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The Saarman Team

Who we are

Saarman Construction is assembled of established team members who build a strong foundation, forming one of the highest-quality workforces in the industry. Traditional and professional relationships bond our team as a family. The average tenure at Saarman is more than ten years, well above the industry average. This tenure translates into decades of industry experience, and a group of close dynamic team members who tackle any project smoothly.

We recruit and hire elite candidates, developing, and training them with the goal of promoting from within as much as possible. Saarman takes pride in having one of the most experienced teams leading the industry. Our team holds itself to high standards, in quality work, consistent results, superior workmanship, and most importantly, not just meeting project goals, but surpassing them.

 Our team strives to be the best.

Jeffrey Saarman, GC

Founding Principal, Chairman of the Board

Ben Chih-Cheng Tsai, PE, GC

President, Principal

Henry Wong, GC

Vice President of Estimating, Director of Litigation Services, Principal

David Saarman, GC

Vice President, Principal

Shawn Monteith

Regional Vice President

Jaime Medina

General Superintendent, Partner

Bernabe Cardoso

General Superintendent, Partner

Cesar Lepe

General Superintendent, Partner

Miguel Galvez

General Superintendent, Partner

Kabir Singh

Senior Project Manager, Partner

Johnny Chiem

Senior Project Manager

Darwin Henderson

Shop and Equipment Manager, Partner

Jeff Lewis

Superintendent, Partner

Juan Galvez

Superintendent, Partner

Jose Dominguez

Superintendent, Partner

Shelly Deng

Controller, Partner

Tyler Robinette

Senior Estimator

Susie Batchelor

Director of Human Resources

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Careers

Jeffrey Saarman, GC

Founding Principal, Chairman of the Board

Since the summer of 1973, Jeffrey Saarman has been planning the work and working the plan in the construction industry. With the mentorship of his father Paul and Paul’s growing popularity due to his famous “No Problem!” attitude, the idea of starting their own family business transpired. They eventually incorporated Saarman Construction, Ltd. and each brought something special to the company. Jeffrey is best known for his work helping owners that had defective work products get compensated for the repairs needed to correct the work. It was satisfying for Jeffrey to figure out the defect and then correct the problem with his team. He takes pride in training his team on asking the right questions in order to do something once and to do it right. After 35 years of the day-to-day hands-on responsibilities demanding of the job at hand, Jeffrey now gets to enjoy watching others planning the work and working the plan as Chairman of the Board, CFO, and Principal. Jeffrey is also now able to better focus on the company’s commitment to offsetting its impact on the environment as the green building movement has always been a part of Jeffrey’s core values. When Jeffrey isn’t helping out in the office or the field, he enjoys playing with his grandchildren.

BEN CHIH-CHENG TSAI, PE, GC

PRESIDENT, PRINCIPAL

Ben Tsai pursued Graduate Studies in Civil Engineering at the University of Michigan, where he received his master’s degree in both Construction Management and Structural Engineering. He is also a registered Professional Engineer (P.E.) in California and a licensed general contractor in Hawaii. His fascination with buildings and desire to understand the science behind them led him to start his career in construction.

Ben began his career at Saarman over 30 years ago. With hard work and persistence, he was able to unlock doors to new opportunities at the company. Whenever issues arise, Ben works closely with the Saarman team to troubleshoot and find optimal solutions for their clients. Over the years, Ben’s key contributions have included the creation of Saarman’s safety culture, and quality control procedures and the standardization of the company’s project management process allows our clients to monitor their progress in real-time.

When Ben is not at work, music is his passion. His wife is a classical pianist, and nothing is more soothing to his ears than hearing his wife play the piano after a long day of work.

HENRY WONG, GC

VICE PRESIDENT OF ESTIMATING, DIRECTOR OF LITIGATION SERVICES, PRINCIPAL

Henry’s roots in construction go as far back as 1994. His dad and grandfather were both in construction. Three generations of careers in construction simply came about from his family appliance store being next door to a shop that contracted remodels. Henry started as a helper with their painting and tiling tasks and moved on to electrical and sub-plumbing. His natural attraction to building and understanding how things work helps to explain why Henry says every day feels like the first day. Henry’s background arms him with his specialty of providing estimates for projects and consulting on value engineering. When he is not assisting clients Henry is happiest playing golf or hanging out with his kids by the pool. He considers himself a construction nerd as he enjoys watching how other construction sites do things, especially when he travels and is able to see how other cultures do their construction.  

