Our Team

Interior Designer

Beth Anne Branden, IIDA

Strengths
She loves design and the arts.
“No” is not in her vocabulary
She is always up for a challenge.

Bio
Beth Anne graduated from the University of Kansas with a BFA in Interior Design. From 1995 – 2017, she was the owner and president of BA Designs and Superior Installation Services. After selling her business in 2017, she stayed on as regional president until she joined Built Interior Construction in 2019. With over 30 years of interior design experience, Beth Anne has built a career where solution-minded customer service has always been at the forefront. She loves watching the sunset at Lake Wabaunsee and being a grandma.

Operations Manager

Russ Branden

Strengths
He is passionate about what he does.
When the zombie apocalypse hits, you want him on your team.
He is the best person to grab a drink with.

Bio
Russ attended the University of Kansas and spent many years in the automobile industry with a focus on the customer service side of the business. He was recruited to run Superior Installation Services (a subsidiary of BA Designs) when it opened in 1999. He was instrumental in developing the company into a full service firm, offering extensive experience in various furniture lines and carpentry work. As a DIRTT Project Manager, Russ is the eyes, ears, and voice on a project. He will keep things moving smoothly from order entry to final punchlist.

Business Development

David Anderson

Strengths
He is a team coach.
He is the best with follow up.
He is passionate.

Bio
David has spent over 30 years in sales – including in the design industry as a sales executive. He began his career owning and operating a manufacturer’s representative group for an S&P 500 manufacturer. Later, he worked in sales for a local furniture dealership as the executive of business development.

At Built Interior Construction, he works to challenge, invent, and build the future of the BUILT environment through technology, action, education, and solution with one sole purpose – to create a lasting positive impact on the future. David takes great pride in the depth of his work and the work serving a purpose to his community.

David is active in a variety of civic and cultural organizations including Rotary and several city Chambers and Economic Development agencies.

He studied business communications at the University of Kansas. Leawood, Kansas has been home for him, his wife, and his son for over 22 years.

Project Manager

Jim Annand

Branch Manager, Iowa

Brandis Baldwin

Brandis is originally from Southern Iowa and now lives in Ankeny with her two boys, Kobe and Roman, and their dog Rizzo. During the summer she can be found at the baseball field cheering on her boys or poolside with family and friends. Brandis enjoys thrifting and repurposing someone’s junk into her treasure. Her favorite food is cheese and she loves an evening of Mexican cuisine that includes margaritas and good conversation.

Veronika Carrender

Strengths

Brings a different perspective to the table (from across the ocean)
Likes to be organized
Keeps a 0 inbox

Bio

Veronika graduated from Czech Technical University with a Master’s Degree in Architecture. Her 3+ experience as an Architect in a local architecture firm expended her knowledge of design, construction and project management. Veronika loves combining the technical and practical aspects of the design with creativity. She is also passionate about sustainability in construction which was one of the reasons for joining the team at Built. As your DIRTT designer she will work hard to find a perfect solution for you and your client.

Loves

Yoga, DIY home improvement projects, gardening, non-fiction books and podcasts

Business Development Executive

David Charles

As the newest addition to Built Interior Team, David serves the role of Business Development from St. Louis, MO through Central & Southern Illinois. Not only skilled in buildings with his architecture related degrees from The University of Kansas, David excels in building trusted relationships amongst clients, partners, and fellow industry professionals. Before joining Built, David served as manager of The Resource Center @ AIA St. Louis and worked as an Architectural Associate for a local firm. He’s also amassed 20 years experience in the hospitality and non-profit sectors. With a passion for both architecture and people, he looks forward to serving Built’s clients on making their space all it can be.

Strengths

A&D
Building relationships
Giving free

Project Manager

Dave Crecelius

Dave grew up in Ankeny, IA and now lives in Huxley, IA. He and his wife Chrissy have three kids and a 70-lb lap dog who waits for Dave to get home every night so he can curl up on his lap and go to sleep. Dave and family enjoy trips to KC for Royals and Chiefs games and heading to Ames to cheer on the Cyclones.

Designer

Emily Heider

Strengths

Always has a good story to tell
Can make light of an awkward or unpleasant situation
2nd best person to grab a drink with (behind Russ of course)

Bio

Emily graduated from the University of Northern Iowa in 2022 with a BA in interior design. While in school Emily explored the world of construction management by adding a few extra classes to her schedule as well. She also interned as a designer at a custom home building company in Cedar Falls, IA during her college years. Built is a great fit for Emily as she has always been interested in the more technical side of design as well as working for a company who cares about their carbon footprint. As a designer at Built, Emily’s goal is to help clients create a functional space with the present and future use of the space in mind.

