Who is Chris…

Chris was born and raised in Lake Lotawana and started Hawkins Design Build with a simple goal: build homes that he is proud of that will stand the test of time. Starting as a laborer in his early teens for Greg Smetanka, he spent years learning every aspect of high-end residential building and remodeling while advancing through the ranks to managing more and more complex builds. After leading large commercial work in Kansas City’s Crossroads District, Chris returned in 2020 to focus building one of a kind custom homes in the lake community he grew up in.

A young boy sitting in an old, empty bathtub inside a rustic wooden room, holding a hammer, with a surprised expression on his face.
A man with a red beard and mustache smiling with arms crossed, wearing a plaid button-down shirt, standing against a plain white wall.

Meet the Team

  • Portrait of a man with red hair and a beard wearing a dark carhartt shirt with brands Hawkins and Carhartt, standing outdoors with green trees in the background.

    JESSE ODER

    SUPERINTENDENT

    Jesse, our Superintendent at Hawkins Design Build, brings 20 years of custom construction experience, ensuring every project meets our high standards. Born and raised in Overland Park, he continues to call it home with his wife and daughter. Off-site, he’s mountain biking, hiking, or enjoying family time outdoors.

  • A smiling woman with long wavy brown hair, wearing a black and white patterned dress, turquoise earrings, and a necklace, standing with her arms crossed against a beige brick wall.

    JENNIFER SAYLOR

    PROJECT COORDINATOR & INTERIOR DESIGNER

    Jennifer, our Project Coordinator and Interior Designer at Hawkins Design Build, brings 7 years of interior design and project management experience.  A Blue Springs resident with her husband and son, she holds degrees from KU and JCCC and has her NCIDQ and CKBD certifications. Outside of work, she enjoys Jeep projects, family travel, and off-road adventures.

  • A young woman with long dark hair, smiling, wearing a black top with ruffled sleeves and a necklace, against a dark background.

    RACHEL WATTS

    MARKETING AND OFFICE MANAGER

    Rachel manages marketing and office operations at Hawkins Design Build, ensuring smooth projects and a clear brand voice. A Kansas City native with a Bachelor’s in Business Administration (Marketing) from UMKC, she lives in Blue Springs with her husband and daughter. When not at work, she enjoys hiking, traveling, and time with family.

  • Smiling man wearing a blue Hawkins cap and a gray T-shirt with a black bird logo, standing outdoors near a body of water with trees in the background.

    RAUL BRIONES

    JOURNEY MAN

    As a certfied welder and roofer, Raul is a top notch Swiss army knife of experience and detail. From building steel staircases to wooden structures, his talent has allowed us to expand our in-house capabilities well beyond that of a typical residential builder.

  • Man standing inside a wooden building under construction, wearing a bright yellow Hawkins t-shirt and smiling.

    BRIAN BIXBY

    JOURNEY MAN

    Brian has spent his entire life in the high end residential building world working for his father (Wayne Bixby) who was a builder at Lotawana. Brians exceptional carpentry skills and attention to detail set a quality standard that can only be matched by years and years of dedicated work and repetition.

  • Smiling young man with a cap sitting in the driver's seat of a blue vintage truck, with trees and a house in the background.

    BRODY BIXBY

    Apprentice/Laborer

    Brody (who is Brians son) is the third generation of Bixby’s to work in construction at Lake Lotawana. With construction in his blood, Brody is rising through the ranks like his father and grandfather to be the future journeyman we will need to carry our quality of work for years to come.