Blake Hackerson

Principal

Blake started swinging a hammer at the age of 16 for a friend’s father while in high school. Mastering this trade has been his singleness of purpose ever since. Blake graduated high school early and immersed himself fully in Vermont’s residential construction industry. In the early 2000’s, Blake capitalized on professional opportunities in Western Massachusetts. In addition to refining his craft, while in Massachusetts he also passed the challenging Construction Supervisor’s Exam and secured his unrestricted building license at the age of 22. He remains one of the youngest builders to achieve this certification in Massachusetts.

In keeping with the theme of continued development, Blake returned to Vermont for a project management opportunity with a large spec home contracting company. The experience gained in those years, and the mounting passion for quality workmanship, motivated Blake to return to his roots in the highly demanding and rewarding field of custom home building and remodeling. Newschool Builders was born. Blake has played an active roll from the beginning of Newschool Builders. It’s not uncommon to see him on site working through an issue with an architect or subcontractor, or mentoring a member of his highly skilled team. Blake is deeply engaged in each project, from beginning to completion, which insures the client’s experience and his team’s workmanship holds true to his rigorous standards.

Blake spends most of his free time outdoors. He has chased fish with a fly rod extensively in the US as well as internationally. In the fall you can usually find him in a tree stand, tucked away in a remote part of the New England whitetail woods, or chasing elk across Montana’s vast wilderness. In the snowy winter months, Blake has been known to declare the occasional company powder day.

Nate Thomas

Operations

Nate’s background is in engineering with a concentration on process development and data driven decision making. Before work with Newschool Builders, he managed large manufacturing facility build outs and new commercial construction projects. Blake and Nate have worked closely together for years in the active development of the Newschool Builders organization. Many of the processes and systems we employ today are a result of Blake and Nate’s work together. This dedication to process improvement has resulted in our organization’s industry leading client experience and tightly managed project execution. When not working with our organization, Nate is either training with his military unit or riding his horse.

Pat McHugh

Project Manager

Pat Has been in the building trades since 2003 and had the privilege of working with some of the best craftsmen in the Mad River Valley. His experience in all aspects of fine homebuilding allows for a comprehensive understanding of a wide variety of projects. You’ll see this in his framing as much as his trim work. Pat has become a great leader for our team.

Pat was born and raised in the Mad River Valley. After attending Endicott College in Beverly, MA, he moved back to Vermont to start his family. Pat has a more broad base of experience than most carpenters, and brings a well rounded knowledge base to our team. Pat is our go to team member when it comes to complex framing challenges. He is also uniquely capable of handling fringe discipline work such as audio, video, and low voltage lighting systems.

In 2001, Pat was ordained as a minister. He has a passion for serving his community and has traveled extensively using his talents to benefit others both domestically and abroad. In his free time Pat can be found playing/writing music with his wife Alison or coaching his children’s sports teams.

Andrew Nelson

Estimating and Preconstruction

Andrew was born and raised in Chittenden County where he grew up immersed in high-end residential remodeling, learning the trade from his father and older brother. After an education in the humanities at the University of Vermont, Andrew devoted himself to the trades full-time, including spending a number of years in San Francisco doing construction management and historic preservation work before settling back down in Vermont.

Andrew has a passion for improving the custom home building experience, bringing together clients, design professionals, and our wide network of subcontractors and vendors. His attention to detail, once displayed through his framing and finish work, and now through his fostering of budgets and schedules, make him an ideal manager of our estimating and preconstruction efforts. Andrew thrives working in an atmosphere where more is expected of the building trades and 'high-performance' applies not just to a building's envelope but also to the process of building it. Newschool Builders was a natural fit.

When not at work Andrew can often be found playing soccer, mountain biking, snowboarding, or reading literature in translation.

Rebecca Davis

Bookkeeper

Rebecca was born and raised just outside of Schenectady, NY. Shortly after graduating high school, frequent visits to Vermont's Mad River Valley to visit her sister helped Rebecca fall in love with the Green Mountain State.

Rebecca keeps things humming along and organized with her fastidious in-house bookkeeping skills and payroll services.

When not crunching numbers, Rebecca enjoys fishing (on open water and ice!), Gardening and landscaping, playing baseball with her two sons, cooking and baking, and listening to great music.

