Overview

Company Values

The values that create GMH’s environment are based on a fundamental respect for the rights, aspirations, and dignity of every individual – associate, customer, subcontractor, supplier and others with whom we come in contact.

  • We value our reputation and recognize that it can only be maintained if we commit to the highest level of integrity, both personal and professional. It is the accepted standard in our performance and the key to earning respect and trust…from our associates, customers, subcontractors and suppliers.
  • We value our relationship with all of our customers, both internal and external, and understand that the customer’s perception of the quality of our work is the defining criteria.
  • We value our associates and will treat each with the same level of respect, support and professionalism with which we treat each valued customer. We understand that we must invest in them so they are able to meet or exceed our customer’s expectations as well as grow and provide for their families.
  • We value hard work and innovation. We recognize that in order for our success to continue, each one of us must have a strong commitment to our efforts. We must be creative, receptive to new ideas and adaptive to change. We must work closely together as a team so that the rewards of our hard work can be shared.
  • We value our relationship with our subcontractors and suppliers. We recognize that they are an integral part to the successful attainment of our goal. We will do our best to understand their needs and work closely with them in an effort to foster open communication.

Personal Commitments (made by each of our associates)

In order to make our mission and our values a reality, I recognize that I must, and commit that I will live by, the following in dealing with my customers, my fellow associates, our subcontractors, our suppliers and others with whom I come in contact:

  • I understand the commitment of this company to building the highest quality homes possible, as well as our mission and values. I will be a positive force in both their maintenance and attainment.
  • I will do my part to maintain and build upon the quality reputation, image and tradition this company has in the Fresno market.
  • I am a professional who knows my job and performs at the highest level possible all of the time.
  • I will be attentive to my customer’s needs, both internal and external, so that I can provide them with innovative solutions to their specific situation. I will be proactive in offering them guidance and suggestions. I recognize that we are about more than just performing our job or selling homes. We are selling the very best in customer service…every time.
  • I will not compromise our values for profit or personal gain.
  • I will not accept mediocrity in the quality of my work or in my relationships with others.
  • I will embrace change, rather than resist it.
  • I respect the diversity and individuality of others with whom I come in contact.
  • I am dedicated to the growth and advancement of our associates based on merit not favoritism or sentiment.
  • I will do my best to see that work is challenging and interesting. I value efforts that are creative, innovative and stimulating.
  • I will encourage and praise my fellow associates on a job well done.
  • I will have an energetic approach to solving problems and streamlining our processes.
  • I will refrain from griping, running down others, making excuses, gossiping and starting or feeding rumors. I recognize that politics has no place in this company.
  • I will not create or contribute to an atmosphere of fear.
  • I will make decisions according to my expertise and level of responsibility. I will accept accountability for those decisions and I will involve those most impacted in the decision process.
  • I will constantly be aware of the need to communicate, and I will do so openly in a clear, concise manner. I will seek to insure that directions, whether given or received, are understood.
  • I recognize the importance of maintaining a balance between our personal and professional lives; the importance of a sense of humor, positive laughter and fun at work.

From House to Home

The most important thing we try to remember as developers is that although we build houses, our buyers purchase homes. We truly understand that a home is different from a house, for a home is a place where a family should feel safest and most comfortable. A place of refuge, joy and peace. . . a haven where worldly cares fade, and precious people and things become the focus.

We believe that there are several key elements that go into this transition from house to home, beginning with the land acquistion. The land should be in the very best location, close to schools, recreational facilities, and places of worship. It must also be conveniently near to quality shopping and dining establishments.

Our long history of prior developments speaks convincingly of our ability to purchase and develop the best land as well as to design and build houses in locations that buyers yearn to call home. This is true whether it’s located in neighborhoods like Lake Van Ness, The Masters Collection, Country Club At The Fort, or Copper Ridge Estates. The tradition continues today in our current projects like Copperline Estates, Morgan Run, and especially at Copper River Ranch, our newest community which includes Villa Alicante, The Links, Kensington, and La Buena Vida surrounding the beautiful Copper River Country Club.

These are primarily gated communities, which, like the lots within them, are bordered by block walls creating that atmosphere of security and privacy we all hope to find when at home.
Our mission is to be the builder of choice in the markets we serve for buyers desiring to purchase the highest quality home available in a community environment. Our goal, from the date of reservation to close of escrow, is to do whatever we can to turn one of our houses into our buyer’s home.

Gary McDonald Homes Administration Associates

Gary McDonald

Founder and Chairman of the Board

Background

Since 1970, Gary has been intimately involved in real estate development and custom home building in the Central Valley of California. Through the years, his notable projects include residences in Woodward Park’s Dominion subdivision, Lake Van Ness, Valerie Estates, The Masters Collection, Gary McDonald Homes at the Fort, and Copper Ridge Estates.

Gary started his career in construction as a teenager in Florida working with his best friend, Robert Bond, and Robert’s father, a concrete company owner. After graduation and playing baseball for a summer, McDonald said goodbye to his parents and five siblings in Florida, when he and Bond joined the Navy.

