HISTORY
Dan Schaefer and Brett Bunkers, owners of Oakwood Builders Group, have been friends since their early school years. In 1995 they created Oakwood Builders Group, a business that reflects this “personality” and has grown because of it. They trust each other and enjoy what they do.
Each owner contributes life-long associations with the many facets of the construction industry. Dan is a second generation builder. Brett’s family has been involved for three generations with the communications, design and business skills. The result is a company that serves its customers’ needs and inspirations, keeps them satisfied and keeps them aware throughout the construction process.
Dan and Brett approach each project and each customer with not only top-notch skills, but also with the core values that have kept their business energized and growing.
- Do your best work, honestly and without regret.
- Treat customers with respect.
- Communication is king. Oakwood professionals want customers to be honest about their expectations and to give continuous feedback.
- Owners are responsible for all work being performed in a project.
- Each job is as important as the one before and the one to come.
- Enjoy what you do and the people that are part of it.
- This is how great reputations are built…and what keeps Oakwood Builders Group at the top of its field.
ABOUT THE CREW
DAN
Home construction is in Dan Schaefer’s blood. His father, Vince, was a general contractor in Des Moines who owned his own home building business, and Dan spent years working alongside him. After attending school at Iowa State, Dan joined forces with his childhood friend, Brett, to start their own trim carpentry business. As their clientele grew, they expanded into home remodeling and custom home building, which eventually became the main focus of their business. Dan feels incredibly blessed to have the opportunity to work on such exciting projects, and he’s grateful to love what he does every day. “It’s hard to believe how long we’ve been doing this, but I’m so fortunate to love what I do,” Dan says. “From the first meeting to the final walkthrough of a project, it just never gets old.”
Although he enjoys every aspect of the job, Dan’s favorite part of the process is the design phase. He truly enjoys the opportunity to envision a space and see it come to life from start to finish. As the visionary of the team, Dan is involved in all aspects of the company and helps plan its trajectory. However, he and Brett are always willing to get their hands dirty, whether that means picking up trash or installing hardware. They believe that every task is critical to the process.
In his personal life, Dan enjoys spending time with his wife Maureen and their growing, blended family, including additions of son and daughter-in-laws and grandchildren. He loves to travel in his spare time and attempts to play golf. Above all, Dan cherishes the opportunity to hang out with his family and share experiences with them.
BRETT
At Oakwood, Brett Bunkers brings a strong eye for detail and an innate talent for streamlining processes. He graduated from Iowa State University with a degree in art and design, but his passion for construction drew him back to the field, largely due to his close friendship with Dan Schaefer. Brett’s experience with construction began in childhood, as he worked alongside his grandfather, uncles, and Vince Schaefer, Dan’s father, all of whom were involved in the building trades.
Starting out as a trim carpenter was pivotal to Brett’s career and Oakwood’s success, as it taught him about the importance of quality workmanship and how strategically adding trim and cabinets can transform a space into a beautiful home. This early experience ignited Brett’s appreciation for high-quality craftsmanship and laid the foundation for his success.
Brett’s extensive network of relationships within the trim carpentry world has proven invaluable to Oakwood, helping it to become the powerhouse it is today. As a hands-on leader, Brett enjoys being involved in the day-to-day aspects of projects and places great importance on running them efficiently. His passion for his work is evident. “I wake up every day and can’t wait to go to work. I really can’t see myself doing anything else,” he says.
Outside of work, Brett cherishes spending time with his wife, sons, and granddaughter. He’s an avid golfer and enjoys hanging out with his high school buddies, as well as tackling yard work and home improvement projects. Brett also proudly supports his alma mater, Iowa State University, and loves spending his fall Saturdays tailgating in Ames as a die-hard Cyclones fan.
