Silent Rivers Design + Build

CERTIFICATIONS: LEED AP, CGR

SUMMARY: Entrepreneur, Artist, Educator, Community Leader, Environmental and Sustainability Advocate Chaden Halfhill is owner and chief visionary of Silent Rivers Design+Build. Chaden has grown Silent Rivers over the past 20 years to reflect a passion for conscientious design, building excellence, and healthy relationships with the natural environment. Always motivated by opportunity to make things better creatively, Chaden is first a fine artist and sculptor.

AFFILIATIONS:

Wesleyan University, art degree in sculpture

Columbia University, architecture studies

Center on Sustainable Communities (COSC); Co-Founder, past Board President, Instructor

Home Builders Association of Greater Des Moines, Board of Directors

Des Moines Remodeler’s Council, Executive Committee, Former Chair

Iowa Arts Council; Artist, Educator

Metro Arts Alliance; Artist, Educator, Board Member, Current Chairperson

pArtners Unlimited; Artist, Educator, Board President

Clive's Public Art Commission, Founding Member

Indigo Dawn LLC, Founder & President

Green & Main, Founder

Verified Green; Associate

EXPERIENCE: After completing his formal art education, Chaden built a nationally-recognized portfolio of works in sculpture, design and photography that explored the conflict between structural design and the natural environment. Using that foundation, he engaged design+build as an informed way to develop vibrant and balanced living environments. In 1993, he founded Silent Rivers Design+Build. Chaden’s vision inspires the Silent Rivers Design+Build team to incorporate these ideals into every project. (See Our Story) Focused on the power of collaboration, Chaden encourages Silent Rivers to be an authentic cooperative experience for his team and his clients. The Silent Rivers team upholds a quality and level of continuing education that surpasses industry standards and is known for quality craftsmanship and providing artistic solution for every client.

MORE ABOUT CHADEN HALFHILL: As a community leader, educator, and entrepreneur, Chaden is committed to sustainability in the built environment. He co-founded the Center on Sustainable Communities and helped guide its growth into a trusted educational resource that supports statewide promotional and networking regarding sustainable building practices. Chaden also established Indigo Dawn LLC, a green development firm dedicated to urban infill and rehabilitation of existing buildings. Chaden continues to enjoy creating art and working with design+build clients while engaging in broad policy discussions and community engagement.

SUMMARY: Austin joined the Silent Rivers team in 2019 bringing his talent of managing remodeling projects and client relationships. Austin's attention to detail and dedication to his clients are his keys to a successful project.

EXPERIENCE: Austin received a degree in Construction Management from Aims Community College in Greeley, Colorado. From a young age Austin enjoyed working on various remodeling jobs and fun back yard projects with his dad. This love of building and creating turned into a career when he started his own construction business at the age of 18.

I love building both relationships and projects with my clients that will be enjoyed for years to come. ”

SUMMARY: Jessica came to Silent Rivers with a lifelong passion for home projects, building science, and a love for living in harmony with our environment. She brings a determination and gumption that helps deliver creative solutions and is inspired by helping others to do more than they think is possible.

AFFILIATIONS:

• Jess also works with Indigo Dawn, Astilbe Morning and their investors to create property development initiatives to uplift blighted and historic neighborhoods.

EXPERIENCE: Jessica has over 10 years’ experience running a handy-woman business where she found a niche helping families and elderly tackle their house to do lists to big for them alone but to small for most contractors. She also hosted a disabled Veteran through Medical Foster Home Care program for 9 years. He became a part of the family thru this nursing home alternative care program, thriving until he needed more specialized care. She loves teaching people how to care for their homes, the science behind how their homes live and breathe and ways that thoughtful design can improve how we can live in harmony with our buildings and environment.

“I enjoy working with creative minds and exceptional skill at Silent Rivers. Everyone has the greater good and best result at heart all while delivering customer care that is just not typically found in this industry. They raise the bar and aim to be the standard others are held to. What a great mindset to work amongst!””

MORE ABOUT JESSICA BISHOP-SMYSER:

Jessica, her two sons, husband and a host of family pets love the outdoors, camping and being with family. They are either found working on their own project and their friends or family members home project, supporting their school sporting events, kayaking, hiking, gardening or just sitting around enjoying time with family.

CERTIFICATIONS: Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from the University of Kansas; Associates Degree in Liberal Arts from Johnson County Community College

EXPERIENCE: An experienced carpenter, Ezra specializes in finish carpentry with over 6 years spent in home remodeling and new home construction. He has an appreciation for re-using and re-purposing materials, the artistry of carpentry and deep seeded commitment to doing "it the right way".

CERTIFICATIONS: In addition to a BFA in Art History from Savannah College of Art and Design, Jennifer also studied interior design at Drake University. She is trained in grant writing and digital archiving. She has also been featured twice on PBS for her work on SCAD’s rehabilitation of historic Ivy Hall.

SUMMARY: With her wide range of expertise, Jennifer Johnston can easily be considered a Jill of All Trades. As Curator of Customer Experience at Silent Rivers, she is in charge of our sales and warranty departments, and handles customer outreach. As if that wasn’t enough, she is also consults as our expert on historic preservation, which is a core service Silent Rivers provides.