Toward the end of his four-year tour, Gary was stationed at Lemoore Naval Air Base and met Beverly Nichols, a Fresno girl. They married and decided to settle here where he earned his way through college at Fresno State by pouring patios and doing various construction jobs.

Growing with Fresno

Early in the 70’s Gary’s investment in several small parcels in Fresno County launched him into the real estate development profession. While building his first home, he befriended Oscar Spano, who acted as a trusted mentor and provided guidance to Gary early in his career. Gary has long been a champion of prudent growth initiatives and has witnessed Fresno’s transformation from a farm-based economy to a thriving business hub.

Custom Building Niche

Over the decades Gary’s body of work has earned him the distinction of being one of the finest and most prolific luxury homebuilders in the Central Valley. He is sought out by the most discerning homebuyers who seek the utmost in quality, lifestyle, sophistication, and location.

McDonald collaborated with longtime friend and fellow builder Leo Wilson on the Lake Van Ness project which is now regarded as the most prestigious lakefront community in Fresno. Gary has a long history of developing some of the most coveted properties in the Fresno-Clovis area. As Chairman of the Board of Regency Bank and General Manager of its joint venture development agency, he oversaw more than 30 major projects that included in excess of 3,000 residential units.

Community Involvement

As his company moves into the 21st century, Gary recently completed two years as Chairman of the Board of the Building Industry Association of the San Joaquin Valley. A dynamic period of growth for the organization, it developed several key programs for improving the quality of life in the Central Valley. Among those initiatives was the “Clean Air Subdivision” program which certifies those developments that meet stringent ecological standards.

On a personal note, Gary says staying in Fresno was always the right decision. He and Beverly raised their daughter here and he has found ways to give back to the community. Once a mission pastor in college, Gary also served as a local pastor for several years and has been instrumental in helping start and finance several area churches. Recently, McDonald was co-chairman of the Center City Revitalization Committee and is currently building several inner-city homes in Fresno at cost.

Gary embraces the community he calls home and feels blessed by the many enduring friendships and business relationships he has made over the years.

Tisha McDonald

Special Assistant to the Chairman
Tisha has been working with her father, Gary, at Gary McDonald Homes (GMH) since 2001. She has served in various capacities including marketing, selects, product development, and as a corporate officer. From 2011-2016, Tisha lived in Dallas where she was a consultant for GMH, and also became a licensed Texas real estate agent and opened her own company as a speculative builder and investor in rental properties. Upon her return to California, Tisha rejoined the staff at GMH and now serves as a Special Assistant to the Chairman. She has been involved in residential real estate her whole life, visiting construction sites with her dad even as a little girl. Tisha is a proud graduate of Bullard High School in Fresno and received her Bachelor of Arts in Telecommunications from CSU Fresno, where she was also a Fresno State cheerleader. (Go Dogs!). She later graduated with a Juris Doctorate from Pepperdine University School of Law and also received a Certificate in Alternative Dispute Resolution. She then practiced law for a short period as a Deputy District Attorney for Fresno County before her passion for real estate and home building lead her to GMH.

Tisha is married to Chad Morgan and has two beautiful children by the blessing of adoption, Sloan and Kensington. Her faith and family are the joys of her life. She lives in Rancho Santa Fe and commutes frequently to Fresno. Tisha has studied abroad in London, and has lived in several cities, but Fresno will always be where she considers home. Tisha is proud to be a part of the legacy at Gary McDonald Homes and is excited to be involved in its bright future.

Andrea McFadden

Accounting Manager
Heading up the financial management area for Gary McDonald Homes is Andrea McFadden. A lifelong Central Valley native, she brings 30 years of experience in the financial world to her position as the home builder’s accounting manager. With experience in both the building industry, ten years including Wilson Homes, and the not for profit area (Exceptional Parents Unlimited), she brings a unique vision to her job. A native of Lemoore, Andrea is a graduate of Washington Union High School and received her bachelor’s degree in business management at Fresno Pacific University. Andrea has three grown daughters, all graduates of Clovis Unified School District. She is a certified scuba diver and notary public. Andrea has been our accounting manager since 2013.

Jean Ishimoto

Administrative Assistant
Providing administrative support for Gary McDonald Homes is Jean Ishimoto. Jean graduated from CSU-Fresno and received a Bachelor of Science degree.

Gary McDonald Homes Architecture and Design Associates

Eddie Caldera

Architect
Every custom estate begins with an architectural design and plan. To insure that Gary McDonald Homes has the best designs available, it calls on its staff architect Eddie Caldera a Fresno native and licensed architect. With 29 years in the industry, Eddie spent 12 years with Associated Design and Engineering and six with RLC Designs before joining Gary McDonald Homes in June of 2001. Graduating from Sanger High School, Eddie earned his AA degree with an emphasis in architecture from Fresno City College. In his spare time, Eddie is an avid cyclist who enjoys spending time in the mountains riding with his son and local bike enthusiasts. He loves to spend time with his family traveling to the ends of the earth to watch his daughter play soccer for Fresno Pacific University, or his son racing mountain bikes.