David Saarman, GC

vice president, principal

Like the other Saarman’s, David grew up in construction. He got his foot in the door by working on jobs during his summer breaks in high school and grew to love the business. David officially joined Saarman Construction in 2004 and gained work experience in all aspects of construction. Having held a variety of positions, David is more than capable of handling his responsibilities for Operations, Finance, Estimating, General Management, Human Resources, Safety, Sales, Marketing, and Information Technology. He has always enjoyed the people he works with, and the impact he and his team make on the communities they work in. As the family business has been around his whole life, David considers the team at Saarman Construction his extended family. David and his team know that there is nothing typical in a workday and to expect the unexpected! David is proud of leading the work the company has made toward career pathing at all levels and working with each department to transition to digital processes and implementation of new technology. When David is not on the job, you will likely find him spending time with his family teaching his son about boating, fishing, hunting, swimming, skiing, and playing sports.

Shawn Montieth

Regional Vice President

Shawn got his start building custom homes in coastal San Diego, where he was hands-on self-performing carpentry, millwork, and finish work. That early experience gave him a strong foundation in craftsmanship and attention to detail that has carried through his entire career. Over time, he progressed from field work into project management and leadership roles, eventually overseeing large multifamily portfolios and complex renovation programs before joining Saarman, where the alignment in values made the transition a natural fit. Today, Shawn drives the performance and growth of the Southern California operations, spanning everything from preconstruction to active project oversight and team leadership. He specializes in multifamily repair and renovation work, particularly projects involving building envelope issues, construction defect repairs, and occupied rehabs. Shawn’s greatest strength lies in taking complex project conditions and turning them into well-defined scopes with a clear path forward, and he takes the most pride in building teams that perform at a high level. Guided by integrity, accountability, and discipline, he contributes to the company culture by setting a clear standard and holding himself to it first. When Shawn isn’t focused on building the business, you’ll find him camping, fishing, mountain biking, snowboarding, surfing, or working on his classic Bronco restoration.

JAIME MEDINA

GENERAL SUPERINTENDENT, PARTNER

Jaime fell in love with construction as he recalls beginning in the field in 1986 and being trained by great builders to help build beautiful custom homes in the Los Gatos hills. In these early years, Jaime learned to read plans, lay out foundations, and cut roof rafters. He continued to grow and continue his path in construction as he gained experience building in the outside phases and inside phases of these custom homes.  He was involved with the building of wine cellars, libraries, and mantles and installing different types of wood and stone plus landscaping. He did everything and took everything he learned and applied it to a different area of construction; Reconstruction. Being well trained in the fundamentals, Jaime is able to quickly spot bad workmanship or failing materials and utilizes the plans to fix the issue. Having held the positions of General Superintendent, Manager, Journeyman, and  Carpenter, Jaime is also bilingual which is invaluable to Saarman Construction’s daily abilities to plan and effectively communicate. In Jaime’s free time, he enjoys coaching his son in baseball and cheering on the San Francisco Giants. 

BERNABE CARDOSO

GENERAL SUPERINTENDENT, PARTNER

Bernabe was inspired to work in the construction industry to follow the same footsteps as his father. At a young age, he learned how to build his own home.

As General Superintendent of Saarman Construction, Bernabe sets up the crew and communicates with the subcontractors. He enjoys meeting new people at work and sharing his knowledge with the team. During weekends, he loves to spend time with his family and work on his cars.

Cesar Lepe

general superintendent, partner

For nearly 30 years since he was just eighteen years old, Cesar has worked in the construction industry. Eagerly rising every morning to get to the job site, one might find it hard to believe that Cesar is simply going to work and excited to get tasks done. Cesar’s hard work and experiences are valuable to Saarman Construction in that he started his career as a laborer and progressed to his current position of General Superintended, Partner. Cesar oversees projects and is able to enjoy the company of a close-knit group. When Cesar is not working on a project, he enjoys spending time with his family and volunteering as a soccer coach for his community.

MIGUEL GALVEZ

GENERAL SUPERINTENDENT, PARTNER

Since 1989 Miguel has devoted himself to construction as he  always had an interest in building things. Even as a child he enjoyed taking things apart and rebuilding them. It gives him great pride and satisfaction seeing the work he has done and watching others enjoy the final results. To ensure results he can be proud of, Miguel takes the time to demonstrate how to do the job when needed. On a daily basis Miguel makes sure everyone can work effectively and are using the proper materials. Miguel has been described to be a team player and hard working. This combination of attributes allow Miguel to prioritize his responsibilities as a leader. In Miguel’s free time he enjoys gardening and spending time outdoors. 

KABIR SINGH

SENIOR PROJECT MANAGER, PARTNER

Kabir’s introduction to construction was right out of college. With wide eyes and a mind full of bright ideas, he fell in love seeing projects come together with the right team, the proper process and the right technology. Kabir begins his day reviewing his checklist for each project, checking in on progress with site staff and completing project related required paperwork such as schedule updates, meeting minutes, change orders and RFI’s. Kabir enjoys both leading the project and working hand-in-hand with the site and office team to tackle daily project issues. Kabir has been described as efficient and proactive  as he has successfully completed over 100 projects over his career. Kabir is also proud of having successfully implemented construction project management software into many of the organizations he has been a part of. When Kabir is not onsite working on a project, you would likely find him sipping on a nice cocktail while chasing a small white ball down the fairway. 

