About & Resume
Hello and welcome. I'm Jon Dore, a general contractor, and veteran superintendent. I've led the ground-up construction or remodel of 50+ high-end custom homes and commercial properties.
I love what I do.
A few years ago, I moved my family to north Idaho where I've been focused on finding + remodeling our fixer-upper in Spirit Lake. It's a dream come true for us and we're grateful to be here.
I've just started to rejoin the workforce with custom builds that complement my hobby interests–tiny homes to 4x4’s–while looking for the right opportunity with a great construction company.
Below is my resume. On the other pages, you’ll find additional info and photos of some of my favorite projects. If you’d like to meet or speak, see the contact page for how to reach me.
Thanks for your interest!
Selkirk Off-Road – Sandpoint, ID
Custom Builder & Installer, 2023 - Present
Leading + collaborating with the team on custom-build projects. From overland outfitting for long-range trips to full restoration of classic Land Cruisers to installing lifts, new engines, transmissions and electrical packages, each project is unique. This is a hobby job while I look for the best fit with a great construction company.
Portable Cedar Cabins – Spirit Lake, ID
Contractor & Lead Framer, 2022-2023
Managed production of tiny homes including running crews and training new framers on building techniques. Collaborated with owner who was new to the industry, and had just taken over the business, needed help. Reviewed plans with him, what materials would be needed, and reported progress on builds. Also consulted on teams, deadlines, and new projects as well as how to streamline the yard layout, tool maintenance, materials storage + finish work. In six months, completed 12+ cabins. Chose not to stay on when the owner sold.
JD Construction – Southern CA
General Contractor & Consulting Superintendent, 2004 – 2021
Ran commercial + residential construction and remodels for clients + third parties in SoCal. Favorite projects with direct customers included top-to-bottom Del Mar luxury home renovation including extensive addition to match, and 40ft stone bar top installation as centerpiece of Anthology (music venue + bar), Gaslamp District, Downtown San Diego. Also contracted as Superintendent for numerous construction companies and trades—many repeat customers—such as Laidlaw Building & Development, LWP (Live Work Play) Group, Napoli Construction, Slater Construction, Streamline Dev., Sundown Plumbing, Sandworld and Wardell Builders:
Sundown Plumbing – Carlsbad, CA
General Contractor & Plumbing Apprentice, 2020 – 2021
With previously booked building projects on ice due to covid, took the opportunity to gain more hands-on experience in plumbing given the trade remained in high demand as that kind of work can never be postponed. Teamed-up with Sundown owner to collaborate on projects that needed plumbing + minor renovation to finish. In 18 months, completed 25+ projects and now have more plumbing experience than most general contractors.
Laidlaw B&D – Hawaii + Southern CA
Superintendent & Custom Woodwork, 2006-2020 (and apprenticed, 1991 – 1994)
Led new construction + renovations on behalf of LB&D for many years. Earlier work: concrete, framing and running crews on commercial jobs. Then lived for 18 months on remote jobsite on Kauai to manage with LB&D owner the ground-up construction of a cliff-side luxury home. After that, ran custom home builds in SoCal. Later, headed-up renovations for Grainger industrial supply stores (several locations, SoCal + Reno) as well as Chapman University (high-end apartments) and CHAAK Kitchen (OC restaurant + bar) both designed by award-winning architect, Leason Pomeroy, who requested my lead on the restaurant build based on Chapman.
Streamline Dev. – Solana Beach, CA
Superintendent & Custom Woodwork, 2015 – 2016
Ran luxury residential construction + renovations in Del Mar, Solana Beach, Rancho Santa Fe and Fairbanks. Also led custom concrete, metal and woodworking projects to put the finishing touches on each build including high-end awnings, decks, fencing, swings, staircases and exterior/privacy walls + security gates. In two years, completed one ground-up build, 10+ home remodels and more than a dozen custom woodworking projects.
