along with hundreds of other volunteers, will have to demolish one house,build a new one in its place, and landscape the yard.
The reason for the lightning fast build is ABC's "Extreme Makeover: HomeEdition," the Emmy-winning reality television show about building new homes
for deserving families.
Shea, known as "Mr. Fix It" on KTRS radio (AM 550) is president of CallierThompson Shea Construction and Design. Named Remodeler of the Year in 2007
by the Home Builders Association, the company had revenues last year ofabout $3.5 million.
Shea got involved in the project after the television show's producers began making the rounds of radio stations in St. Louis to promote the project and
publicized their search for a builder. Shea said someone at KTRS suggestedto Conrad Ricketts, the executive producer of "Extreme Makeover: Home
Edition" that he talk to Shea, and he did.
The St. Louisans chosen for ABC's "Extreme Makeover Home Edition" are Dawn and Emmanuel Martirez of Shrewsbury.
Dawn is a pediatric cancer nurse. They have a daughter, Elle, and twin boys, Evan and Alec. Evan has an extremely rare genetic condition called 9P minus, and Alec has another uncommon genetic disorder known as Crouzon Syndrome. Both twins suffer from skeletal abnormalities that require extensive corrective facial and cranial surgeries, with Evan having physical handicaps and mental retardation and Alec being profoundly hearing impaired."
Dawn Martirez had to give up her job to take care of the twins full time. A statement released by the television show said: "As the boys get older, the home's cramped narrow hallways, steep stairs, crumbling driveway and single, handicapped inaccessible bathroom are posing great problems for them and slowing their development. Now it is up to Ty (Pennington) and his designers to equip the Martirez's home to accommodate the twins' special needs."
Shea said he was excited about the project, but he knew he needed help - "a project of this magnitude and timeline is a challenge for any company," he
said - so he turned to his old friend Dave Dunlap of Consolidated Construction Group Inc. "Once Dave knew it was for charity, he was on
board," Shea said.
"Both companies have been blessed and believe strongly in giving back," said Dunlap. "We believe our project motto, 'People, Passion, Purpose,' really
exemplifies what this project is all about and encourages everyone to getinvolved. Every dollar, piece of material and hour donated to this project
will make a difference."
Consolidated Construction Group is a nationally recognized, award-winning design-build remodeling firm; ranked highest in homeowner satisfaction among
all remodelers nationwide, according to NRS Corp.'s National Homeowner Satisfaction Study; and a member of Remodeling magazine's Big 50 Hall of
Fame in 1990.
On August 26, Shea, Dunlap, and Ricketts met with more than 420 prospective volunteers from over 100 contracting companies to discuss how the four-day
build will work. "It was all by word of mouth," Shea said.
For more information on the build and to find out how you can volunteer, please visit www.extremehomemakeoverstlouis.com or call 636-256-8906.