Johnny Chiem

Senior Project Manager

Johnny’s career in construction began with a summer internship leading into his senior year of college, setting the foundation for a path he’s been building on ever since. His motivation and drive have guided him through every step, leading him to his current role where he assists in overseeing the operations department. Johnny brings a strong combination of technical knowledge and field experience to the team, and he takes great pride in the satisfaction that a completed project brings to residents and property owners. When challenges arise, he focuses on timely resolution, ensuring issues are addressed quickly and effectively. Guided by a responsive and hardworking mindset, Johnny contributes to the company culture by leading by example every day. When he’s not on the job, you’ll most likely find Johnny exploring new places and satisfying his love for travel.

DARWIN HENDERSON

Shop and Equipment Manager, Partner

Thirteen-year-old Darwin would have never imagined he would be in the position he is in today with Saarman Construction as the Shop & Equipment Manager, Partner. Initially hired as a painter Darwin quickly ascended the ranks, and finds himself at different job sites delivering equipment to projects and working on fleet vehicles. Darwin enjoys being able to run wild and help everyone in the company as he feels he is part of a brotherhood of individuals that have been with each other for 25 to 30 years.  When Darwin isn’t working, you can find him riding on his Harley with his family.

JEFF LEWIS

Superintendent, Partner

To Jeff, it was simple, he enjoyed working with his hands and building things so he knew construction was for him at the age of 15. These days you will find Jeff going over schedules, checking on jobs and crews, answering emails, marketing to clients and contributing to problem solving. Jeff enjoys collaborating with his crew and working for the different professionals in their trade. Jeff has a deep knowledge of the business spanning decades and is known for his ability to adapt to multiple personalities while keeping them happy. In Jeff’s free time he can be found relaxing with family and friends or hunting with his dog.

JUAN GALVEZ

SUPERINTENDENT, PARTNER

In 1996 Juan started to get a taste for construction as he helped his brother on side jobs and decided in no time that construction is what he really enjoys doing. 26 years later and he still gets the feeling of satisfaction when he sees the final results of a project. His work day usually starts with him gathering materials and getting to the job site on time to set up for the crew and attend meetings. Juan can do almost all types of construction work making him a valuable asset to Saarman Construction as this enables him to solve a wide range of unexpected problems. Juan is proud to have become a supervisor and a shareholder of the company this year on top of previously earning his contractor state license. In Juan’s free time, he can be found practicing soccer or horse riding with his son Juan Jr. 

JOSE DOMINGUEZ

SUPERINTENDENT, PARTNER

For Jose’s entire career which began in 1995, he has been an employee of Saarman Construction. While this longevity with the company speaks volumes to how dedicated Jose is and how great of a company Saarman Construction is, it all started with an eager young man hungry to learn and collaborate with others. Jose’s role is now more of a planner and motivator. Every day he ensures safety procedures are being followed and that everyone is doing a good job. Jose enjoys seeing the progress made in every project and finds it rewarding to know that he represents the values of the company. Jose is well-versed in carpentry, waterproofing, and the restoration of buildings. He is also bilingual which serves him well in his current position as it allows him to better communicate with those he supervises. When he isn’t working Jose enjoys spending quality time with his family. It is also Jose and his wife’s mission to continue encouraging their two sons and daughter in their academics and the development of their musical talents. 

Tyler Robinette

Senior Estimator

Tyler is a valuable asset and team member in the pre-construction and estimating team at Saarman Construction. Tyler has guided projects from initial development to mobilization time and time again, assisting with cost budgeting, scheduling, providing value engineering options, HUD documentation, contract negotiations, procuring permits and taking on all challenges that may arise to assure the project gets to the right start. He joined the Saarman team as an estimating assistant and quickly rose to a lead estimator position with showing strong leadership, time management and quick thinking. Tyler has built strong working relationships with his coworkers and clients and has successfully priced out projects that were successful for all parties involved.

SUSIE BATCHELOR

DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES

Susie has over twenty years of experience in HR. She began her career supporting companies in the software industry and throughout the years got exposed to a variety of industries including construction supply and now general construction where she tackles Human Resources challenges and provides individualized approaches that work for the company. Susie brings a wealth of Human Resources knowledge with her to Saarman Construction along with an open-door approach and willingness to serve all employees. Susie strives to attract and retain the best talent and supports our team by building a safe and fun work culture. Susie relishes the opportunity to make a positive impact in people’s lives. She believes our work product, systems, programs, and our professional relationships are such a major component of who we are as a company.  When Susie isn’t providing Human Resources guidance, you will most likely find her with her family, friends, and animals on an adventure. Susie loves to find and experience good food and dabbles in art.