Ian Bowmer

Site Manager

As a kid born and raised in rural Vermont you have to be creative when it comes to entertainment. From an early age building seemed to be a part of Ian’s life, whether it was building bike jumps, tree forts or helping his father build several boats and a small cabin, working with his hands has been a constant. Throughout the years carpentry has been a way for Ian to support himself both financially and creatively. After graduating from Montana State college and traveling throughout much of the states, Ian returned to live in Vermont and take up a full time career in the trades. Apart from work, Ian spends most of his free time in the mountains and waters of Vermont.

Jaime Craig

Site Manager

Jaime grew up in Brookline, Massachusetts. His interest in carpentry was sparked during woodworking projects with his dad as a kid. Junior year of high school, he assisted his dad with a condo renovation, which proved to be a particularly formative experience in Jaime's career.

After graduating from Colby College in 2017 with a degree in biology, Jaime worked for a carpentry company based in Boston. In 2019 he moved north to Mad River Valley to be closer to his sister. After working on his parents' house in Fayston and his sister's house in Winooski, Jaime joined the Newschool team.

In his spare time, Jaime can be found adventuring with his coonhound Melo, playing soccer and tennis, making music in his bedroom studio, and watching sports.

Mike Daw

Site Manager

Mike first started working for a homebuilder in 2003 while still in college. After graduating in 2006 with a degree in political science he decided to make carpentry his career. Mike renovated and built new homes on and among the estates of Long Island's North Shore until relocating to Vermont in 2017. Mike joined the Newschool Builders team in the winter of 2022.

Mike currently lives in Huntington with his wife, young son, and two crazy dogs. In his spare time he enjoys chores, all sorts of bicycle riding, and nordic skiing.

Jaret Bates

Carpenter

Jaret started working with his grandfather as a handyman at the age of 10, moving on to work for his father’s construction company, where he learned foundational skills like rafter and stair cutting, until he graduated high school in 1988.

He has been running jobs and learning the management side of construction ever since, with a long tenure in high-end custom homes and remodeling. His greatest strength lies in his ability to problem solve and find creative solutions that keep his projects on schedule. He is motivated by keeping the clients’ best interest in mind while navigating the web of systems and budgets.

Jaret is a family man and enjoys spending time with his parents, brothers, and children, recently becoming a grandpa, a role that he has been loving. He can be found outdoors in his free time, hunting or fishing, and he competed on horseback for 17 years traveling New England on the weekends.

While Jaret’s tenure at Newschool Builders is just beginning he feels like he has already been here for years.

Mike Mercure

Carpenter

Hailing from Chittenden County, Mike is a master carpenter with a career in the custom home building world spanning more than three decades. After years of service with another leading builder we couldn’t be more honored to welcome Mike to the Newschool family. He brings a wealth of knowledge, valuable leadership experience from his years as a foreman, and a great attitude to his craft every day.

When he’s not building Mike enjoys spending time with his family. He is an avid outdoorsman, you can often find him fishing or hunting, as well as a classic car enthusiast, touring his classic truck around New England throughout the summer with his wife.

Mark Austin

Carpenter

Mark is a seventh generation Vermonter who has worn many hats over the years. After stints as a record store manager, professional fly tier and bicycle mechanic/repair shop owner, Mark decided to give carpentry a try.

Twenty-seven years later he still enjoys the challenges that building custom homes presents. "From small renovations to grand new homes, each project has its own intricacies. That’s the most interesting part for me." Says Mark. We are extremely grateful to have such a master craftsman amongst our ranks.

When not swinging a hammer, Mark enjoys attending concerts with his wife Jackie. He also collects and listens to vinyl LPs and has recently started building guitars.

Kurt Reinecke

Carpenter

Kurt is a one in a million find. A career carpenter with a wealth of knowledge and an understanding gleaned through years of experience, as well as just being a fantastic all around great person. He grew up in Montpelier, always pulling things apart to see what makes them tick. Most of the time they got put back together.

Kurt got his first taste of carpentry in high school, helping to build a post and beam barn. After attending UVM, he decided to take some time for skiing and construction was a natural fit the rest of the year. Years went by instructing, and patrolling and working with various construction outfits.

Thirty some-odd years later (“already?!” says Kurt) Kurt bumped into Blake, and was immediately intrigued by Newschool Builder’s approach and Philosophy. We are lucky and excited to have Kurt as a part of our team.

