photo of owners Bill and Jayne Wolf
Only the very best remodeling companies make Remodeling Magazine’s annual “Top 50,” a select group of remodelers from around the nation chosen by the magazine’s staff, leaders in the industry, and other remodelers. Bill and Jayne Wolf, owners of DreamMaker of Greater Grand Rapids, 4658 West River Drive in Comstock Park, joined that elite group this year. The accolade honors remodeling companies throughout the country that excel in “customer service, unique design, and exemplary business practices.” The couple is “very proud, very honored” said Jayne Wolf, and Bill Wolf praised their employees noting, “It was a team effort.”
Bill Wolf worked in remodeling for 13 years when he founded Wolf & Company out of their Rockford home in 1998 using their garage and renting other space as needed. The two bought a DreamMaker franchise in 2002 and, needing more space, bought their current building for the business in 2006. They use the upper level of the 6,000 square foot building and rent part of the bottom floor to other businesses. “We looked at quite a few buildings,” said Bill Wolf. “We wanted traffic, the right kind of space…we didn’t want an industrial look. “Easy access from the expressway is great,” he added.
Bill Wolf called their business a “one-stop shop,” where staff coordinates your entire remodeling project. They design and remodel kitchens and bathrooms, as well as whole house remodeling, home additions, basement finishes, and more. Bill Wolf is general manager of sales and production, and Jayne Wolf is office manager and handles marketing and bookkeeping. There are seven employees (one is part-time) including design consultants, lead carpenters/project managers, and a receptionist/bookkeeper. They sub-contract plumbing, electrical, and heating and cooling work. Bill Wolf is certified in green remodeling, aging in place remodeling and lead paint removal
They advertise through their web site, referrals, shows such as the Home & Garden Show in Grand Rapids, and a digital billboard on West River Drive. They have a home in the remodeled homes weekend in the 2015 Grand Rapids Parade of Homes. They also host open houses at their store which features a design center with displays of kitchens and bathrooms, and a selection center where customers can look at samples and catalogs.
The Wolfs give back to their community donating materials to Habitat for Humanity restores, and they are a member of the Rockford Chamber of Commerce. They are involved in their church and BMW – Bangla Ministries Worldwide.
Bill Wolf is originally from Southfield MI, graduating from Southfield High School. He attended Grand Valley State University and the University of Illinois majoring in biology education. He taught high school biology and general science before joining a Christian organization to do youth work with college students in New England and then Vienna, Austria.
Jayne Wolf grew up in Rockford, graduating from Rockford High School, She went to Michigan State University majoring in community service, social work and home economics, and took business courses. She was a secretary for a Christian organization working in Vienna, Austria, where the two met. They have been married for 30 years, and celebrated that anniversary last year taking their two grown children to Vienna.
When they’re not working, Bill likes fishing and boating, and Jayne likes snow skiing and swimming.