Who are "Can Do Contractors?"  

LEON: Leon is a northern Virginia native, growing up in Falls Church, VA, graduating from George Mason High School. While he attended high school, was a student aide in several classes including wood shop and auto shop, and graduated a year early to pursue his dream of joining the Seabees. While in the Seabees, he attended many schools and was certified in Instructor Training for the Navy. He is a Gulf War veteran who oversaw many jobs including the rapid-runway repair in Iraq for Operation Provide Comfort. Leon also taught construction and vocational courses at Gulfport Job Corps in Mississippi as well as home improvement classes in Fairfax County's adult education program.

KIM: Kim is a native of Mississippi, with a Master’s degree in Education from University of Southern Mississippi, where she graduated with honors. She entered the Air Force, where she worked for 314^th Air Division in the Maintenance Division. Some of her many duties included tracking maintenance orders, supply orders and maintenance requests. Upon leaving the military, she successfully raised 2 daughters while completing her graduate studies.

TOGETHER: Leon and Kim met 8 years ago while he was an instructor and she was a counseling supervisor at Gulfport Job Corps. They soon became best friends and spent much of their time working together on side jobs involving home improvements. These included stone work, landscaping, brick pavers, gazebos, pergolas, swing sets, koi ponds, Florida rooms, sheds, floating docks, greenhouses and garages – just to name a few. Our biggest job was dismantling an 1840 timber frame and log barn, near Jefferson City, Missouri on August 16, 2000. This involved taking intricate measurements, numbering each piece of wood, and finally putting it on 6 tractor trailers bound for Greenville Farm in Haymarket, VA. Little did either of us know at that time that this would be our future home together at the top of Bull Run Mountain. Building the house at the top of the mountain presented several unique challenges. For example, tractor trailers couldn't navigate the steep terrain, so Leon pulled all the wood up himself. Leon also designed and drew his own blueprints. He pulled all permits to include septic, plumbing, electrical, HVAC, ground disturbance, decks and performed all the work himself with some help from friends and family.

Click here for a "virtual tour" of our home!

During the 3 years that it took to complete, Kim joined him annually on August 16^th, (this date was significant as this was the anniversary of when we took down the barn) to complete various aspects of the house. On August 16^, 2005, Leon and Kim got married at their home on Bull Run Mountain. They continue to do various home improvement projects in the local area.