 Professional Biography for Builder and Designer, Steve Crook
Steve Crook, owner and founder of Far Star Inc., started his building career in the 1000 Islands of northern New York. As the son of a summer resort owner, he learned to fix things with available materials (usually re-used) and a minimum of tools. His "formal training" started by watching an old-time carpenter build the resort's motel and cottages. As well, the various tradesmen working on the project generously put up with a young boy's persistent questions and desire to help them complete the resort. At the age of 19 Steve's first summer construction job was as saw man for a modular home building company. He soon moved up to a siding crew, where he learned assembly line production frame and exterior trim work. He became lead man within a few months. After moving to Colorado in 1973 and trying various jobs, he began as a surveyor with Hutchinson Homes in 1975, a large land developer and home builder. As part of Hutchinson’s Allied Dirt division, he learned the rudiments of survey work and quickly progressed to become party chief of his own survey crew. Among duties performed for Allied Dirt were the following: staking of all utilities, such as water, sewer and gas lines, staking property lines, grade stakes for cuts and fills, staking curb and gutter, staking house foundations and checking foundations for level and square. This experience provided him with a thorough understanding of grading and foundation placement and the ability to interact well with excavation and survey tradesmen. In 1977, Steve took a year leave from his job and crossed the Atlantic in a small sailboat with three friends. After touring the Mediterranean and crossing back to tour the Caribbean, he returned to his job with a new goal in mind. In 1979, he started his first business, Designer Builders, and for the following ten years he built many quality homes and completed numerous residential remodeling projects. During this period he was often called upon to conduct home inspections and to design interiors and home additions. In 1980, one of Steve's new homes was featured in Colorado Homes and Lifestyles magazine. In 1988 Steve formed American West Homes Ltd with a partner. During the next nine years they built approximately 30 homes and completed several extensive remodeling projects. American West Homes also built a church and performed framing and interior trim work on a number of multifamily and municipal projects. American West Homes also did their first land development project called Howarth Farms, situated on the corner of Bowles and Belleflower in Littleton, Colorado . In January, 1998, Steve sold his interest in the company to his partner, with the specific goal of moving to the mountains and advancing his career by forming Far Star Inc. After building two spec homes in the Denver metro area, Steve purchased his present home/office on Hillstone Lane in Evergreen, Colorado. He immediately left for New York State where he designed and build a summer home in the Adirondack Mountains for a long time business associate. Upon returning to Evergreen in the spring of 2001 Steve started the land development process for Hillstone and subsequently completed the first of three homes he designed for the property. Steve continues to design new homes as well as expand the scope of Far Star Inc. which now include consulting services for homeowners and businesses that need help in organizing, staffing, scheduling and expediting their own construction projects. | 
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