Experience Matters: Tenure in Our Construction Department

At American Legend Homes, we believe building a home is about more than bricks, walls, and finishes. It’s about the people behind the process—the experienced professionals who take pride in their craft, care about the families they serve, and understand that every detail matters.

For several members of our construction team, that commitment has been part of their lives for more than a decade. Andres, Stony, Mike Raineri, and Mike Kaczor bring more than 65 years of experience with American Legend Homes—and more than 120 years of combined homebuilding experience. Together, they have helped build thousands of homes across DFW.

We sat down with them to learn what has kept them here, what they’ve learned along the way, and why experience continues to make a difference for our homeowners.

Decades of Experience, Thousands of Homes

When asked how long they’ve been with American Legend Homes, the answers speak to the longevity of the team: Andres has been with the company for 22 years, Stony for more than 16, Mike R. for 14, and Mike K. for 13.

But their experience extends well beyond their years at American Legend.

Andres estimates he has helped build nearly 1,000 homes, while Stony has been part of building more than 800. Mike R. has spent 42 years building homes in DFW and estimates he has built well over 1,000 homes throughout his career. After 30 years in the industry, Mike K. says he has likely been involved in building thousands of homes.

Those numbers are impressive, but what matters most is the experience behind them—and how that experience benefits every American Legend homeowner. You can be sure to build with confidence knowing the employees at ALH is full of employees with knowledge and skill to provide you a quality home.

A Place That Feels Like Family

So, what keeps someone at the same company for more than a decade? For these four, the answer comes down to people, culture, and pride in the work.

Andres says it’s about “being part of a successful team,” while Stony describes the company as a place where you’re “part of the family, not just an employee.” Mike R. points to the culture and his belief in the product they deliver, and Mike K. echoes the importance of the people, calling American Legend Homes simply “a great place to work with wonderful people.”

That sense of connection is part of what makes the American Legend Homes experience different—not just for the people who work here, but for the homeowners they serve.

What Makes American Legend Homes Different?

Ask our team what sets American Legend Homes apart, and one theme comes through clearly: we care about getting it right.

“Our emphasis on quality, product delivery, and customer service,” says Andres. “If it’s not done right the first time, we will fix it until it is.”

For Stony, it’s the attention to detail and the willingness to take ownership of each home. Mike R. points to the company’s family and employee ownership, along with having in-house architects and a dedicated design center. But ultimately, he says, “the people make a difference.”

That combination of quality, accountability, and experienced people is what helps turn a construction process into a homebuilding experience homeowners can feel confident about.

What Experience Teaches You

There are some things you can learn from a textbook, but there are other lessons that only come from years of being in the field.

For Andres, experience is about “accumulating skills from live events and sharing experiences with our team.” Every challenge becomes an opportunity to learn—and that knowledge can then be passed on to others.

Mike R. says one of the most important lessons is learning to truly listen to the customer and understand what their new home means to them. He goes on to explain "it is one of many houses we build, but it is their ONE home". That perspective is at the heart of what it means to build for families. To the builder, it may be another home on the schedule. To the homeowner, it is where life will happen.

Learning to See Around Corners

One of the greatest advantages of experience is knowing what to look for before an issue becomes an issue.

Over time, Stony says, you develop instincts that help you avoid repeating past mistakes.

Mike R. has a memorable way of putting it: “Don’t get sprayed by a skunk a second time. Experience teaches you more than simply how to stay away from a skunk when you see one. It teaches you to recognize the places where a skunk might be in the first place."

That same principle applies to homebuilding. Years in the industry help experienced builders recognize potential challenges, anticipate what could happen next, and make informed decisions before small issues become big ones.

A Changing Industry

Homebuilding has changed dramatically over the careers of these four builders.

For Mike R., one of the biggest changes has been the evolution of energy efficiency and the building practices used to achieve it. Today's homes incorporate technologies and construction methods designed to improve efficiency and performance.

For Mike K., the transformation has been even more visible in the technology used to build and manage homes. When he started, his tools included little more than an office phone and a notepad.

Today, technology plays a role in virtually every stage of the homebuilding process. While the tools may have changed, the fundamentals remain the same: quality craftsmanship, attention to detail, communication, and a commitment to the homeowner.

Building Homes—and Building People

Ask these team members what they’re most proud of, and their answers go beyond the number of homes they’ve built.

Stony takes pride in paying forward his experience by teaching the next generation of builders. Mike R. shares that same sense of accomplishment, noting that he has helped train builders who have gone on to perform at a high level for years. He also had an impressive year in 2023, closing 47 homes.

That’s one of the unique benefits of an experienced team: the knowledge doesn’t stop with one person. It gets passed down, strengthened, and carried forward into the next home for our next family we get to build for.

Advice for the New Homebuyer

Building a new home should be an exciting experience, but anyone who has been through the process knows there can be moments of uncertainty along the way. Our team has a few words of advice.

"Stick to the plan. Trust the process. Try to enjoy it."

As Mike R. puts it, homeowners should try not to worry about the unfinished details they see during construction.

“We promise it’s not finished until it’s finished.”

And that perspective is important. A home under construction is exactly that—a work in progress. The experienced professionals behind the build know what comes next and understand how all the pieces come together.

One Question: 4 Words.

If you asked our team to describe their colleagues in one word, you’d get four different answers: proficient, dedicated, professional, and awesome.

But perhaps all four are accurate. Because building a home requires more than technical expertise. It takes dedication, teamwork, professionalism, and a willingness to take ownership of the final product.

Why Experience Still Matters

After all these years, why does experience continue to matter?

Stony says experience “shapes your character and gives you the wisdom needed to make better informed decisions.”

Mike R. puts it another way: “No amount of education can replace the lesson learned on the job.”

And Mike K. brings it back to the homeowner: "more experience means better quality in our homes".

That may be the biggest advantage of having a team with decades of experience. Every home benefits from the lessons learned on the homes that came before it.

Pride That Goes Beyond the Build

Ask our team what makes them proud when they drive through an American Legend community, and their answers reveal just how personal this work can be.

For Andres, it’s knowing that “we are truly a different home builder.”

For Stony, it’s knowing he has helped families build their HOME, not just a house.

For Mike R., one of the greatest rewards comes years after construction is complete. He takes pride in seeing homeowners still wave when they see him, stop to chat, and ask how he’s doing.

And for Mike K., it’s the families themselves—the people who are enjoying the homes he helped build for them.

That lasting connection is something special. It’s a reminder that the work doesn’t really end when the keys are handed over. The homes become part of people’s lives, and the builders who helped create them become part of the story.

Why We Still Love What We Do

Despite all those years, what keeps these builders passionate about what they do?

For Stony, it’s helping families navigate one of the biggest purchases of their lives.

For Mike R., it’s the opportunity to help people create their home. "How cool is that?!”

And for Mike K., it’s the satisfaction of finishing a house and knowing he can be proud of the work.

That pride is something you can’t manufacture. It comes from years of experience, a strong team, and genuinely caring about the homes you build.

Experience You Can Build On

At American Legend Homes, we’re proud of the people who bring decades of knowledge, craftsmanship, and experience to every home.

For a homebuyer, that experience matters. It means the people building your home have seen challenges before, know how to anticipate them, understand the importance of every detail, and appreciate that this isn’t just another house—it’s YOUR home.

Because when you choose a home built by an experienced team, you’re getting more than a house. You’re getting the knowledge, care, and commitment that go into building it right—and the confidence that comes from knowing your home is in experienced hands.