Inspiring Conversations with Tamara White of Liberty Builders

Today we’d like to introduce you to Tamara White.

Hi Tamara, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I spent 28 years in public education, most of them as a school counselor, helping students and families navigate some of the most important seasons of their lives. I hold an Ed.S. in Educational Leadership, and while education was deeply meaningful work, I always carried a creative passion alongside it.

Designing homes has been a lifelong love of mine. Long before Liberty Builders, I was designing and decorating homes for friends and family simply because I enjoyed it. Beautiful, functional spaces have always inspired me—especially knowing those spaces are where people live their everyday lives, raise families, and make memories.

A few years ago, my husband Eric and I made a big leap. I retired from the school system, and while Eric continued working in an executive leadership role, we sold everything and moved from Arkansas to Georgia to be closer to our daughter, son-in-law, and grandchildren. That move opened the door to an entirely new chapter for our family.

Our son-in-law, Nick, had already built a strong foundation in construction. After graduating from the University of Georgia, he worked as a project manager before starting his own contracting business in Madison. In 2024, we purchased Liberty Builders—a well-established residential construction company serving the Lake Oconee area since 1999—bringing together Nick’s construction expertise, Eric’s leadership experience, and my passion for design.

Today, Liberty Builders is a family-owned and operated company. Nick serves as our General Contractor, bringing hands-on experience and leadership to every project. I manage the administrative side of the business, including finances, marketing, and client communication. Eric, who spent his career leading large organizations, serves as our CEO, overseeing the strategic direction of the company. His experience has been invaluable as we’ve built strong systems and a thoughtful approach to growth.

What makes this chapter especially meaningful is that it was never part of a carefully laid plan. For many years, design was simply a passion—not something I believed could become a career. Stepping into construction later in life, and in a traditionally male-dominated industry, has been both humbling and rewarding. I don’t see that as something to overcome, but rather as a gift—an opportunity to approach this work with gratitude, perspective, and intention.

Because this is a second career for us, we bring decades of life and professional experience into everything we do. My background in education shapes how I work with clients—listening carefully, communicating clearly, and building trust through transparency. Eric’s executive experience influences how we run the business with structure and purpose. Together, we focus on relationships, communication, and guiding clients through what can be a very personal process.

Liberty Builders has been part of the Lake Oconee community for more than 26 years, and we feel a deep responsibility to honor that legacy while continuing to grow in a way that feels authentic to who we are. Every home we build and every renovation we complete becomes part of our family’s story and the community we now call home. For us, building isn’t just a profession—it’s a privilege.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Lake Oconee is an extremely competitive construction market, particularly at the higher end. Many well-established builders have been here for decades, with large teams, design centers, and a strong presence inside the gated communities that surround the lake. Competing in that environment—while intentionally choosing a different path—has been one of our biggest challenges.

From the start, we’ve been committed to remaining a small, family-owned business. We don’t aspire to large overhead or a big staff, and that decision is deliberate. It allows us to stay closely involved in every project, maintain transparency, and deliver high-end craftsmanship without the “inside-the-gates” pricing structure. Protecting that balance is something we work hard to maintain.

Another challenge in our first year was refining our subcontractor relationships. While the area has many skilled tradespeople, we quickly learned that longevity alone doesn’t always align with our standards. To stay true to our values, we made the difficult decision to part ways with subcontractors who didn’t meet our expectations for quality, reliability, and communication.

That process wasn’t easy, but it was necessary. Today, we’re proud of the team we’ve built—including our in-house craftsmen who work exclusively for Liberty Builders, long-standing subcontract partners who share our standards, and experienced leadership between our GC and Superintendent every day on every jobsite. Building that team has been one of our most important investments and continues to shape how Liberty Builders operates today.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Liberty Builders specializes in custom homes and high-quality renovations throughout the Lake Oconee area. While we’re based in Greensboro, we serve Greene, Putnam, Morgan, Walton, Hancock, and surrounding counties. Whether building from the ground up or updating a home with history, we approach every project with care, craftsmanship, and attention to detail.

We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
To me, success isn’t measured by size or volume—it’s measured by integrity. It’s building something the right way, earning trust through hard work, keeping our word, and continuously learning and improving. Success is having happy clients, dependable partners, and the ability to stand behind every project knowing we did our very best. If we can do meaningful work, treat people well, and build something we’re proud of, that’s my idea of success.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.libertybuildersga.com
• Instagram: @libertybuildersga
• Facebook: Liberty Builders of Georgia – https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61578310337231
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@LibertyBuildersofGeorgia

Image Credits
2B Media Design for the images of the homes.

For the 2 framed images of the family along with all of the family photos of me in the red dress, those can be credited to Amy E. Photography.
For branding/logo design – our marketing consultant is Mia Means Marketing.

The crew photo is just a personal photo. The photo of me by the LB sign and in the back of one of our custom homes is just a personal photo.

The family photos include Eric and Tamara (owners), Sydney (daughter), Nick (SIL and GC), Parker (granddaughter), Baker (baby- grandson), and Rylee (in gingham dress – our youngest daughter).