We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Dominick Sparacino. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Dominick below.

Alright, Dominick thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Parents play a huge role in our development as youngsters and sometimes that impact follows us into adulthood and into our lives and careers. Looking back, what’s something you think you parents did right?

You often hear stories of individuals who come from broken households. Stories of how they fought through adversity and built a better life for themselves through trials and tribulations. And although I won’t deny that I have had tests of adversity, I am extremely blessed to grow up in a very nurturing household. My parents have always encouraged me to do my best, no matter the pursuit. I grew up watching two people, who are madly in love with each other, lead by example. I grew up watching both of my parents work hard and love hard. My mother and father built the road map for how I want to be as a parent if I am ever lucky enough to have children.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I didn’t start my career as a business owner. In 2013, I graduated from LSU with a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering and soon after, began working as a Drilling Engineer for Chevron. The position was rewarding—both in terms of pay and the challenges it presented—and I valued the people I worked with. However, something was missing. I realized I wasn’t excited to start each day, often counting down the weekdays just to enjoy my weekends. It became clear that the corporate world wasn’t where I saw myself building a long-term career.

Before college, I had spent a significant amount of time in construction. My best friend’s father owned a residential construction company, and I worked with him whenever I could. That experience not only equipped me with valuable skills but also sparked a passion for construction.

Four years into my career at Chevron, I decided to take on a personal project: buying a piece of property and self contracting my own home. In Louisiana, you’re legally allowed to self-contract a home every two years without a contractor’s license, and I took full advantage of that. Throughout the process, I found myself looking forward to working on my home more than anything else. The passion I felt was undeniable. I would clock out of my day job and work late into the night, sacrificing sleep just because I loved it so much.

It didn’t take long for me to realize that this was the path I wanted to pursue. So in 2017, I took a risk. I left a job that many people aspire to have, taking a leap of faith to build a company around what I truly love—construction.

I often tell people that my job is not building houses. It is problem solving. I am always building something that has never been built before. Custom homes are all one of a kind. Of course, you will find similarities, but it’s the small details that require thought and attention.

As a thirty-four year old, more often than not, my clients are much older than me. And they are almost always trusting me with the biggest investment of their lives. This is an immense responsibility that I do not take lightly.

Ultimately, my job is to bring a vision to life. It’s to build something where memories will be made.

How do you keep your team’s morale high?

Although my company currently consists of just myself and my exceptional office manager, Gwen, I work with a variety of subcontractors to complete different aspects of each home. I believe you get the best results from people who are truly passionate about what they do. My clients deserve nothing less than full dedication from everyone involved in their projects.

One approach I find most effective is creating an environment of appreciation. I make it a point to acknowledge and thank subcontractors for the small but significant efforts, such as arriving on time, keeping the worksite clean, or being responsive after hours or on weekends. I encourage them to take pride in their work, asking them to treat every detail as though it were going to be featured in a magazine.

Over time, I’ve also learned an important lesson: while you can’t always change people, you can choose the right people to work with.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

While my social media following may not be something to boast about, I genuinely enjoy sharing the work we do. I believe it’s the authenticity in my posts that resonates with people. Craftsmanship is something you can’t fake, and by being true to that, I’ve attracted a community that values and appreciates the integrity of the work we deliver.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.buildcolony.com
• Instagram: @buildcolony
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/buildcolony

Image Credits

Felicia LaRue Nealy