We had the good fortune of connecting with Luke Stevenson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Luke, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I believed at a young age that the easiest way to make a good living and enjoy freedom of time would be through self-employment. I went to college for several semesters while framing houses full time to pay for it. During that time I realized I did not necessarily have to pay for an education, I could get paid while receiving one. With that in mind I worked on developing my skills and rounding out my knowledge with the goal of one day working for myself. After seven years in the trades I was ready to take the plunge.

What should our readers know about your business?
I have been running Rockrimmon Construction LLC since 2011. I started with residential electrical and general contractor licenses and have since expanded to include commercial general contracting. I learned a lot from my previous employers, both how to run a business and how not to run a business. One firm I worked for always did good work but never had happy clients. The owner spent all his time and energy creating change orders and squeezing every last nickel from the customer. It made every job stressful. I did not ever want to run a business that way. I pride myself on my integrity and commitment to client satisfaction. My business is 100% word of mouth which I take as proof that people are happy with the work we do and the process along the way. In the last four years we have expanded operations to include commercial projects and tenant improvements. We were lucky enough to build a local favorite craft beer bar, The Wandering Tortoise, as well as do their expansion the following year. I personally did all the barnwood accents on the expansion and to this day, the barnwood Arizona flag on the wall is one of my favorite projects.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’m always partial to businesses I’ve built. I would start by going to Nelson’s Meat and Fish to pick out dinner to cook for the night. While there, we would pop next door The Wandering Tortoise for a couple cold beers. The next day I would take them to The Sleepy Whale in Chandler. The building used to be a mechanic shop and we turned it into a craft beer bar. If it was a weekend, I would take them to downtown Phoenix for dinner, drinks and (socially distant) dancing at Killer Whale Sex Club. I could not fill a whole week with places I’ve built, I would also have to include some of my favorites. The Coronado has an amazing plant-based menu and the best breakfast burrito I’ve ever had. Richardson’s and The Rokerji are local staples and a must to check out. Not everything is about eating. I would also take them on my favorite hike up Piestewa Peak and season permitting, some kayaking down the Verde River.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would like to give a shoutout to my parents, Jane and Paul Stevenson. Without their support and encouragement over the years I would not have been able to take advantage of all the opportunities along the way.

Image Credits
Caitlin Alohilani Natalie Ryan

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