyles Magazine. Others soon followed and recently I won an International award from Trends Magazine for one of the “Top 50 American Kitchens” for a home I worked on in Duluth.

The years piled up and the business kept growing. In 2006, I decided that I needed to become a Certified Remodeler with the National Association of Remodeling and after 8 months of classes and study I become one. This was followed by my desire become a GA. State Licensed Contractor. Another year later, I completed 2 tests and became a residential GC.

Throughout the years of continuing education and growth I volunteered with both the National Association of Kitchen and Baths and the National Association of Remodeling. With the National Association of Kitchen and Baths I received the honor of being elected President of the Georgia Chapter and later served 3 years on the National Advisory Council for Builders and Remodel served on a National Board for the National Association of Remodeling to help revamp the Certified Remodeling exam for future CR’s.

My clients ranged from the ultra-rich and often celebrities to corporate executives, attorneys, doctors, engineers, entrepreneurs, retirees, house wives, house husbands, etc.

The work is tremendously satisfying. What some may have perceived as obstacles I saw as a challenge.

Every client had their own set of desires and needs for what they wanted in their home. As a contractor, I went to Macon to build 3 homes from the ground up for an investment group. I have ripped down walls, expanded the footprint, added concrete roofs, changed stucco to stone and wherever possible incorporated the concepts of green building into my projects.

My clients are always presenting me with something new to experience and I am anxious to research the products and hire the best subs to conduct the work that is required for the best outcome.

I continue to attend seminars, classes and conventions to increase my knowledge of building and design. The construction field is dynamic and never boring and sometimes you have to run to keep up.

The work keeps flowing in and after 17 years as Kitchen Connections I am now working on 2nd homes for some of my clients. It is always a thrill to see some of my earlier projects and learn that they have stood up to the test of time. Not only are they still current but the owners still love the functionality that a well thought out kitchen can provide. I continue to love what I do and having successfully survived the downturn of the past I eagerly look forward to the future.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
The recession was tough. It was tough to see so many people leave the construction field. I lost a few friends along the way as they failed in the marketplace. I knew a few that couldn’t handle the distress and took their lives.

Construction is not what one would call a smooth journey. Every day challenges revolved around juggling many balls in the air at once. Fortunately for me the work kept coming with ever increasing demands so I rarely noticed the slowdown in the market that was prevalent around me.

Of course, there were times when you questioned the sanity of it all. With the market environment, it was not unusual to have very good subs disappear and finding new ones was not always easy. Today there is a shortage of good subs and clients do not always understand the cost increases that have resulted.

The best clients are the ones that have experienced failed projects around their homes.

Otherwise, most homeowners do not have a realistic expectation for the cost of hiring competent people. Liability Insurance and Workman’s Compensation Insurance rates continue to escalate and this adds to the project costs. A good contractor or subcontractor anticipates what can go wrong and adds that to the cost of doing business, the poorly equipped contractor or subcontractor continues until caught in a no-win situation and without adequate funds is forced to disappear. Unfortunately, this gives all contractors a bad name even those that would never leave a client with poorly executed project or not finish at all.

So, let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Kitchen Connections, LLC story. Tell us more about the business.
Kitchen Connections has never left a project incomplete. I pride myself on my word to my clients.

Promises made are promises kept. I have gone back years later to fix issues that were out of warranty and not always created by original construction.

I have files on every project I have done over the last 17 years and when a client needs information about product or subs I make it readily available.

I am knowing for award winning designs and attention to details that others may not find important.

I am proud of my work and my relationship with my past and current clients.

I have never advertised. Kitchen Connections has gained its reputation through word of mouth and media publications or articles about my work.

My work ethic, honesty, design skills and attention to details sets me apart from may in my field.

I also really like the people I work with and that includes subs and homeowners.

I have great respect for the trades people in the construction industry.

I put my clients and subs needs ahead of my own.

Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I don’t know. Some would say that I got lucky with some of the clients that I attracted. They had the means and foresight to work with me on creating some phenomenal projects. This led to many awards and articles about these projects.

On the other hand, I worked very hard to help clients make the best selections for the space during planning. I never rushed the process and sometimes this meant numerous redesigns and trips to design centers (tile, counter tops, appliances, flooring, paint, etc.) until they felt that the final decisions were the best that we could make.

I went through the same process with every client from the small scale and small budget to the large scale and large budget. I believe that my patience throughout the planning process comes from my love of the craft. At times compromises had to be made but in the end, everyone was happy with the final result.

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