Loves

Her cat Frankie, good food, spending time outside, reading

Project Manager

Scott Knaust

Strengths
He has over 15 years of experience in the construction industry.
He has excellent problem solving skills.
He has a likable and witty personality.

Bio
Scott has been surrounded by construction his entire life, as he comes from a multi-generational carpentry / construction background that includes his grandfather, father, uncles, cousins, and himself. Scott started his construction career in 2004 as a residential carpenter and switched to the commercial side of the industry in 2008 where he started working with drywall and metal studs. He quickly advanced from foreman to superintendent, running his own jobs efficiently and effectively with his skillsets and knowledge of a sequential time line. Outside of work, he likes spending time with his wife and three children, wood working, and playing with the family dog, Dusty.

Project Designer

Christina Miller

Christina grew up in Evansdale, Iowa and went to the University of Northern Iowa for Interior Design. After graduating, she and her husband Will spent 8 years in Overland Park, Kansas. They moved back to Iowa in 2020 to be closer to family. They have three children and a cat. Christina likes to read, make things with her kids, drink coffee, and go to thrift stores and garage sales. They have a cabin in Guttenberg, Iowa on the Mississippi River, and love to spend time there in the warmer months.

Business Development

Kathy Milling

Kathy grew up in the Quad Cities area in a small town called Long Grove, Iowa. She moved to Cedar Rapids in her late twenties where she met her husband, Brent. Her are her husband are avid Hawkeye fans and love the Minnesota Vikings and the Chicago Cubs.

Kathy brings more than 10 years of experience managing operations in the patient-centric, hospice care and skilled living industry while developing and implementing business development strategies to retain and grow clientele. Prior to her career in healthcare, Kathy was a Special Education teacher for kids K-4

Kathy says “giving up” is not in her vocabulary. She never stops moving forward and sees the good in everyone. She believes you can learn something new every day!

Sara Nation

Strengths

Our resident superhero
She loves a good list
She will laugh at all of your jokes

Bio

Sara graduated from Illinois State University with a B.S. in Interior and Environmental Design. Her 8+ years of experience as a DIRTT-focused designer gives her extensive knowledge in industrialized construction for interior spaces to help our clients create the solution that is the perfect fit for today and tomorrow. Sara is dedicated to take our clients’ needs and ideas from conception to realization. As your DIRTT Designer, she will use the power of the ICE sofware to bring your design to reality.

Loves

her mini-labradoodle, Rocco, baking and all things history

Account Executive

Rebecca Perlow

Strengths
Healthcare specialist.

Bio
With 25 years of experience in the Healthcare arena, Rebecca has a passion to help transform Healthcare environments to create great spaces for people to heal, work and live better. Her commitment to this mission is invaluable to a team of end users, A&D professionals, and our partners. We all strive as a team to be the best vendor partner in the industry by creating long term, mutually beneficial relationships. Rebecca is new to the Built but her experience working with a team to come up with best solutions for all environments is a strength that benefits us all.

Project Manager

Jennifer Read

Strengths

Asking a lot of questions
Detailed Oriented
Loves to be a part of the project beginning to end and making sure the customer, Built and DIRTT are all successful

Bio

Jennifer has 28 years industry experience 10 as a project manager and five of those with DIRTT

Loves

Gardening and arranging flowers cut from her yard, hanging with her family and beach vacations (of course).

Project Manager

Melanie Reeder

Strengths
She is the resident cuisine and wine guide.
She is the hostess with the mostest.
She makes a mean Mexican Mule.

Bio
As a Project Manager for Built, Melanie oversees DIRTT projects and installations working with numerous details, schedules, trades, and product. She received her Undergraduate Degree in Interior Design from University of Missouri-Columbia and a Masters Degree in Business Law from Friends University. Being in the interiors industry for 30 years, Melanie applies her knowledge, expertise, and attention to detail to every project.

Project Manager

Nicole Wallace

Nicole and her husband, Joe, are both from Omaha, although they met at University of Lincoln-Nebraska. Yes, they are Cornhuskers that live among the Cyclones and Hawkeyes…it’s been a rough couple of “rebuilding” years. They have been in Des Moines for several years and love the city. They have a son, Arlo, and a golden retriever, Romeo. They adopted Romeo after Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico and he needed a new home. It was soon realized that he didn’t understand English commands, only Spanish. Christina loves road trips, exploring new cities (especially the National Parks), and trying new restaurants.