Forty years. Two generations.
One standard.
A family-owned custom builder, still building every home the way we'd build our own.
It started with a refusal to cut corners.
In 1979, John Kothrade was working in construction and seeing the same thing on jobsite after jobsite — shortcuts. Corners quietly cut where no homeowner would ever look. He believed a home should be built better than that, so in 1984 he started building them himself, one at a time, to a single uncompromising standard.
In 2009, John's son Phillip joined the family business. He'd studied Construction Management and worked as a carpenter across residential, commercial and industrial projects — and he'd grown up inside his father's standard. In 2025, Phillip assumed ownership, carrying forward the same conviction that built the company: integrity you can't see, in the parts of a home you'll never have to think about.
Four decades on, more than 500 Twin Cities residents live in a home built by JPC. Today, with over 140 years of combined experience on the team, we remain exactly what we were at the start — a family that builds custom homes the way we'd build our own.
"We build your home the same way we would build our own — with the utmost attention to detail and quality craftsmanship."
The Kothrade Family
Built one chapter at a time
Three commitments, on every home.
Quality
Expert craftsmanship without compromise. We partner only with suppliers and subcontractors who take the same pride in their work that we take in ours.
Integrity
No cutting corners — anywhere, ever. The standard that started the company in 1984 is the same one behind every wall and every detail you'll never see.
Communication
You're informed from the first conversation to the final walkthrough, with a steady rhythm of updates that turns a long build into a true partnership.
The people who build for you
When you build with JPC, you work directly with the owners and a tight-knit team — many with decades on the jobsite — not a rotating cast of salespeople.
Phillip Kothrade
Second-generation owner overseeing sales, estimating and operations. Studied Construction Management and worked as a carpenter across residential, commercial and industrial projects before taking the reins in 2025.
Nancy Kothrade
Runs office operations and accounting and coordinates with mortgage and title companies, homeowners and subcontractors. B.S. from the University of Minnesota and an M.B.A. from West Texas A&M.
Dave Zander
Joined in 2025 with more than 30 years in residential construction. Oversees bidding, sourcing and the coordination that keeps a build on budget.
Joel Lemke
Has supervised JPC jobsites since 1985. A skilled carpenter with a degree from Anoka Technical College and a craftsman's eye for the details that matter.
Rosie Hum
Guides selections and allowances so the hundreds of design decisions feel effortless. Brings a residential real-estate background and a B.A. from the University of Minnesota.
Jonas Philipp
Joined in 2019 and supervises jobsites alongside Joel, holding each home to the JPC standard from foundation to final walkthrough.
Honored by the people who'd know
JPC homes have been featured in regional and national publications and recognized in the Twin Cities Parade of Homes — including a 2nd-place award for Vacation Homes and 3rd place for Bath in 2022.
Your home deserves the same standard.
Forty years of craftsmanship, and a team that treats your build like its own. Let's talk about what you'd like to build.