The People's Blog: Home Builder Uses Talents to Help Others

The long wait for "The People's Blog" to return is over. I know, it's almost like your favorite TV show coming back after a big cliffhanger. Today, playing the role of the cliffhanger answer is Suntide Homes and its owner, David Nothum.

Suntide Homes has been doing construction and building homes for more than 30 years, with other work going back almost double that. In recent decades, they have built full subdivisions and custom homes of all sizes. They have also become experts at disaster recovery from situations like fire, flood or mold infestations. Suntide has a very long list of satisfied customers, and that basis of referrals is what keeps them going strong. There is no need to spend money on significant advertising when you're booked up with work from referrals.

At the head of this company is David Nothum, a down-to-Earth guy who loves to go fishing and spend time in the outdoors. He prides himself on the personal touch he gives to each of his projects, and the personal time he spends with his customers making sure they get what they need out of their new home or remodeling/repair project. When he's not doing all of these things, he spends time with his wife, four children and daughter-in-law. Then during his down time, he volunteers by teaching children. Yet, all of this isn't what makes David Nothum special. What makes him special is that he knows he's been given a gift, and he wants to share that gift with others.

Like many homebuilders, the economic downturn impacted Suntide and David personally. What wasn't impacted was his concern for others. For more than 20 years, David has taken time out of every summer, a very busy time for him, to go to Mexico to build homes for people who have no home. These people live on the streets, and David takes his skills as a homebuilder and leads a team to build a home and restore hope. Many years David has gone multiple times throughout the year to build multiple homes. When the housing market tanked and David had significant personal concerns, he still went down to Mexico to work for those who could not pay him back with money.

Life gets tough sometimes and it can be hard to remember that we here in America have it pretty good. David Nothum doesn't forget that. With his talents as a builder and leader of Suntide Homes, he takes the time and expense to give to his fellow man. In this day and age where all too often we can't look past the end of our own now, that's something that needs to be applauded.

This will likely be my last planned People's Blog post, as this sort of thing is already covered by the regular article writers. I plan to move on to topics that might only be of interest to me, but hopefully you'll find them worthwhile as well. That said, if you have someone that needs a little press for any reason, I'll always be happy to help.