ANDREW
Andrew is a Project Manager at Oakwood and has been a part of the team since 2013. He first discovered his passion for construction while attending Augustana, where he spent summers selling in-ground pools and soaking up the outdoors. After earning his building trade certificate from DMACC, he worked at a siding company before finding his true calling at Oakwood. Andrew was drawn to the way Oakwood approaches home construction from a macro perspective, overseeing projects from start to finish rather than focusing on one aspect of it. Andrew loves the challenge that each project at Oakwood presents and how no two jobs are ever the same. He is a skilled problem-solver and enjoys tackling any issue that arises, whether it involves helping pick out the paint color of a home or coming up with a totally different room layout to make it more functional. Andrew’s excellent communication and coordination skills ensure that everyone involved in a project is well-informed and on the same page.
In his personal life, Andrew loves to spend time with his wonderful wife, Mallory, and their three kids: Sloane, Bohannon, and Callen. In addition, he loves fishing, coaching soccer, and going out to dinner with his wife.
JACE
Jace hails from Hampton, Iowa, and joined the Oakwood team in 2022. With his father being a home builder in northern Iowa, Jace has been around home building and construction his entire life. After attending college at UNI and meeting his wife Maddie (Dan’s daughter), he spent six years in the electrical field, tearing down transformers across the country.
Once Jace and Maddie moved to Des Moines, Dan and Brett recognized that Jace’s skills and experience would make him a perfect fit for the Oakwood team. A natural born leader, Jace brings his management and problem-solving skills to the table. His favorite part of the building process is watching the transformation of a home. “Working so hard on a project and being there to see the change over time is pretty cool to see. I truly love making an impact in our clients’ lives,” he says.
Jace is a proud father to his son, Archie. When he’s not working, he enjoys all things sports, sipping a cold beverage, and spending summer nights with his family.
WYATT
Wyatt joined the Oakwood Builders team in 2020 and has been an integral part of the team ever since. Originally from Oskaloosa, Wyatt attended the DMACC trades program where he was introduced to Oakwood. Wyatt’s love for home building began during high school when he worked with a framing crew. To this day, he excels in framing and trim work and takes pride in collaborating with subcontractors to bring the homeowner’s visions to life. When not on the job, Wyatt enjoys spending his time hunting and fishing, catching up on the latest sports games, and hanging out with his buddies.
COLTEN
Colten’s passion for construction has been with him for as long as he can remember. During his time in the DMACC building trades program in 2020, Andrew from Oakwood came to speak to his class and took them on a tour of one of their projects. Colten was immediately drawn to the high-quality work and knew he wanted to be a part of it. Now, a few years later, Colten has become a valuable asset to the team.
A true perfectionist, Colten takes pride in his work and won’t settle for anything less than perfect. “I love working at Oakwood and am proud of the work that we do,” he says. He enjoys building connections with clients and seeing their dream homes come to life. Colten is proud to have achieved his Eagle Scout ranking, which shows through his leadership and project management skills in his construction career.
When he’s not working, Colten can be found in his garage working on various projects. He also enjoys spending time outdoors, whether it be hunting, camping, riding dirt bikes, or snowboarding.
JUSTIN
After years of being recruited by his father, Brett, Justin finally decided to join Oakwood in 2022! As a teenager, Justin spent his summers working for Oakwood, where he gained experience in demoing projects with Brett and Dan. After studying Construction Engineering at Iowa State, Justin went on to work in commercial construction in Colorado before making the switch to home building. When he moved back to Des Moines, it was only natural for Justin to officially join the Oakwood team.
Bringing a fresh perspective to Oakwood, Justin is passionate about staying up-to-date with the latest technology and tools, ensuring that Oakwood is always ahead of the curve. He takes pride in seeing everything come together and the final project taking shape.
Outside of work, Justin spends most of his free time with his dog, Luna. He also enjoys hiking, biking, paddleboarding, and camping.
JANICE
Janice joined the Oakwood team in 2016 after being a stay-at-home mom for several years. Her friend, who had a house built by Oakwood, recommended the company as a great place to work and Janice couldn’t be happier with her decision. With a degree in business management and customer service experience from her previous job, Janice is the go-to person for all office-related tasks, handling everything from payroll to accounts payable and receivable. Her dedication and attention to detail ensure that all tasks are completed accurately and efficiently. At Oakwood, Janice loves the small, family culture and the opportunity to work with generous people who let her be independent. Outside of work, Janice enjoys spending time with her two sons, playing pickleball, riding her bike, and traveling.
