DMJ Grand Heritage Homes, a family operated company in Kremmling, has been awarded the five-star builder award and the Gordon Klein Memorial Customer Service Award for 2007.

The award was received from Heritage Homes of Nebraska. It was given to DMJ because of its customer service and homeowner’s satisfaction ” and the fact that the company built five homes last year, which is a big leap for a business that formerly built one or two a year.

“We’re really happy with how it’s going and what we’re able to offer people,” said Joanna Carpenter of DMJ Grand Heritage Homes. “Last year was a great year with Heritage. We’ve really expanded in the last few years.”

DMJ General Contractors started in 1976 by three brothers ” Dennis, Mike, and Jerry ” who decided to start a company together in Kremmling where they were raised. It is a family owned and operated business (Joanna Carpenter is Dennis’ daughter) and the company has managed to build a solid reputation over the past 30 years, having been featured in Fine Homebuilding, and Rural Builder Magazine.

DMJ decided to join up with Heritage Homes of Nebraska six years ago, and the company changed its name to DMJ Grand Heritage Homes. DMJ Grand Heritage Homes can now build more prebuilt homes and offer its customers customizable floor plans that aim to meet their desires and budgets ” with a three-year warranty on prebuilds, Carpenter pointed out, something that “no other pre-build has in the industry.”

“We went looking for a company that would do (work) to the quality we’d expect,” Carpenter said of joining with Heritage. “The quality, the customer service ” they stand behind it. (And) they think outside the box.”

Instead of choosing a floor plan that already exists, for instance, DMJ Grand Heritage Homes can work with the homeowner to draw up plans suited to their needs and specifications.

“Heritage will sit down with the homeowner and draw out a floor plan they like,” Carpenter said.

Carpenter also received an award for her work with DMJ. She was given the Shining Star Award in recognition of her performance and continuing commitment to personal development. Carpenter started out with the company as a tool runner on job sites and worked her way to the position she holds today.

“I love my job,” she said simply. “I love working with Heritage Homes and with people, and I think that’s what (the award) was probably about.”