Partner, Steorts Homebuilders
by Jeremy Jarrell
Jason Steorts takes nothing for granted—not his family, not his employees and not his success. The homebuilding industry is a fickle beast, one likely to duck and plunge at the spurring of the larger national and state economic outlook. However, with solid determination, excellent craftsmanship and the ability to see the bigger picture, Steorts has taken Steorts Homebuilders and constructed one of the most successful and respected homebuilding companies in West Virginia.
Steorts, 30, didn’t start life wanting to be a homebuilder; he studied civil engineering at West Virginia Tech before his inner calling to work outdoors drew him away from the drafting table. “I just liked the way things were put together. I love to be outside and work with the guys that are out in the field,” says Steorts.
Although the business side of being a partner in the Putnam County-based company keeps him at a desk for much of the time, Steorts enjoys meeting different people and expanding his network. “The thing I like most about this business is that you get to associate with so many different people. I have made many connections with people in greatly different fields and I really enjoy that. I consider myself part of all of it.”
Steorts Homebuilders began as a family operation with Steorts’s father, Mike, and mother, Cindy, creating a partnership based on the philosophy that quality work and honesty results in good business. Steorts credits his father’s incredible work-ethic, his mother’s mediation and creative abilities and a workforce of talented and dedicated employees as essential assets to client satisfaction. “None of this would be possible without them. We really compliment each other,” says Steorts.
“I think we really try to listen to what the customer wants and try to give them that. We see the job through from the beginning to end to make sure that it’s carried out. We want to build the best quality possible, not the cheapest,” he explains. “I joke and tell people we look for the customer that wants to build a Cadillac instead of a Chevrolet but in all honesty we have the quality of workmanship to make that happen. Once we make a relationship with a subcontractor or vendor who does quality work, we stick with them. You have to surround yourself with good people, and we’re fortunate to have done that.”
Steorts says he has also benefited from others outside of his family and business to motivate his work. In high school, he found inspiration by working as an intern at the Chapman Technical Group with its owner, Harvey Chapman, who battled cancer and taught him the value of never giving up. When he started into business, Teays Valley homebuilder Dorsel Hodges taught Steorts a great deal, the most important lesson being that tough times come and go, but hard work and dedication result in success.
Steorts and Steorts Homebuilders’ continued success is also based on seeking new ways to build homes and commercial sites for clients. “You have to realize that you don’t know everything about the business at all times. You should always learn from new ideas and grow from that,” Steorts explains. “I learn a lot from the other builders around here. When I’m with these guys I try to listen more than talk. I don’t look at them as competition; we are all out here to make a living.”
Steorts’ inspiration comes right back to his family and employees. “I like being able to stand back and say we are proud of what we do. Inevitably you are in a business for money, but we are also creating homes for families and providing good jobs. It’s extremely rewarding. My family and my obligation to my employees, who I also consider family, keep me motivated,” he says. “My wife, Sara, is very supportive of me. We are both driven and try to make a difference in our community and everything we do.”
A member of the National Homebuilders Association, the Better Business Bureau and the Putnam County business community-created organization Project Ignite, Steorts enjoys his spare time with his wife and their two children, Chase and Tyler, on vacations and riding his Harley Davidson.
Photography by Rick Lee