AFFILIATIONS:

Des Moines Art Center member

Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden member

Atlanta History Center where she created period costumes

Sherman Hill historic tour docent

American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works

Georgia Preservation Consortium, founding member

EXPERIENCE: Jennifer is a master finisher with over 25 years of historic preservation experience. She is one of the few remaining craftspeople to be brought up through the apprentice system, starting when she was still a teenager. Over the years, she has worked on numerous historic homes and antiques, specializing in both historic finishes on wooden artifacts and the replication of historic finishes on new woodwork. She ran a historic preservation company called The Woods Conservation in Atlanta, Georgia for ten years. Her business served private homes, businesses, collectors, museums and institutions in the areas of wood finishing conservation, historic documentation, condition surveys, maintenance and color matching. Prior to that, Jennifer was the Director of Interior Finishes at Ivy Hall in Atlanta, Georgia.

Jennifer leading her team in the preservation of this stunning wood medallion in historic Ivy Hall at Savannah College of Art and Design.

I’m consistently inspired by the intersection of green design and historic preservation. Having a home built in decades past doesn’t mean giving up modern technologies. The greenest house is the one already built.”

MORE ABOUT JENNIFER JOHNSTON: Jennifer grew up in Des Moines and has also spent about half her life in Georgia. (It’s entertaining how easily she can don a southern accent when the occasion arises.) Her hobbies are as diverse and well rounded as her career including a mix of sewing, stained glass, trivia, traveling, gardening and painting portraits and still lifes. And no surprise, Jennifer also enjoys antique hunting and restoration. You can imagine how adept she is at DIY projects around the historically significant home she and Andrew own in Urbandale.

CERTIFICATIONS: Certified Lead-Safe Renovator, OSHA: Personal Protective Equipment (Electric, Hand and Power Tools), Fall Protection (and Stairways and Ladder Safety), Safety

SUMMARY: An experienced carpenter, John has specialized in cabinetry and trim work for 19 years. He enjoys the reward of taking a raw piece of wood and turning it into something special the meticulousness in process that separates something great from something good.

EXPERIENCE: With Silent Rivers, John is happy to work with colleagues driven by a comparable expectation of the highest quality craftsmanship. “Everybody here is a team player, knows what they’re supposed to do, and goes to it with seriousness and creativity.” Similarly, John appreciates good relationships with clients and the extraordinary results created. One such project involved extensive custom cabinetry. John remembers, “I really enjoyed the collaborative nature of that relationship. And I was able to deliver precisely what that client wanted even when he couldn’t always put it into exact words.”

I’m drawn to the art of the making – the transformation. Not everybody has a knack for doing that. I just knew when I started 19 years ago, like I felt a desire for it in my soul. It’s not by chance that I wound up here.”

MORE ABOUT JOHN MILLER: He also enjoys having the opportunity to do more work with historic restoration. One of his favorite professional experiences before joining Silent Rivers was helping remodel the Iowa State Capitol building dome -- not only for the renovation project itself, but for the daily discoveries of historical material that emerged and the encounter with the building’s original structure.

SUMMARY: Growing up in a family-owned HVAC/plumbing business, Luke is no stranger to the construction industry. After high school, Luke worked in his family’s business for 10 years. Going back to ISU as a non-traditional student, Luke pursued a variety of sales and finance roles after graduating in 2007. Seeking a greater purpose, and more authentic relationships with those he serves - in spring of 2019 Luke decided to take sabbatical from his sales-career. With a deep love of nature, and longtime interest in conservation, Luke went to work at the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation, where he served as the 2019 Mark C. Ackelson Fellow. In his free time, Luke enjoys volunteering regularly with the DNR, other conservation groups, and a wide range of nonprofits he cares about.

AFFILIATIONS:

• Miracle League of Iowa - Head Coach
• Plymouth Church - Deacon
• Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation - Member

EXPERIENCE: Certified Home Inspector Des Moines Water Works Citizens Academy Story County Master Conservationists (ISU Extension)

“The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.” - Chinese Proverb ”

MORE ABOUT LUKE BOWERS:

When not working or volunteering, Luke enjoys antiquing, and doing anything outdoors with his adopted Huskies - including dogsledding.

CERTIFICATIONS: Studied Business, Landscape Management, Horticulture and Natural Resources & Ecology Management at ISU

AFFILIATIONS:

US Marine Corps Sergeant

CERTIFICATIONS: Certified Lead-Safe Renovator, CAPS (Certified Aging in Place Specialist) training

SUMMARY: Tom brings rare talent and 30 years of experience in woodworking and construction to the Silent Rivers team. He contributes a diverse set of skills and deep knowledge of all phases of a remodeling and construction project, and he specializes in custom cabinetry.

AFFILIATIONS:

Tom also volunteers his time to Meals from the Heartland and highway cleanup projects.

EXPERIENCE: At age 14, Tom started working for his father, a carpenter and cabinet-maker. Immediately, he was motivated to teach himself “the fancy stuff.” His craft design studies at Iowa State helped develop his skills, but the bulk of his expertise comes from determined and rigorous practice. With woodworking as his profession and his hobby, Tom didn’t rest until he had produced the smoothest lines, most consistent curves, and the tightest tolerances. He ran his own carpentry and cabinetry company for 8 years, building a reputation for consistently delivering beautiful results. Tom is innovative and challenges himself to balance his creative perfectionism with high levels of productivity. He says, “It took me years to learn when to let go. Especially working with wood, you have to know when to move on.”

Silent Rivers is an energetic place. I get the opportunity to practice my craft with creativity and alongside a great team. I also like working directly with clients; stretching my imagination and abilities to provide them with exactly what they are looking for.”

MORE ABOUT TOM BLOXHAM: Tom embodies the values of Silent Rivers’ artisanship: quality, imagination and creativity. He is drawn to devising new ways to implement ideas. He considers one of his most successful projects one in which he got to incorporate anchored ropes and knots into the design. Tom states that he can’t “really feel good until the client is happy,”