LWP Group – San Diego, CA
Superintendent & Custom Woodwork, 2012 – 2014 (and earlier, 2007-2009)
Contracted as Superintendent by LWP Group to lead several commercial + residential projects including renovations of The Pearl (a mid-century boutique hotel, restaurant + bar in Point Loma), The Laurel Building (commercial space turned residential lofts), and historic building transformations on Banker’s Hill and in the Gaslamp Quarter: Community @Carnegie + Community @Martin (historic buildings turned live/work spaces), Thin Room (night club in the historic Onyx Building) as well as LWP owner penthouse (World’s Fair Building). Also built custom benches, tables, walls and a vertical garden + managed art installations (Pearl & Carnegie).
Slater Builders – San Diego, CA
Superintendent, 2011-2012
Ran commercial projects for Slater, which took over one job after another builder failed to deliver, and made many mistakes. Hired to manage initial stages of the renovation of a four-story medical building in Escondido that required repair of all the framing errors to get it back on track. Then, handed back to Slater to complete.
Wardell Builders – Solana Beach, CA
Superintendent & Custom Woodwork, 2009-2011
Led building projects and custom framing on behalf of Wardell. The main project was a massive undertaking, a two-year renovation of an ocean-view home in Del Mar, which would both preserve the historical Spanish design of the home while blending it with the addition of an entirely new wing that would match the elements of the original footprint. Led custom woodworking projects on that build (hand-hewn beams + rafter tails). Also collaborated with Wardell on additional high-end renovations in the same area during those years.
Napoli Construction - Del Mar, CA
Lead Framer & Custom Woodwork, 2006 – 2009
High-end residential construction + remodels in Del Mar and Ramona. Projects included the renovation of a 1950’s ranch house as well as new construction of a caretaker quarters on the property. Instrumental in framing a two-story barn featuring heavy timber trusses and a shop on the first level built into the hillside. Also teamed-up on custom woodworking to build two walking bridges over the creek running through the property, and later, an outdoor theater as the owner hosted large-scale events with musical performances. Next phase projects included construction of a maintenance/utility building followed by an elaborate two-section arbor in the orchard (each 30ft long) with 12 stone-wrapped columns finished with custom trellises, swing and lighting.
Sandworld - San Diego, CA
Superintendent & Custom Woodwork, 2006 – 2008
Personally contracted by world-renowned sand sculptor, Gary Kirk, to lead the ground-up construction of Pelly’s Miniature Golf, Del Mar. This included custom woodworking + concrete projects to complete the nautical theme. Built a pirate ship, lighthouse, fishing pier, waves and water features. Also installed Kirk’s marine life sculptures and plumbing to bring them to life. Earlier, headed-up framing + excavation for Sandworld’s annual collaboration with Discovery Channel, Sandblasters, a network TV special that brought together some of the world’s top sand sculptors to build art installations on the beach then detonated each as the friendly competition narrowed to its winner. Sand excavation + forms were completed for all three seasons.
Hollister – Anaheim + Long Beach, CA
Superintendent, 1997 – 2006
Ran ground-up commercial construction + renovation projects including managing trades and client communication for state and federal-funded contracts with California Highway Patrol (remodeled offices), DEA (renovation + extensive reinforcement of evidence warehouse and built offices + ventilation system), Employment Development Department (office remodel), March Air Force Base (extensive renovation of deployment facility), Orange County Public Library, Tustin (gutted + renovated), and Whittier Area Community Church (extensive renovation of church as well as ground-up construction of community center).
Pacific Phoenix – Pacific Rim
Superintendent & Custom Woodwork, 1994 – 1997
Worked on new construction, historical renovations and T.I. projects, mainly hotels and apartment buildings. Skills included framing, custom woodworking and leading teams. Earlier, constructed seawalls to manage tidal flow on Wake Island. Then, for more than a year, lived on Midway Atoll with just 200 tradesmen + laborers to transform the WWII barracks into a modern resort for veteran + eco-tourism. Instrumental in the ground-up construction of a beach-side restaurant and boardwalk on Midway that was featured in Smithsonian Magazine.
Credentials & Associations
· Road Chair, Spirit Lake East HOA, 2024 – Present
· Intermax Project Manager, Spirit Lake East HOA, 2024
· Architecture Chair, Spirit Lake East HOA, 2023 – 2024
· Road Crew Volunteer, Spirit Lake East HOA, 2022 – 2024
· Contractor License #838497, 2004 – 2021 (inactive since relocation to ID)
References Available Upon Request
Printable Resume