Gary McDonald Homes Sales Associates

Brian Hertel

Vice President / Director of Sales and Marketing
Brian brings the same level of skill and energy to his job as he did in his athletic career. A graduate of Clovis West High School in Fresno, Brian earned an AA from College of Sequoias in Visalia, CA and attended the University of Nevada, Las Vegas where he majored in business marketing. A stand out first baseman for the Rebels, he was drafted and signed a professional contract with the Seattle Mariners forgoing his senior year at UNLV. While playing with the Mariners, he was selected to be a member of their ambassador team to play in Japan and China. This group of select players representing the Mariners was the first U.S. professional team ever to play in China. While in Seattle, he met his wife and returned to Fresno to work with Gary McDonald Homes. Brian and his wife, Erika, are the proud parents of three boys.

Gary McDonald Homes Production Associates

Brad Hertel

Production Manager
An outstanding athelete at Clovis West High School, Brad Hertel was drafted following graduation by the Texas Rangers baseball team. Electing to further his education first, he attended the University of Nevada-Las Vegas on a baseball scholarship. Transferring to Missouri Valley State College, also on a baseball scholarship, he earned a degree in business finance there in June of 2004. Returning to Fresno from Florida where he played minor league basesball, Brad joined Gary McDonald Homes where he has steadily advanced in the construction and land development end of the business. He and his wife, Melany, have two sons and live in Fresno.

Terry Anderson

Senior Superintendent of Construction
Terry comes to GMH with a wealth of construction experience. He was born in Fresno and raised in Dalhart, Texas. Terry proudly joined the United States Marine Corps in 1979. He returned to his native Fresno in 1982, and has been here ever since. Terry began his career in construction in 1984. Terry enjoys many outdoor hobbies such as training horses, rodeo, hunting, camping, fishing, and spending time with good friends.

Ken Macon

Customer Liaison

Jonathan Moura

Customer Service
Jonathan joined the customer service team in March of 2019. A native from San Jose, Jonathan earned his Bachelor of science degree in Psychology, and worked in law as a paralegal for many years until he learned he enjoyed construction and providing customer service. Jonathan brings valued experience in construction to Gary McDonald Homes having worked before with another homebuilder. Jonathan enjoys being outdoors and being active and loves watching baseball, and loves the San Francisco Giants.

Wes Pacini

Assistant Superintendent

Assistant Superintendent Wes Pacini became a member of the Gary McDonald Homes’ team in February, 2014. Also a native of Fresno, Wes began learning his trade in the building industry with his dad, Jon, in Merit Construction for five years. Following graduation from Buchanan High School in Clovis, he began as a finish carpenter for Merit. He, too, has a lifelong interest in agriculture having been a 4-H member for nine years in the swine unit. Baseball was also a big part of school years for him from Centruy Elementary, Alta Sierra and into Buchanan. He enjoys the outdoor lfe like the rest of his famly as well as being a college fooball fan.

Anthony Vanhulstyn

Construction Support Team

Paulino Hernandez

Construction Support Team

Gary McDonald Homes Design Associates

Brea Higby

Interior Designer
Brea Higby is a Fresno/Clovis native, graduating from Fresno State with a BA in Interior Design. She has enjoyed teaming up with Gary McDonald Homes since 2008, designing and decorating some of the models along with helping new buyers make selections for their new homes. Her love for design and color is shown in her work. She takes into consideration all the elements of design that help make a space well thought out and balanced.

Brea’s passion is her faith in God and the family she’s been blessed with. She and her husband, Rob spend their free time with their kids and dogs, following them from one soccer field to another.

Colleen Majarian

Interior Designer
Colleen has been in the design industry for more than twenty-five years and believes that “listening” to her client is the “key” to helping them “fulfill their dream” of their “perfect” home/living environment. Colleen grew up here in the Central Valley all of her life and graduated from California State University, Fresno with a Fashion Merchandising degree. After working for several years in the retail clothing industry – she decided to turn her talent, expertise and genuine love for color and design towards becoming an Interior Designer. Her vast experience includes assisting her clients with furniture placement, window treatments, home accessories, paint color, tile, plumbing and lighting selections. She has shared her many years of design experience with several companies such as, Breuners Funiture Store, First Impressions (a private design firm) and most recently she was with Ethan Allen for over 6 years. She has a real eye for color and design and her passion to help others exudes as soon as you meet her.

Colleen enjoys traveling, shopping, reading and loves spending time with her family and many friends.

Homes for every lifestyle

From young families to retired couples, we build homes for people in every stage of life. From gated and non-gated communities, floor plans ranging in size from 2,000 square feet to well over 5,000. In each home we build, you'll find the highest quality, craftsmanship, and luxurious amenities that have come to define a Gary McDonald home.

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