I want to change the face of construction. A predominantly male-focused industry, there are plenty of opportunities for women.
That’s why I founded Prime Craftsman Homes, a Native-owned company that aims to provide affordable housing solutions, particularly focusing on Native Americans, veterans and homeless individuals.
We operate out of Skiatook, Oklahoma. We build homes ranging from 400-square-feet to over 2,000-square-feet in a climate-controlled environment to ensure quality building practices. Our homes are built exactly like any other home, just smaller and more affordable because we don’t have delays due to weather conditions and can keep all materials on hand for a quicker build. For large orders, with a month’s notice, we have the ability to build a home every three days.
Our mission is to foster community development and support through sustainable and culturally relevant housing options.
Because I am a registered nurse, I am familiar with the reverse idea that healthcare workers are female. When the COVID crisis happened, I assure you that those individuals whose lives were saved were thankful to be saved by their healthcare workers, regardless if they were a man or woman. It’s about humanity and doing what’s right. It’s about humans helping humans.
To that end, Prime Craftsman Homes is seeking more ways to support those in need. We are currently building a pod of nine homes for Eden Village, a development of tiny homes for people experiencing homelessness in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
My work gives me hope to the future, and I am grateful to be a part of The University of Tulsa Cherokee Women’s AcceleratHER Fellowship empowered by the Ayana Foundation. The program has brought together myself and nine other Cherokee business owners to address the unique challenges women face in scaling their business concepts, with a particular focus on access to capital and resources.
The program, which concludes in December, has introduced me to successful entrepreneurs who have shared both their mistakes and successes and promoted a supportive and safe environment to ask questions and learn; created networking opportunities in the community; provided education on everything from marketing, website building, branding, and market research to team building, and personal growth strategies; and connected me with mentors and support.
As Native American Heritage Month gets underway this month in the U.S., I am grateful for the opportunity to take part in this transformative program. I am excited to see what the future holds for my company and other companies in the cohort.