DANHome construction is in Dan Schaefer’s blood. His father, Vince, was a general contractor in Des Moines who owned his own home building business, and Dan spent years working alongside him. After attending school at Iowa State, Dan joined forces with his childhood friend, Brett, to start their own trim carpentry business. As their clientele grew, they expanded into home remodeling and custom home building, which eventually became the main focus of their business. Dan feels incredibly blessed to have the opportunity to work on such exciting projects, and he’s grateful to love what he does every day. “It’s hard to believe how long we’ve been doing this, but I’m so fortunate to love what I do,” Dan says. “From the first meeting to the final walkthrough of a project, it just never gets old.”
BRETTAt Oakwood, Brett Bunkers brings a strong eye for detail and an innate talent for streamlining processes. He graduated from Iowa State University with a degree in art and design, but his passion for construction drew him back to the field, largely due to his close friendship with Dan Schaefer. Brett’s experience with construction began in childhood, as he worked alongside his grandfather, uncles, and Vince Schaefer, Dan’s father, all of whom were involved in the building trades.
ANDREWAndrew is a Project Manager at Oakwood and has been a part of the team since 2013. He first discovered his passion for construction while attending Augustana, where he spent summers selling in-ground pools and soaking up the outdoors. After earning his building trade certificate from DMACC, he worked at a siding company before finding his true calling at Oakwood. Andrew was drawn to the way Oakwood approaches home construction from a macro perspective, overseeing projects from start to finish rather than focusing on one aspect of it. Andrew loves the challenge that each project at Oakwood presents and how no two jobs are ever the same. He is a skilled problem-solver and enjoys tackling any issue that arises, whether it involves helping pick out the paint color of a home or coming up with a totally different room layout to make it more functional. Andrew’s excellent communication and coordination skills ensure that everyone involved in a project is well-informed and on the same page.
JACEJace hails from Hampton, Iowa, and joined the Oakwood team in 2022. With his father being a home builder in northern Iowa, Jace has been around home building and construction his entire life. After attending college at UNI and meeting his wife Maddie (Dan’s daughter), he spent six years in the electrical field, tearing down transformers across the country.
WYATTWyatt joined the Oakwood Builders team in 2020 and has been an integral part of the team ever since. Originally from Oskaloosa, Wyatt attended the DMACC trades program where he was introduced to Oakwood. Wyatt’s love for home building began during high school when he worked with a framing crew. To this day, he excels in framing and trim work and takes pride in collaborating with subcontractors to bring the homeowner’s visions to life. When not on the job, Wyatt enjoys spending his time hunting and fishing, catching up on the latest sports games, and hanging out with his buddies.
COLTENColten’s passion for construction has been with him for as long as he can remember. During his time in the DMACC building trades program in 2020, Andrew from Oakwood came to speak to his class and took them on a tour of one of their projects. Colten was immediately drawn to the high-quality work and knew he wanted to be a part of it. Now, a few years later, Colten has become a valuable asset to the team.
JUSTINAfter years of being recruited by his father, Brett, Justin finally decided to join Oakwood in 2022! As a teenager, Justin spent his summers working for Oakwood, where he gained experience in demoing projects with Brett and Dan. After studying Construction Engineering at Iowa State, Justin went on to work in commercial construction in Colorado before making the switch to home building. When he moved back to Des Moines, it was only natural for Justin to officially join the Oakwood team.
JANICEJanice joined the Oakwood team in 2016 after being a stay-at-home mom for several years. Her friend, who had a house built by Oakwood, recommended the company as a great place to work and Janice couldn’t be happier with her decision. With a degree in business management and customer service experience from her previous job, Janice is the go-to person for all office-related tasks, handling everything from payroll to accounts payable and receivable. Her dedication and attention to detail ensure that all tasks are completed accurately and efficiently. At Oakwood, Janice loves the small, family culture and the opportunity to work with generous people who let her be independent. Outside of work, Janice enjoys spending time with her two sons, playing pickleball, riding her bike, and traveling.
