About Us: Our Team

Joe Halsell

Co-Owner/CEO

In 1999, Joe launched his own branch of Halsell Construction in the Bay Area, but it wasn't long before he joined forces with his folks and his brother James to make Halsell Builders a family affair. As president/CEO, Joe leads the company's dynamic team of construction and design professionals. It means that every day, he's interacting with employees and clients, and that's important for a people person like Joe. As he explains it, being part of something much bigger than just your project is important, and it all starts with people. When Joe's not hard at work for his clients, he's busy with his other full-time job - being a dad.

James Halsell

Co-Owner/Vice President

James is one half of the two-brother duo that began Halsell Builders in 2001. He's formally in charge of sales and design, which gives him the opportunity to develop projects that meet a client's needs and budget. But he rarely stops there. James will tell you himself, he loves listening to someone's dream and then figuring out how to overcome the challenge of making it even better than they had imagined. It's what keeps him going - that, and his five daughters (which means five weddings to pay for). Off the clock, you'll find James enjoying wine tastings - especially at the tasting rooms he's designed - and pitching in on Halsell Builders' many volunteer projects in the community.

Kathleen Snell

Office Manager/Design Assistant

Kathleen keeps the office running smoothly, but that’s not all. A big part of her day involves purchasing plumbing fixtures, electrical fixtures, flooring, hardware, vanities – things like that – all at a price that’s client-friendly. Kathleen has been highly involved in worthy organizations like the Olga Reed School and the Girl Scouts, and now enjoys gardening, wood themed craft projects and playing with her new puppy, Lucy.

Jeff Persson

Estimator/Project Manager

It sounds straightforward, but as an estimator at Halsell Builders for the last five years, Jeff has worn a lot of hats. He’s in charge of proposals, budgets, quantity takeoffs, job-cost analyses, overseeing the purchasing process, and he’s been known to train new project managers and coordinators too. Jeff says that Halsell Builders stays on the forefront of new technology, and that appeals to him. Plus, the Central Coast is his home, and it was a personal goal to find a career that would allow him to stay in the area. It’s where he’s happy to be raising the number one motivation in his life – his daughter Paityn.

Jason Heyward

Estimator/Project Manager

Jason’s job is to put together the trades and materials it takes to do a job and then put a cost to them. As he rightfully says, “A quality estimate on every project is the first step toward success.” Considering that, you could say he’s the foundation of every great job we do. Jason’s the proud father of three, a regular churchgoer and an avid reader.

Scott Parsons

Operations/Production Manager

For more than three years, Scott Parsons has coordinated and overseen many, many successful projects here at Halsell Builders. He says that success is his biggest motivator, and from his track record, we believe it. When he takes off his manager hat, he trades it for a pilot's cap. This commercial pilot also enjoys boating, waterskiing and hiking, and he's a 25-year member of Santa Maria Elks Lodge #1538.

Patty Coy

Receptionist/EUCC Assistant

On the phone and behind the front desk, Patty is kind of our brand ambassador. And she couldn’t be more perfect. She describes Halsell Builders as a loving, hardworking family, and in that case, she fits right in. Patty wears many hats as a receptionist and assistant to the EUCC program manager, and she completes all of her tasks with a smile. When she’s not working, her favorite activity is singing with her church choir and worship band.

Whitney Fargen

Project Coordinator

Full-service designing and building takes some serious coordinating, and that’s where Whitney comes in. Since 2015, she’s been hands-on with everything from day-to-day construction operations to scheduling, site supervision and documentation. She loves the diverse range of our projects and our commitment to giving back to the community. She says she finds motivation in the Halsell team, and well, we can say the same about her.

Kelly Dir

Business Manager

It was fate that brought Kelly to our accounting department – fate in the form of an addition and kitchen remodel we did for her friend. When Kelly asked about the experience, her friend shared how impressed she was with our quality, friendliness and professionalism. Kelly thought it would be great to work somewhere like that, and after sending in her resume, that’s exactly what happened.

Ron Reblado

Project Superintendent

There are many places where projects can derail, and it’s a project superintendent’s job to keep that from happening. That’s where Ron’s multitasking skills and attention to detail come in handy. When he’s not supervising projects, you’ll find Ron spending time with family and volunteering with church activities.

Juan Lopez

EUCC Program Manager

After 9 years in the Energy field, serving customers in counties ranging from Santa Barbara to Santa Cruz County, and driving roughly 2-4 hours to a jobsite almost every day for the past 5 years, I decided it was time to find a job here at home. To leave the energy field was out of the question, customer service and customer satisfaction have always been a priority of mine. After some research, I came across Halsell Builders, backed with a strong customer service, customer satisfaction, and reputation. It was a no brainer, and luckily for me, they were hiring for their energy division.

When I am not at work, I love to go out for a bike ride with my wife and daughter. I enjoy going to church, and of course, taking my Sunday nap.

Jesse Walz

Project Superintendent

Building things has always been one of Jesse’s passions, from tinkering in the garage to new custom homes. Jesse’s experience running the day to day operations of a General Contractor & Specialty Subcontractor for 13 years in Santa Barbara has taught him the importance of taking pride in your work on every project and the importance of keeping every customer happy. Jesse tries to put himself in the shoes of whoever he is working for and make sure that the quality of workmanship is what he would want in his own home. He prides himself on being punctual, detailed, and reliable and hopes to contribute to the Halsell team for years to come. Away from work, you’ll find Jesse spending time with his son or on a rare occasion playing Golf if he can sneak away.