About & Resume

Hi, I'm Jon Dore, a veteran general contractor and superintendent. I've led the ground-up construction or renovation (some historical) 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 breathing new life into our 1978 ranch-style house in Spirit Lake. It's a dream come true for us and we are grateful to be here.

I’ve only just begun to rejoin the workforce with community service + custom builds—tiny homes to overland 4x4’s—while looking for the right opportunity with a solid construction company.

Below is my resume (printable version at the bottom). Want to meet or speak? See the contact page. Thanks for taking the time to check out my work.

Selkirk Off-Road – Sandpoint, ID

Custom Builder, 2023 – Present

Leading + collaborating with team on custom-build projects. From overland outfitting for long-range trips to full restoration of classic Land Cruisers, each project is unique. This is a hobby job while I look for the best fit with a great construction company and keeps my superintendent skills sharp including client communication.

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 construction, and had just taken over the business, needed guidance. Reviewed plans, provided recommendations on staffing + materials needed, and reported progress on builds. Also managed client communication. In six months, completed 12+ cabins. Chose not to stay when 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 include luxury home renovations in Del Mar, Cardiff, Encinitas, and custom installation of 40ft stone horseshoe bar, centerpiece of Anthology (music venue), Gaslamp Quarter, 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 Builders, Streamline Development, 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 Carlsbad, CA-based Sundown Plumbing owner on upscale plumbing + renovations 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, 1992 – 1995)

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 Fortune 500 client Grainger (15 stores, Southern CA + Reno, NV) 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 @Martin + Community @Carnegie (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 including initial phases of a four-story medical building renovation taken over from another builder, which failed to deliver, and made many mistakes. Led the safe repair of extensive framing errors, on-time + on-budget, to get project back on track. Then, returned to Slater to take it from there.

Wardell Builders – Solana Beach, CA

Superintendent & Custom Woodwork, 2009 – 2011

Headed-up building projects and custom framing on behalf of award-winning Wardell. The main project was an extensive two-year renovation of an ocean-view home in Del Mar, CA that would preserve its Spanish design while seamlessly blending it with the addition of a new wing to match the original footprint. Also led custom woodworking on that job (hand-hewn beams + rafter tails) and collaborated on other luxury renovations.

Napoli Construction - Del Mar, CA

Lead Framer & Custom Woodwork, 2006 – 2009

High-end residential ground-up builds + extensive renovations for special clients in Del Mar and Ramona, CA. Projects included the renovation of a 1950’s ranch house as well as new construction of a caretaker quarters. Instrumental in framing a two-story barn with a shop on the first level built into the hillside as well as the construction of heavy timber trusses for the barn and walking bridges running over the creek on the property. In addition, built an outdoor theater for the owner’s large-scale events that featured musical performances. Next phase included construction of a maintenance/utility building followed by an elaborate two-section arbor in the orchard (each 30ft) 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, 1998 – 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, 1996 – 1998

New construction, historical renovations and T.I. projects, mainly hotels and apartments. Skills included framing, custom woodworking and leading teams. Earlier, built seawalls to manage tidal flow on Wake Island. Then, for over a year, lived on Midway Atoll with just 200 tradesmen + laborers transforming the WWII barracks into hotel rooms and officer’s quarters into apartments while preserving their historical integrity for the new visitor program promoting veteran + eco-tourism. Also instrumental in the ground-up construction of the Clipper House, a beachfront restaurant, and boardwalk. The project was featured in Smithsonian Magazine.

Credentials & Community Service

Roads Chairman & Superintendent, Spirit Lake East HOA, 2024 – Present

Lead management of 60 lane miles of unpaved road from strategy, planning, hiring, staffing, budget proposals, materials purchases and equipment maintenance + repairs to coordinating trucking, plowing, sanding, grading, spring cleanup + big picture project: rebuilding the crown in our roads. Also, head-up communication with homeowners, board and crew to maintain majority buy-in and support among a “300-client” community.

Architecture Chairman & Project Manager, Spirit Lake East HOA, 2023 – 2024

Signed-off on building plans, answered questions about county regulations and reported new construction. Also led final phase of infrastructure project with Intermax (fiber Internet). Met with project manager + subs, provided feedback on road repairs, and managed final board approvals to bring project to a successful close.

California Contractor License #838497, 2004 – 2024 (inactive since relocation to Idaho in late 2021)