Geoff Wade

Carpenter

Geoff was first introduced to woodworking while in high school. Since that time he has either held a position as a carpenter, or worked in a wood shop. Geoff worked for a prominent custom home builder in the Mad River Valley for well over a decade both working in the field and running a custom millwork shop. Geoff brings an unparalleled skillset forged through years of experience working on highly detailed projects as a career carpenter and master craftsman. We are very excited to have Geoff working with NSB. Geoff spends most of his time when not working either coaching nordic skiing, mountain biking or ripping turns up at one of our awesome mountains.

Adam Hart

Carpenter

Adam began carpentry work as a builder's apprentice in 2014. He has had the good fortune of working among numerous skilled tradesmen over the last decade. Adam’s favorite part of the trade is that the learning curve is endless. Adam joins our team with high aspirations and a competent skillset.

Adam and his partner Carrie are currently building out a homestead in North Duxbury. Their seasonal pursuits include growing food, fishing, and remote camping. Outside of work and home life, Adam's favorite place to be is in the backcountry, either on a snowmobile or a buck's track.

Corey Owen

Carpenter

Corey graduated from trade school in 1999, which provided him with a diverse range of skills to select from for his job placement. He discovered that he particularly enjoyed the challenge of carpentry, especially fine trim work. Since joining the industry, he has been able to build a family and establish a fulfilling life in Vermont. Over the years, Corey has also developed a passion for tile setting, further expanding his skill set and presenting a new challenge.

As a member of the Newschool team, Corey has the opportunity to pursue his passions and thrive. He feels a sense of belonging to something larger, where his contributions are highly valued. Corey is a proud father and often enjoys traveling with his dirt bike when not at work.

Justin Hart

Carpenter

Justin brings a diverse background to our team. Originally from Moretown, Vermont - Justin attended the prestigious Green Mountain Valley School and raced competitively for many years. He went on to become an All American ski racer at the University of Vermont.

Justin has been in the custom residential building business for the past 20 years. Taking breaks intermittently to travel West, Justin instructed ski racing and worked as a commercial fisherman in Alaska, before moving to Jackson Hole to work on large residential build outs.

He has returned home with a renewed interest in building and creating. We are very pleased to have him on our team.

In his free time Justin is a woodturner, bluegrass banjo player and general creative. Being a natural athlete, he is also an avid skier, mountain biker, and explorer.

Jonathan Meyer

Carpenter

Jon entered the carpentry trade in 2018 with a passion for creating and building that quickly became evident to those around him. With a strong drive to master his craft, he has honed his skills in various aspects of the building trade. After working on a number of both residential and commercial construction jobs in central Vermont, including the Bell Block development in Waterbury Village, Jon joined Newschool in 2024.

His attention to detail and pride in delivering high-level craftsmanship make him a natural fit for the Newschool team. Outside of his carpentry work, Jon designs, builds, and sells unique custom butcher boards. During his free time, you’ll often find Jon out skiing, hiking, or at the gym.

Peter Morel

Carpenter

Peter is a proud native Vermonter with a deep-rooted passion for construction. He began his journey in the construction trade at the age of 14, working alongside his father, who instilled in him the importance of hard work, integrity, and attention to detail. With years of hands-on experience, Pete takes great pride in creating quality structures that stand the test of time.

He loves to work with his hands, turning visions into reality, and ensuring that every project reflects his commitment to excellence. When Pete is not on the job site, you can find him enjoying the beautiful mountains of Vermont with his family. They are his greatest inspiration and motivation, reminding him of the importance of building not just structures, but a legacy for future generations.

Tim Ruth

Carpenter

Tim grew up farming in Western New York and has a 30 year background working in manufacturing in the industrial engineering field. He developed a passion for carpentry when he renovated a 150-year-old farmhouse. He furnished his house with furniture he built.

After retirement from his corporate life he decided to pursue a new career in the trades. This allows him to work with his hands, be outdoors, and continue to grow his skills as a carpenter. In his free time Tim enjoys spending time with his family, watching his children’s sports activities, and skiing.

Caleb Durand

Carpenter

Hailing from Moretown, Caleb is an up-and-coming talent in the world of carpentry, joining our team while honing his skills in the carpentry program at Central Vermont Career Center. At just 17 years old, Caleb brings a fresh perspective and an eagerness to learn that’s truly inspiring to those around him.

Outside of carpentry, Caleb enjoys spending time outdoors. He’s an avid hunter and fisherman as well as a dirt biking enthusiast, thriving on adventure and challenge both in his hobbies and in his craft. Caleb’s dedication and passion make him a valuable member of our team as he continues to grow in his career.